The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1922-08-10
HOW TO FIGHT THE ARMY
WORM OR CATERPILLAR

worm." or army wrm," mas made its |
appearance in injurious numbers in
souo of the cotton fields in Louisiana /!
earlier than usual this year and be- +
cousp of it is especially advisable
that it be controlled by poisoning
The cotton caterpillar can be easily
poisoned by busting the cotton Toll
age with an arseniralSpois'n, s'lch as
orsenate of lead, calcium Of ars'nate'
or Paris green. according 10 Thomas i
H. Jones, entomo! sis', Louisiana
State University. Fo! the best re-
suits this work should be done when
the worms first appe.r and while they
are small, he says. 7 - often appear
first In low, moist places aud 1t takes
about three weeks for therl to become
full grown. After the caterpillars OF
one brood have "webbel M another
brood may be expected to appear in
+ two or three weeks.
Mr.. Jones says that while poison
can be busted on the plants more
evenly if a busting machine, such as
those used for busting against the boil
weevil, is used the poison can be
busted onto the plants satisfactorily
by means Of a cloth sack. Busting
should be done when the dew is on the
plants, either in the morning or even
ing, as the poison will stick better
and there is not so much possibility
of q wind blowing the dust away
If Paris green is used about two
pounds per acre should be applied,
while If the arsenate of lead or cal.
cium arsenate is used about twice as
much is advised. The amount to use
will depend somewhat on the size ofthe
plants. Paris green is apt to burn
the foliage and for this reason 1t 10
best to mix 1t with equal parts Of dry,
fine slaked lime. The addition Of an.
other equal part of flour also tends
to make the Paris green stick better
Powdered arsenate of lead or cal.
cium arsenate can be applied undelu'
TIED. They are both preferred over
Paris green because there Is not the
danger of burning the foliage and
they stick better.
In busting 1t is very desirable. thai
the poison be evenly distributed. II Il
is evenly distributed one application
is sufficient to kill al the caterpillar!
if rain does not fall in fOrty-eigh
hours. Otherwise a second applica
ton may be necessary. Eight-ounc'
duck, flour sacks, or cloth OF such
; nature should be used for busting
! sacks. The particular cloth to u.s.
! will depend somewhat on the busting
mixture used and care should b
I: taken to make sure that the cOrrec
; amount of poison is being applied
! Some prefer to carry two sacks, on
, at either end Of a hardwood pole o
; the same length as the distance be
tween rows, across the back Of q mul
! as it Is ridden between the rows. Il
this way two rows are busted at
:; time, the man on the animals bacl
; Earring the pole so that the poison vii
! be distributed evenly and in the cor
rect amount. A sack may also b
I placed on the end Of pole which
| man can carry over his shoulde
! through the field. Earring the pole a
! he walks between the rows. If tn
I pole Is long enough so that, by carry
ing 1t at an angle the sack will b
] kept q few feet above the cotton, tn
I poison will be more evenly distribu
I ted than when the sack is carried low
er. A sack about half the size Of
] flower sack is satisfactory.
I In busting do not let the sack
! touch the wet leaves or otherwise &c
wet. The poisOns recommended ar
! poisonous to man and animals whe
J taken internally, and ordinary ear
ohn,ld ho takon in usinp them Ii