The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-06-19
PRACTICAL ADVICE
FOR THE GARDENER

for the home gardener and cut worms
are not least of these interest pro-
viders. There are two kinds of cut
worms in Montana that may be the
cause of plant loss, one the army cut
worm, probably the more familiar of
the two and the other the pale wes-
tern, more destructive and more diff
ficult to control. The army cut worm
is usually a dull rather dark gray
color with two quite distinct brown
ish stripes on either side of the body
and two chocolate colored stripes on
the back, separated by a narrow gray
line. They will usually be found
curled up about an inch beneath the
surface of the ground near some plant
that they have been feeding on. They
are commonly about an inch in
length. Their method of damaging
plants is the most ready means of
Identification, since they cut young
plants off just about at the surface
the ground. They may be con-
trolled by sprinkling poison bran mash
on the ground. The mash is made by
mixing 25 pounds of bran, one pound
of Paris green, one pint of molasses
and one-half pound of salt together.
This spread lightly on the ground
taking care to leave no lumps) about
shutdown, will usually prove effec-
tive.
Pale Western Cutworm
The pale western cutworm is some
what similar in appearance and hab-
it's except that it has no distinct
body markings, being a greenish,
CLASSY gray with two dark lines on
the head. This trouble maker works
under the ground and cuts plants off
an inch or two below the surface.
The only recommendation that can
be given in pale western cutworm
control is to leave the soil that is to
be planted the following year, undis-
turbed between July Is and Septem-
Der 18th. This is the period when
the eggs are laid and a slightly har-
dened surface soil is u~nattractive to
the cutworm moth which lays the
eggs.
Aphids or Plant Lice
Aphids or plant lice come in a var
iety of colors and attack a great
many crops. They are familiar to all
as the small, red, green black or other
colored soft bodied insects that con-
gregate in patches on the under sides
of leaves. They %injure the plant by
sucking the juices, causing leaves to
curl and become distorted. Spraying
with a solution of nicotine sulphate
or busting with nicotine dust is usu-
ally effective in control. Full direc-
lions for making and applying will
be found on the nicotine sulphate
packages which may be obtained at
drug stores and garden supply houses.
Grasshoppers
Where grasshoppers are trouble
some to the garden, they a be con-
trolled ordinarily, by the same poison
as is used for the army cutworm eX-
cept that a little orange juice or
anil acetate banana oil) should be
added to attract the insects.
Wire Worms
Wire worms frequently do damage
by eating into the thickened under
ground portions of potatoes, carrots,
beets. onions and other crops. They
can be held in check by frequent cul-
tivation and by the application OF
plenty of fertilizer. Wire worms are
the brown, slender, rather hard CLOS
sly coated worm-like larva of the
small black beetle known as the snap
ping or click beetle.
Cabbage Worms
When small, pale yellowish or white
butterflies are seen around theg garden
it is a good indication that the cab
bages will be visited by the cabbage
worm, the butterflies laying the eggs
which are responsible for the worm,
Cauliflower, kale, collards, turnlps,
horse-radish and radishes are also at
tackled by the worm. Whoever has
seen a wormy cabbage knows of the
damage done by this insect. Spraying
with arsenate of lead to which a little
soap has been added to make the solu-
ton stick to the leaves, is the best
means of control. Hand picking is
also effective but may be rather a
Job. Cabbage may be eaten
spraying with no fear of danger
from the poison since the outer leaves
of the cabbage are removed and since
the food is thoroughly washed before
being Gated. Preparation of the spray
calls for the thorough mixing of one
teaspoonful of ~arsenate of lead in one
pint of water.
Squash Bugs
Cucumbers, squashes, pumpkins and
yourds are often damaged by the
squash bug, a rather long legged an
gular bodied insect about a quarter
inch in length. 1t is chiefly familiar
through the peculiarly disagree odor
and taste that it leaves in its trail. In
addition to the Objectionable taste
and odor they do damage by sucking
the juices of plants. The insects
may be picked off by hand and kill
ed and the eggs, which are dark