EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 209 



future use, rather than from mere wanton destructiveness. As has been 

 stated many of the cut-worms pass the winter in a partially grown con- 

 dition, just beneath the surface of the soil. Occasionally, in winter, 

 during a sudden thaw, the larvae will crawl up on top of the snow, 

 being driven upward by the water from the melting ice and snow. In 

 such cases they seldom get back into winter quarters, but perish as 

 soon as it freezes again. The writer has seen the snow thickly dotted 

 with cut-worms on such occasions, both here and in Minnesota. Many 

 parasites feed on them and shrews and birds devour quantities. 



Fig 58. — Cut worms. Larva.'adult.and pupa in earthern cell. From Saunder's' Insects Injurious 



to Fruits. 



REMEDIES. 



The one measure that has been most successful in the past, is the 

 use of poisoned baits, when the trouble is on a large scale. On a very 

 small scale, other methods are more effective. Of the baits used, clover 

 is the favorite. A goodly pile of clover should be cut, and while it 

 is still fresh and green, it should be wet down with paris-green and 

 water, using about half a pound of poison to a barrel of water, then, 

 late in the afternoon, so that it will keep fresh as long as possible, twist 

 bunches of this wetted clover in wads, more or less compact, and throw 

 out over the field at short intervals. If the field to be protected be 

 near a field in sod, then place an extra amount on the threatened side. 

 The cut-worms love clover and oftentimes they will hide under such 

 wads of fresh green food in the morning after a night's travel, eating 

 a little of the poisoned food before hiding away. Poisoned pieces of 

 turnip will do if clover is not to be had. 



Poisoned bran, sweetened with a little molasses and made into moist 

 balls the size of a plum, has been recommended, and Mr. Sirrene, of 

 the New York State Experiment Station, recommends dry bran mixed 

 with dry paris-green, sowed on the surface of the soil by means of a 

 hand drill. In any case do not use such baits of bran unless stock and 

 poultry are excluded or when partridge and quail are likely to get it, 

 and do not expect to find the dead worms in the morning unless you 

 are willing to sift the top soil for some distance about each bait, for 

 the pests always bury themselves before dying. The only way to judge 

 of the death of the larvae is by the cessation of their work. 



In the garden, when tomatoes, cucumbers, etc., are attacked, they 

 may be protected by placing a collar of stiff, smooth paper about the 

 plant. Make a collar about two inches high and two inches in diameter, 

 and set in about the plant, keeping it in place with a little dirt scraped 

 up against it. Cut-worms do not climb well, and almost never touch 

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