Climbing Cutworms. 683 



more thoroughly the baiting is done, the more cutworms one can 

 destroy. 



However, it may sometimes happen that a sufficient quantity of 

 such green succulent plants can not be obtained early enough in the 

 season in s^me localities. In this case, and we are not sure but in 

 all cases, the poisoned bran mash can be used to the best advantage. 

 It is easily made and applied at any time, is not expensive, and thus 

 far the results show that it is a very attractive and effective liait. 

 A tablespoonful can be quickly dropped around the base of each 

 cabbage or tomato plant, small amounts easily scattered along the 

 rows of onions, turnips, etc., or a little dropped on a hill of corn, 

 cucumbers, etc. It was used on sweet potato hills in New Jersey 

 last year and "served as a complete protection, the cutworms pre- 

 ferring the bran ; " it is well to apply it on the evening of the day 

 the plants are se't out. 



The best time to apply these poisoned baits is two or three days 

 before any plants have come up or been set out in the garden. If 

 the ground has been properly prepared, the worms will have had 

 but little to eat for several days and they will thus seize the first 

 opportunity to appease their hunger upon the baits, and wholesale 

 destruction will result. The baits should always be applied at this 

 time wherever cutworms are expected. But it is not too late usually 

 to save most of a crop after the pests have made their presence 

 known by cutting off some of the plants. Act promptly and use 

 the baits freely. 



In Gkass-Lands and Field Ckops. 



Unplowed fields are the natural feeding grounds of cutworms, 

 and. where the sod is not disturbed for several years, they are liable 

 to accumulate in such numbers as to sometiuies greatly reduce a 

 crop of clover or timothy and often ruin any crop like corn or 

 wheat that may follow. The fact that timothy meadows usually 

 remain unplowed for several years, thus allowing the cutworms to 

 accumulate, doubtless explains why corn and other crops planted 

 on such land are so often badly injured by these pests. Thei'e is 

 no practical method of checking cutworms in pastures, meadows, 

 and clover or grain fields without involving the destruction of the 

 plants also. On grain and hay farms then, the best method that 

 can be advised to prevent cutworm depredations is to practice a 

 short rotation of crops. Never let any field lie in sod for more than 



