Climbing Cutworms. 685 



factor just described. We believe that if the soaking of tbe corn 

 in the solutions mentioned had any preventive effect on the cut- 

 worms, it resulted from the fact that the plants from such seed got 

 a better and more vigorous start;* the cutworms would natuially 

 prefer the smaller and more succulent stalks. Ordinary water 

 would have doubtless answered the same purpose. We should 

 have more careful, scientific experiments in this line before we advise 

 farmers to soak their cor-i in any solution with the hope that they 

 may thereby render the stalks distateful to cutworms. Soaking in 

 water will doubtless do just as much good, and it is not impossible 

 that in some cases this may materially help in our warfare against 

 these insects in corn fields. 



Where a short rotation of crops is practiced, cutworms rarely do 

 serious damage in the corn field. The methods we can suggest by 

 which they can be killed in such locations are digging them out by 

 hand, and by the use of the poisoned baits of clover, weeds, are the 

 bran mash. A spoonful of the poisoned mash on each hill would 

 doubtless soon furnish a deadly meal for most of the worms in or 

 near the hill. Hand-picking has been practiced in corn fields of 

 many acres with success and profit. It is not such a tremendous 

 job as it seems if one only goes at it systematically. 



"Where the presence of cutworms is suspected, it is wise to put in 

 plenty of seed ; follow the old distich : 



" One for the black-bird and one for the crow, 

 Two for the cutworm and three to grow." 



MAEK VERNON SLINGERLAND. 



* Dr. Harris held a similar opinion as early as 1841. He says : " Such stimula- 

 ting applications may be of some benefit, by promoting a more rapid and vigor- 

 ous growth of the grain, by which means the sprouts will the sooner become so 

 strong and rank as to resist or escai^e the attacks of the young cutworms." 



