Climbing Cutworms. 673 



advised liere until we know more about the egg-lajing habits and 

 fall life of the insects. 



The effectiveness of this method of clean cultivation will depend 

 entirely upon the thoroughness with which all weeds and grasses are 

 kept out. Even then it may prove of no avail if the field is sur- 

 rounded by old grass or clover tields from which a stock of cutworms 

 might migrate in the spring. 



• Attractive-crops. — Doubtless few cutwiorms will assume the climb- 

 ing habit except when forced to do so by the al)sence of low-growing 

 plants. Wherever trees are set in grass, or other garden or field 

 crops are grown between them, it is noticeable that the cutworms 

 usually trouble the trees but little. One correspondent found that 

 when the potatoes he planted between his peach trees got large 

 enough, the cutworms left the trees and began cutting off the potato 

 stalks. Another correspondent found that when he sowed rye in 

 his vineyard, his vines were not injured. Thus attractive crops are 

 sometimes a success as far as keeping the worms off the trees is 

 concerned. 



Possibly the following suggestions regarding attractive-crops may 

 be of value when setting a peach orchard or vineyard in the sandy 

 soils of western ISTew York. Whether the stock is set in the fall or 

 spring, keep the field free of all vegetation after the preceding 15th 

 of July until the latest date at which rye or wheat can be sown and 

 obtain a good stand. Sow the field and either plow the crop under 

 in the spring for green manure, or let it continue to grow as a grain 

 crop if desired. If it is plowed under, it should be done as early 

 as possible before the buds on the trees or vines start, and some 

 quick growing crop be gotten in at once to trap the worms; or do 

 not plow it under until after the leaves appear, as the worms then 

 would not injure the trees so much. Whatever crop follows the rye 

 or wheat should be one that can be gotten out of the way before 

 August 1st, and the ground be kept entirely free from any vegeta- 

 tion until time to put in another rye or wheat crop late in the fall. 

 Such a rotation is practicable and could be profitably carried out for 

 the first two or three years without interfering much with the 

 growth of the orchard or vineyard. After that the trees or vines 

 need all the fertility in the soil, and they are then sometimes large 

 enough to withstand an ordinary attack of cutworms; if not, then 

 some of the following remedial measures must be resorted to: 



43 



