REPORT OF rni: extomologist A\n botanist 207 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



as an objection to early lliinninr>- of beets, claiming- that then the cutworms have but 

 one beet to work at in a place. I have been experimenting along- this line this spring 

 and have demonstrated that the cutworms can be killed off at a very small cost. Mix 

 dry 100 lbs. bran with from 1 to 1^ lbs. Paris green. Dampen tlirough a sprinkling' 

 can with about 5 gallons water to the 100 lbs. bran, and mix thoroughly until each 

 flake of bran shows the green shade. 



^' This mixture can either be sown by hand or through a be?t drill. If by hand, 

 take a sack made to hang about tho neck, and walking between two rows and using 

 both hands, string the bran along between the two rows on each sid«Jv In this way a 

 IG year old boy can apply the bran to 8 or 10 acres per day; and it can be strewn 

 thickly enough by using 20 to 30 lbs. to the acre. 



"The cost to cover five acres will be as follows: 100 lbs. bran, 80 cents; li lbs. 

 Paris green, 35 cents; labour $1. This will amount to 43 cents per acre, and if done 

 in this way it will rid the field of cutworms. Can we afford to run the risk with this 

 pest when one ton of beets will cover the cost of poisoning nearly 13 acres? If you 

 do not see many dead worms, do not conclude that it has done no good. The worms 

 come out at night, eat the bran and a great many crawl back into the ground and die ; 

 but you will be able to see many of them on top." ' 



There is a constant inquiry for remedies for cutworms, and, as the subject 

 was of such enormous importance to farmers in the West last season, I repeat again 

 the remedies for these insects which were given in Bulletin "No. 52 of this Division, 

 ' Insects Injurious to Grain and Fodder Crops, Root Crops and Vegetables.' The 

 demand for this bulletin has been so great that it is already almost exhausted. 



FOR CUTWORMS IN GRAIN. 



Remedies. — When grain is found to be attacked by cutworms the fields should at 

 once be examined to discover, if possible, what species is at work. If the cutworms are 

 of a surface-feeding kind, like the Red-backed Cutworm, they may frequently be con- 

 trolled with comparative ease by scattering poisoned bran lightly through the grain, 

 near the spots where the caterpillars are most numerous, or ahead of them, when they 

 are so numerous as to have assumed the marching habit. If land is systematically 

 kept clear of weeds in autumn', there will seldom be trouble from cutworms in the 

 crop of the following year. Prairie or sod land which is to be broken for seeding the 

 next year should be fed off as late as possible or mowed before breaking. In this way 

 the female moths will not be attracted to the tall vegetation on such lands when lay- 

 ing their eggs. 



FOR CUTWORMS IX GENERAL CROPS. 



Eemedies. — (1.) Clean Farming. — The keeping down of all weeds and the burning 

 up of all haulms, stems of reaped crops and refuse, as early as possible in the autumn 

 after crops are reaped, will destroy many eggs and prevent the deposition of others by 

 presenting no suitable place for the moths to lay their eggs. The eggs are laid in 

 autumn or spring, and such places are chosen by the moths as where there will be an 

 abundance of food for the young caterpillars on hatching. 



(2.) Traps. — Large numbers may be destroyed by placing between the rows of an 

 infested crop, or at short distances apart on infested land, bundles of any succulent 

 weed or other vegetation whioh has been previously poisoned by dipping it, after tying 

 in bundles, into a strong mixture of Paris green, 1 oz. in a pail of water. The ctit- 

 worms eat the poisoned plants, then bury themselves and die. In hot. dry weather 

 these bundles should be put out after sundown, and a shingle may be placed on each 

 to keep it from fading. 



