The Bulletin. 41 



Barriers. — If a deep furrow be plowed ahead of the moving worms, or 

 around fields to be protected, or around the area where the worms are, 

 so as to confine them, they find it somewhat difficult to cross the ob- 

 struction. In all cases list toward the worms, so they will have to climb 

 the steep side of the furrow. If it is desirable or seems necessary to 

 destroy them as they gather in the furrow, a log may be dragged along 

 in the furrow from time to time, or they may be killed by application 

 of kerosene or a blast-torch, or occasional post-holes in bottom of the 

 furrow will concentrate many where they may be crushed. 



Cultivation. — As the worms go underground only an inch or so to 

 change to the pupa stage, many of them may be killed or at least dis- 

 turbed in this process by thorough shallow cultivation, or disking the 

 land where a brood of worms has matured and just disappeared. This 

 Avould need to be done soon after the worms enter the earth, for in the 

 course of a week or two they will have issued as moths, and then the 

 work would be absolutely useless. 



When Army-worms have developed in large number, and especially 

 when they begin to move from one field to another, they require imme- 

 diate and thorough action. It may require the labor of every available 

 hand for a day or two to keep them in check ; but fortunately the dura- 

 tion of each brood is short, and much depends upon detecting the trouble 

 early before the worms are widespread, and taking prompt action then. 

 While we have discussed the remedies for both kinds together, it is to be 

 remembered that there are two distinct Army-worms which may attack 

 corn, the "Army-worm" being more in the western part of the State, 

 more confined to grasses and grains, and more apt to remain in dense 

 "armies." The Fall Army- worm is more prevalent (according to pres- 

 ent evidence) in the eastern and southern parts of the State, feeds on a 

 greater variety of crops, and is more inclined to scatter instead of re- 

 maining in compact swarms. 



THE SUGAR-CANE BEETLE. (Ligyrus rugiceps, Lee.) 

 Order Coleoptera. Family Scarahwidce. 



Description.— K pitch-black beetle about one-half inch long, of some- 

 what the shape of our green "June Bug"; attacking corn at or about the 

 surface of the ground, eating into the stalks. 



Injury in North Carolina. — Kecords of the TJ. S. Department of Agri- 

 culture at Washington show that in June, 1885, this insect was reported 

 from Monroe, Union County, with the statement that it was new to the 

 farmers there. . 



On May 30, 1904, Dr. E. S. Credle, Pantego, Beaufort County, made 

 complaint of this pest. As our correspondence at that time covered most 

 of what is (even now) known of the insect in this State, it is given in 

 some detail. His first letter was as follows : 

 4 — May 



