332 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



or the whole tree if the tree be small and the cutworms numerous. In the case 

 of the peach, the blossoms are often eaten, a hole being made through the side 

 of the calyx, and the ovule of the young peach taken out. The proper course to 

 take under such circumstances, is to go to the infested places at night with a 

 lantern, and to watch carefully with a dim light for the culprits. 



The adults of these pests are moths of medium size, the wings spreading per- 

 haps an inch or an inch and a half. They are of various colors and all are night 

 fliers. They are known as owlet-moths. 



The eggs of these cutworms are laid in various places; often in sod land or 

 wherever appropriate food is to be had, late in summer or early in the fall, and 

 the young cutworms that hatch out, become partially grown before winter sets in, 

 hibernating in this condition. In the spring they awaken with a very healthy 

 appetite, and attack weeds, grass or anything that offers. In some species, the 

 eggs are laid in the spring, and in still others the winter is passed in the egg 

 stage. A greater number, however, pass the winter as partially grown larvae. 

 In the case of an orchard newly planted on sod land, the destruction may be 

 very rapid and complete as there is little else to be had — of course all our 

 Michigan orchards are well cultivated. 



Fig. 55. — Cut-worm, showinir larva, pupa and adult, from Saunders, Insects Injurious to Fruits. 



Cutworms, of all kinds, migrate and will come into orchards and vineyards 

 from good breeding places and make themselves at home very quickly. They are 

 good travelers as a rule. 



KEJIEDIES. 



Where cutworms are suspected, plow late in the fall, before setting out a young 

 orchard, thus burying many eggs or young "worms." The presence of some crop 

 to the liking of the cutworms — something like rye — put in as late as possible and 

 turned under when the foliage gets well grown, will furnish the worms some- 

 thing to eat and keep many of them out of the trees. 



Banding. — A band of loose cotton-batting, tied around the trunk, just as is done 

 for the canker worm, will prevent practically all of the worms from getting into 

 the trees so long as the cotton keeps loose and fluffy. Unfortunately, it sometimes 

 happens that the worms on being turned back by the band, commence to gnaw 

 the bark just below the band and if the tree be a whip recently set, they often 

 girdle it. Probably poisoned baits, — clover wet down with strong paris-green 

 water and distributed in small heaps near the trees, will prove useful in such 

 cases. The cutworms nearly always drop to the ground and cover themselves 

 with soil during the day time, and the bunch of fresh clover offers a good hiding 

 place for cutworms in general. After passing the day under such a covering, 

 they are very apt to partake of some of the poisoned leaves before starting out 

 in earnest for a meal. Poisoned bran mash has been recommended as being very 

 effective when iised in connection with the cotton bands. The figure shows how 

 to put on a cotton l)and. It is passed around the tree and tied with a string 

 around the bottom, the top is then turned down over the string and left spread 

 out. Only one band is used, two being shown in the cut, in order to make 

 clear the whole proceeding. It is very likely that narrow strips of sticky fly- 

 paper fastened around the tree would catch many of the worms although the 

 writer has never seen it tried. The difficulty will be that sand, blown by the 

 wind, will be apt to form a crust on the surface if the bands be left without 

 renewing too long. 



