84 THE EEPOET OF THE No. 36 



conditions a furrow run with a plow did not prove effective, it being found that 

 the trench must at least he finished out iby hand with a spade. After seeing 

 trenches in various soils it was decided that a trench, to give satisfactory results, 

 should be as follows: 15 inches to 18 inches in depth, with a clean straight side 

 toward the direction in which the worms are going. This side may even be 

 cut under if time will permit. The loose soil removed 'should be placed as a 

 crown along this wall. In a heavy wet soil, as clay or muck, it will be found 

 advisable to rake the surface of the straight side lightly with a garden rake 

 before drying, otherwise the soil in baking will provide a hard continuous surface, 

 up which the worms will readily travel. This raking should be repeated after a 

 rain. The depth of the »trench depends directly on the character of the soil 

 and crop. In a clean sandy soil with a shallow rooted crop the trench need 

 be only comparatively shallow. In a clay or gravel soil or one with a deep 

 rooted crop the trench should be much deeper. At intervals" of fifteen feet in the 

 bottom of the trench post holes a foot in depth should be dug. When the worms 

 are unable to pass uj> the wall of the trench they will travel lengthwise and 

 collect in the post holes where they may be crushed with a post. During 1914, 

 many persons attempted to kill the worms in the trenches by burning straw over 

 them. The objection to this lies in the fact that the straws which are not burned 

 may provide bridges out of or across the trench over which the Army Worms 

 will pass in hundreds. Where only part of a field is attacked and the remainder 

 is to be protected by trenching, it will be found advisable to cut a swath through 

 the igrain and rake this off 'before the trench is dug. This is necessary to insure 

 a clean trench, and a clean trench is essential. 



Where trenches were properly constructed excellent results were obtained, 

 the worms being readily restricted to certain areas. 



2. Poisoned Bran Mash. Where Army Worms were already present in a 

 field an^ the trenches were of no value, poisoned bran maeh scattered over the 

 field gave excellent results. When tested even on areas of comparatively light 

 infestation it gave high death counts, and in a number of districts injury to 

 grain crops and corn was largely prevented through the timely use of the poisoned 

 mash. The poisoned mash which gave the best results is prepared and used 

 asi follows: 



Formula: 



Bran 20 lbs. 



Paris Green 1 lb. 



Lemons or oranges 2 or 3 fruits. 



Water About 2 gals. 



Mix the bran and paris green in a tub, dry, add the molasses to the water, 

 squeeze the juice of lemons or oranges into liquid, run the rind and pulp through 

 a meat chopper and throw this into the liquid, then pour the liquid on the 

 poisoned bran and mix thoroughly till all is like sawdust — not sloppy. 



Scatter this* in the evening by hand very thinly over the infested field as 

 if sowing grass seed. The above amount should be sufficient for at least three 

 acres. 



3. Spraying with Paris Green or Arsenate of Lead. In the past the 

 use of a poison spray has been rather widely recommended for the Army Worm. 

 The plan has been to spray a belt of foliage in advance of the worms. The 

 writer had the opportunity of witnessing the results of the use of such a spray 

 at various strengths. In some cases as much as 4 lbs. of paris green, or 6 lbs. 

 of arsenate of lead to 100 gals, of water was used in conjunction with 4 lbs. 



