214 KUVAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



Tho Black Ariny-wc»rni (Xortua fennica, Tausch.). — Since 188J: 

 (Rep. Ent. Soc. Ont., pp. 13 and 15), wlien tho first outbreak of this 

 caterpilhir occurred in sucli numbers as to gain for it the name of the 

 Black Army-worm, a certain 'amount of damage must be attributed every 

 year to this species. In years of small occurrence the caterpillars are 

 confined mostly to clover fields and do not attract attention, but when 

 abundant they spread from the clover and attack almost every kind of 

 succulent plant or shrub. When full-grown the larvaa are large, velvety 

 black caterpillars, striped with white, two inches in length and very 

 ravenous; as they develop early in the season, their depredations among 

 young vegetables are sometimes serious before they are noticed. The 

 best means of checking this and all kinds of cutworms is to use what is 

 known as the '"poisoned bran remedy," of which, — as it is so remarkably 

 successful and the subject of a satisfactory remedy against cutworms is 

 of such general interest, — it may be well to give here a full description 

 of the preparation. It consists of a mixture of bran and Paris green 

 in the proportion of 50 of the former and 1 of the latter. In making 

 this mixture (which may be applied either wet or dry), it is best to 

 dampen the bian slightly with water containing a little sugar. After 

 mixing thoroughly, so that the whole mass may be permeated very 

 slightly with moisture, add the Paris green by shaking on a very little 

 at a time and stirring it in. If the Paris green were added to the bran 

 when it is perfectly dry, it would, owing to its weight, sink at once to the 

 bottom when stirred. If it is desired to use this mixture as a wet appli- 

 cation, more sugar and water must be added until it is of about the same 

 consistency as porridge ; but, if it is to be used dry, a little more dry 

 bran may be added imtil the mixture will run through the fingers 

 easily. 



The Red-backed Cutworm (Carneades ochrogasler, Gn.). — Many dif- 

 ferent kinds of cutworms have at various times bien described by writers 

 in agricultural and entomological papers, but the one which I am con- 

 vinced is the worst culprit of all has been generally overlooked. This 

 is the large dull-brown caterjjillar above named, which may be easily 

 recognized by its large eize, and the broad reddish stripe down the 

 back. The moth, which lays the eggs from which these caterpillars 

 hatch, varies much in colour, from bright brick red in the form named 

 iurris to a grayish ochre-yellow in tho typical form. The caterpillars are 

 particularly troublesome in gardens, attacking all early vegetables and 

 annual flowering plants. The remedy for the last species is of course 

 applicable to tiiis, and, as the caterpillars are specially destructive to 

 newly set out caljbages, tomatoes, etc., it is well to protect these by 



