III. NOTES ON REMEDIES FOR CUTWORMS. 



Summary. 



The most destructive i)ests of the onion crop are cutworms. 

 The '' Dark-sided Cutworm " has caused the most damage to the 

 onion crops of Orange county during the past two years. This 

 same species of cutworm destroyed a large percentage of the 

 onion crops in 1885 and 188G. It is estimated that at least 40 

 per cent, of the crop was ruined the past year. It was found 

 that dry bran or middlings mixed with Paris green at the rate 

 of one pound of Paris green to fifty of bran, or thirty of mid- 

 dlings, was the cheapest and most practical thorough means of 

 killing the cutworms. 



Inteoduction. 



The principal cutworm which injures onions is one species of 

 what are known as the " Climbing Cutworms." This particular 

 cutworm has been given the common name of '' Dark-sided Cut- 

 worm " (Carneades niessoria) and by some of the old writers 

 was called " Climbing Rustic " and " Reaping Rustic." It was 

 first known as a climbing cutworm in peach orchards. 



The dark-sided cutworm made itself felt in the onion dis- 

 tricts of Orange county in 1885 and 1886. It was known prior 

 to this date in many places as a " general garden and orchard 

 cutwprm." In most parts of the United States and Canada it 

 is known principally as a grass feeder. In the spring the blue 

 grass on the margins of the ditches and driveways of the onion 

 fields is often eaten off by the young cutworms as close as though 

 cropped by sheep. Early in June, 1895. they were found cutting 

 off potato tops. This habit is very marked, even on onions, until 

 the worms are nearly two-thirds grown. After this period they 

 cut the plants oft at the surface of the ground. This cutworm 

 may have been known to have a special preference for an onion 

 diet previous to 1885, but no reference to such a tendency has 

 been found until the above date. At this time it was so destruc- 

 tive tliat the Department of Agriculture nt Washington sent two 



