Army Worm Control 261 
ARMY WORM CONTROL THROUGH COUNTY ORGANIZATION.* 
W. H. LARRIMER. 
A very general outbreak of the true army worm, Cirphis Unipuncta, 
Haw., occurred throughout the Central United States during the late 
spring and early summer of 1919. Since the distribution and general 
facts concerning this outbreak have already been recorded, it is in- 
tended to select a typical county where the infestation was most 
severe and cite it as an example of complete control of this pest through 
the co-operation of county farm organization. 
As a matter of convenience, Henry County, Indiana, will be taken 
as an example, though any one of a dozen or more equally infested 
sections might be selected. Here the army worms appeared suddenly, 
as is their custom, in the timothy, rye, and wheat fields throughout 
the whole northern portion of the county. Many farmers were imme- 
diately in trouble and as is their custom in such a case, they began io 
make life miserable for the County Agent who, in turn, sent out an 
S. O. S. to every possible source for information and assistance in com- 
bating the pest. In response thereto the writer arrived at Newcastle, 
the county seat, at 10 a. m., June 18. Very few welcomes can equal 
that accorded to a Bug Man by a county agent who is besieged by 
farmers, who in turn, are besieged by army worms. 
A very hurried survey of the situation was made. Owing to many 
of the reports and superstitions regarding the habits of the pest, the 
whole population, both of county and towns was verging on a panic. 
The idea prevailed that the worms were traveling south from the north 
end of the county and were eating every green thing and that nothing 
could stop them until frost had put an end to their depredations. Many 
infested fields of grain had been burned on the supposition that this 
was the only way the worms could be destroyed. Many barrels of 
gasoline had been wasted in not only useless but destructive fires of 
this nature. Furrows had been plowed through the center of grain 
and hay fields as well as around them, for no particular reason other 
than to stop the supposed general southward march of the worms. 
One farmer said that he singled out a worm and followed it while 
it traveled three miles in one night. A poor woman, with tears running 
down her cheeks, anxiously inquired if something could not be done 
to prevent the worms from entering her house and eating up her car- 
pets. The mayor of one town, was reported to have prepared a 
proclamation, declaring stores and factories closed and requested that 
the entire population be released to join forces with the farmers in 
combating the pest. 
A short trip through the infested section revealed the fact that 
there was nothing unusual about this outbreak. The most heavily in- 
fested fields were plainly indicated by a group of farmers engaged in 
* Published by permission of Secretary of Agriculture. 
