53 



REPORT ON AN OUTBREAK OF THE ARMY WORM, AND ON SOME 

 OTHER INSECTS AFFECTING GRAIN, IN MARYLAND. 



By Wm. H. Ashmead. 



In accordance with Professor Riley's instructions, on May 31, accom- 

 panied by Mr. Albert I. Hayward, of the Maryland Agricultural Col- 

 lege, I started for Salisbury, Wicomico County, and Princess Anne, 

 Somerset County, Md., to make such observations on the Army 

 Worm {Leucania unipimcta), then depredating in the vicinity of these 

 places, as the limited time at our disposal should permit. 



During our journey, we ascertained in conversation that the worms 

 were most nuuierous in the immediate vicinity of Princess Anne, and 

 we took the most direct route for that place. 



As we approached our destination we began to see the effects of the 

 worms' work; just before entering the town we passed by a large field 

 of corn, owned by Mr. H. H. Deshields, containing about 12 acres, that 

 had been devastated by them, and only a few green plants could be 

 detected, here and there, in the field. 



This field was in marked contrast with another corn-field adjacent, 

 which had been saved from attacks by ditching, as recommended in 

 the Third Report of the U. S. Entomological Commission. Another 

 thing observed, was that this field was flanked behind with a wood 

 that evidently prevented their ingress that way, whereas the former 

 was contiguous to grass and wheat fields, in which the worms are said 

 to originate. 



Just before entering the town, we passed another 10-acre corn-field, 

 owned by Mr. John L. Lormer, that but a short time previously 

 presented a most promising appearance, but which today is com- 

 pletely "clt-aned out" by the worms. It may be worthy of record, 

 as the theory has been advanced that insects originate in just such 

 places, that in an adjoining field were three old hay-stacks. Contrary 

 to our expectations, we found the reports of their numbers not at all 

 exaggerated, and the damage done is even worse than we anticipated 

 — the Wheat, Corn, Barley and Timothy of many of the farmers being 

 totally ruined by them. 



One of the most interesting places for observation we visited was that 

 of Wm. J. Porter, a practical and energetic farmer, who, although he 

 has fought the worms most vigorously, has suffered severely from their 

 attacks. By means of ditching and by burning straw he has been able 

 to save part of his crops, but several of his fields of Corn, Timothy and 

 Wheat, were already ruined. He reported the worms much less numer- 

 ous than they had been, but we saw many thousands in his fields. 



During our rambles Mr. Porter took us to one of the ditches he had 

 dug to keep the worms out of a large corn-field. In this ditch he had 



