232 INSECT PESTS OF FARM, GARDEN AND ORCHARD 



but one generation, and in the Gulf States there may be three 

 generations. Occasionally the worms are overlooked in cutting 

 the tobacco and are carried into the barn, where they may do 

 considerable injury even after the tobacco is partially dry. 



Control. The most common method of control is hand-pick- 

 ing, usually termed " worming." In seasons when the worms arc 

 not overabundant this may be the most practical method of con- 

 trol, but it is both tiresome and expensive, and the planter has no 

 means of predicting whether the worms will be more or less abun- 



FIG. 165. Southern tobacco-worm killed by fungus. (After Garman.) 



dant. Large flocks of turkeys driven through the fields will aid 

 most efficiently in this work. 



In many sections the worms are now controlled by spraying 

 or dusting with Paris green or arsenate of lead. More or less popu- 

 lar prejudice against the use of arsenicals has existed, as it was 

 thought the tobacco might be poisonous to the consumer. Careful 

 chemical examinations have shown, however, that the amount 

 left on the foliage after three sprayings would be far too small to 

 have any deleterious effect. The same prejudice formerly existed 

 against the use of arsenicals on potatoes, cabbage and other crops, 

 but experience has shown it to be unwarranted. A real objection 

 to the use of Paris green is that it sometimes slightly burns the 

 foliage, so that arsenate of lead will doubtless be found preferable. 



