124 



Spraying tloes not seem to be the most satisfactory way of applyini; 

 poisons for tait-wonus. The poisoned Ijrau remedy gives really remarkable 

 results, and is actually more attractive than green vegation. The mixture 

 consists of bran moistened with sweetened water and Paris green mixed in 

 the proportion of 1 pound to 50 pounds of bran In malving this mixture, 

 the most convenient method is to dampen a small quantity with the sweet- 

 ened water (a few ounces of sugar in a pail of water), and tlieu add more 

 dry bran, until the whole is almost dry again. If the Paris green is added 

 to tlie bran without d,-impeniug. it sinljs with remarkable rapidity to the 

 bottom, even in this dry mixture, when it is stirred. 



If it is desired to use the poison as a wet application, more water can be 

 added until it is of about the same consLstency as porridge, but if it is to be 

 used dry, dry bran must be stirred in until the mixture will run thnaigh the 

 fingers easily. The poison may then be applied tn the land, either around 

 or between the plants to be protected, or a row of it may be run close to the 

 drills of crops planted in that manner. 



This mixture is extremely attractive to cut-worms, being preferred to 

 plants in all the instances which have come under my notice. It takes 

 about ten pounds of this mixture to an acre of potatoes as ordinarily planted. 

 Paris green being a deadly i)oison, care should be exercised to keep it out of 

 ihe reach of children and domestic animals. 



l^iilf ill licii. of Sugar. 



W.-iltcr W. Froggatt. F. L. S., (iovernmeut ICntomologist of New South 

 ■\Vales_ in an article entitled "A Fight with Climbing Cut-Worms (Lciiriniiii 

 vniijiiii.ctft)," says: "The bran was brought up in bags, weighed, and 1 pound 

 of Paris green added to every 16 pounds of bran. The bran, after being 

 weighed, was poured out on large bag sheets, the Paris green scattered 

 through it, and two men with long-handled shovels mixed it up thoroughly. 

 When the whole was of a delicate green tint, water was added from a hogs- 

 head, in which about half a bucket of salt had been put. so that it ,iust had a 

 salty taste. The first lot of poisoned bait u.sed before I arrived liad been 

 flavoured in a similar manner with sugar. This had a hardening effect upon 

 any bait remaining over till the next day. so I substituted salt, with very 

 good results; the cater[)illars .seemed to eat it more readily, and the food 

 remained moist at night." 



Hand picking or digging up the cut-worms whenever a plant is seen to 

 be cut off sliould, of course^ always be practised. 



Traps made of disused tins, short set'tions of drain pipes and similar 

 things sunk in the ground and covered over with boards, allowing sutfi<-ient 

 room all round for the caterpillars to creep under, will capture numbers of 

 the pests. Even ditches with steeii. smooth sides, prevent a great many from 

 getting from one part of the field to another, and when the ditch has water 

 in it it is cpiite effectual. 



Prcvcntivr measures. 



Preventive measures consist of: Clean culture, by which all vegetation 

 is removed ujion which the .voung caterpillars could feed in the autumn, or 



