THE ARMY WORM. 337 



them, a life of constant study, even if that life is prolonged 

 to the allotted years of mankind is not sufficient to discover 

 all that it seems desirable to know about them. Why they 

 come and go as they do are mysteries, concerning which one 

 generation may speculate, and leave for the next no conclu- 

 sive results. The most we can do is by constant vigilance 

 and investigation to make some progress towards the desired 

 end. 



The army worm has engaged the attention of entomolo- 

 gists for a great number of years, and thus far there is a 

 striking similarity in the reports of their observations, and 

 a general agreement as to the best means for destroying them. 

 Upon some points there are conflicting opinions, but I fancy 

 that much of this difierence is the result of observations 

 made in diflerent places, and under different climatic influ- 

 ences. It will be my object in this paper to collect together 

 the results of my personal observations and such facts as 

 entomologists who have had better opportunities for critical 

 examinations have within a few years published for the 

 information of agriculturists generally. In doing this, I 

 shall, as far as possible, avoid technicalities and scientific 

 terms not easily comprehended by the ordinary farmer. My 

 attention was especially called to this subject by an article in 

 a copy of the "Boston Journal" published last summer, in 

 which was the statement that the first appearance, so far as 

 noted, of the army worms was upon the same farm upon 

 which they first appeared in 1861. It seemed to me that this 

 statement, if it proved, indeed, to be true, might lead to the 

 development of some definite conclusions in relation to this 

 mysterious destroyer. I deemed it of sufficient importance 

 to communicate my convictions to the Secretary of the State 

 Board, and by him I was requested to investigate as far as 

 my other engagements would permit and forward to him the 

 results. As soon after as I could spare the necessary time, 

 I visited Newport and* Portsmouth, R. I., and some of 

 the southern parts of Massachusetts, and by conversation 

 with the farmers who had sufi'ered by the depredation of the 

 worms, and personally visiting the fields upon which they 

 appeared in large numbers, noted such facts as seemed to me 

 important in reaching the conclusions to which I shall call 



