342 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



sensible and will prove more effectual, and if farmers gener- 

 ally would take more pains to rake up clean the refuse straw 

 where grain has been shocked or stacked, and all loose 

 waste material, such as weeds, corn-stalks, and leaves of 

 every kind, and burn them, they would have less trouble 

 with insects in the spring and summer. 



Finally, as to means for destroying the army worms, my 

 opinion is that first by observing the presumptive climatic 

 influences which, according to the writings of the most dis- 

 tinguished entomologists, have preceded their appearance 

 with migratory habits, and then, in the early spring, examin- 

 ing the coarse tufts of grass, especially near to the lowlands, 

 or the stubble upon lust year's grain-fields, especially on the 

 sides nearest to the low lands, and the coarse bunches of grass 

 that grow around the dropjnngs of the cattle. If the eggs 

 are found in considerable quantities, or if towards evenir.g, 

 or after dark, by the aid of a lantern, the moths are seen in 

 great abundance, the presumption is that an invasion is threat- 

 ened, and much of the evil can be avoided by burning, where 

 it can be done; or by an application of a solution of Paris 

 green or London purple, if there is no danger to fowls or 

 animals, and the preparation of furrows as before described. 



I would also recommend the burning of heaps of rubbish, 

 just at nisht, wherever tlie moths are seen in great numbers, 

 or even if not very plenty ; for the destruction of the moths 

 will prevent the deposit of eggs, and consequently the 

 hatching of an army of the worms. It is my opinion that only 

 in the spring of those years when the worms are to become 

 migratory, will any consi(.leral)le number bo found away from 

 those places where, in their normal condition, they are always 

 to be found by persons who arc acquainted with their habits. 



I have intentionally made use of the term presumptive 

 climatic influences, because, while I am convinced that a dry 

 summer, followed by a spring sufficiently wet for a vigorous 

 start for vegetation, will be favorable conditions for the ap- 

 pearance of the arm}' worm in this State, I find that the 

 conditions are by no means uniform in all parts of the United 

 States, except that in nearly every case some part of the 

 summer preceding their appearance has been very dry. 

 That climatic influences certainly precede and accompany 



