478 TOBACCO PRODUCTION 



of tobacco. When the land is badly infested with this insect late 

 planting, preceded by over a month of absolutely clean culture to 

 keep all vegetation down, is often advisable. It may be necessary to 

 poison some clover by wetting it with Paris green at the rate of one 

 ounce to six gallons of water and scattering this clover at intervals of 

 six to eight feet late in the evening so that the worms will get it 

 during the night while fresh. 



Wireworms. The eggs of wireworms are deposited by the 

 parent moth in weedy fields in July and August and the larvae that 

 hatch remain in the ground over winter. Clean culture to prevent 

 the growth of the weeds practically eliminates the wireworm the fol- 

 lowing year. Cow peas or soy beans grown in rows and culti- 

 vated the summer before tobacco is planted practically insure no 

 damage from tobacco wireworms. 



Budworms. The budworm is combated by applying Paris 

 green mixed with corn meal at the rate of a tablespoonful to a peck 

 of meal. This mixture is applied in the bud during the time of 

 attack two or three times a week. 



The Splitworm. This worm is the larva of a very small moth. 

 The worm acts as a leaf miner and does considerable damage to the 

 crop where numerous. It is not generally serious yet. As a re- 

 medial measure it is suggested that the crop be put out as early as 

 practicable ; if the early infestation is serious, take off infested leaves 

 and destroy. When the crop is removed plow the land and clean up 

 as thoroughly as possible to get rid of the wintering insects. Do not 

 follow potatoes with tobacco, and remove the potato field as far from 

 tobacco as possible. 



Tobacco Thrips. This minute insect feeds on the surface of 

 tobacco leaves and thus causes a lighter color that may reduce the 

 gelling price at least fifty per cent. As it is particularly injurious to 

 shade tobacco, the loss is very great. 



The adult appears to pass the winter in the tobacco field. For 

 this reason rotation of crops and fall plowing of tobacco land and 

 cleaning up rubbish would offer some relief. The practice of 

 locating the plant bed in the field is bad. As the pest breeds in 

 oats, this crop should not be near the tobacco. Kerosene emulsion is 

 effective against thrips. It should be used first when the plants are 

 in the plant bed. After they are removed to the field two sprayings 

 a week are advisable. Spraying may be needed for as long as ten 

 weeks. 



