1862. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



79 



For the New England Farmer, 

 THE ABMY WOBM, 



I discovered the army -vvorm in the town of 

 Wayland, Mass., October 12, 1861, on a small 

 place owned and occupied by Hon. Edward Mel- 

 len. I was somewhat astonished to find them in 

 such numbers at that late season, so watched their 

 motions closely. 



Upon malung inquiry in the vicinity, I found 

 but few persons Avho had noticed them, and they 

 were not aware that the "army worm" was in their 

 neighborhood. I had seen a kind of greenish-grey 

 worm, striped with black, and it had eaten consid- 

 erably the last of the season, but there Avere so 

 many new things, I did not notice it particularly. 

 I searched the adjoining fields, but could find no 

 specimens except in Judge Mellen's case ; then 

 the question arose, how came so many on this par- 

 ticular piece of ground, and not one in the adjoin- 

 ing fields ? I can answer this question in a satis- 

 factory manner, to myself, at least. 



The piece of land in question contained two 

 acres, and was bounded on the north-east and 

 south by rising land covered with fruit and forest 

 trees, and on the west by a small pond of water, 

 and a large tract of meadow. A half-acre of this 

 land was "made land," flat, and composed of sand 

 and muck, making a soil three feet deep, and but 

 a little above the level of the pond. Part of this 

 flat was cultivated, or had potatoes planted on it, 

 but for want of care, witch grass was the cultivat- 

 ed crop, and the army worm was trying to set man 

 an example by destroying it. The remainder 

 was mowing, and the thick aftermath offered the 

 worms food by day, and a warm covering by night, 

 until they were compelled to seek their winter 

 quarters. A person who has never studied ento- 

 mology, will hardly believe insects capable of rea- 

 soning, as I shall endeavor to show these worms 

 were. 



I found them gathered around near the pond, in 

 great numbers — but the weather held mild for sev- 

 eral days, and they scattered in search of food — 

 October 20th, I found some in a field fifty rods 

 from the pond, or their camp ground. I discov- 

 ered them feeding on the second crop of oats 

 about llA A. M, and at li P. M., they were all 

 headed homeward ; there were a few days colder 

 weather, and they stopped in camp ; but when 

 there came a warm day, they sallied forth in com- 

 panies in the warmest part of the day, and back 

 to theii- camp ground before night. After the po- 

 tatoes were dug, they crossed the dug over ground, 

 and camped nearer the pond on grass ground, 

 passing and re-passing in regular order, several 

 companies abreast, and several deep. I examined 

 them with a lantern, and found them lying in the 

 same order, with a space about their length — \% 

 inches — between the companies. 



November 11th, I was setting Antwerp rasp- 

 berries about 20 rods from the camp ground ; at 

 Hi A. M., I left 10 stools with 40 stalks to a 

 stool that I had not headed in ; there was about 

 one foot of top covered with green leaves, and 

 when I returned at 12i P. M., the leaves were 

 gone, and the stalks were covered with army 

 worms. On my appearance, they all dropped off" 

 from the stalks and started for home, all in the 

 same direction and order, some forward and others 

 backward, turning on the road. I had some wood 



ashes handy, and scattered some in front of the 

 worms, and wet them Avith my sprinkler ; these 

 they marched over, so I scattered more and left 

 them dry; those puzzled the Avorms, and they "left- 

 faced" and started around. I let a fcAv pass, and 

 headed off" the remainder with ashes, scattering 

 them entirely around the regiment. When the 

 fonvard company came to the ashes the second 

 time, they delegated a reconnoitering party that 

 went the rounds and fell into place, Avhere they re- 

 mained and froze to death that night. I tried to 

 bring them to life, but could not. The ones I let 

 pass, steered directly for the camp. The weather 

 Avas AAinterish from that time, and they all disap- 

 ])eared. I searched for them several days, and 

 finally found them packed away around the edge 

 of the pond ; they laid from eight to fourteen 

 inches deep, and from the Avater back six feet. 

 There Avas about four rods in length occupied by 

 them, and they Avere about the same distance from 

 the Avater. 



Some began to Avind up after three weeks, and 

 others I think Avill remain dormant, as they are 

 not fully grown, and didn't seem inclined to 

 change their coats for fashion's sake. In the Agri- 

 cidtural Report of Ohio for 1860, second series, p. 

 350, is an able article by J. Kirkpatrick, Avho 

 thinks the natural habitat of the worm is the wild 

 SAvamp grasses ; and I have no doubt, from what 

 I have observed, that they ahvays go to some such 

 place as the ones above spoken of, to winter, and 

 that ashes scattered around them in quantities, 

 Avill keej) them in check, and dry ashes Avill kill 

 them, if properly applied. Dry slaked lime is as 

 good as ashes. D. J. KiNNEY. 



Wayland, Jan. 1, 1862. 



Autumn OR Winter Manuring the Best. — • 

 Neai-ly all the benefits of autumn manuring may 

 be secured, AA'here cattle and other animals are kept 

 in stables or Avarm basements, by draAving out the 

 manure during the comparatively leisure time of 

 Avinter, and spreading it at once on the land. The 

 Avinter rains, Avhenever they occur, and all the 

 spring rains, will give it a thorough Avashing, and 

 carry the liquid into the soil ; but such places must 

 be selected for this purpose as AA'ill not favor the 

 accumulation of Avater into brooks or streams, and 

 thus carry off' the manure altogether. Grass lands 

 are much the best for this treatment, by tending to 

 retain the manure. Nothing is better for gardens 

 that are to be enriched for spring crops, than au- 

 tumn or Avinter application of manure ; and ncAvly 

 planted trees, dAvarf pears, strawberry beds, &c., 

 receive a great deal of protection against cold by 

 such coatings, Avhich are to be turned in, in sjjring. 

 — Country Gentleman. 



Our New Office. — Our friends Avill please no- 

 tice that Ave have removed the oflfice of the Far- 

 mer to No. 100 Washington Street, tip stairs, and 

 directly oi'ier A. Williams & Co.'s Bookstore. The 

 location is central, and cannot be far from most 

 points Avhere those Avho Avish to call will have busi- 

 ness to transact Avhen they come to the city. We 

 have a pleasant room, and shall be glad to have 

 a fcAV moments' chat Avith any of our friends Avho 

 may be pleased to call. 



