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the natural manner. It was found that the fields which 

 were burned Winter before last, last year were free from 

 the army worm ; so theory and facts agree as to the utility 

 of this process. It seems to me also that this is the easiest, 

 least expensive, as well as the surest means of prevention. 



When the worm has appeared, (it not having been de- 

 stroyed in the egg,) we must provide the pound of cure, the 

 ounce of prevention not having been forthcoming ; there 

 are two ends to be aimed at, first, to prevent them from get- 

 ting into fresh fields, and, secondly, to destroy them in those 

 already infested. The most successful method for accom- 

 plishing the first object, is, according to Mr. Kilpatrick, to 

 plow two furrows three feet apart, and as deep as will bo 

 made by going over each furrow three times, the side of the 

 furrow towards the field should be very steep, as otherwise 

 the caterpillars would be able to get a foothold and climb 

 up ; the sides should be reformed after every rain, since the 

 water washes them down and makes them hard enoug-h to 

 enable the insects to climb up. In the second place," where 

 they are in a field, we must expect to lose the greater part 

 of the crop ; the best thing appears to be to cut the crop as 

 soon as they are discovered, and remove it at once, as they 

 continue to eat the fallen grain ; then turn in the hogs, 

 poultry, &c., and they will have a great feast and fatten on the 

 insects and the grain which they had dropped. In this way 

 the whole crop will not be lost and the chance for the next 

 year's crop will be much improved. 



I do not think it would pay to try to destroy them while 

 in the ground ; the best way to do it that I can think of 

 would be to turn them up with a harrow, and turn in the 

 hogs and poultry as before. In the moth state, the best 

 method of destroying them, is that suggested by Dr. Harris 

 for the tent caterpillar, namely to build bright fires at night 

 where they abound, into which they fly blinded by the light. 



The ichneumons were so industrious last year, in one lot 

 kiUing fifty-four out of fifty-six, that we may hope their rav- 

 ages will be much smaller this year, but in some pla- 

 ces, I see no reason why they should not be even more 

 plenty, for instance among those I brought from Middle- 

 boro', not more than ten per cent, were destroyed in this 



