THE ARMY-WORM. 629 



descriptions, with methods of destruction, most of which 

 were tried with good success in the Eastern States, are 

 taken from an "Essay" in the Ohio Agricultural Report 

 for 1860, by Mr. J. Kirkpatrick, of Cleveland, Ohio. 



" The caterpillar of the army-worm moth, when fully 

 grown, measures from one and three fourths to two inches in 

 length, — when well fed, the latter, — and is about as thick 

 as a goose-quill ; color a lighter or darker gray, two lateral 

 stripes, the upper with a yellowish central line, the lower 

 a reddish one ; legs, sixteen, six true or pectoral, eight pro- 

 legs or abdominal, and two anal, at the extremity of the 

 body ; the head brownish, sometimes marbled, and shining ; 

 a few short hairs on the body and longer straggling ones on 

 the head. The pupa is of a mahogany-brown color, nine 

 lines in length, and tipped at the end with 

 a short spine." Fig . 276. 



The Pupa (Fig. 276) of the army-worm 

 in the Eastern States is of the same color, 

 but varies in size, being usually smaller, 

 and the spine is double or cleft at the apex. 



" When the army-worms are numerous, it is desirable to 

 arrest their ravages ; the most common, and probably the 

 easiest, method of doing this is that commonly practised, — 

 ploughing a double furrow around the field, or across any part 

 of a field that they are marching toward. It is necessary 

 to have the steep side of the furrow next the unharmed crop, 

 so that when the worm attempts to climb over, it may fall 

 back into the furrow. Running the plough once in the fur- 

 row is not sufficient ; twice and even three times is better, 

 and it requires to be renewed if washed down by rains. If 

 the soil is stiff or stony, the worms will climb over the steep- 

 est ridge ; it is on light, friable soil only that the ridge will 

 suffice to protect the field. The foothold of the worm must 

 give way, thus rolling it back into the furrow. And even 

 under the best conditions of soil it is best to have two fur- 

 rows, one about the width of a row of corn from the other. 

 The worms thus trapped should be destroyed either by fire 

 or hogs ; laying dry straw in the furrows and then setting- 

 fire to it is a good way, for by this means the soil of the 

 furrow is made more friable, and of course efficient. 

 Where, however, there is dry grass or grain near by, this 

 is a dangerous method, as the fire may extend to the field, 

 and do more harm than the army-w T orm could if let alone. 



