10 CIRCULAR 639, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
serves not only as a poison carrier but as a bait. The mixture is a 
quick-acting poison, and only a small quantity per plant is necessary 
to control the budworm. When properly apphed the mixture seldom 
causes injury to the tobacco foliage. 
The results of a large number of experiments have revealed no 
satisfactory and less expensive substitute for the lead arsenate-corn 
meal mixture. One of the most promising carriers tested was whole 
corn meal which consisted of the grain, cob, and shuck ground to 
the approximate fineness of corn meal. This mixture did not have 
_ the efficiency to warrant its use 
on cigar-wrapper tobacco, and its 
use on filler tobacco would be of 
questionable economy. 
Cottonseed meal, lime, and 
other substances are sometimes 
used in place of corn meal in the 
poison mixture, but they have 
been found much inferior. Cal- 
cium arsenate and paris green 
should not be used as substitutes 
for lead arsenate, because under 
certain weather conditions they 
may cause severe burning of the 
fohage. 
PREPARATION OF BAIT 
The recommended formula for 
the poisoned bait is as follows: 
For large quantities : Pounds 
head arsenate=asa eee tt 
Gori-meal = eee 7D 
For small quantities: 
Lead arsenate___ 6 to 7 heaping 
teaspoonfuls, or 2% ounces 
Corn meals 1 peck 
Care should be taken to obtain 
ee n even distribution of the poi- 
Figure 11.—Leaf of shade-grown tobacco a Dae ; t " tu P 1 
11 by 16 inches, showing injury caused SON throughout the corn meal. 
by the budworm. The corn meal should not con- 
bs @) 
tain much coarse husk. Small 
quantities of the bait can be prepared by mixing the ingredients by 
hand in a bucket or some other container. Mechanical mixers can be 
employed to advantage where large quantities are needed. 
THE APPLICATION OF THE BAIT 
A small quantity of the poisoned bait should be dropped 
into the center of the bud. The necessity of applying the mixture 
directly to the bud is especially emphasized, since applications care- 
lessly made are of small value. The poison applications should be 
begun as soon as the plants have become established in the field. 
The first two or three applications may be made by means of a quart 
