NURSERY PRACTICE FOR PRAIRIE-PLAINS PLANTING L35 



the roots of seedlings. To avoid such damage, stump land or land 

 containing trees or brush should be cultivated for a year or two before 

 using it for a nursery site. Trees which remain more than one season 

 in the nursery may be seriously damaged by the flatheaded apple tree 

 borer (Chrysobothris femorata (Oliv.)). To avoid this injury, trees 

 should be kept in good growing condition and, if possible, should be 

 removed from the nursery and planted out each season. 



Girdling and Leaf-Feeding Insects 



Cutworms and grasshoppers are here classed as girdling insects, 

 although they are not always true stem girdlers but may feed also on 

 the buds and foliage. A great many species of insects are true leaf 

 feeders, but these can be discussed in a few groups since the control 

 measures for the species within a given group are very similar. The 

 common method of control is to spray a poison such as lead arsenate 

 on the infested foliage so that the poison will be taken into the digestive 

 tract with the food of the insect. 



CUTWORMS 



Cutworms are the larvae of the night-flying (noctuid) moths or 

 "millers." Many species work on the seedlings at or just below the 

 ground line, but a few species of climbing cutworms and the army cut- 

 worms may feed on the upper stems, buds, and foliage. Feeding in 

 most cases takes place at night, and during the day the larvae may be 

 found hiding in the soil near the injured seedlings. Although some 

 species overwinter as pupae or adult moths, most of the cutworms 

 pass the winter as partially grown larvae and start work during the 

 first warm days of spring. The worst damage is likely to occur when 

 the seedlings are coming up ; during a single warm night a great many 

 seedlings may be cut off. 



Early discovery of the cutworms will prevent much damage. They 

 can be controlled by scattering poisoned bran mash over the nursery 

 in the evening. The bait should be made up as follows: 



Large quantities: 



Coarse wheat bran 100 pounds. 



Crude arsenic or paris green 5 pounds. 



Molasses or syrup 2){ gallons. 



Water 10 to 12 gallons. 



Small quantities: 



Coarse wheat bran 5 pounds (1 peck). 



Crude arsenic or paris green 4 ounces. 



Molasses or syrup 1 pint . 



Water 2 to 3 quarts. 



The poison, molasses, and most of the water should be combined 

 and then evenly mixed with the bran. The solution should be stirred 

 constantly while applying it to the bran to prevent the arsenic from 

 settling out. Enough water should then be added to make a crumbly 

 mixture that will just stick together when tightly squeezed in the hand. 



The bait should be thinly scattered over the nursery at the rate of 

 10 to 20 pounds (dry weight) per acre. Since the cutworms feed at 

 night, and the bait is not attractive after it has dried out, it is necessary 

 to spread it during a warm evening or late in the afternoon. Where 

 damage was serious tin 4 previous spring and the cutworms have again 



