101 
THE ARMY-WORM —Leucania ( Heliophila ) unipuncla , Haworth. 
Fig. 22. Army-worm Moth. 
Fig. 21. Larva of Army-worm 
Fig. 23. Army-worm Chrysalis. 
So much has already been written about this insect that a lengthy 
dissertation here would seem out of place. In common with the 
grasses and small grains, corn is subject to the attacks of these worms 
in the spring, either by the migratory broods that travel in large 
numbers, making a general destruction of whatever vegetation is in 
their path, or it may be in the role of a Cut-worm where the single 
individuals feed at night on the blades, or cut off the young stalks and 
remain hid during the day. It is only at intervals of several years 
that the Army-worms appear in vast numbers, but almost every' sea¬ 
son a lew may be found, fat and greasy looking fellows, apparently 
less adapted to traveling than their more restless brethren. It was 
in the latter role only that I observed them the past season. At such 
times the number is usually limited, and if the usual preventives 
that are used for Cut-worms be applied, especially the precaution of 
burning rubbish on the ground before plowing, but little damage will 
oe experienced from them in the Cut-worm capacity, at least so far as 
3orn is concerned. 
I am aware that plowing under grass and other substances enriches 
the land more than if the same material be burned, and to burn such 
material every season without some compensation, is an exhaustive 
process to the soil, as the substances, if burned, not only add nothing 
to the decomposed vegetable matter that the soil requires for plant 
production, but the alkali thus produced serves to dissolve and the 
nore rapidly use up the humus the soil alieady contains. The result 
of such treatment, as every farmer of observation is aware, is large 
3rops for a year or two and then a falling off, unless it be in excep¬ 
tional cases where the land has a large surplus of vegetable mould, 
vyhen alkali is beneficial. In view of this it is better to examine for 
^ut-worms or other similar insects under bunches of dead grass just 
oefore plowing in the spring, and not resort to burning unless there 
>s reason to believe it is necessary. 
