Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-15

pcrfOrattng the fOduer. In lnc COURSE VI
ten days from the time OF Matching the
isrva crawls down the stalk TO the base
at the ground, bores in. and then tunnels
upwards to the third. and sometimes firth
joint, destroying the pth, leaving me
stalk partly hollow and liable TO he
broken down by. the first heavy wind
BY the time the worm reaches this point
II Is fully grown, measuring about one
inch In length, nearly cylindrical In form
rather smaller at each end than in the
middle. A number Of dark brown spots
may be seen on it's back-about xix on
each segment-arranged in transverse
rows. Having reached these proportions.
II assumes the pupa state. being now ap-
parenty torpid, enyeloped in n brown
she'll, probably one fourth shorter than
when In the larva state.
A NEW MOTH.
How long 1t remains in the pupa state
is not positively known yet. but II may
be safely stated that within thlrty-three
C33) days from the time the egg Is laid
this mischieyous insect passes through the
several stages mentioned and produces a
new moth another army. with wing
expanse OF nearly, or quite, one men.
This new moth. developing in ample time
to make a tour of the fields in August, we
season. But 1t is a question whether the
second crop Of larva will hatch out IN
time 10 develop sufficiently 10 penetrate
the corn-stalk before the ear natures, or
before the stock becomes too hard to be
entered by the wedge-shaped head Of the
young bOrer.
The number Of bore-worms attacking
each stalk Of corn varies from three to
fourteen-these invariably between the
first and fifth joints more frequently the
smaller than the larger number. or the
corn planted the first and second weeks
In April - per cent. is infested by TINS
destructive worm of that planted the
third and fourth weeks in April, - per
cent: of that planted the first and Sc
cond weeks in May. Is per cent;
OF that planted the third and fourth
weeks in May, u per cent, of that
planted from the LIST 10 the 18th Of June.
rather less than 8 per cent. IS infested.
About 10 per cent Of the corn on sod
land is infested, while at least p per cent.
of that planted on stalk land Is infested.
From this last item il will be seen that
sod hand is almost free from the pest.
while the stalk land (that which was cul-
tivated in corn last year. H. infested 20
the extent Of one fourth, which shows
conclusively that the moth remains In the
old cornstalk through the fall. winter,
and spring. and that the most effectuai
way to rid the country Of a foe which
threatens to destroy the chief commodity
Of some sections il to gather from the
fields every autumn all the cornstalks
and burn them.
THE DAMAGE DONE.
In 1891, when this borer was first noticed
here and investigated the writer. by re-
quest Of the United States Entomologist
labelled very carefully a number OF IN
Tested stalks Of corn in order 70 ascertain
the extent Of damage done by the borcr
The ears from these stalks were weighed.
as were the ears from neighhorng stalks
which were not infested. and az near as
could be ascertained by this means Of
investigation. the yield Of corn by weight
was reduced about 10 per cent.
There Is good reason to believe that IL
the yield was reduced to that extent by
the number Of borers that year infeeting
the fields the damage this year will be
very much greater. for .he reason that
these worms are here in far greater num-
bers and began their work earlier in the
season than ever before.
Careful investigation and inquiry falls
to show that this destructive insect has
ever made its appearance north Of the
Potomac river. or. indeed, at any point
north Of this county. and that IL hal
not travelled even this far north TN the
season following the phcnOmenally warm
winter Of 1890. 4 few must have ar
rived here that season-judsing from the
large numbers IN 1921. and also from 4
few bored stalks In one or two 1880 corn
fields-but as before stated. they were
not discovered here until 1S9l
Another bore-worm, very closely re-
sembling this lepedOpterOus stalk -borcr.
attacks tomatoes, cabbage. and certain
other vegetables and Is by many mis-
taken for the species now running the
corn. But the history and habits Of the
two are vastly different and under the
microscope quite dissimiar Both species
are OF southern origin. ana both have
gradually moved nOrthward since per
haps about 166-their progress being gov
erned by the mean temperature Of the
winters. One species originated in the
sugar-canc fields of Louisiana. and IT'S
work was confined entirely to sugar-cane
stalks. as its name (diatreae saccharalisD
indicates, until Il reached more northern
sections. and attacked corn in the alb
sence Of sugar-caue. The other originated
I'm the Cotl0n-hrlds OF the same state
and Mississippi and confined is work %
green cotton bols Gt being the boil
worm until II travelled northward, when
ii attacked tomatoes. etc, I'm the absence
of cotton-bols. This brief mention is
here made OF the latter Ghe boll-worm)
insect. simply because some farmers have
already mistaken IL for another. and the
corn-stalk bOrrr is here described SO
eaborately. because n vast area ~ corn
is almost ruined by It. and. while the
farmers are disheartened almost 70 de-
spair at least nine tenths of them are
ignorant of what is working such ruin
the litJle enemy having secreted itself in
the stalk without leaving a trace on
the exterior u show where 1t entered
all being obscure unless a minute eXam-
nation is made.
j. SYDNOR MASSEY.
COmOrn Va