The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1898-09-24
which are used in shredding the stalks
may be used in preparing the silage.

which are used in shredding the stalks
may be used in preparing the silage.
The common practice of gathering
and storing corn with the husks still
inclosing the, ears is advocated by
many from a belief that the husks
serve to protect the grain from the at
tacks of insects, which are often very
destructive to stored grain. The two
insects which are most destructive to
stored corn are the Angoumois grain
moth (ielechia cerealla) and the black
weevil (Calandra oryze), and as the
corn is often infested by one or both of
these insects while still in the field
there is little to support the idea
that the husks serve as protection.
Insects which find their way SO
quickly to the bottom of bin filed
with oats or through the meshes of a
closely-woven cloth bag will not be
hindered from finding corn which is
only partially inclosed by husks. The
husks add materially to the bulk of
the stored corn, they afford no protec-
ton from insects, and provide the best
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The corn must be husked before it can
be shipped, and most of it before it
can be used. Husking can be done
more rapidly and with less expense as
the corn is being gathered than at any
other time, and under ordinary circum-
stances that is the best time for doing
the work.
If corn is to be stored only short
time the ordinary open crib is all that
is necessary, but if it is to be kept un-
til spring before using, the sides and
bottom of the crib should be tight, so
that the corn can be treated with bi.
sulphid of carbon to kill moths and
weevils. If thoroughly dry when
brought from the field it may be stored
in such bin with no danger from
heating or molding, and if treated at
once by pouring bisulphid over the top
of the corn, using one pound of the
liquid for each 100 bushels of grain, it
will be secure from insect depreda-
tions for several months If the corn
is kept until late in the season it
should be watched during the spring,
and If either moths or weevils should
be found it should receive another
treatment. If the corn is damp when
gathered, it will not be safe to put it
in close crib which is not well venti-
lated, while if placed in an open crib
1t can not be treated for killing in
sects. If no insects can be found in
the corn when it is gathered, imme-.
date treatment is not necessary, as
there will be but little danger of loss
in the grain which is used during the
winter II already infested, however,
it should be treated at once. Many
who prefer to use an open crib for per-
manent storing place the corn first in
what is known as a..quarantine bin,"
where it is treated and then removed
to the cribs where tits to remain The
quarantine bin may be one which has
been built for the purpose. but it is
more often convenient corner of the
barn which has been boarded so as to
make the sides close, and which is of
sufficient size to hold 100 bushels or
more. The corn is placed in this
bin as it is gathered, and when it is
filed one pound of bisulphid for each
100 bushels of grain is poured over it
and the top is covered with tarpaulin
or with cid sacks to confne the fumes
of the liquid. BY the end of the third
day all the insects will have been
killed and the corn may be removed
with perfect safety. If the cribs where
the corn is to be stored have previous