The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-07-19
Enemy Of Corn Crop,
Atlanta Journal.

The corn crop of the south is
threatened with total loss by the
destructive onslaught Of the larger
cotton stalk borer, a new enemy that
hes come to devastate the fields Of
growing grain.
Many letters have been received
by State Entomologist Scott from
farmers in all sections of the State,
and he has received quite an interest.
ing collection of the worm and the
stalks upon which he finds his exist
ence
The worm is hatched from the eggs
of moth that lays or the young
stalk of corn. The period of hatch
ing requires little more than week,
and the moment the new born pest
open its eyes in the new world he
begins boring his way ioto the heart
of the stalk, killing aud poisoning the
life of the plant.
State Entomologist Scott. in au
interesting interview this morning,
tells the full story of the worm and
the remedy that must be applied TO
save the crop from destruction.
Entomologist Scott, in speaking of
the worm which is destructive, says:
"Tbe larger cornstalk borer is
large white caterpillar. dotted with
dark brown spots, which bores into
corn stalks preventing the growth Of
the ears on young corn and weaken
ing Older stalks so that it is readily
blown down 1t frequently occurs
in such numbers in corn fields that
one stalk of corn may be riddled
with twenty or thirty holes
This insect is quite we'll distrib-
uted over the southern States and
frequently becomes very trouble
some, causing loss of 25 to so per
cent. of the crop when it occurs in
large numbers Aside from corn it
also attacks sugar cane, sorghum and
CANA grass or semain grass
''The adult insect is moth which
deposits eggs on young corn soon
after it comes up. The eggs soon
hatch and the young larvae bore into
the stalk from the ground to the
third joint anu tunnel usually up.
ward through the pith Corn Stake
affected become distorted and do not
form ears.
There is second generation of
this insect which bores into the
well>grown stalks and so weaken
them that they are frequently blown
over This second generation passes
the winter in the old corn stalks
ready to produce spring brood to
attack the next crop of corn.
"The remedy for this insect con-
sists entirely of preventative meas
ures Since the caterpillars stay
over.winter in the old corn stalks
they can be almost entirely destroyed
by burning the stalks in the falls or
winter after the crop is gathered.
"Our method of pulling fodder and
leaving the stalks Oh the ground, or
even cutting the corn and leaving
the butts, affords the very best con-
ditions for this insect to hold over the
winter and continue to multiply year
after year. The stalks should be
dragged of, collected and burned
during the fall and winter.
"Again, corn should not follow
corn on infested lands A system of
rotation cf crops should be adopted,
go that corn will not be planted on
the same land two years in success
ion The same is true of sugar caue
and sorghum Also swamps in which
CANA grass : is growing should be
burned over every year to destroy
the worm infestipg this grass II
these preventive measures are follow.
ed farmers need not suffer from
attacks of the pest"