The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-07-12
ENEMY OF CORN CROP.
Small Caterpillar Threatens South.
ern Crop-Means Used TO Destroy
the Worm.
Atlanta Journal.

Atlanta Journal.
The corn crop OF the South is threatened
with total loss by the destructive onslaught
Of the larger cotton stalk oorer, new enemy
that has come to devastate The fields OF grow
ing grain.
EntomologiRt Scott from farmers In al! selec'
tions OF the State, and be has received quite
an Interesting collection OF the worm and the
stalks upon which he f1uds his existence.
The worm Is hatched from the eggs OF q
moth that lays on the young stalk OF corn.
than q week, and the moment the newborn
pest opens Its eyes In the new world he be-
gins boring bis way into the heart OF the
stalk, killing and poisoning the life OF the
plant.
state Entomologist Scott, In an interesting
interview this morning, tells the full story
OF the worm and the remedy that must be ap.
piled TO save the crop from destruction; g.,
Entomologist Scott, In speaking OF the
worm which is 30 destructive. says:
THE larger cornstalk borer is large white
caterpillar, dotted with dark brown spots,
growth of the ears sn young corn and weaken.
Ing older stalks on that 1t is readily blown
down. It 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 distributed over
the southern States and frequently becomes
very troublesome, causing loss OF - TO 81
per cent OF the crop when 1t occurs IN large
uuuDcIe. aslQO llOA1 ~ oioo oseoSno
sugar game, sorghum, and CANA grass or
semain grass.
"The adult insect is a moth which deposits
eggs on young corn soon after 1t comes up.
The eggs soon hatch and the young larve
bore into the stalk from the ground to the
third joint and tunnel usually upward
through the path. Corn stalks affected be-
come distorted and do not form ears
There Is second generation OF this insect
which hores into the we'll grown stalks and
so weakens them that they are frequently
blown over. This second generation passes
the winter in the old corn stalks ready TO
produce a spring brood to attack the next
| crop of corn.
"The remedy for this insect consists entire.
| ly OF preventive measures. since Inc cater
pillars over-winter In the old corn stalks
| they can be almost entirely destroyed by
burning these stalks In the fall or winter
after the crop Ia gathered.
"Our method of pulling the fodder and
leaving the stalks on the ground, or even cut
ting the corn and leaving the butts, affords
the very best conditions for this insect 10 hold
over the winter and continue to multiply
year after year. The stalks should be drag.
ged of, collected and burned during the fall
and winter"
"AgaiD, corn should not follow corn on in.
| tested lands. A system OF rotation OF crops
should be adopted. so that corn will not be
planted on the same land two years In sue.
cession. The same is true OF sugar cane and
Gorghum. Also swamps In which CANA grass
| 10 growing should be burned over every year
to destroy the worm intesting this grass. j.
these preventive measures are followed farm.
ers need not suffer from attacks OF the pest"