The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-05
CONSERVING ALABAMA'S CORN
By E.. MINDS, EntomoIigist Alabama EXP erment Station Auburn

weeyil problem in the south will shrink to far less than half itsp resent proportions DO It this year anyway as a matter of patriotic service, as well as for selfish financial interests
 7. Have all storage places clean to begin With. Clean the crib as thoroughly as il can be swept, then pour boiling water liberally around the floor and walls to de- stroy insects hiding in the cracks. Mop ping over the floor with some good dis lnfectant or contact insectcde is a good practice.
 While there is opportunity, make earn cribs as nearly rat and mouse proof ls possible Get farmers bulletin No Sss for suggestions on rat control
 E HARVEST MAIN CROP EARLY 3. Harvest the main crop as soon as I, becomes thoroughly mature and gather this with the husks off. By using husk- ing hooks the ears can be broken froln the husks practically as quickly as they can be gathered in the slip shuck. By leaving the husks in the field fully three fourths of the adult insects on the ear will be left there and the small number of insects then stored with the corn cannot, and will not, do much damage as would the far larger number if stored with the husks on. The husk is a pro- lection to the grain while the corn sis maturing, but after that it protects the
 insects while they feed on the corn. Corn stored in the bare ear always suffers less from insect attack than does corn from the same field stored with the husk on. Where velvet beans are not grown with the corn, the corn can be shocked and later passed through a corn shredder, thus saving practically the full forage value of the stalk, and also delivering most of the ears for storage in a clean Shucked and insect-free condition.
 4. Select an abundance of seed ears in the field also separate infested from un- infested ears as the corn is gathered. This is conveniently done with practical ly no extra labor by fastening box on the wagon to receive seed ears and by dividing the wagon into two sections by means of movable cross partition of some kind. This partition may be made of boards or by fastening in place a sheet made of canvas or oat sacks. One section is to receive infested ears as they are gathered; the other for practical ly uninfested ears More careful seed selection may be made by the grower go- ing through the field with seed-picking bag and gathering the seed in advance or the general harvest
 SEED FOR MAXIMUM YIELDS
 Select seed for maximum yield of sound grain rather than for a show type of ear. s est yields of grain, Therefore, observe the following points: (a) Take seed from strong, erect stalks of medium height which have yielded best without any spe- cial advantage of distance, moisture, fer tility, etc, over the other stalks tn, Give preference to stalks bearing two or more medium ears rather than onl very large ear. Have all ears pendant E or hanging down so that the shuck will shred lypenpp @ org n dry oJ sound Co In all southern states make certain that everyS ear kept for seed is closely covered with tghr -fitting shucK extending at least two inches beyond the end of the ear, as this is the most i'm Eortant single character in '.weevil re- sistance.' A still longer shuck is an added advantage in decreasing the work of the roasting ear worms also. (d) Fumigate seed corn before cold weather and keep covered closely to prevent re infestation Store seed corn with spe- cial care to keep it dry and insect and mouse free. Sound seed is essential to prefect stands and large yields.
 5. Store general crop corn according to period of maturitytan condition of in- festation, etc. Early matured corn is most most likely to be infested and this, where it will be used first and, if pos sible, where it can he fumigated with carbon disulphid or high life" After Immigration it may be moved to open cribs if desired. Never put earlier ma turing corn in the bottom of the crib and pile late maturing corn on top. Use separate bins if possible. Late corn is practically free from veevils and this with other weevi-free corn can be stored where it is to be kept the longest This may be in a pole or log crib that would be entirely too open for fumigaton. yet