The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-14
Corn Insect Control
Ry IN. 70. HINDs. EnfomnIorist

| Before planting single kernel of corn
every planter in the southern two-thirds
of Alabama especially, should consider
| carefully the two factors which have
proven to be the most important in re-
ducing the insect injury to stored corn,
and arrange to utilize these factors SO
as to increase greatly the amount of
sound corn produced this year.
The first of these two factors is the
selection of weevil resistant seed ears
for the main crop. This means to take
only such ears as have a shuck covering
that is long and tight-fitting enough
to have kept practically all insects away
from the grain. This shuck character
varies in different varieties, home hav-
ing most of the ears well covered while 4
others are mostly open at the tips. But
well covered ears can be found in every
variety. This is the most important
single factor tending to make corn weevil
to all other characters that the grower
considers desirable in a good seed ear.
Only such weevil protected corn should
be used for planting the main crop.
Careful seed selection pays splendid
profits in increased yields and more
sound grain.
Do not plant seed from the largest
even IL they do not show insect injury.
1t is certain that the stalk which bore
such arr ear bore only that one and the
freedom from insect injury may have
been due entirely to late maturity 1t is
well known that all of the largest corn
yields are made with the smaller-eared,
more prolific varieties The weight of
shelled grain from the best two ears
that can be found on one stalk will
always exceed that from the best single
ear of the same variety. So even in crib
selection the chances are really better
for large yields with mediums sized, we'll
covered ears for seed.
The best seed selection can be done
only in the field in the fall, but if that
was not done. then make the best seec-
ton possible now.
The black weevils and other corn in
Testing insects pass the winter prin-
cipally in the cribs of stored corn-es-
pecially where the corn is stored with
the shuck on. From the cribs they fly
to the fields on any warm days from
earliest spring SO long as there is corn
in the cribs for them to breed on. In
the fields they have no other breeding
place until the corn begins to mature. 4
The earliest maturing corn, therefore.
acts as a concentration center for these
hungry insects, attracting black weevils
and other insects for at least quarter
a we'll known fact that the earliest ma
turing corn is also the most heavily in
tested and this is the explanation for
it.
Therefore, the second of these factors
is to arrange to trap the insects by
concentrating them upon the small area
which may become a trap plot or trap 4
rows if properly handled later. The
essential thing is to have the trap ma
ture three weeks before the next earliest
field of corn. The most effective loca-
ton for the trap is near the storage
crib il possible, and next, to plant a
few rows (from six to 10) along the outer
sides (and especially next to the woods 1
of the field to be protected
Seed for the traps may be of the
same variety as the main crop if planted
earlier. but early maturing prolific corn
may be planted at the same time and
besides some of the much more rank
growing, single-eared variety with little,
if any, crossing. Remember that there
should be difference of about three
weeks in date of tasseiling to avoid cross \
ing and to secure the benefit of the
trap.
To make the earliest maturing corn a
trap plot, all ears on 1t must be gath
cred with the shuck on, within six weeks
after it is in the roasting ear stage.
This corn may be fed out Immediately
or fumigated to control the insects. NO
eggs are laid by the black weevil or
other insects until the grain hardens and
fully month is then necessary for the
development of the first generation
Therefore, If the corn is gathered and
taken out of the field before this first
generation has matured and emerged
from the grain, it is possible to control
this generation and thus prevent their
spread to later maturing corn. In this
way the main crop can be very thorough-
ly protected. Do not fall to gather the
earliest corn promptly Tor II the iirst
generation Is allowed to spread that
corn becomes the breeding place instead
OF trap plot.
BY practicing these two simple things
the corn growers of Alabama can save
millions Of dollars worth OF corn every
year without adding a cent to the cost
of production.