The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1919-07-10


European corn borer are capable Of
hight. and may extend gradually the
present limit Of the pest by natural
spread. IN. chief danger of the coun-
itry's corn crop lies In the possibility
that such plant material infested
by the insects may be transported
throughout the country and start other
sources OF infestation. In order to
combat this danger It will be necessary
strictly to enforce all federal and state
guarantees. prohibiting the transpor-
tation out ~ the infested area of all
plants or plant products likely TO be
infested by the bWers
A most effective method of destroy
ing the European corn borer Is to burn
all Of the previous years corn stalks.
corn stuhble. crop remnants and stalks
OF garden plants. weeds and larger
grasses sthat may contain the over
wintering bTcrs. This must be done
during the late fall. winter and early
spring. while the borers are hiding In
such material. Infested plants may
also be- disposed of when practicable
by feeding them To live stock or by
burying them In manure or compost
heap. II should be- clearly understood
that each and every plant likely to be
Infested must be destroyed This in
cludes the stubble and upper part Of
the roots. Occasionally plants or parts
~ plants which may seem hardly
worth the trouble To clean up are like
ly to harbor enough borers TO give rise,
by the end of the season. TO AS many
insects as were present before the
cleanup operations began.
Burning Most Effective.
Complete burning r. undoubtedly the
most effective and cheapest method
known for the destruction 81 infested
material, especially during the late
fall. winter and spring, when the vege-
tation is tiend and dry II may be nee
essary 10 sprinkle the plants with oil
ar To use other fuel Ia secure complete
combustion. Where II Is possible and
safe Ia use running fire in destroying
infested plants. this is the quickest
means.
In some cases, particularly In that
Of corn. the infestatim may be con
trolled by feeding the grain To live
stock either directly from the field or
Ms ensilage. From the economic stand
point this is the best possible means OF
destruction. In some infested districts
Il Il common for the owners 6 dairy
cows TO collect fodder from the sweet
corn paintings of the market gardens
as well as from home gardens after
the crop has been harvested Where
fodder is fed green II should be run
through Il shredder or cutting machine
before II is given tn the live stock. as
this process greatly reduces the
chances that any OF the borers con-
tanned therein will survive.
The practice Of blowing under in
tested material is not recommended.
because blowing, even when carefully
done. will not cover the material deep
ly enough 10 prevent the borers from
making their way Ia the surface. aud
isfew stalks may remain exposed
Experiments in applying arsenical
polsons 10 the surface Of corn plants
have shown that large numbers Of the
horers may be poisoned ia this manner
during the early stages. At this period
they feed to slight extent on the
surface Of the plants, especially ON the
Leaf. plants II was found impossible.
however, to protect the plants entirely
In this manner, ms the number of bor-