The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1919-06-13

Although the female moths or the
, European corn bOrer are capable OF
flight, and may extend gradually the
present limit Of the pest by natural
spread, the chief danger of the coun-
try'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 1t will be necessary
strictly to enforce all federal and state
tatiOn out of the infested area Of all
plants or plant products likely to be
infested by the borers.
A most effective method Of Destroy
ing the European corn borer is to burn
all of the previous years corn stalks,
corn stubble, crop remnants and stalks
Of garden plants, weeds and larger
grasses that may contain the over
wintering borers. 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. 1t 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
of 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 is undoubtedly the
most effective and cheapest method
known for the destruction of infested
material, especially during the late
fall, winter and spring, when the vege-
tation is dead and dry. 1t may be nee
essary to sprinkle the plants with Oil
or to use other fuel to secure complete
combustion. Where 1t Is possible and
safe to use running fire In destroying
infested plants, this is the quickest
means.
In some cases, particularly in that
Of corn, the infestation may be con-
trolled by feeding the grain to live
stock either directly from the field or
as ensilage. From the economic stand
point this is the best possible means Of
destruction. In some infested districts
it is common for the owners of dairy
10 hn
corn paintings of the market gardens
as well as from home gardens after
the crop has been harvested. Where
fodder is fed green 1t should be run
through a shredder or cutting machine
before it is given to- 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 to prevent the borers from
making their way to the surface, and
a few stalks may remain exposed.
Experiments in applying arsenical
poisons to the surface of corn plants
have shown that large numbers of the
borers may be poisoned in this manner
during the early stages. At this period
they feed to a slight extent on the
surface Of the plants, especially on the
leaf plants. 1t was found impossible,
however, to protect the plants entirely
in this manner. as the number of bOr-
ers not killed by the poison was suf-
ficent to damage the stalks and ears
severely. The cost Of applying these
poisons is prohibitive, because several
applications are necessary, and the
method is not recommended.