The spectator., 1922-06-02


 by the United States Department of Agriculture. The most important sim gle measure will be the rigid enforce ment of federal quarantine regulations by the federal horticultural board of the department, in cooperation with the Canadian government and the va riOus states where the pest now ex- ists. This will prevent other infesta- tiOns of the insect from coming into the United States and will go a long way toward keeping the borer from being carried to other parts of the country.
 The bureau of entomology of the department has prepared its plans for Investigating the insect, which was discovered in this country during 1917, with view to applying and simplifying methods of controlling 1t. The slight infestations along the lake shore 1t is believed, will not cause serious injury to corn there immediately, giving am- pie time for careful study of the in- sect and its behavior in this new en- virOnment before actual commercial damage Is done. For this purpose the bureau will establish immediately a number of entomologists at Sandusky, Ohio.
 May Have Come From Canada.
 The infestation on Lake Erie, 1t is believed, originated in the province of Ontario, Canada. where q severe in- festation has been present for several years. Favorable winds during the flight season of the moth in the sum- mer of 1921 are supposed to have compelled the adult insects to fly across the lake to the American side, where they became established along almost the entire southern shore. Rec ords of the weather bureau indicate that for the first time in five or six years the winds prevailing then blew from the north or northwest for sev- eral days at time. It is not thought, therefore, that this condition will pre- vail again for several years, and other moths be blown over.
 In order to watch this phase of the matter, however, the bureau of ento- mology will request permission of the lighthouse service to station observers during the flight season at the power ful lights maintained along the south ern shore. They will ascertain, If pos sible, whether moths are attracted to the lights from the other side.
 The federal quarantine includes 144 cities and towns in Massachusetts, three in Michigan F in New Hamp- shire, 115 in New York, 42 in Ohio, and 13 in Pennsylvania, and prohibits the shipment of corn and broom corn, including all parts of the stalk. cut flowers or entire plants of chrysanthe- mum, aster, cosmos, zinnia, hollyhock, and cut flowers or entire plants of gladlolus and dahlia. except the bulbs, to other states throughout the year. The ban applies to other products for the period between June 1 and De cember 31. in the New England terri tory. The prohibition applies to corn and broom corn, including all parts of the stalk. all sorghums and sudan grass from infested areas in New York. Pennsylvania. Ohio. and Michi- gan throughout the year. No restric- tions are placed on the interstate movement of clean shelled corn and clean seed of broom corn.
 Control Practices Recommended.
 To control the corn borer on the farm. the department recommends the following practices:
 1. Burn, or otherwise destroy, be- fore May of each year, all cornstalks, corn cobs. corn stubble, vegetable. field and flower crop remnants, weeds and large-stemmed grasses of the previous year.
 2. Keep cultivated fields. fence rows. field borders, roadsides and such places free from large weeds or large-stemmed grasses.
 3. Cut corn close to the ground.
 4. Cut and remove sweet corn fodder from the field as soon as the ears are harvested. Feed direct to live stock or place In silo.
 5. Cut and remove field corn from the field as soon as the ears are ma ture. Feed the stalks to live stock as soon as possible and burn or otherwise dispose of the uneaten parts before May l following Shred or cut the fodder to increase it's consumption.
 6. Flow under thoroughly, in the fall, all infested cornstalks. corn stub ble. other crop remnants, weeds and similar material which 1t is impracti- cal to destroy in any other manner. When necessary to adopt this prac- tice an attempt should be made to blow under all the material to depth of at least 6 inches.
 '. Plant small areas of early sweet corn to act as trap crop. adjacent te