8 The Bulletin. 



an extra quantity of seed is planted a stand may be secured even if some 

 is destroyed by insects. Any surplus that remains can then be gotten rid 

 of by thinning. There used to be a commonly quoted rhyme in this con- 

 nection : 



"One for the cut-worm, 

 And one for the crow, 

 One grain to rot, and 

 Two grains to grow." 



The idea here is the planting of extra seed so that there will be a 

 stand left in spite of poor germination and damage to the young stalks. 

 This is a very simple expedient, though it does not in any way decrease 

 the number of pests. 



Cultivation. — Frequent and thorough cultivation of the soil not only 

 stimulates the com to a better growth, but acts as a decided check to 

 cut-worms, wire-worms, root-lice, and other insects living in the soil. 

 The cultivation can be more thoroughly practiced when corn is planted 

 in checks, so that it can be cultivated both ways, than when the ordinary 

 method is used. 



Selection of Lands. — Wire-worms and bud-worms are worse in low- 

 lands. It should be remembered, therefore, that when other considera- 

 tions do not interfere, it may be well to avoid the very low situations. 



Disposition of Remnants. — Throughout the southern states it is a com- 

 mon custom to "pull" the fodder, leaving the stalks standing in the field, 

 often with the shucks attached, until the land is needed for other pur- 

 poses, when they are beaten down and plowed under. Such a practice is 

 detrimental from the standpoint of one who wishes to avoid insect in- 

 jury. If the fodder were cut at the ground (or as close to it as practi- 

 cable) and the stalks and leaves shredded or made into ensilage, a reduc- 

 tion of insect injury should result, and the value of the fodder and grain 

 would both be increased by the process. Many insects find hibernating 

 places in these stalks and husks. Chinch-bugs, grain weevils, and 

 stalk-borers are all favored by this custom of "pulling" and leaving the 

 stalks, and all will be more or less reduced by abandoning the custom 

 and making use of the shredder and the silo. Even the plowing out, 

 raking together and burning of the stubs will sometimes be advisable. 



In some of our extreme northeastern counties it is the regular prac- 

 tice of many farmers to burn the stalks, under the idea that this destroys 

 bill-beetles; but we question the advisability of this, for the land needs 

 the humus of the stalks. If the stalks be cut and fed as fodder or en- 

 silage and the remaining stuhhle be plowed out, raked together and 

 burned, the whole result, in our opinion, would be better. 



Ideal System to Avoid Insect Injury. — Having gone into some detail 

 with these cultural considerations, it is well now to summarize with a 



