INDIAN CORN 207 



The Southern Com Root-worm is the more destructive 

 in the south. The adult is a small yellow beetle with 

 black spots that feeds upon a great variety of succulent 

 plants. Rotation of the crop is an efficient remedy for 

 the northern species and is helpful for the southern. 



Corn roots are often attacked by the 

 Corn Root Aphis, which is always asso- 

 ciated in an interesting way with a small 

 brown ant that burrows channels in the 

 soil beside the roots to make room for 

 the aphides. The latter suck the juices 

 of the roots, causing a dwarfing of the 

 plants. Rotation is the best preventive. 



Corn is a favorite food plant for the 

 notorious Chinch Bug, one of the most destructive 

 American insects. This pest attacks any of the grain 

 crops and when abundant often ruins whole fields. The 

 adult insects pass the winter in the shelter of leaves, 

 grass roots, boards, stones, or other protection and 

 scatter to grain fields in spring. Eggs are laid upon 

 the grain plants, several hundred being laid by one bug, 

 and the little bugs that soon hatch suck the sap from 

 leaves and stalks. They molt several times before be- 

 coming full grown in early summer. They then lay eggs 

 for a second brood more abundant than the first. Burn- 

 ing over the winter quarters of the pests is one of the 

 most effective remedies. 



The Cutworm is proverbial as an enemy to corn. 

 Witness the old rhyme about planting: 



One for the cutworm, 



One for the crow, 

 One for the blackbird, 



And three to grow. 



