AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. 133 



appeared io Maryland is given, and which \ve suspect to be another 

 species of brand. 



&quot; The cap of the injured ear is discolored, and when opened a few 

 grains near the apex of the enr, and one side of it, mark the commence 

 ment of the disease in their sickly and shrivelled appearance ; this in 

 creases in space and intensity until the whole ear exhibits a deadly and 

 gangreneous mass of black, rotten grains, uhile the whole plant on 

 which it grows is erect, and of the most healthy and vigorous appear 

 ance. It did much injury to the crop. 



312. The insects most injurious to the corn are: 



( A.) Out-worms. These are thick, greasy-looking caterpillars, from one 

 to two inches in length, of a dark ashen grey color, with a brown head, 

 a pale stripe along the back, and several minute black dots on each 

 ring. They are the grub of a species of moth, belorging to a group 

 called by Dr. Harris Agrotidians ; and there aie many species in the 

 United States, each species probably confining itself to a particular 

 family of plants, as one to the cabbage, another to grasses and grain*, 

 The moths fly by night, appearing in July and August. They lay their 

 eggs either in the giound, or on the roors of plants in the autumn, and 

 these are hatched in the spring, the Cut-worm being produced. These 

 feed on plants, concealing themselves in holes in the ground during day, 

 and appearing only at night. During the summer they become chrysa- 

 lids; remain in that state about four weeks; and the moth again ap 

 pears in the fall. The corn Cut- worm, is probably the Agrostis rncsso- 

 &amp;lt;ria of Harris. They feed only on the sprouts and young stalks and do 

 not eat the seeds of plants. 



(Z?) Wire-worm, or lulus, a hard, worm-like form, with the skiu 

 seperated into compartments or rings. It is not a true 7nsecas it un 

 dergoes no transformation; and belongs to the class Myriapodia, a 

 name derived from the great number of feet with which most of the an 

 imals included in it are furnished. There are several species. 



((7.) Wire-worm. In some localities, especially in new lands, and 

 on plowing up old grass fields, another insect known by this name 

 proves very injurious to young corn. They are long, slender, worm-like 

 grubs nearly cylindrical, with a hard and smoth skin, of a buff or brown 

 ish yellow color, the head and tail only being a little darker ; each of 

 the first three rings are provided with a pair of short legs ; under 

 neath the last ring is a short retractile wart, or prop leg. These are the 

 grub of a species of Beetle, the Slaters or Spring beetles, well known 

 in this shape by the faculty they possess of throwing themselves up- 



