CORN INSECTS 207 



just under the surface of the ground. The egg develops 

 into a small white grub, with a darker head, which bores 

 into the central part of the young stem. As a result, the 

 bud, or group of central leaves of the plant, wilts and 

 usualty dies. The injury is practically confined to the 

 young plants between the heights of 2 and 12 inches. 



No direct remedies have thus far been found for the 

 bud worm. The injury is worse in low wet land and in 

 fields where weeds, corn, or certain other crops have grown. 

 Rotation may be of some value, but the main reliance is 

 in very late planting. Corn planted very early is also 

 less apt to be seriously injured than when planting is done 

 in mid-season. There seems to be an advantage in caus- 

 ing the plant to pass as rapidly as possible through the 

 earlier stages of growth, during which it is subject to this 

 injury. To this end, small amounts of nitrate of soda, 

 applied at time of planting near each hill, are believed to 

 be helpful. Fields where injury from budworm are ex- 

 pected are usually planted quite thickly. When many 

 of the young plants are being injured by budw r orms it is 

 sometimes considered advantageous to " bar off " the corn 

 rows and thus warm the soil. 



190. Cutworms. There are many species of cut- 

 worms, all of which cut the young corn plant. They are 

 worse where clover, weeds, or other rank vegetation has 

 grown the preceding year. It is sometimes recommended 

 that cutworms be poisoned just before the time of planting 

 corn by scattering over the field the following preparation : 

 1 pound Paris green, 1 bushel wheat bran, thoroughly 

 mixed and moistened with sufficient water to which has 

 been added one quart of molasses. 



