WHEN CORN IS FOX-EARED 53 



do we know when the right time has arrived?" 

 Mr. Smith asked. 



"This must be determined for the different sec- 

 tions of the South," Mr. Colby told them; "in this 

 section we have studied the life and habits of this 

 insect very carefully and find that the first eggs are 

 laid early in March and hatch during the first week 

 in April. The earthen cells and pupae have been 

 formed about May 19, and the full-grow'n beetles 

 come out beginning about May 24. Now, if the 

 weather is such that you can plant in March, the 

 corn has a chance to get a good start before the 

 worms can do severe injury." 



" How about planting in April ? " Mr. Grimes asked. 



"I have just said that the eggs hatch during the 

 first days of April, and to plant your corn at that 

 time would be like feeding the worms, don't you 

 see ? If you wait until the worms have become full 

 grown or have changed to pupae, they do not feed, 

 and that is a good time to plant, to give the corn a 

 chance to get a good start. In this section they 

 change to the pupaa, as I have said, on May 19, and 

 for that reason about May 19 would be a safe date 

 to plant to avoid injury." 



My brother, who lives in the southern part of 

 this state, has this trouble also ; would you recom- 

 mend the same date for him?" Mr. Grimes asked. 



Mr. Colby replied, "In the middle portion of our 



