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The insect causing the greatest part of the loss to this 

 portion of the tomato crop in this state, is the larval or 

 caterpillar form of a moth scientifically known as Helio- 

 this obsoleta. In the caterpillar form it is best known as 

 the boll worm of cotton or as the corn worm. It is a de- 

 structive enemy of corn and especially of sweet corn and 

 seems to prefer this latter to any other diet. The appear- 

 ance of the larva or "worm" is familiar to all who have 

 handled sweet corn "in the ear." This food preference can 

 fce successfully taken advantage of to control this pest in 

 tomato fields where the saving of the "bottom" crop is a 

 matter of importance, by planting sweet corn as a trap 

 crop. The method to be used is as follows: Prepare the 

 land fully four weeks before the tomato plants are to be 

 removed from the frame and put, out in the field. As soon 

 as the land is prepared plant rows of sweet corn about 

 twenty feet apart across the field. The corn should be 

 planted in hills in the rows, these hills being a convenient 

 distance apart for cultivating, so that they may not inter- 

 fere with this operation after the tomatoes are set out. 

 The sweet corn should be well up and growing before the 

 tomatoes are placed in the field. The adult moth laying the 

 <eggs from which are produced the damage causing "worms" 

 -are attracted by the sweet corn and oviposit upon it and the 

 tomatoes, in very large measure, escape injury. Of course 

 no paying crop of corn need be expected under these con- 

 ditions for the product will be too "wormy" to market. 

 It will, however, have well served its purpose as a trap crop 

 and can, at the proper time, be cut for fodder. 



This "trap crop" method of controlling certain pests that 

 are pot controllable in any other way, deserves study and 

 use upon the part of the truck gardener. It is, however, 

 not to be considered as offering a ready means of relief 

 in every case of insect injury that may arise. 



FARM PRACTICE. 



Closely related to the "trap crop" method of control of 

 certain insect pests, in a method that may be designated 

 under the rather broad title of "farm practice." There are 



