92 Corn Grubs, or Cut Worms. Fall Ploughing, 



posure to the subsequent inclemencies of the winter. It would be 

 Well to collect facts ; so that the history of this destructive foe to 

 our corn plants may be fully known ; and such facts are infinitely 

 more useful and valuable than theories. A highly useful fact is of- 

 ten lost sight of, in controversies about causes ; such discussions not 

 being always carried on with candour or temper. The consequen- 

 ces of disputes on agricultural questions, are not a little injurious to 

 the interests of the art ; by deterring many who are apprehensive of 

 critical remarks, from publicly communicating their thoughts or 

 experience. There has been more fall and winter ploughing, du- 

 ring the past autumn and present winter, than I recollect heretofore 

 to have occurred in any one year Therefore facts can hereafter rea- 

 dily be collected on the subject ; especially as they relate to the cut- 

 worm, and the means of preventing its ravages. If the balance of 

 facts be favourable, although the practice, like all human endea- 

 vours, may not always be equally successful, there is sufficient en- 

 couragement to pursue this operation ; which, independently of its 

 effect, generally, on the cut-worm, has sufficient advantages to re- 

 commend it. I never observed the white grub, (the offspring of the 

 cockchaffer,) to injure materially, if at all, the young corn plants- 

 The beetle producing them, I believe, deposits its eggs deep: and 

 the white grubs generally delight to remain subterraneously. Be- 

 ing furnished with a shelly head, and more powerful means of feed- 

 ing on coarser food, they seldom appear superficially, at the time 

 the corn plant is young and tender. My potatoes have often suffered 

 by these grubs; which bury themselves in, and feed on, the bulb. 

 This is one of the disadvantages of sod planting ; which, neverthe- 

 less, I think a good practice. Among my potato crop, (on fall- 

 ploughed ground,) grew a number of fine plants of Indian corn; 

 which were not in the least annoyed, eithei by the white grub, or 

 the cut worm ; yet the corn on m}' tenant's field plough- 



ed, divided from mine only by a fence, was so injured by the 

 cut-worm, that it had been replanted twice or thrice. My gro; 

 had been ploughed in the autumn 8 or 9 inches deep, and treated 

 in the manner usual with mc. The sod was left to decay, unturned 

 by the plough, until I gathered a very plentiful crop of potatoes; 

 and. then white grubs were fouhd, in great numbers, among the 



