CORN CULTURE 19 



it has caused a loss of thousands of dollars. It is present 

 in some degree in almost every corn-field. 



At full size the root-worm is about one-third inch 

 in length, and as large around as a pin. It is whitish 

 in color, with its head and the first segment of its body 

 brown. As soon as the young worms are hatched out they 

 enter the roots of the growing corn, burrowing back and 

 forth just under the outside covering. Half a dozen worms 

 are sometimes found in the one root, and as many as 200 

 in a single hill. The worm destroys the tender part of the 

 root, which turns brown and rots off, leaving only the 

 stubs of roots. As a result, the stalk of corn is deprived 

 of its means of securing moisture and nourishment. The 

 yield is greatly reduced, the ears are light and chalky, and 

 many stalks are barren. 



There is as yet no way of stopping these pests once they 

 begin on a field of corn. But the remedy is simple for the 

 next year change the field to some other crop. For this 

 will leave the young worms with no food, and they will 

 all die. Later the field can again be planted in corn, and 

 be free from root-worms for at least the first year. 



The corn-root aphis or louse. After the root-worm, 

 the worst insect enemy of corn is the corn-root aphis. This 

 is a small louse, no larger than the head of a pin, and of a 

 bluish-green color. These lice are found in groups on the 

 roots of corn, from which they suck the juices intended for 

 the growth of the plant. 



The worst damage by the aphis is done while the corn 

 is very young. The lice sometimes destroy the roots even 

 before the plant comes up. Their work on the corn roots 

 causes the plant to turn yellow and take on a sickly appear- 

 ance. If they are very severe in their attack, the tips of the 

 leaves become purplish, and the stem slightly reddish in 

 color. The yield of the crop is greatly reduced, and its 



