INSECTS IXJURIOUS TO THE GRAINS AND GRASSES. 47 



white grubs have often been responsible for the total or 

 partial failure of large areas of corn land. In 1805 the 

 grubs so injured one twenty -year-old meadow of 250 acres 

 in Illinois that the sod could be rolled up like a carpet 

 over the entire field. 



Remedies. — Unfortunately, as regards remedies for this 

 pest little is known. Though eaten by various birds and 

 ^parasitized by a half-dozen or so insects, yet these natural 

 enemies seem to be of little value for holding the grubs in 

 check. Leaving land in meadow for several years is 

 undoubtedly conducive to their rapid increase; and hence 

 a short rotation in ^\'hicli clover follows grass and which is 

 in turn followed by the small grains before corn will very 

 largely prevent serious damage to the latter crop. Poisoned 

 bran mash such as used for cutworms (see page 217) is 

 reported as having been used successfully against the grubs 

 by scattering it over infested land. 



If turned loose in infested grass land, swine will fairly 

 gorge themselves on the grubs, and, prior to plowing grass 

 land for corn, this will be found to be one of the best 

 means for ridding it of grubs. The hogs will also feed as 

 freely upon the beetles which drop to the ground from the 

 trees and hide during the day, and hence they may be of 

 considerable benefit in woodland adjoining infested fields. 

 A flock of chickens or turkeys following the plow or culti- 

 vator will also be found to consume not a few of the grubs. 

 In Europe the beetles are systematically jarred from the 

 trees in the early morning by organized bands composed 

 mostly of women and boys, in much the same manner as we 

 ** jar" for the Plum-curcnlio. But such methods, as well 

 as spraying seem hardly practicable in our larger country, 

 except possibly for young orchard-trees, which are often 



