16 BULLETIN 708, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUEE. 



SUMMARY. 



Tlie investigations reported upon in this bulletin had for their 

 object the establishment by positive means of some of the most 

 important facts regarding the merits of shucks as a means of pre- 

 venting damage to ear corn. 



Field investigations showed 4 ! per cent more weevil infestation in 

 corn with poor shucks than in that having good shucks without 

 wormholes. 



Storage investigations showed 9 ? per cent more weevil infestation 

 in corn with poor shucks than in that with good shucks without 

 wormholes. 



Laboratory investigations showed that weevils would starve rather 

 than force their way through good shuck covering. 



These investigations showed per cent more rotten, 16 per cent 

 more discolored, and 18 per cent more worm-moldy ears in poor 

 shucks than in good shucks. 



Tlie so-called good shucks of these investigations were not ideal, 

 but only better than the so-called poor shucks. The later inves- 

 tigations made it clear that the longer the shuck extension beyond 

 the tips of the ears, the more effective is the protection against causes 

 of damage, including earworms. This suggests the possibility of 

 breeding a shuck extension long enough to be entirely effective 

 against ear damage. 



Increased shuck protection need not increase the cost of shucking 

 if proper use is made of shuck-shelling machinery. 



These investigations appear to justify the following recommenda- 

 tions : 



(1) Breed corn with a very long shuck extension that fits tightly about the silks. 



(2) To better protect ear corn in the fields from weevils, earworms, molds, and dis- 

 coloration, grow the best shuck-protected corn. 



(3) To make practicable the more general holding and feeding of corn on farms in 

 the weevil-infested areas, store shuck-protected ears in their shucks and feed or sell 

 the unprotected ears as early as possible. 



WASHINGTON : flOVEK .\ ME.NT I'RINTINO OFFICE : 1918 



