CORN OR MAIZE 93 



perhaps that has been and can be rendered by the corn 

 show to the growers of the community is to be found 

 in the lessons of the importance of maturity, the vitahty 

 of the seed corn, and the possibihties of improvement in 

 the uniformity of the product. 



Fig. 29. — A good sample of show corn. 



INSECT AND FUNGOUS DISEASES 



72. Insects. — The farmer has many difficulties to over- 

 come in growing a profitable crop of corn, and among them insect 

 troubles often have no small place. Some kinds of insects are 

 always present in the corn field, but the damage done by them is 

 comparatively small, while others may appear in such numbers 

 in certain years as to cause serious trouble and sometimes greatly 

 reduce the yield. Of the many insects that attack the corn 

 plant only a few can be discussed in this book. 



73. The wire-worm. — Almost every one has seen the 

 beetles which when placed on their backs will jump up into the 

 air with a clicking sound and light right side up. They are 

 known as the " click beetle," and are the adult form of the wire- 

 worm. The eggs are laid usually in grass land. The larvas 



