132 INDIAN CORN CULTURE. 



and enter it, where they feed. Later they go 

 deeper into the soil and remain there over 

 wintef. In spring they come to the top soil 

 again and feed. In a few weeks they become 

 full-grown worms, when they make cells in the 

 soil, in which they Idfca^e and where they 

 undergo a change to pupa, and soon after de- 

 velop into the moth. * 



Fig 16.— Moth of dingy Cutworm Agrotis subgothica. (Alter Hl'ey ) 



About 12 kinds of cut worms are especially 

 prevalent on corn. On new sod ground the cut 

 worm is most frequently found. 



Numerous methods have been tried to' pre- 

 vent the ravages of cut worms, but as a rule 

 they are more or less unsatisfactory. Lintner 

 recommends the use of a tablespoonful of salt 

 scattered over each hill of corn.'^ He says this 

 method has been used with considerable suc- 

 cess. The explanation of this protection is 

 that the salt dissolves and is taken up by the 

 roots into circulation and makes the food un- 

 palatable to the worms. It appears to the 



* Eighth report, etc., p. 239. "^ 



