Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry 
WM. A. TAYLOR, Chief 
Washington, D. C. PROFESSIONAL PAPER September 18, 1918 
SHUCK PROTECTION FOR EAR CORN. 
ey ; ; 4 ate: 
By C. He Kyte, Assistant Physiologist, Office cf Corn Investigations. 
CONTENTS. 
Page Page 
Mt ROMUEHOMAE s- oe ee see caw as cece cmeenee ee 1 | General value of a good shuck covering......- 12 
Relation of shuck characters to insect infes- _ Advantages in the field.-..-..2........2- 12 
FULT app ae i Sone 2 Madvamtasesn StOragela sates meee sees 13 
Rieldtinvestigatlonss-os..-+2. 5-25 2c2 sc 2 Advantages.in market quality........... 14 
Storage investigations. ...........-...-.- 5 | Relation of increased shuck protection to the 
Laboratory investigations.............-. 7 Costolishuckinow een ace aoe eee 14 
Results of investigations in 1916...........-- g.| The production of better shuck protection... 15 
Shuck extension as a preventive of worm SUMMA Verde ey-e cine ne oa oe See oe ee 16 
LENIN O CR cern ee ee eesta a gees oR See ee Ag Eo 9 
Relation of shuck covering to mold and dis- 
Colorationirse ss sasseme Sos asec Sane shes ats | 
INTRODUCTION. 
Most corn growers fail to realize that by improving the shuck coy- 
ering on their corn by selection they may reduce the amount of 
damage done to the grain. Growers generally consider nothing but 
the ears and kernels when selecting seed. In weevil-infested sec- 
tions in particular, variation in the damage of ears*is frequently 
observed, but if the matter is considered the cause is usually attributed 
to variation in the hardness of the grain. Weevils attack corn of all 
degrees of hardness, and their progress in consuming the hard corn 
is only slower than that in the soft corn. Some observers have con- 
cluded that since weevils are able to eat the hardest corn, they would 
also cut their way through the most resistant shucks in order to feed 
upon the grain, if sufficiently urged by hunger. Others have observed 
that earworms may cut holes through a large percentage of the pro- 
tecting shucks and that weevils will enter through these holes, and 
they have concluded from this that shuck covering can not be 
made a practicable means of protection. Then, too, there is a senti- 
ment on the part of some against a large amount of shuck. 
With such a formidable array of misconceptions and real diffi- 
culties as these and others, it is not surprising that little or no action 
59563°—18—Bull. 708 
