12 BULLETIN 708, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
were rotten, while 18~per cent were discolored and 40 per cent were : 
worm moldy. 
A comparison of ‘the classes with different shuck coverings shows 
that 3 per cent more ears In poor shucks than in good shueks were 
rotten, 16 per cent more were discolored, and 18 per cent more were 
affected with worm mold. 
GENERAL VALUE OF A GOOD SHUCK COVERING. 
Of all the ears of corn produced in the United States each year, com- 
paratively few entirely escape damage. Most-of them lose only a few 
kernels because of earworms or other insects or are more or less 
reduced in value by molds or discoloration. This damage is usually 
passed without concern, but when it is considered that a loss of only 
one kernel per ear amounts to an annual loss for the United States of 
at least 5,000,000 bushels and that this amount must be multiplied 
several times to represent the total annual loss, it becomes apparent 
that these losses are worthy of attention. It seems that by improving 
the shuck protection ear damage in any section can be considerably 
reduced, but such protection can be made of the greatest value in 
sections infested with weevils. Some special advantages of shuck 
protection in a weevil-infested section are mentioned below. 
ADVANTAGES IN THE FIELD. 
The relation of the shuck covering to the percentage of damaged 
kernels is illustrated by the figures presented in Table VIII. These 
data were obtained on October 6, 1916, from two of the lots of ears 
considered in Table V. 
TasiE VIII.—Relation of the shuck covering of corn to the percentage of damaged kernels. 
Percentage of kernels damaged. 
Number 2 e 
Kind of shuck covering. ouees Total. ° 
ae By By ear- | By worm 
weevils. | Worms. mold. 
With practically no extension..--.....-.-.-.------.- | 100 14 6 a4 | 20 
With an extension of 4 to 6 inches beyond the tips of | | 
MOVE AL Sria ay ncpiye nicleta ina iat stcie oie os ses are eR eiete stnre peste rere 111 0 1 al 1 
Advantage in favor of shuck extension......... [pigeecwes ea 14 Bal etek acre eas 19 
a These figures are included in those for worm-eaten kernels. 
With practically no shuck extension, 14 per cent of the kernels 
were damaged by weevils, 6 per cent by worms, and 4 per cent by 
worm mold. No kernels with shuck extensions of 4 to 6 inches were 
damaged by weevils, 1 per cent were damaged by worms, and 1 per 
cent by worm mold. The ears in shucks with practically no extension 
had a total of 20 per cent of their kernels damaged, while in the ears 
with shuck extensions only 1 per cent were damaged. It is evident, 
Sa aie 
