18 BULLETIN 708, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
SUMMARY. 
The 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 cea. more weevil infestation 
in corn with poor shucks than in that with good shucks without 
wormholes. 7 
Laboratory investigations showed that weevils would starve rather 
than force their way feonen good shuck covering. 
These investigations showed per cent more rotten, 16 per cent 
more Tien ioiea and 18 per cent more worm-moldy ears in poor 
shucks than in good-shucks. 
The 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 shuclans 
if proper use is made of shuck-shelling machinery. 
These investigations appear to Anes 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 : GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1918 
