Iht RURAL NEW-YORKER 
1203 
What- Becomes of the Corn Ear-worm? 
Last year corn ear-worms were very 
bad in a field of sweet corn. This year 
sweet corn is on the same ground, hut 
there are practically no worms. Last 
Winter Avas mild and not generally hard 
on insects. What became of them? 
New Jersey. E. M. T. 
bnse?ts are notable for their “ups” and 
“downs,” the causes of which are little 
understood. For example, the common 
apple-tree tent-caterpillar was exceedingly 
abundant all over New York State in 
1014, 1915 and 191G on apple trees, and 
especially on wild cherries along road¬ 
sides and fence rows. In the succeeding 
years it began gradually to disappear, 
until during the Summers of 1919 and 
1920 we could scarcely find a nest to show 
to our classes in entomology. Why were 
they so much “up” in the years men¬ 
tioned, and why are they so much “down” 
now? We do not know the whole story. 
We know that the eggs and caterpillars 
are preyed upon by many parasites that 
certainly help in killing them off, and 
probably are the chief cause of the dis¬ 
appearance of the pest. When the para¬ 
sites become abundant the apple-tree tent- 
caterpillars are gradually killed off, and 
then since the parasites get out of food 
they in turn become less and less, which 
gives the tent-caterpillars another chance 
to increase again. Thus the caterpillars 
have their “ups” and “downs.” depending 
largely, we believe, on their enemies. 
Much the same story is true of the corn 
ear-worm. The eggs and the young cater¬ 
pillars are eaten by several insects, while 
certain wasps feed on the larger cater¬ 
pillars. and the robber flies actually catch 
the moths. In addition, there are several 
tiny parasites that destroy the eggs and 
caterpillars, and as though this were not 
enough, the ear-worms are subject to a 
disease that is sometimes very efficient in 
destroying them. Finally, the weather 
may have an important role in killing off 
the insect while it is resting in the ground 
over Winter. Some entomologists be¬ 
lieve that open Winters with mild days 
followed by sudden cold snaps arc often 
fatal to insects. We do know that some 
insects are easily killed if they are put 
in cold temperatures for a few hours, 
then allowed to warm up and become 
somewhat active, and then suddenly put 
back in the freezing temperatures. It is 
the sudden change that seems to kill 
them, while they easily survive long con¬ 
tinued steady cold spells. The story is a 
complicated one, and one which Ave could 
diccuss at great length. In fact, it is 
easy to discuss a matter that we know 
little about. There are so many fine 
theories that can be spun and so many 
guesses and speculations that can be made 
about a subject of which avo know little 
that it is easy to go on and on. But, 
really, avc are making progress in our 
knowledge concerning the natural factors 
that hold insects in check, and already in 
some cases serious pests have been 
checked and nearly exterminated by scat¬ 
tering their enemies through the infested 
orchards and fields, c.lenn av. hkriucjc. 
Ailing Apple Trees 
What may be troubling our two apple 
trees? They seem to be growing Avell, 
Grimes’ Golden and Yellow Transparent, 
but the leaves are curling upwards at 
the edges. They are growing in garden 
soil. This is their second season on our 
soil. F. B. 
Little Bock, Ark. 
These trees are suffering from a lack of 
water, and there are various agencies 
that might bring this condition about, 
such as dry soil, excessively hot and dry 
Aveather. partial girdling of the trunk, 
which may result from accident or injury, 
or from the attacks of rodents or insects, 
a so-called sunscald of last season, a so- 
called Winter injury, too severe, root 
pruning at time of planting, or possibly 
some disease of the roots. The remedy 
is to search for the cause, correct that as 
far as possible, and apply plenty of water, 
supplemented with a heavy water-retain¬ 
ing mulch. And do it now! It may also 
be advisable to prune the trees in case 
they otherwise need pruning, but. if this 
is done, prune just according to the prin¬ 
ciples of good pruning, and no more. In 
the matter of applying the water, the best 
method is to make several holes, the more 
the better, in the ground around the trees. 
These should reach about to the roots, 
and a crowbar is a good implement Avith 
which to make them. Then fill these holes 
until the ground is thoroughly saturated. 
Make repeated applications of water as 
often as may be necessary. 
C. O. OHMS BEE. 
Save one-third 
of your fuel 
Send for the free book that tells how 
ARCOLA gives hot-water warmth at less 
than the cost of a hot-air furnace or stoves 
I S your house heated by hot-air furnaces or 
stoves? Is it too hot in some rooms and too 
cold in others? 
You should at least know the facts about 
Arcola —the new hot-water heating plant for 
small homes, built by the same company whose 
larger heating plants warm mansions, cathe¬ 
drals and even the White House itself. 
ARCOLA burns any kind of fuel 
Arcola is different from any heating plant you 
have ever seen. As handsome as a fine phono¬ 
graph, and costing hardly any more, it can be 
installed in the living-room, dining-room or kit¬ 
chen, filling it with even healthful warmth. 
American Radiators, connected with it, carry 
its warmth to all other rooms. And the kitchen 
tank, also connected, insures a n abundance of 
hot water for washing and bathing. 
Arcola burns any kind of fuel: hard or soft 
coal, wood, coke, gas or oil. No running water is 
needed; Arcola can be filled by bucket, the same 
water being used over and over. And so scien¬ 
tific is its heating plan that it will pay for itself 
in the fuel it saves, as against a hot-air fur¬ 
nace or stoves. 
American F adiator ( Mpany 
Makers of the famous IDEAL Boilers and AMERICAN Radiators 
South Michigan Ave., Dept. F*10, Chicago, Ill. 
Branches and Showrooms in principal cities 
Merely clip the coupon and mail 
The Heating Contractor near you is an agent 
for Arcola and can tell you how surprisingly 
little it will cost installed in your home. See 
him on your next trip to town. Meanwhile 
sit right doAvn and send for your copy of the 
Arcola book. 
It shoAvs how Arcola can be installed in a 
4, 5, 6 or 7-room house without the slightest 
disturbance. It contains the experiences of 
Arcola owners and is illustrated Avith repro¬ 
ductions of paintings in full color. 
Send today for this booklet. Begin this 
winter to put into the bank one-third of the 
money you have been putting into the fire. 
AMERICAN RADIATOR CO., Dept.F.lO 
816 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago 
By mail and without obligation, send me your free book 
about Arcola. 
A 'amt' 
jiddrui 
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