VOL. XX.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., SATURDAY, AUG. 15,1885.
NO. 33
:* The Oorn Root Worm.
BY PBOP. P. M. WEBSTER.
![!OiabroUca Longicornis.)
"Of the numerous Insects more or less
seriously affecting the corn crop, the corn
root-worm is probably the most pernicious.
Other destructive insects do their work and
leave the field, but in the case of the one
under consideration, we may look for Its
recurrence after the third or fourth crop
about as confidently as we may for corn
itself, after planting.
Although the damage caused by this Insect Is pretty general throughout the corn
belt of the States of Iowa, Illinois and Inr
diana, comparatively few farmers are acquainted with the nature of the pest, and
sfill less understand the ease with which
its ravages may be controlled. IJke all insects ita period of existence is divided into
four epochs, or stages, viz: the egg, tho
larval or worm; the pupal, during which
it requires no food, and the adult. Although in this case it is injurious in but
one, the worm stage, nevertheless it is
virtually the same enemy throughout all,
and I shall endeavor to describe them, by
the aid of illustrations, so tbat it will be
recognized at once.
THE ADULT—PTO. 1.
This Is a small,
rather robust, green
.or greenish-yellow
beetle, about one-
fifth of an inch long
and about half as
broad.
Few farmers can
have failed to observe these, at any
time during the last
fig. I.
pig. 2.
of August, all ot September, and tlie first
part of October, flying about among the
corn, usually alighting upon the silk upon
which they feed. Outside of the corn
fields, they often congregate npon the
blossoms of clover and golden rod, but
show little of a migratory nature.
THK KOO—Fit). 2. ,
During October
the females descend into the
crevices of the
earth about the
roots of the corn
and there deposit
a large number
of minute, dingy-
white eggs, which, to the unaided eye, resemble minute grains of light-colored sand;
after which they soon perish. TITO form
of these eggs is illustrated by the figure,
which is magnified 40 diameters; the triangular section showing the surface granulations, is magnified 80 diameters.
These eggs remain in the ground until
the following June, at which time the
fibrous roots of the young corn (supposing
that to be the crop), form almost a complete network In the soil.
THE LARVA, OR WORM.—FIO. 3.
On first break-
►ing  forth   from
, , the egg, these
fio. 3. worms are, as a
matter of course, very minute, bnt they
are extremely active and soon find their
■way to tender, fibrous roots.   These they
Pia. 5.
f_*m mmmm4&_
devour, gradually working toward the
larger main roots. The more tender ex-
tremeties of these are also eaten, but as
they grow larger the worms excavate
parallel channels in them just beneath the
outer surface.
If the affected roots are examined at this
time, the worms will frequently be observed at work, as illustrated in tig. 4. By
this time the
worms are full
grown, and aro
about four-
tenths of an inch
long, and rather fio. 4.
thicker than a large cambric needle,smooth,
white, with the head yellowish brown.
They reach this point ln their development, from the first to about the middle of
July, when they crawl a few inches to one
side, and by working their bodies about,
construct a small cell in the earth, where
in a few days they trams form to
THE PUPA.—fio. 5.
They have now cast off their worm-like
appearance, and more nearly
resem bl e the adult. They are
now shorter, being about one-
eighteenth of an inch long,
much more robust, and of a
pure white color throughout.
Just how long they remain
in this state is not known,
but by the middleof August nearlyall the
pupse have transformed to adults, and
these have made their way upward out of
the ground, and are congregated upon the
silk and tassels ef the corn, living over the
life of their progenitors.
Having followed the insect through the
entire cycle of its life, we will now notice
THEIR DAMAGE TO CORN.
If we examine a large number of fields
we shall doubtless find all degrees of injury, from a hardly perceptible to a nearly
total loss. Where the soil is rich, a good
growth of stalk will often be made, but
the ears will be short and poorly filled ont
at tips. Serious damage of this sort is frequently overlooked, or attributed to dry
weather, soil, culture, and the whole et
cetera of misfortunes, when it is really due
to the amputation of the roots by these
worms. Fields that otherwise would yield,
say 50 bushels per acre, are in this way reduced to 40, or perhaps 35, and the cause
thereof is never known. As might be expected, injuries will be much more apparent on old, worn-out soils, but I have examined many fields where the soil was
exceedingly rich, and, while an ample
growth of stalk had been put forth, the
ears were dwarfed, and the roots so badly
eaten that the stalks themselves were toppled over by every unusual gust of wind,
and by September were lying flat upon
the ground, dead and dried up. As a rule,
however, rich or low undrained soils escape with tbe least injury.
REMEDIES.
If we carefully study the life history of
this insect, we cannot fail to note that at
the time the young worms hatch from the
eggs, an immediate supply of food suitable
for their condition, is absolutely indispensable—if witheld for even a few days,
they must necessarily perish of starvation.
These conditions could be brought about
by allowing the ground to remain idle for
one year, but we find that such a course Is
unnecessary. We find that at the time a
generoHs supply of suitable food is required,
tho roots of any small cereal grains, and
of the grasses also, are by far too woody
and tough to succumb to the jaws of the
tiny worms.or afford them requisite nourishment, and they perish. Not only haa
the truth of this been practically demonstrated, but also, that owing to the- non-
migratory habits of the adults, it will require several years for them to acquire
sufficient numbers in the field to become
injurious.
Thus a simple change of crops, for a
single season, from corn to either wheat,
oata, rye, barley or any of the grasses, becomes not only a thoroughly effective
remedy, but also one of parctical utility.
It is a remedy tbat has, to my personal
knowledge, been thoroughly tested by
farmers who not only pride themselves on
the number and extent of their estates,
but also on their management, and I have
yet tojearnof a single instance where ithas
proven unsatisfactory. In fact, any farmer
who is at all skeptical as to the result, may
satisfy himself at once by examining a
field of corn planted this year on ground
that was last season devoted to either small
grain, pasture or meadow, and comparing,
with examinations of fields that have produced corn continuously for.the last four
or five years. I feel sure that the difference in the appearance of the roots of the
corn now, and the difference in the*num-
bor of the adult insects tbat will be found
in the fields a few weeks later, will furnish
proof both ample and conclusive' of the
efficiency of a change of crop.
Purdue University.
—The lines at side of figures 1,3 and 5 indicate the exact length of the insect at the
stages designated.
only then flare on that side, leaving the
other upright. . I prefer the latter, as being
the easiest managed, as the former has too
much surface to skim over. This Is no
small consideration. The Stubbs pan can
hardly be surpassed for ease and efficiency
In that respect, driving all the scum in a
small space—"dead sea," where It Is readily raked off.
As to pipes they can be had at any place
where such work Is done, and the cost is
trifling.
Much Is said in favor of the superiority
of copper pipes as being better conductors
of heat, - but the cost is largely against
them, and to my mind the difference in
outlay don't pay; at all events iron piping
is generally used. The coil of pipe is
lengthwise of the pan and may admit the
steam atone corner running back and
forth and coming oub at the other corner
of the same end, or lt may be admitted in
the middle of the pan thus furnishing the
greatest heat where most needed, but in
this instance two escapes will be necessary.
My pan is made by Squiers of Buffalo,
the steam being admitted through a
"manifold" bead, and is as -good as any;
but it costs too much, and if I had to fix
up again I would construct my own coil
at a saving of three-fourths the expense.
Perhaps this will suffice as a pointer in
this question—details being beyond my
reach at this time. A. Furnas.
Danville, Ind.
(&KUC (&X0W£X5.
Sorghum Machinery.
Editors Indiana Fanner:
In your number for August 8th I notice
a query from A Sub., asking advice about
the best "boxes," (pans), pipes, etc. for the
manufacture of sorghum molasses by
steam. This is a disputed question. A
noticeable feature of this difference is that
it originates between the manufacturers
themselves—each claiming superiority for
his own Invention. The fact is, I believe,
that steam is the best means of evaporation, and hence many, if not all, of these
different plans have more or less merit.
The question, however, of the most economic application of steam is worthy the
attention of every manufacturer. At
first, most authorities admitted that heat
by steam cost more than when applied
direct. This in theory must be true, but
taking the superiority of steam, the ease
with which It is applied and controlled,
the freedom from scorching—these, and
many other facts point to the superiority
of steam over fire heat  for sirup making.
But what kind of pan, coils, etc. Is the
direct question for consideration.
I assume that for a superior article the
pan must be so constructed that it can be
finished quickly. That Implies "thin
film"—shallow pans. If the pan Is to be
skimmed from both sides then it should
be flaring on both sides,   if from one side
THE COBS PROSPECT.
The Statistician of the Agricultural Department In bis last report gives the following as the per cents for corn in the
principal corn growing States: Ohio, 96;
Indiana, 95; Illinois, 94; Iowa, 101; Nebraska, 100; Missouri, 89; Kansas, 90. We
think he has placed Indiana too low in
the scale. Our corn prospect was never
better in most parts of the State. Tho
secretary of the Kansas State Board of
Agriculture gives 9S per cent a9 the average condition of the crop there.
HURRAH FOR POSEY COTJKTY.
The last statistical report shows that in
18S4 Posey county produced 1,203,143
bushels of wheat, much more than any
other county in the State, and 1,880,252
bushels of corn—only two counties, Tippecanoe and Benton, exceeding this; take
averages of both crops and Posey is ahead.
This county has 140 miles of bottom land,
40 on the Ohio and 100 on the Wabash
rivers, and from the courthouse in Mount
"Vernon It is said that one can see an unbroken stretch of corn fields 15 miles long.
DEPTH OF TILE.
A writer In an exchange says:
' I discovered by observation, and no
scientific rule, that a tile placed one foot
deep would drain eight feet wide on each
side of the tile; if placed two feet deep, it
would drain sixteen feet on eash side of
the tile ;three feet deep, it will drain thirty-
two feet, and four feet deep, will drain
sixty-four feet each side. Just how much
farther this rule will apply, at the same
ratio, I canot tell.
An old settlers meeting will be held at
the camp meeting park, near Acton, this
county, on Thursday, Aug. 27. Invitation is extended to all, and a good time is
promised.