268 The Basie Rook of Organic Gardening

Shade the bases of the corn plants, making them less desir
ble to the highly destractive chinch bug

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8. Codling Moth

Place a band of corrugated paper around the main branche,
and trunk of affected trees, When larva spin their COcoons
inside the corrugations, they can be removed and turned
Eliminate toose bark from trunks and limbs where mothy like
to hiberaate. Trichogramma, tiny female insects, are helpfi)

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suspended a container of MOlassey

n bis trees to trap the moth, Ryania wiy
discourage the codling moth, and birds are effective natural
controls. Woodpeckers consume more than 50 Percent of
the codling moth larvae during the winter. Don't discourage

them by saturating everything with viperous Spray-can soly.
tions,

9. Corn Borer

Destroy Overwintering borers by disposing of infested corp
stalks. Plow or tarp under the refuse or rélegate it to the
compost heap. Plant resistant or tolerant strains of corm
consult your county agent for the best hybrids available lo.
cally. Because moths lay their eges on the earliest plantey
corn, it is generally advisable {fo plant as late as POssiblg
Staying within the normal growing period for your locality,
Encourage parasites like ithe spotted lady beetle which cats
the eggs of the borer On an average of almost 60 Per day
Trichogramma is also a natural enemy of the corn borer,

10. Corn Earworm

_ Fill a medicine dropper with clear mineral oil and apply
it into the silk of the lip of each ear, Apply only after the
silks have wilted and have bepun to tum brown, Another

Protectian Against The Bugs 269

‘ essice control, but not as sure, is to cut the silk olf close to
y the car every + days,

11. Cucumber Beefle

Heavy muiching is a time-tested control, For bad infesta-
fons, spray by mixing a handful of woad ashes and a hand-
fal of lime in 2 gallons of water, Apply to both sides of
aves.  Radishes, marigolds, and nasturtiums offer inter-
panting protection,

12. Cutworm

Catworms chew plants off at the ground level. They work
night and hide beneath soil or other shelter during the day,
A simple device for preventing damage is to place a paper
sllar around the stem extending for some distance below
ind above the ground level. Some gardeners get the same
dlect from using tin cans, with “electroculture” benefits as

wu added plus. Toads and bantam hens are natural feeders
of cutworms. Cultivate lightly around the base of the plant
to dig up the culprit first, Keep down weeds and Rrasses on
shich the cutworm moth lays its exes, Interplanting with
olons has been found to be cllective in many cases,

13, Earwig

Traps have been an effective control for carwigs, Bantam
bens feast om thy earwiys and do a good job of eliminating
them from the home grounds, Set out shallow tins of water
which will attract earwigs so they can be destroyed,

14. Flea Beetle

Clean culture, weed control, and removal of crop rem-
ants will help to prevent damage from ea beetles. Control

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