Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/86

68&#93; 68] COR Among th« various insects which prey upon corn, none, is more de- structive than the corn-huttcrjlii, which is generated in a manner si- milar to that of the common but- terflies. It settles on one grain, and after having totally consumed jury and oppression of the groan- COR from traits ; as, with proper care, it may be kept in granaries for se- veral centuries. Far from wishing to support that execrable system of monopoly, which is but too conspicuous at present, to the La- it, its existence is supposed to be prolonged by eating its own excre- ment. When it has attained its full growth, it is about one quarter of an inch in length, and half the thickness of the grain it has de- voured. To exterminate this noxi- ous insect, it has been recommend- ed to prepare a very strong lye of ed ; care being taken to introduce ing poor, we shall communicate the following directions,' with a view to avert any future scarcity, rather than to enable the avaricious corn-dealer to with-hold his slock from the public market. For this purpose, the grain should be well dried and cleaned before it is hous- wood ashes, to which, when it be- comes yellow, as much quick-lime should be added, as will make it of a dusky white : while it is as hot as the hand can well bear it, the grosser part of the lime should be suffered to subside, and the lye poured off into a proper vessel ; into which the corn is to be im- air-holes on the top, and openings to the north and east of the gra- nary : during the first six months, the corn should be carefully turned, once a fortnight at the least, to pre- vent it from heating ; after which time it will be sufficient to turn it every month, for about two years, when it will have exhaled all its mersed by means of a basket, and igneous particles, and no appre- quickly agitated ; skimming off those grains which float on the surface. In the course of two or three minutes, it may be taken out, and the basket with its contents suspended on two poles, to drain ; hension need be entertained, un- less from tire air and adventitious moisture. Should it nevertheless heat, from any unforeseen acci- dent, so that there is apprehension of its catching fire, such a misfor- aftefr which it should be spread tune may be easily prevented, by on the floor of a granary to dry, making a hole in the middle, down while a second basket undergoes a to the floor, which will serve as a similar immersion process not only grain from rotting, but at the same •'time destroys all those insects that may have penetrated its substance. An oven is also employed for This simple kind of chimney, or flue, for car- preserves the tying off the heat. But, notwithstanding these pre- cautions, it frequently happens that mites reduce the greater part of the grain to dust. This serious da- drying the seed ; but, as it is cl if- mage may be prevented by rub- ficultto ascertain the proper de- bing the adjacent places with fetid greeofheat, without injuring ve- getation, and yet not always suffi- cient to extirpate the vermin, it is scki sed. oils and herbs, such as garlic and dwayf-elder, the strong smell of which tends to expel them : be- side :, they may be exposed to the !o the manner of rays. ... w hich immediately V ing it, corn is very different destroy than. — One of the most ciloc-