NEWARK, Del. Farmers in
some parts of northern Delaware
have had trouble with slugs in
emerging no-till com the past few
years. “Last spring was the worst
yet for slug damage to early no-till
corn,” says University of
Delaware extension agent Dean
Belt. A mild winter and extremely
wet, cool spring made the problem
more severe than usual. A drier,
more normal season reduces the
chance for injury because com
grows faster and soon gets beyond
die 6-inch height which generally
seems to be the pest’s upper
feeding limit.
Certain fall cultural practices
can reduce slug infestations, the
New Castle County agent says.
Some spring cultural practices will
also help.
Belt has worked closely with
extension entomologists in trying
to find ways to solve the slug
problem especially for growers
who want to use no-tillage. The
scientists say slow growing com is
subject to the most severe injury.
“Fanners with fields that suf
fered slug damage this year must
decide whether to select cropping
practices to reduce potential in
jury next spring, or take the
chance on more normal growing
conditions and then treat if slugs
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Act now to control slugs in corn
do attack their com,” Belt says.
Crop rotation is the most ef
fective way to break the slug cycle.
For this reason, he suggests
planting soybeans in fields where
slugs are numerous. Soil surfaces
are usually drier when this crop
goes in, so it should be less
susceptible to injury.
In the fall, he says growers who
wish to control slugs should use one
of three cultural options:
1 - Plow, chisel plow or disc
before planting a cover crop to
bury trash that might favor slugs.
2 - Disc or chisel to spread trash
and reduce the cover where slugs
live, except on critical slopes
where erosion is a problem.
3 - For no-till, mow or shred
stalks very close to the ground to
help spread plant trash more
evenly and hasten its decom
position.
In the spring, Belt says it is
important to scout fields early for
signs of slug activity. Pay special
attention to any PK acres which
have a heavy cover.
It may be better to plow, chisel
plow or disc no-till fields having
severe slug infestations this year,
to bury the cover and thus remove
places where slugs can hid during
the day. This also would allow the
soil to dry more quickly and
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discourage them further. Of
course, this practice would reduce
a major benefit of no-till erosion
control on rolling land or slopes.
When planting no-till it’s very
important to close the seed furrow
again, so slugs will have fewer
places to hide. For this reason,
Belt recommends using cast iron
press wheels when possible.
In the past, farmers have had
difficulty controlling slug out
breaks with chemicals. Extension
entomologist Mark Graustein and
pest management specialist
Joanne Whalen tested several
pesticides last spring and say some
looked very good. Belt says their
work will continue. He urges
growers to check fields carefully
as soon as com emerges for signs
of slug damages so timely action
can be taken if needed.
The Delaware Cooperative
Extension Service will hold field
meetings next spring to help
farmers evaluate the slug
problem, decide when to treat, and
determine materials to use. Belt
encourages anyone not already on
the New Castle or Kent County
mailing lists to contact their
county extension office so that they
can receive notification of these
meetings.
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In the meantime, farmers can nobody can guarantee that will
hope slugs won’t be so bad in 1964. happen, so it will pay growers to
“If we have a hard winter and a stay on top of the situation by doing
dry spring, maybe the problem everything they can do to
won’t be with us,’’ Belt says. “But discourage slugs.”
It’s black walnut gathering time
NEWARK, Del. Nuts are
costly at the market, but right now
black walnuts are free for the
taking. The black walnut tree
(Juglans nigra) is a Delaware
native, and its sweet-tasting nuts
can be found along roadways all
over the state. Gathering them is a
good excuse for an outing on a
crisp fall day.
Lying on the ground, black
walnuts resemble small green
tennis balls. They grow in clusters,
and have a peculiar odor, says
University of Delaware extension
horticulturist Dave Tatnall. It
would be hard to mistake them for
anything else, with the possible
exception of horsechestnuts. To
avoid confusion (since hor
sechestnuts are slightly poisonous)
remember that black walnut hulls
are rounder and harder to break
open. Inside their hulls, hor-
sechestnuts are shiny and smooth
like chestnuts, but black walnuts
look more like commercial
walnuts, although darker and
more deeply grooved. The
characteristic walnut odor is the
final giveaway.
Once you’ve located and iden
tified some black walnuts, gather
them promptly after they fall while
the hulls are still fresh and green.
If the hulls are left on too long the
kernels discolor and develop a
strong flavor, Tatnall says.
Mash and remove the hulls by
hand, using a heavy mallet, sledge
or similar tool. It’s best to wear
rubber or disposable plastic gloves
and old clothes while hulling
walnuts, because the juice in the
husks contains a stain that’s hard
to remove.
After hulling, wash the walnuts
to remove any remaining juice and
bits of husk. Then spread them out
in their shells on a table or in
shallow containers in a cool, airy
place such as a screened porch or
garage. There should be no strong
odors present which the nuts could
absorb. Drying and curing will
take three or four weeks, Tatnall
says.
Store the cured walnuts in their
shells in a cool, dry place until you
are ready to shell them for cooking
or eating. Shelling is easier if you
first soak them in water for several
hours, then keep them moist
overnight in a closed container.
Shelled nuts can be stored in
polyethylene bags in the freezer
where they’ll be ready to add in
terest to holiday snacks and baked
goods.
Serious black walnut fanciers
who don’t want to search for their
favorite treat should plant the
“Thomas” variety. Its many
advantages include early and
heavy bearing, large, thin-shelled
nuts that crack easily, and plump,
light-colored kernels of good
flavor. Tatnall says a vigorous
“Thomas” walnut tree may begin
to bear the second of third year
after plant