2C6 TKANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



and therefore we should seek some other means of counteracting the pest. 

 I tried the experiment of catching the butterflies, and am satisfied that 

 children from ten to fourteen years of age can soon be taught to do this 

 with ease. 



The butterfly moves heavily and rather slowly, alighting specially on 

 cruciferous flowers. A small bed of radishes here and there, if allowed to 

 run to seed, will attract them, and they may then be caught without run- 

 ning among the cabbages, which is one objection to this method of relief. 

 For this purpose a circular ring of heavy wire, about twelve or thirteen 

 inches in diameter, with the ends of the wire fixed in a tin socket for the 

 handle, and a sack of mosquito bar or very thin open muslin about as 

 long as twice the diameter of the ring, with a handle four or five feet 

 long, will answer the purpose very well. 



The butterflies are most numerous in the hot part of the day, when it 

 is clear and the sun is shining brightly. 



I have never heard the question asked, Where do the butterflies rest 

 at night? Nor does it appear that any attention has been paid to the 

 subject. I presume they scatter and find resting-places on the bushes, 

 trees, shrubbery, etc., as other species, as it is scarcely probable they 

 would congregate. Still, it is barely possible, though not at all probable, 

 that a solution of this question may afford a means of diminishing their 

 numbers. 



My experience does not give promise of much aid from the attempt 

 to destroy the pupae. I have not tried placing boards among the cab- 

 bages for this purpose ; theoretically the plan appears to be a good one, 

 but there may be practical reasons why it will not succeed. It is worthy 

 of being thoroughly tested. But if left to hunt places in which to pupate, 

 the gardener is likely to learn that he cannot find one in a hundred; at 

 least such has been the case in my garden the present season. 



As the eggs are scattered singly over the leaves, and are very minute, 

 it will be exceedingly slow work to hunt them out and destroy them. 



Killing the caterpillars is after all the most certain and effectual 

 means of getting clear of them that can be adopted. It is true it is 

 somewhat laborious, and to some extent injures the cabbage in attempting 

 to get at them ; but Dr. Fitch's plan of using a pair of scissors will 

 partially obviate this, and also somewhat lessen the labor. It is stated 

 that by placing a leaf on the top of the cabbage in the evening they will 

 be attracted to it and can easily be gathered in the morning ; I did not 

 try this, but their known indisposition to leave the leaf on which they 

 are at work would seem to render the advantage of this method doubtful; 

 still it would be well for those who are troubled with them to try it. 



During the past season a neighbor succeeded in procuring very fine 

 heads notwithstanding the presence of the pest in large numbers. I was 

 informed by him that his success was owing to the fact that in the first 

 place his ground was made as rich as possible ; in the second place the 

 plants were brought forward two or three weeks in advance of the usual 

 time, and in the third place were pushed to heading by extra culture, and I 

 believe by tying up the leaves in part. The variety used was the Flat Dutch. 



