204 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE, [Jan., 



tricts of Maryland and Delaware this insect caused a loss of 

 many thousands of dollars, and methods for holding it in 

 check were so expensive that many growers preferred to sac- 

 rifice the crop rather than to make an attempt to destroy the 

 insect. It is almost impossible to spray pea vines, because 

 the spray solution does not adhere to the leaves, and the in- 

 sects are on the under side of the leaves to a large extent. 

 Spraying proved so expensive that the large growers were 

 compelled to abandon it. It was found, however, that upon 

 brushing the vines a large proportion of the insects fell to 

 the ground, and that try brushing two adjacent rows the in- 

 sects could be brushed into the space between the rows in 

 such a manner that they could be killed by going through 

 with a horse and cultivator, thus crushing some and burying 

 others. It was found that by practicing this method very 

 few of them succeeded in getting back upon the pea vines. 

 If the vines were too large to admit of cultivation, a long 

 shallow pan containing kerosene can be drawn along between 

 the rows and the lice brushed into it. By repeating this 

 about twice a week a fair crop of peas can be obtained. The 

 early varieties, however, are nearly mature before this insect 

 leaves the clover plant, so that growers are now raising early 

 peas and paying less attention to the later varieties. Wherever 

 the late varieties are grown, however, it is necessary to fight 

 the insect. During 1900 the insect was nearly as abundant 

 as during 1899, but during 1901 it was a good deal less abun- 

 dant, and we have reason to expect that it may not annually 

 be a serious pest in our fields and gardens. 



The celery caterpillar (Papilio aster is). 



We have all noticed this curious green and black cater- 

 pillar feeding upon the celery, parsley, and fennel in the 

 garden. This insect is striped transversely, and puts forth 

 a pair of yellow hornlike appendages from the head when 

 disturbed. It is known as the celery caterpillar and is the 

 larva of one of our commonest swallow-tail butterflies. The 

 butterfly is nearly black, with yellow spots along the edges of 

 the wings and blue markings upon the hind wings. It has 

 two taillike appendages upon the hind wings which give it its 

 name of the swallow-tail butterfly. The female lays eggs 

 upon the leaves of the celery, and the caterpillar begins as 

 soon as hatched to feed upon the plant. 



Hand picking or poisoning of the plants is the remedy. 



