540 ANNUAL. REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



PKEVENTIVES AND REMEDIES. 



A preventive is something that keeps an insect away from the 

 crop, and a remedy is a means of destroying it after it is present. All 

 that we wish here to indicate is how^ to produce a crop of Cucurbits 

 by successfully combatting the hosts of insects that yearly become 

 more serious. The means to be employed may be classed in one or 

 more of three groups, which for want of better terms we designate 

 as (1) Mechanical Devices, (2) Farm Practice and (3) Insecticides. 

 These overlap, and it may be difiScult to tell to which some of the 

 later suggestions may belong, but as we have tried most of them 

 and have found them reliable we know that they can be used with 

 safety and with feelings of security. 



I. MECHANICAL, DEVICES. 



1. A Covering of Netting for Protection. 



The netting is esj)ecially important for young plants, as it protects 

 them from insect attacks until they are well started, when the inju- 

 ries will not be so perceptible. Closely-woven mosquito netting will 

 do for all insects but the tiea-beetles and thrips, but for these pests 

 finer material must be used. A nice way to put up the net is to cut 

 it into squares as large as desired (about three feet each way), and 

 stick into the ground both ends of two pliable sticks bent into semi- 

 circles and crossed at right angles at the top like the central wickets 

 of a croquet ground. Cover them with the netting and place loose 

 earth on the edge all the way around to hold it down. (Fig. 37.) 



Another and quicker method is to incline a single stake over the 

 plants and push or drive it into the ground. Over this place the 

 netting and cover the margin with loose earth. (Fig. 38.) 



Another method of covering plants has been highly recommended 

 by Prof. C. M. Weed and others. It consists in covering two end- 

 boards with netting and attaching a stake to each to hold it upright 

 when pushed into the soil. This gives a box-shaped cover with only 

 two ends of wood, the top and two sides being netting. It has the 

 advantage of being portable and readily packed in compact space for 

 use another year. The mode of construction and use is shown by 

 Fig, 39. We have not found it more effective than some of the more 

 simple devices here mentioned, especially that of Fig. 38. 



With all kinds of netting it is essential that the meshes be small 

 enough to keep out the insects and that the edges be well covered 

 with earth m> the inseote will not crawl beneath them. 



