340 BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. 



2. Notes upon Insects Injurious to Farm and Gar- 

 den Crops. 



In the First Annual Report of the station is to be found a 

 statement of experiments made to ascertain the best means 

 of destroying the many insects that make havoc among the 

 crops of the farm and garden. Some of the experiments 

 gave satisfactory results, and extended preparations are being 

 made to learn more of the more hirmless materials that may 

 be used as insecticides. As the results cannot be presented 

 to the public in time to' be of use the early part of this sea- 

 son, we give a brief statement of the remedies thus far found 

 to be the most successful. 



Cabbage Flea. — The first insect of importance that ap- 

 pears is the small black flea or jumping beetle that attacks 

 the cabbage, radish, turnip, etc. Dusting with paris green 

 mixed with one hundred times its weight of plaster has 

 proved an effectual remedy. This must be done when the 

 plants are wet, and after every rain. 



Cat-worin. — The cut-worm, of which there are several 

 species, including the army worm, works only during the 

 night, and may be destroyed by the same remedy as the 

 above. We would advise a trial of pyrethrum powder 

 mixed with five times its bulk of plaster as being more safe, 

 although we have no positive proof that it will be effectual. 



Strijied Squash-Bug. — The striped squash-bug, which has 

 been so abundant for the past two seasons, is best kept in 

 check by the use of plaster and paris green. For the fam- 

 ily garden the safest and most satisfactory way to overcome 

 them is to make a bottomless box twelve inches square and 

 six or eight inches deep, and cover it with mosquito netting. 

 One of these boxes placed over each hill until the plants 

 have become tough and hard, is a sure protection. 



Tlie Potato Beetle. — The potato beetle has evidently be- 

 come a permanent resident among us. Paris green extended 

 with phistcr, flour or water, is the only cheap and easily 

 applied remedy known at present ; but great care must be 

 exercised in its use, and especially in the place wdiere the 

 package is kept, that it may not get upon the food of ani- 

 mals. 



