MICHIGAN EXPEKIMKNT STATION BULLETINS 297 



its depredations after the plants are placed in the field. As a preventive^ 

 care should be taken that fresh soil is used for growing the plants, and that 

 the land on which the plants are set is at some distance from that on which 

 cabbages, onions, radishes, or turnips were grown the previous year. 



A good way to combat this enemy is to mix a small quantity (a table- 

 spoonful) of kerosene or turpentine with a peck of wood ashes and scat- 

 ter over the ground near the plants; this prevents the mature insect, which 

 is a small brown fly, from depositing its eggs upon the stems of the plants. 

 Kerosene emulsion and bi-sulphide of carbon have been used very sue-" 

 cessf ully, and some growers advocate the placing of a circle of tarred paper 

 around the plant, leaving it until the danger limit is passed. 



The Club root, sometimes called club foot, has been for many years, a 

 troublesome disease on the cabbage as well as on the turnip in the Eastern 

 States and has appeared in several places in Michigan. It attacks the 

 plants at the root and causes large swellings, which both absorb the nutri- 

 ment of the plant and girdle the stem, thus checking the growth and caus- 

 ing it to turn yellow and die. 



One strong symptom of this trouble, is the rank, disagreeable odor of 

 decay which it gives the roots. There has been no remedy discovered for 

 this disease, but to avoid the growing of cabbage, in succession on the same 

 soil, and the use of the manure that contains cabbage refuse will keep it in 

 check, and generally prevent it altogether. 



In the vicinity of Racine, Wisconsin, a bacterial disease of the cabbage 

 developed itself several years ago, and in 1896, caused heavy losses to the- 

 growers. It also injured crops in other localities. 



This year it caused more trouble on the cauliflower than upon the cab- 

 bage, Kale or Kohl Rahi. The symptoms of the disease are small yellow 

 spots, which appear on the leaves and spread over the entire surface of the 

 leaves. The leaves droop, and a black rot soon destroys the heads. 



This disease may be carried by the seed from one section to another, and 

 when once established, the successful growing of plants of the cabbage 

 famil)' is nearly impossible. The destruction of all diseased plants as soon 

 as found by burning them, seems to be the only way to hold it in check. 



Cabbages are often much injured by so-called cabbage worms which feed 

 upon the leaves, and if undisturbed may destroy the heads. They oftea 

 appear early in the season before the heads have begun to form and at that 

 time can be readily killed by the use of Paris green, or other arsenites, at 

 the rate of one ounce to fifteen gallons of water, or with plaster or flour at 

 the rate of one pound to one hundred. Care should be taken not to use 

 these poisons after the heads have formed, as the danger increases as the 

 time of ripening approaches. Should the worms appear late in the season, 

 pyrethrum or saltpetre at the rate of a teaspoonful to a gallon of water 

 can be used, with good results and without danger. The worm can also be 

 destroyed by pouring hot water upon the leaves. Especially in dry seasons 

 cabbages are often much injured by lice which may appear in immense 

 numbers upon the leaves. As a rule, they are on the under side and in the 

 folds of the leaves so that it is difficult to reach them with an insecticide. 

 The prompt and thorough use of kerosene emulsion, or strong tobacco 

 water, will aid in holding them in check, but it will be even more satisfac- 

 tory to so handle the crop that the lice will not be likely to appear. When 

 from any cause the plants are checked in their growth, we may expect the 

 rapid development of the lice, and the danger can be lessened if land that 

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