INSECTS INJURIOUS TO CABBAGE AND OTHER CROPS 1 35 



paper. The first cut of every alternate course will make an 

 imperfect card, and the last cut in any course may be imperfect, 

 but the other cuts will make perfect cards if the tool is correctly 

 made and properly used. The cards should be placed about the 

 plants at the time of transplanting. To place the card, bend it 

 slightly, to open the slit, then slip it on the center, the stem 

 entering the slit, after which spread the card out flat, and press 

 the points formed by the star-shaped cut snugly around the stem. 



A Wisconsin grower protected 7,000 plants and secured a 

 splendid crop, while unprotected plants nearby would have been 

 a complete failure if the maggots had not been picked off by 

 hand. Others have reported similar success. One lost only 25 

 plants out of 10,000 to 15,000 that he protected with the cards, 

 where ordinarily he would have lost from 75 to 90 per cent, of 

 the crop. 



The tarred cards are applicable to cabbage and cauliflower 

 only, but it is claimed by those who have employed them that 

 they are cheaper, more practicable, and more efficient than any- 

 thing as yet devised for preventing the ravages of the cabbage 

 maggot. Success in using them is dependent upon their being 

 properly applied, to fit tightly, so that the fly is unable to obtain 

 access to the stem for the deposition of her eggs. Cards must 

 be renewed and their use continued for each maggot year to be 

 effective. 



Coverings and hellebore. — Some success has also been attained 

 by covering young plants in seed-beds with netting and by ap- 

 plying hellebore about the roots. 



The Seed-corn Maggot (Pegomya fusciceps Zett.). — This 

 species, previously considered on page 106 on bean and pea 

 insects has been identified with attack to cabbage, turnip and 

 radish on numerous occasions and in many localities. When 

 occurring on such plants it should be treated in about the same 

 method as the cabbage maggot. 



