158 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO VEGETABLES 



REMEDIES 



How to control this cucumber beetle is one of the hardest 

 propositions to solve. Poisons will destroy the beetles when they 

 occur in moderate numbers, but are not entirely efficacious 

 when they are most abundant, hence recourse must be had to 

 preventives and repellents, and to farm practice. 



Coverings. — To prevent injury to young plants coverings are 

 used. A cheap frame may be made by cutting a barrel hoop in 

 two so as to form two semicircles, which are placed at right 

 angles to each other, and the lower ends inserted in the ground 

 with the curve uppermost. This is then covered with gauze or 

 similar material, held in place so to prevent the beetles work- 

 ing through or under it. 



Early planting, etc. — Where no covering is used it is advisable 

 to start plants under glass, or to plant the earliest varieties and 

 set them out as soon as possible so as to have the plant well 

 established before the appearance of the beetles. The setting 

 out of late varieties should be postponed until after the first 

 appearing beetles have laid their eggs and dispersed. A cer- 

 tain degree of relief follows the planting of an excess of seed 

 so as to distribute attack. After the first danger is passed the 

 hills are thinned out to the desired number. 



Clean farming and trap pla)ifs.— Much injury from this and 

 other cucurbit pests would be prevented by more attention to 

 clean methods of cultivation. As soon as a crop is harvested 

 the vines should be covered with straw or other inflammable 

 material and burned, and certain plants should be left here 

 and there throughout the fields, so that such insects as may not 

 be reached by the fire will concentrate on them where they can 

 be destroyed with strong kerosene emulsion or Paris green. 

 As traps for the last generation it would be wise to plant late 

 or to use later varieties. Some exemption may be attained by 

 growing beans with cucumbers in alternate rows. The beans 

 are planted before the cucumbers and the beetles congregate 



