INJURING THE LEAVES. 



181 



Fig. 93. Vine Protector. 



of gauze netting. A simple method of doing this is 

 illustrated at Fig. 93. The 

 ends of half a barrel hoop 

 are placed in the earth at 

 the sides of the hill, and a 

 .square strip of thin plant 

 cloth or cheese cloth is then 

 laid over it, the cloth being- 

 drawn taut, and the edges covered with loose earth. 

 This excludes the beetles, and at the same time per- 

 mits access of air, moisture, and sunshine. Squash 

 plants are able to grow until they get four or five 

 leaves, and cucumbers and melons even more, before 

 they are crippled by contact with the cloth. Wire 

 may be substituted for the half barrel hoop. A single 

 piece may be used, or two may be crossed like the 

 center arch of a croquet ground, as represented at 



Fig. 94. Good results are 

 also obtained by simply plac- 

 ing the cloth over the plants 

 without any support, and cov- 

 ering the edges as described. 

 By loosening the cloth occasionally, the plant will 

 lift it, and get several leaves before it need be re- 

 moved. A modification of this method, which has 

 been successfully used, consists of two end boards 

 one-half inch thick, about fifteen inches long by six 

 or eight inches wide. On the middle of each of 

 these is nailed a piece of pointed lath at right angles 

 to the long way of the board. The lower end of 



Fig. 94. Vine Protector. 



