INJURING THE LEAVES. 



197 



Remedies. — Tobacco powder is the best remedy 

 for these little pests. If applied freely to the plants, 

 it will drive them away. In seasons when the beetles 

 are not too thick, dusting the plants with dry, un- 

 leached wood ashes, or lime or plaster, will also keep 

 them off, and tobacco decoction is a good remedy. 



Cabbage Cut-worms. 



The cabbage is. subject to attack by nearly a dozen 

 species of cut-worms, nearly all of which, however, 

 are similar in habits and history, and may well 

 be treated of collectively. They are all larvae of 

 medium-sized, night-flying moths, and are rather 

 thick, naked worms of the general form of Fig. 105, a. 

 They curl up when 

 disturbed. The eggs 

 are deposited gener- 

 ally on the branches 

 of trees and si i rubs, 

 the larvas descend- 

 ing to the ground in 

 search of food as 

 soon as hatched. 

 Most of them feed 

 upon grass or clover 

 when young, becom- 

 ing about half grown by winter time, when they 

 seek the shelter of some log or stone, or burrow into 

 the soil. Here they hibernate, and in spring come 

 forth in search of food. They now attack a variety 

 of young plants, biting off the stems and feeding 



Fig. 105. Variegated Cut-worm : a, larva; 

 b, moth. 



