198 INSECTS AFFECTING THE CABBAGE. 



upon the leaves. Cabbages, tomatoes, turnips, 

 squashes, melons, and various other garden vegeta- 

 bles are all liable to their attacks.. They become 

 full grown in spring or early summer, when they 

 pupate beneath the soil surface, and three or four 

 weeks later emerge as moths. The larva (a) and 

 i imtli (b) of the Variegated Gut-worm (Agrotis saucia) 

 are represented, natural size, at Fig. 105. Some 

 species have two or more broods each season, while 

 others have but one. 



Cut-worms are especially likely to do damage in 

 fields and gardens close to grass-lands, and to crops 

 immediately following grass. 



Remedies. — Of the dozens of methods of destroy- 

 ing cut-worms, there are three which are of special 

 merit. They are : 



(1). The poison method. This consists in killing 

 off the worms before the crops are planted, by strew- 

 ing over the soil bunches of fresh clover or cabbage 

 leaves, which have been treated with Paris green or 

 London purple, either by dipping into a solution of 

 the poison, or dusting it on dry. The half-grown 

 worms prowling about in search of food eat of the 

 baits thus set, and are destroyed before doing any 

 harm. This method has proved a practical success 

 with many gardeners; and is well worth trying 

 where there is likely to be trouble from these pests. 

 Of course care must be taken that chickens or stock 

 do not get at the poisoned leaves. 



(2). Using boards a* traps. This method consists 

 in placing boards on the ground in and about the 



