Lx^RGE WHITE CABBAGE BUTTERFLY. 21 



of use, and for this purpose gas-lime that has been taken 

 from the surface of a heap exposed to weather for about two 

 months seems to answer. The hme (as tried on a small scale) 

 does not injure the leaves, and the various "pests" infesting 

 hearted Cabbage do not like it at all. 



When seed-crops are attacked, it has been suggested as a 

 good plan to shake the plants so as to make the caterpillars 

 drop off, and to have a number of ducks ready to eat them as 

 they fall. Probably if a boy was substituted, with a basket of 

 soot or quick-lime to throw over the caterpillars, or if he 

 trampled on them, or a ring of gas-lime was thrown round 

 each plant to keep the caterpillars from returning up the 

 stem, it would do much more good than the ducks. The 

 large flocks of ducks or poultry sometimes recommended may 

 do much good, but there is a direct outlay for their purchase 

 and food — as they need something besides the caterpillars ; 

 they must also be tended, or they will do harm as well as 

 good, and altogether, except on a small scale, where the pro- 

 prietor's poultry can be turned on and benefit by the open run 

 and change of diet, the plan of clearing insect-attack by this 

 means seems rather doubtful economy. 



It has been noted that caterpillars of the Cabbage Butterfly 

 which appeared healthy up to a given date, immediately after 

 (following on sudden rain) perished, and were found to have 

 become mere lax skins containing a cream-coloured fluid. — 

 (J. C.) 



Many kinds of caterpillars are attacked by purging when 

 feeding on wet leaves, and, looking at these points and also 

 that dry weather is the time when these special pests most 

 abound, it appears likely that a good drenching from any- 

 thing, such as a hose or garden-engine down to a watering- 

 pot, if nothing better was at hand, might do much good ; 

 firstly, it would probably make many of the caterpillars fall 

 off, and, if treated as above mentioned (that is, killed, or 

 means taken to prevent their return), many might be got rid 

 of ; and secondly, though artificial means would not help us 

 as much as the change of weather, still the sudden chill from 

 the cold water, and the wet state of the food which would be 

 induced if the operation was performed in the evening, would 

 probably clear off many. 



Good cultivation and heavy manuring of the ground, there- 

 by running the plants on quickly, has been found serviceable ; 

 and the application of liquid manure will save a crop, even 

 when badly infested. 



If, by manure or cultivation, the crop can be kept in a state 

 of growth that will make a larger amount of leafage per day 

 to each plant than the caterpillars on that plant consume, all 



