374 Report op the Horticulturist of the 



Maggot. — The cabbage maggot is very injurious in some locali- 

 ties. The adult insect is a small fly that makes its appearance in 

 the spring about the time the plants are set in the field. The fe- 

 male deposits her eggs on the stems of the plants at, or just below, 

 the surface of the ground. The eggs hatch in a few days, when the 

 little maggots begin feeding in the roots of the plants. When they 

 occur in large numbers on the same plant the roots are soon reduced 

 to a decaying and foul smelling mass. 



Remedy. — Prof. Goff ^^ of Wisconsin has devised what appears to 

 be the most practical method of combating this insect. Small cards 

 of tarred paper are fastened tightly around the stems of the plants 

 when they are transplanted so that tlie cards rest on the surface of 

 the ground after the plants are set. The cards are cut from build- 

 ing paper with a tool made for the purpose. They are six-sided and 

 about three inches in diameter. A slit from one side to a star-shaped 

 puncture in the centre permits the card to be fastened tightly 

 aronnd the plant. When properly applied the cards have proved 

 very effective by preventing the fly from laying her eggs on the 

 plants. 



Worms. — The worms that feed on cabbage are so common that 

 every grower is familiar with them and especially with the damage 

 they do. 



Remedies. — Numerous remedies to be used in Hghting these 

 pests are recommended each year. Poisoning with arsenic in some 

 of its forms has given the best results. Paris green is commonly 

 used. This may be applied in various ways ; mixing the poison 

 with flour or ])laster and applying with hand-sifters has given good 

 results. When the poison is applied in a spray it has not been 

 satisfactory, for the reason that the liquid would not stick to the 

 foliage. But it is now thought that this difliculty can be overcome 

 by the addition of lime. In Bulletin No. 83 of this Station it is 

 recommended that a spray mixture for poisoning cabbage worms 

 be made as follows : 



Paris green or London purple 1 pound. 



Lime, unslacked '. 16 pounds. 



Water (to make) 160 gallons. 



Slack the lime and add to the Paris green, with sufiicient water 

 to make one hundred and sixty gallons. For a more complete dis- 



10 Eighth Annual Report, Wis. Expt. Sta. 169-173 ; also Bui. 78 Cornell Exp't Sta. 



