2 CABBAGE. [1899 



till so late in the year that it was too weak to be of much service, and 

 the result was great loss to market gardeners, and much inconvenience 

 to householders from non-supply of such a convenient vegetable in its 

 usual plenty and luxuriance. 



In the past season, although severe in some localities, I am not 

 aware of the mischief having been as great as in 1898; and though the 

 infestation has been very frequently referred to in previous Annual 

 Eeports, it seems worth while to allude to it again, as some few 

 additional points bearing on preventive measures can be added, and 

 some also of description of the early stages. 



All of our Brassicaceous crops which afford convenient feeding- 

 ground on tender leafage at the time that the butterflies are about — as, 

 for instance, Broccoli and Cauliflower, and the spreading leaves of 

 Brussel Sprout plants before the rosettes are developed — are liable to 

 attack, as well as the kinds especially known as "Cabbage " ; Turnip 

 leafage may also be attacked, and there is record of the Hearted 

 Cabbage being attacked in the same manner as by the caterpillars of 

 the Cabbage Moth. 



The butterflies are so well known that it is not necessary to give a 

 detailed description, more especially as there do not appear to be any 

 other kinds of white butterflies which occur similarly in flocks on 

 Cabbage crops in this country. 



There are three kinds of these Cabbage butterflies — the " Large 

 White" (Fieris brassic(e), the "Small White" [Pieris rapcc), and the 

 "Green-veined White" [Pieris napi); all of these three kinds are 

 white, more or less marked with one or two spots, and tipped with 

 black or grey, on the wings, and all of them were formerly said to lay 

 their eggs on the under surface of the attacked leafage ; but more 

 recent observations have shown that the eggs of P. brassica may be 

 laid on either side of the leaf. 



Of the above-named kinds P. hrassiccR, figured at p. 1, is the largest; 

 and the caterpillars are distinguishable by their large size, and by 

 being greenish or bluish in colour above, and yellow below, with a 

 yellow line along the back, and another showing more or less clearly 

 along each side, and also by being very observably spotted, or blotched, 

 or almost striped with black along the upper part ; also they have 

 tafts or a sprinkhng of hairs. The chrysalids, which are suspended to 

 some support by a silken thread passed round them (see figure, p. 1), 

 as well as those of the other two kinds named, are of various shades 

 of green with some yellow markings and black dots and spots. The 

 eggs are somewhat flask- shaped, laid in clusters at times on the upper * 

 as well as the under surface of the leaf, and affixed by one end. 



* See ' Larvre of British Butterflies and Moths,' vol. i. " Butterflies," p. 150, 

 by (the late) William Buckler. Ray Society. 



