10 CABBAGE. 



and in October the second brood of caterpillars goes down into the soil, 

 from which the moths appear in May. 



Kaltenbach * mentions the caterpillars as feeding on the under side 

 of the leaves, gnawing them into holes, and even consuming them to 

 the mid-rib. Taschenberg (see previous reference) notes their feeding 

 on the leaves of various plants of the Cabbage kind, " where they keep 

 themselves as much as possible concealed amongst the folds of the 

 leaves, and spin thread over the entrance to their retreats." In the 

 case of specimens sent me together with leaves, I found enough thread 

 (some loosely spun, some across a hollow in the leaf) to show the 

 capability of the caterpillars for this work, and subsequently some spun, 

 firm, white cocoons. 



Prevention and Remedies. — Mr. Mosley mentioned that " the 

 larvfe readily fall from the plant, and if knocked down as soon as 

 mischief is detected, and a good dressing of soot or lime given, they are 

 readily got under." Probably trainpling the ground would destroy a 

 great many ; or, as this infestation appears to be especially considered 

 one of the Cabbage garden, turning poultry in might be expected to do 

 a great deal of good. 



In many cases, although the caterpillars may be mostly on the 

 under side of the leaves, these could be treated with a preventive dry 

 dressing by throwing it sidelong amongst the plants. With Horse 

 Radish and various kinds of Cabbage, a portion of the under side of the 

 leaf would certainly be reached ; and if some good dressing, such as 

 Fisher Hobbs' mixture (see Index), was used, it might be expected, 

 between what fell on the previously fallen caterpillars, and what flew 

 about so as to adhere to the leaves, that many of the grubs would be 

 killed, and much protection given to the leafage. 



Trenching infested ground so as to put the uppermost spit down, 

 and what was previously below on the top, would get rid of the chry- 

 salids which lie near the surface. Even if they did develop at the 

 unnatural depth, the moths would not be able to make their way to the 

 surface through the superincumbent weight of earth. But in this, as 

 in all other cases of destroying infestation by trenching it down, it 

 should be remembered that, to ensure benefit, the pest must be left dottn. 

 If measures of cultivation for the next succeeding crop should bring 

 the pest to the surface again, whilst it is still alive, and (in the case 

 of moth clirysalids) still capable of development, no good, save culti- 

 vation of the ground, will have been done. 



Die Pflanzenfeinde,' p. 28. 



