THE COMMON CABBAGE WORM. 3 
influenced in this respect by the object upon- which it is fastened. 
The color thus varies through dirty gray to yellow, green, and dark 
gray. The length of the chrysalis is a little less than three-fourths 
of an inch. 
NATURE OF INJURY. 
This cabbage worm has been rightly termed the bane of the cabbage 
grower and the dread of every careful cook and housewife. It begins 
work early in the season; the principal damage is therefore to young 
plants (fig. 3), and accrues through the necessity of replanting, with 
attendant increase in cost of production, due to additional labor, 
cost of stock, and delay in getting the early or better prices in the 
market. After riddling the outer leaves, which remain afterwards 
Fic. 3.—Cabbage seedlings grown in cold frames, showing injury by common cabbage 
worm. This necessitates replanting and additional labor, and causes delay in getting 
cabbage on the early market. (Original.) 
attached to the stalk, the caterpillar attacks the tender inner leaves 
as they form, frequently secreting itself in the immature heads, where 
it is difficult to reach it with insecticides, and rendering the cabbage 
unfit for food because of the abundant dark green excrement which it 
deposits. As a result, cabbages before being sent to market must 
be examined carefully and the damaged leaves removed. Before 
cooking it is frequently necessary to tear the heads apart to insure 
that no disgusting worms are concealed within, and even after the 
vegetable is prepared for the table there is danger of an admixture of 
animal matter with the vegetable food. In cool weather the cater- 
pillar often feeds freely exposed on the surface of the leaves in 
the sunshine. 
