PREVENTIVE AND REMEDIAL MEASURES. 



This borer is an exceptionally difficult insect to control, as ordinary 

 insecticides are of no value against it after the insect has once entered 

 the vines, and repellents are also practically useless. We are, there- 

 fore, dependent upon cultural methods for relief. 



Knowing-, as we do, that the insect passes the winter in the fields 

 which it has ravaged, it should be superfluous to caution growers 

 not to plant squashes in the same ground in successive years. 



Early squashes as traps. — Good results have been obtained by 

 planting as a trap crop and as early as possible a few summer 

 squashes, such as crooknecks and early cj'mblins, before, and between 

 rows of, the main crop of late varieties. The summer squashes 

 attract the insects in such numbers as to leave a smaller number to 

 deal with upon the late or main crop. As soon as the early crop is 

 gathered, or earlier if the ground is needed for the main crop, the 

 vines are promptly raked up and burned to destroy all eggs and 

 larvae which they may harbor, and the same treatment is followed 

 after gathering the late varieties. This method, according to Dr. 

 Smith, has proved profitable where used in New Jersey, and should 

 produce good results farther north. Southward where two well- 

 defined broods appear it might not be so productive of good, but it 

 should be given a thorough test. 



Fall harrowing and deep spring plowing. — Experiments 

 recently conducted b}" Mr. F. A. Sirrine of the New York Agricul- 

 tural Station at Geneva, N. Y., show that this species can be greatly 

 reduced by lightly harrowing the surface of infested squash fields in 

 the fall so as to bring the cocoons of the vine borer to the surface, 

 where they will be exposed to the elements, and then plowing in the 

 spring to a uniform depth of at least six inches so that the adults 

 will not be able to issue. 



Other cultural methods. — When the vines have attained some 

 length parts of them should be covered over with earth so that sec- 

 ondary roots will be sent out to support the plants in case the main 

 root is injured by the borer. Keeping the plants in good condition, 

 free from disease and other insects, and well nourished, with the 

 assistance of manure or other fertilizer if necessary, will also aid the 

 plants to withstand borer attack. When vines are so badly infested 

 as to be incapable of bearing fruit they die usually at once, and they 

 should then be promj^tly taken out and burned. The old vines should 

 also be destroyed as soon as the crop is made. 



Cutting out the borers. — The old-time remedy of cutting the 

 borers out of the vines, although laborious, is of value, and about 

 the only method open for emploj'ment after they have entered the 

 vines. As several individuals often infest a single vine, it is best to 

 cut longitudinally, so as not to sever the vine from the root stalk. 



