VEGETABLES. 357 



Mrs. Stager: The cabbage was destroyed to a great extent 

 all over our section. The worms came in thousands; so thick 

 that one could not use powder to get rid of them. Mrs. Black- 

 well says it was the same at their place. I know my own were 

 entirely destroyed. 



Mr. Harris: The cabbage worm was worse over a great por- 

 tion of the Northwest this year than it has been for a number 

 of years. The farmers in the southern part of the state were 

 very generally short on cabbage. Early cabbage was not very 

 seriously injured, but the late heads were kept trimmed down 

 to the bare stems by the worms. 



Mr. Barrett: What will forestall this plague of the worm? 

 What is the best remedy to stop the ravages of the cabbage 

 worm? 



Mr. Cowdrey : I am a stranger here, but I would like to say 

 a word. Last fall, while riding, I came across a very hand- 

 some cabbage patch; the farmer who grew them was on the 

 spot and I commented upon it, and, finally, I asked him some 

 questions in regard to cultivation, etc., and how he had pre 

 served his cabbage in such a fine condition. I asked him what 

 his remedy was for the cabbage worm, and he told me. (Reads) 

 ' 'Mixture for cabbage worms : Twice as much soft wood ashes 

 as air-slacked-lime, and four quarts of salt to the bushel. 

 Throw into the head while, the dew is on. " 



Mr. Sampson: I can say that I have killed the cabbage worm 

 with common pulverized black pepper. It can be obtained in 

 quantity very cheap. 



Mr. Allyn: One of our large gardeners heated water right 

 in the field, and sprinkled the cabbage with it. It succeeded 

 first rate. It killed the worm, also the eggs, I suppose. They 

 had no trouble with the worms after that. 



Dr. Frisselle: The cabbage worm doesn't like dust of any 

 kind. No matter what it is, whether road dust or lime dust or 

 bran, the worm doesn't like it. A gentleman in the East who 

 had been greatly annoyed by the cabbage worm became dis- 

 gusted and, in despair, threw a handful of dust into the head. 

 He said that he was surprised at the result, for he had a good crop 

 of cabbage. He says it will drive the worm away every time. I 

 know of another man who puts on salt. Salt is very good for 

 cabbage; it makes a fine fertilizer. There is another fertilizer, 

 and that is nitrate of soda. I used some refuse nitrate of soda 

 on my cabbage some time ago, that I obtained from a soap fac- 

 tory, and I never had such a wonderful crop as I had that 

 season. 



