74 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 
eighteen inches in height, sunk into the earth, the ground within the in- 
closure to be covered with cement, and the top-edge of each frame to be 
covered with broad, projecting pieces of tin, like the eaves of a house, 
or the letter T; or painted with some adhesive or repellent substance, 
as tar, &c. The larve, descending the tree, being unable to climb over 
the inclosure, would change into helpless pup within the box, where 
they could daily be destroyed by thousands. Those hiding within the 
crevices of the bark of the trunk could easily be syringed from their 
hiding places. 
The striped cucumber-beetle, Diabrotica vittata, (Fab.,) during the past 
Fig.9g, Season has been very destructive to young cucumber, melon, and 
squash vines, and even to the blossoms of the pear, cherry, and 
Aik: apple trees. The larve of this beetle in May and June eat the 
bark of cucumber and other plants, and frequently perforate and 
hollow out the lower part of the stem which is beneath the surface of 
the ground, and the upper part of the root. Occasionally when the 
supply below fails, they are found in the vine just above the ground. 
The larva arrives at maturity in about a month or more after the egg is 
laid, and is found boring into the squash and cucumber vines as late as 
October. The pupa is formed in a smooth earthen cavity in the ground. 
There are two or three generations each year, according to latitude and 
length of winter. Dr. Shimer states that it hybernates as a pupa in the 
ground; but Mr. Riley differs with him, and states that it hybernates as 
@ perfect insect. The perfect insect does great dainage by eating holes 
in the seed, leaves, and young foliage. In the American Entomologist 
it is mentioned that wide-moutbhed bottles filled with sugar-water hung 
in the trees, and fires built at night, might materiaily reduce their num- 
bers, and these remedies should be tried next season. In Mr. Riley’s 
report he recommends inclosing the young vines in boxes open at the 
top and covered with millinet, or sprinkling the vines in the morning 
with Paris green—one part to four or five of flour—or with hellebore. 
Paris green is a deadly poison, however, and should be used with care. 
In connection with these boxes it may be well to mention a plan prae- 
ticed in Florida to strike cuttings in well-drained lands, and to preserve 
young seedlings from insects. ‘A square hole is dug in the earth from 
three to five inches in depth, with alinost perpendicular sides, the ground 
at the bottom well stirred up, or the bottom earth taken out and good 
earth put in. The cuttings or seeds are then planted, the hole is cov ered 
With asingle piece of vlass, and loose earth is seraped around the edges 
of the vlass to render it insect-proof. It then forms a miniature hot: 
bed and sbelter, until the young plants are old enough to resist the 
attacks of insect enemies, when the glass can be removed and the earth 
drawn around the roots. In wet, cold situations, the holes could be 
made on the summit of little mounds. 
Fig. 29. The foliage of the grape is very much injured by a small purple 
» oF steel- biue b: setle, Graptodera chalybea, ({ltig,) or the grape-vine 
Ayr flea beetle. These insects appear in May, and destroy the leaves 
and bads by eating holes through thein, a second brood appearing 
in July. The pertect insect Lybernates under stones, bark, or in the 
earth, near the plant. It feeds also on the foliage of elim, plum, black 
alder, &. To guard against its ravages, it is said by the American En- 
tomologist that “clean culture and general cleauliness in a vineyard 
will to a great extent prevent the insect’s increase,” and that the larvee 
can be destroyed by an application of dry lime used with a common 
sand-blower or bellows. This has been found more effectual than either 
lve or soap-suds, and is the safest, as lye, if used too strong, will kill 
the leaves. 
