182 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



3-4 EDWARD VII., A. 1904 



and other plants of only moderate height. These could be entirely protect-ed by a 

 framework which any ordinary workman could make, only three feet high and three 

 feet wide for single rows in a garden. With such a covering, it would be impossibls 

 to cultivate between the rows ; but, if made in sections, these could be removed for that 

 purpose when necessary. The cost of building an inclosure in which a man could work 

 with ease and where several hundreds of plants could be grown, would be little com- 

 pai-ed with the increased price which would be obtainable for the earlier and much 

 superior ciop. Careful handling in taking down and storing away the cheese cloth and 

 framework would insure the lasting of these for at least two or three years. These 

 inclosures are manifestly better suited for the cultivation of some plants than for 

 others; such plants as egg plants and cucurbits, which depend on the intervention of 

 insects for the fertilization of their flowers, would require to be fertilized by hand if 

 grown in these inclosures. A noteworthy result of these experiments was that the 

 vegetables grown within the inclosure were entirely free from attacks of root maggots, 

 while those grown in the corresponding plot outside were badly affected. 



Kemedics for root maggots are frequently asked for, and those which have been 

 recommended in the past are as follows : For early cabbage and cauliflowers, the best 

 remedy is undoubtedly an early application of the disks of tarred paper recommended 

 by Prof. Slingerland. We use these regularly at the Central Experimental Farm, and 

 ahvays with great satisfaction. Where these have not been put on early, a remedy 

 which may be used is to pour about half a teacupful of a strong decoction of pyrethrum 

 insect powder, four ounces to the gallon of water, around the roots of each plant, after 

 ' drawing away the earth right down to the rootlets. The earth must then be pushed 

 back again. For onions and radishes, dusting white hellebore along the rows as soon 

 as the young plants appear, has given good results in seasons when the flies are not 

 abnormally abimdant. Kerosene emulsion and a solution of whale-oil soap have also 

 been used by some. Another excellent remedy is the carbolic wash recommended by 

 Prof. A. J. Cook many years ago. This consists of boiling up one quart of soft soap 

 or one pound of hard soap in a gallon of water. When boiling, add half a pint of 

 crude carbolic acid. Boil for a few minutes and stir thoroughly. The mixture is then 

 ready to be stored away for future use. When required, take one part of this mixture 

 by measure to fifty of water, and sprinkle or spray directly upon the growing plants 

 once a week from the time they appear above the ground. 



The Cabbage and Turnip Aphis (Aphis hrassicce, L.). — Although not so injurious 

 as it has been in some previous years, this insect was the cause of considerable loss in 



British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia 

 and Prince Edward Island. The worst 

 attacks were probably in Prince Edward 

 Island and ISTova Scotia, whence frequent 

 requests for information came. The in- 

 juries were to both cabbages and turnips. 

 When cabbages in gardens are attacked, the 

 insect should be looked for when the plants 

 are being cultivated, and, as soon as the 

 first colonies appear, which will probably 

 Fig. 7.— The Cabbage Aphis : 1 and 2, male; be late in July or in August, they should 

 3 and 4, wingless female— 2 and 4 enlarged. i aj. i j a a i j- j.i 



^ be attended to at once, before they increase 



in numbers. Whale-oil soap, one pound in six gallons of water, or the ordin- 

 ary 1 to 9 dilution of kerosene emulsion, if sprayed thoroughly, will destroy the 

 aphis. In turnip fields, where by far the greatest amount of injury is done, 

 those engaged in thinning and hoeing should be constantly on the watch for 

 infested plants, which may at that time be hoed out and destroyed. This will, in 

 many instances, be sufficient to prevent the occurrence later of a serious outbreak. 

 The eggs of this insect are laid on the turnip tops lat6 in autumn. This suggests the 



