107 
Arsenate of lead has been successfully used against the cabbage- 
worm, but has the disadvantage of not adhering as well as the resin- 
lime mixture, altho better than Paris green alone. It must conse- 
quently be applied oftener — sometimes as many as three or four 
times a year, but ordinarily only twice. It has the advantage of be- 
ing easy to prepare, and, as it is white, one can easily see when the 
plants have been thoroly sprayed. 
Pyrethrum is also recommended for this insect. It is more ex- 
pensive than the arsenicals, but has the two advantages over them 
that it is not injurious to man, and that it can be used later in the 
season than they — that is, when the heads are nearly formed. 
Hot water at nearly boiling point will, of course, kill the worms, 
and is said to be harmless to the plants. Lime has been used against 
these worms, but it is inefifective, especially when they are numerous. 
Professor J. W. Lloyd says* ''Cabbage-worms were abundant late 
in the season, and in spite of five applications of air-slaked lime did 
considerable damage to the crop." 
Cabbage stalks and other debris should be removed from the 
field in fall and burned, unless, as recommended by Dr. F. H. Chit- 
tenden,! a few of the plants are left and poisoned as bait for the last 
generation of the insects. 
The Variegated Cutworm 
Pcridroma margaritosa Haw. 
(Agrotis saucia, Peridronia saucia) 
Cutworms are sometimes very injurious to cabbage, cutting off 
the young plants and killing them outright. For this reason they 
are a worse pest than the green caterpillars ; but they are not so wide- 
spread, and are therefore of less economic importance. The life 
history of the above species and a description of it are given in con- 
nection with insects aft'ecting lettuce (pages 129-130). 
Remedies. — Poisoned bait (see page 131) is probably the best 
remedy for cutworms. If they are known to be present, the bait 
should be put on the prepared field just before the cabbage plants 
are set out. If not, it should be used as soon as the presence of cut- 
worms is recognized. 
Spraying with an arsenical poison, such as Paris green, will de- 
stroy some of the insects if the spray is applied to the stems near 
the ground ; but the stalks are probably more frecjuently cut off just 
below the surface of the ground than just above it, and in the former 
case the poison would not be eaten by the cutworms. 
The collection of cutworms by hand is advised for some crops, 
but it would generally be too expensive for large cabbage fields. 
*The Farmer's Vegetable Garden. Bull. 111. Agr. Exper. Station. No. 105 
(Feb., 1906). p. 190. 
tinsects Injurious to Vegetables, p. 139. Orange Judd Co., New York. 1907 
