114 
It is most destructive to cabbages early in the year, when the 
plants are less than two inches high, at which stage they easily suc- 
cumb to such attacks. 
I quote in full the concise paragraph on the life history of the 
immature stages of this flea-beetle given by Professor H. Garman.* 
"The early history of the cabbage flea-beetle was made out in 
1865 by Dr. Shimer, of Mt. Carroll, Illinois. He found that the 
larva [Fig. 8, b] feeds on the roots of cabbage, in which respect 
it is different from a very similar European beetle, and also from 
the next one [P. siniiata] treated in this paper, both of them being 
leaf-miners. The eggs of this beetle are placed at the base of the 
plant. The grubs hatching from them work their way into the 
earth, mining and feeding on the roots, in some cases completely 
destroying the plants. When fully grown they are about one-fifth 
inch long, yellowish white in general color, the head dark brown. 
They desert the roots when ready to change to pupae, and pushing 
into the earth a short distance, make a small cell, in which the 
change takes place." 
Prci'cntion and Remedies. — A useful method of preventing flea- 
beetle attack recommended by Mr. W. J. Schoene,t consists in 
screening the seed beds, as described on page 108 for the protection 
of seedlings against the attacks of the cabbage root-maggot. The 
most effective treatment is spraying with Paris green or arsenate 
of lead, using Bordeaux mixture as a diluent (see pages 151 and 
152). To use Bordeaux is not absolutely necessary, but as it is 
a powerful repellent it adds to the value of the spray. 
Many other remedial measures have been recommended, such 
as powdering the plants with air-slaked lime, soot, road dust, wood 
ashes, tobacco dust, etc., these substances acting as repellents, or 
with Paris green and lime — tho the latter mixture is more effective 
as a liquid spray ; and spraying kerosene emulsion around the base 
of the plants is said to destroy the eggs and young larvae of this 
insect. 
Cultural Methods. — As this flea-beetle feeds on manv weeds, 
especially the crucifers, all weeds in the immediate vicinity of the 
garden should be destroyed. 
CUCUMBER AND MELON 
Cucumbers and melons are among the most important garden 
products in Illinois. In 1899. 2,580 acres were devoted to cucum- 
bers, and 466,876 bushels were marketed. This report does not 
include cucumbers grown thruout the state under many hundred 
*Insects Injurious to Cabbage. Bull. Ky. Agr. E.xper. Station, No. 114 (June, 
1904), p. 37. Lexington. 
tBull. New York Agr. Exper. Station, No. 301 (March, 1908), p. 170. 
Geneva. 
