CHAPTER VI. 



INSECT AND FUNGUS ENEMIES. 



The insect enemies of the canliilower are the 

 same as those which attack the cabbage and other 

 related plants. The four here mentioned require 

 to be specially guarded against. In preparing 

 these notes I am indebted to Mr. L. O. Howard, of 

 the Department of Agriculture, at Washington, for 

 essential aid. 



Flea Beetle (PhijUotrea striolata,F8hT). — This 

 insect, also known as the -'ground flea"' or 'Mack." 

 seldom attacks the plants except while growing in 

 the open ground, and is most troublesome in warm, 

 sheltered situations. A safe preventive, therefore, 

 is to grow the plants in beds or frames elevated about 

 three feet from the ground. The objection to this 

 method, aside from the extra labor involved, is the 

 necessity of almost daily attention to see that the 

 soil does not dry out. A supply of water must be 

 conveniently at hand if this method is used, and it 

 is desirable also, to prevent the beds drying out too 

 quickly, to have the earth at least eight inches 

 deep. In hot-beds this insect is seldom trouble- 

 some, being probably repelled by the fumes from 

 the manure used. When the seed is sown in the 



