CABBAGE, CAULIFLOWER, AND KALE 33 



plants by a small two-winged fly, somewhat resembling 

 the common house fly. These eggs soon hatch into 

 whitish maggots that feed upon the roots, checking the 

 growth of the seedling, if not killing it outright. In a 

 few weeks the maggots change to pupae, to change later 

 to flies like those that laid the eggs. One of the best 

 ways to prevent such injury is to grow the seedlings in a 

 frame covered with cheesecloth. The cloth is removed 

 a week before the plants are set out to harden off by 

 full exposure to sunshine. 



The Cabbage Worm is one of the best known garden 

 insects. The adult is the familiar white butterfly com- 

 mon from spring till fall. These butterflies lay eggs 

 upon the cabbage leaves The eggs hatch into greenish 

 caterpillars that feed upon the leaves, remaining hidden 

 in the forming head. They feed and grow for several 

 weeks, often riddling the head with their nibbling when 

 several are present. Then, being full grown as cater- 

 pillars, they crawl out, and attaching themselves by silken 

 threads to the sides of boards, stones, or other shelter, 

 change to chrysalids, to change again a Httle later to 

 butterflies. Thus the life-cycle is completed. There are 

 commonly several broods a year. On young plants 

 which have not begun to head, the larvae may be killed 

 by kerosene emulsion. On heading plants insect powder 

 may be used. 



Fungous Diseases 



There also are two diseases especially injurious to 

 cabbages — Black Rot and Club-root. The Black Rot 

 is a bacterial disease, the germs of which develop by 

 millions in the sap tubes of the plant, causing death and 



