PESTS OF. TOBACCO. 243 



plants with Bordeaux mixture, otherwise the disease 

 threatens to become a serious enemy to tobacco culture. 



2 INSECTS. 



The tobacco plant, from the period of its germina- 

 tion until it is cured, is preyed upon by a variety of in- 

 sects, and the utmost diligence and watchfulness are 

 required by the grower to guard against their depreda- 

 tions. The first of these to make their appearance are 

 the so-called "Snow fleas," which are peculiar to the 

 seedleaf districts of the North, and are rarely seen south 

 of the Ohio and Potomac rivers. The snow flea has a 

 large head and a small abdomen, without any segmental 

 divisions. It is known to entomologists as Smynthurus 

 hortensis or "Springtails." The antennae are three- 

 fourths as long as the body. It is called springtail be- 

 cause of a forked member, which lies folded up against 

 the underside of the abdomen near its end, which gives 

 the insect its great leaping power. Its power of rapid 

 locomotion resides in this spring tail. These insects can 

 stand very cold weather and are the first to feed upon 

 the tobacco plant, beginning when the two first tiny 

 leaves appear above the surface of the ground. Appli- 

 cations of the flour of sulphur are said to. have the effect 

 of driving them away. They are rarely ever seen upon 

 beds that have been well burned. 



The Flea Beetle is far more destructive to the young 

 tobacco plant, and its ravages extend through every 

 part of the United States where tobacco is grown. It 

 belongs to the genus Epitrix, family Halticidw. Two 

 species are described that attack tobacco, Epilrix 

 cucumeris, and Epitrix pubescens. The first is black, 

 with the exception of the feet and antennae. The 

 second is more oblong in form, but is otherwise 

 about the same in size and of a dull black color. The 

 feet and antennas are of a honey-yellow color, as well as 



