228 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Cabbage continued. 



much grown. It has a large midrib, and does not form 

 very close hearts. It is very tender when cooked, and is 

 only suitable for culture in summer. Under the name of 

 Gilbert's Cabbage Broccoli, or Chou de Burp-hley, a variety 

 of Cabbage was recently distributed which produces, if 



FIG. 308. ST. JOHN'S DAY CABBAGE. 



left long enough, hearts resembling Broccoli. Although 

 there are different opinions as to its merits, it is said to 

 be very tender when cooked, and is considered a decided 

 acquisition. 



Of Savoys, the best are: Drumhead, Dwarf Green Curled, 

 Early Him, Large Late Green, and Tom Thumb. 



Insects, $c. The majority of the Cabbage tribe is 

 attacked by a very large number of different caterpillars 

 and other pests, both above and below ground. The plants 

 in their young stages are always a prey 1'or snails and slugs, 

 and often require a dusting of soot and lime as a protection. 

 When planting out, many of the plants are often found 

 with a protuberance at the root, caused by an insect, and 

 termed " clubbing." Those so injured should be thrown 

 away if they can possibly be spared, and the others dipped 

 in a thick solution of soot water. This is the worst kind 

 of disease the Cabbage tribe is subject to. The caterpillars 

 of several moths and butterflies are very destructive in 

 summer, often eating through the hearts of Cabbages and 

 Cauliflowers, and so rendering them totally unfit for use. 

 Hand-picking, or dusting with lime, is apparently the only 

 means of diminishing the numbers of these pests. 



CABBAGE CATERPILLARS. Large Cabbage 

 White (Pieris brassicce). From May to July, and again in 

 September and October, this, the most common of our 

 butterflies, may be seen in great numbers, frequenting 

 gardens, lanes, and fields, being especially numerous where 

 Cabbages are growing. Their beautiful yellow eggs are 

 laid singly on the tinder surface of the leaves, and 

 securely fastened by a natural glue ; from these, in due 

 time, issue the small, but destructive, " green caterpillars." 

 Shortly after birth, they become quite greon in front and 

 yellow behind. They then get hairy and dotted over with 

 black ; they have eight pairs of feet, of which the three 

 front ones only are " true " legs, or those which ultimately 

 develop into the legs of the butterfly. They change their 

 skin several times, and at each moult become larger in 

 size. When full grown, they are about lin. long, of a 



Cabbage Caterpillars continued. 



light green or bluish hue above, and yellow beneath ; along 

 the back of the adult caterpillar is a conspicuous yellow 

 line, edged on each side with black dots. 



The chrysalis, or pupa, is commonly found on window- 

 ledges, palings, walls, and similar places ; but is sometimes 



FIG. 309. CATERPILLAR AND CHRYSALIS OF LARGE CABBAGE 

 BUTTERFLY. 



attached to the plant (see Fig. 309). It is a rather curious 

 object, of the colour of stone, and prettily chiselled. It is 

 fastened to the plant by the tail and by a belt of silk round 

 the middle. 



FIG. 310. LARGE WHITE CABBAGE BUTTERFLY. 

 The perfect male insect has the body black and wings 

 white on the upper side, except the tips of the forewings, 

 which are black and crescent-shaped; and on the upper 

 edge of the hinder wings there is a black spot. On the 

 under side, the fore wings are white with yellow tips, 

 and two black patches on each ; the hind wings are 

 yellow, with small black markings. The antennas are 

 alternately black and yellow, with the club black above 

 and yellow beneath. The female (see Fig. 310) differs 



FIG. 311. SMALL WHITE CABBAGE BUTTERFLY AND CATERPILLAR. 



