288 SUCCESS WITH SMALL FRUITS. 



the stems of the plants, clinging the while to the hairy sub- 

 stance by which these stems are covered. 



*' ' The eggs are white, opaque, and 0.03 of an inch long, and 

 may be readily perceived upon splitting the stalk, though the 

 outside orifice at which they were introduced is scarcely visi- 

 ble. They soon increase somewhat in bulk, causing a swelling 

 of the stalk, and hatch in two weeks, —more or less, according 

 to the temperature ; and during the early part of May the 

 worms attract attention by the innumerable small holes they 

 make in the leaves. Their colors are dirty yellow and gray- 

 green, and when not feeding, they rest on the under side of the 

 leaf, curled up in a spiral manner, the tail occupying the centre, 

 and fall to the ground at the slightest disturbance. After chang- 

 ing their skin four times they become fully grown, when they 

 measure about three fourths of an inch. 



"'At this season they descend into the ground, and form a 

 weak cocoon of earth, the inside being made smooth by a sort 

 of gum. In this they soon change to pupas, from which are pro- 

 duced a second breed of flies by the end of June and beginning 

 of July. Under the influence of July weather, the whole pro- 

 cess of tgg depositing, etc, is rapidly repeated, and the second 

 brood of worms descend into the earth during the fore part of 

 August, and form their cocoons ; in which they remain in the 

 caterpillar state through the fall, winter, and early spring months, 

 till the middle of April following, when they become pupae and 

 flies again, as related. 



" ' The remedy is the same as that employed against the cur- 

 rant worm, which belongs to the same family. It consists of 

 white hellebore, used either in powder or liquid.'" 



I think that tobacco dust or a strong decoction from the 

 stems would prove effective, also. 



I have never had any experience with this worm, but have 

 read of instances in which fields had been entirely cleared 

 of the pest by young chickens and turkeys. 



The common little flea-beetle has often caused great in- 

 jury to my recently planted beds. I once paid nearly ^100 



