26 



in clusters beneath the leaves of the vme. These 

 ought daily to be sought for and crushed. Whatever 

 contributes to bring forward the plants rapidly, and to 

 promote the vigor and luxuriance of their foliage, ren- 

 ders them less liable to suffer by the exhausting punc- 

 tures of the young bugs. Water drained from a cow- 

 yard and similar preparations have, with this intent, 

 been applied with benefit. 



During the month of August the squash and other 

 cucurbitaceous vines are frequently found to die sud- 

 denly down to the root. The cause of this premature 

 decay is a httle whitish worm or caterpillar, which be- 

 gins its operations near the ground, perforates the 

 stem, and devours the interior. It afterwards enters 

 the soil, forms a cocoon of a coarse, silky substance, 

 covered with particles of earth, changes to a chrysalis, 

 and comes forth the next summer a perfect insect. 

 The insect, thus disclosed, is nearly related to the 

 peach-tree borer, and belongs to the same genus. It 

 has been described * by the name o^^geria Cucurhitm, 

 the trivial name indicating the family of plants on 

 which the larva feeds. It is conspicuous for its orange- 

 colored body, spotted with black, and its hind legs 

 fringed with long orange-colored and black hairs. 

 From the tenth of July till the middle of August I have 

 seen it hovering over the vines, and occasionally alight- 

 ing upon them close to the roots to deposit its eggs. 

 From what is known of its habits, periods, and place 

 of attack, it is probable that smearing the vine around 

 the roots with blubber, repeatedly, during the month 

 of July, may repel the invader. 



* New England Farmer. Vol. VII. p. 33. 



