THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



219 



Fig. 127. — Corn worms busily at work. The mother lays her eggs 

 near the silk and her children go into the ear of corn. 



The following table shows 

 tho temperatures at Avhicli the 

 plants mentioned are liable 

 to receive injury from frost. 

 The temperatures are, as 

 nearly as possible, those of 

 the air in contact with the 

 plant itself. Frost usually 

 comes when the sky is clear, 

 the wind dies down at sunset, 

 and the air has a crisp, sharp 

 feeling. Plants may often be 

 saved if given ver}^ slight pro- 

 tection — a cover of cheese 

 cloth, branches of trees or 

 even newspapers. In small, 

 sheltered gardens frost may 

 sometimes be w^arded off by 

 building a smudge fire or by 

 placing shallow pans of water 

 near the plants. 



Fig. 128.— Corn smut. Note the 

 black mass of spores under the 

 infested ear. The smut should 

 be cut out and burned before the 

 spores fly. — Courtesi/ of Double- 

 day. Page & Co. 



