160 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : 



most liable to the more severe forms of attack. In places 

 where the soil is heavy and stiff, the insect appears to 

 make less headway ; at least such is my own experience, 

 as well as that of many large growers who have given 

 some consideration to the matter. 



Prevention and Remedies. 



To be thorough in dealing with a pest of this kind we 

 must commence with the young cabbage or cauliflower 

 plants whilst in the seed beds, and again before being 

 finally planted out into permanent positions. 



To those who are acquainted with nursery work, it will 

 be unnecessary to point out the great damage that the 

 caterpillars of this moth do to the young plants grown for 

 culinary purposes. It is no uncommon sight to see whole 

 beds containing tens of thousands of these plants riddled 

 by the caterpillars, giving them the appearance of having 

 been shot at. These plants usually develop into dried- 

 up and stunted " stuff," which no practical man would 

 think of planting out for a successful crop. 



Amongst the many remedies suggested for treating the 

 young plants whilst in the seed-beds is one mentioned in 

 that excellent and well-known publication the English 

 Gardeners' Chronicle. It would appear to be one of the 

 cheapest and most effectual, and having tried it myself, 

 I can bear testimony as to its efficacy. This plan is to 

 simply take 1 Ib. of coal-tar and boil it in a couple of 

 gallons of water, and, when boiling, dilute in the proportion 

 of two gallons of the liquid, as taken from the boiler, with 

 100 gallons of fresh water. If at all brackish it should 

 not be used for this purpose. Having diluted it, it should 

 be well stirred, so that the water may become impregnated 

 with the tar flavour. Water with a fine rose watering-pot 

 the beds in which the plants are growing ; tar in any 

 form being very obnoxious to insects in general and small 

 grubs in particular. 



A weak kerosene emulsion, say 1 part of emulsion to 

 25 or 30 of water, is just as effectual, though, of course, 

 more expensive. 



