74 GROW YOUR OWN VEGETABLES 



They injure the young leaves and so weaken the plants. 

 Spray the creatures with Abol and keep the air moist 

 (Plate 16, Fig. 12). 



Root Fly. See Chapter XI., p. 85, also Cabbage Fly, 

 above. 



Slugs and Snails. These are the worst enemies of the 

 vegetable grower. Sprinkle the ground with lime ; pile 

 little circular mounds of soot or lime around young seedlings, 

 and replenish after a fall of rain. Catch by hand after 

 sundown. Use a soil insecticide. 



Thrips (Black Fly). See Chapter XIL, p. 102. 



Tiger Moth. Better known as the woolly bear, this pest 

 does considerable damage to lettuces. Hand-picking is the 

 best remedy. 



Turnip (Leaf Miners). They burrow under the surface 

 skin of the leaf and make the plants sickly, finally causing 

 decay. In mild cases scratch away the surface skin with a 

 pocket knife and scrape out the discoloured portions. 

 Spray the foliage with a mixture of soft soap and water to 

 which a little paraffin has been added. 



Wireworm (Larva of Click Beetle or Skipjack). This 

 creature, shown on Plate 16, Fig. 13, attacks root crops with 

 much persistency. It eats into the roots and so causes the 

 plants to droop and die. Allotment-holders breaking up 

 grass land must be prepared to find their plots infested with 

 the pest. When such is the case, burn the sods of grass or 

 bury them deeply. Dig in Vaporite, use superphosphate as 

 a manure, scatter and lightly fork in soot, let fowls run over 

 the ground, and permit rooks, starlings and plovers to 

 search for them. 



Of the friends of the vegetable grower, the following 

 may be cited : 



Earthworms, Hedgehogs, 



Frogs and toads, Ichneumon Fly, 



