84 GROW YOUR OWN VEGETABLES 



The disease first manifests itself in the roots, small wart-like 

 excrescences appearing, whilst later on a form of rot sets in. 

 No plants affected should be pricked out, and, where an 

 attack is feared, each seedling should be dipped in a puddle of 

 lime, clay, soot, and water before being planted. 



(2) Cabbage Aphis. This is a troublesome pest that 

 multiplies rapidly in summer and autumn when the plants 

 are not growing under the best conditions. The creatures 

 live in colonies, are sluggish and of a dull grey colour. They 

 rob the leaves of their green pigment and seriously arrest 

 growth. The best plan is to give nourishment to the plants 

 by means of artificial stimulants, whilst local treatment 

 consists in wiping off the creatures, with gloved hands, 

 powdering the wet leaves with lime or spraying with soft 

 soap and quassia chips (see Aphis on p. 72). 



(3) Gall Weevil. This is a white grub which infests the 

 portions, just under the soil, of the stems of the cabbage 

 family. According to the measure of destruction which 

 it causes so the plants are affected ; sometimes the 

 damage merely makes the plants sickly whilst, at other times, 

 they collapse and die. In mild cases the swellings may be 

 cut away from the stems and the affected parts dabbed with 

 a solution of .lime, clay, soot and water ; in severe cases 

 there is no cure. After the crop has been removed a strong 

 dressing of lime is beneficial. 



(4) Various Flies, etc., besides the pests mentioned above, 

 attack the brassicas. General treatment consists in spray- 

 ing and liming as suggested for club root and aphis (see also 

 paragraph 7). 



(5) Birds pick out the seeds directly after sowing. Spread 

 out string netting or thread the rows with cotton. Use 

 scarecrows. 



(6) Caterpillars of a number of kinds, especially those of 

 the cabbage jnoth and the green- veined white butterfly, are 

 particularly vexing. Hand-picking is the only remedy; 



