INJURIOUS INSECTS. 91 



lays its eggs on the roots of corn where the young do con- 

 siderable damage. These worms are full grown about one 

 month from hatching. They then leave the roots, make a little 

 cavity in the earth near by, and undergo their changes. The 

 insects spend the winter in the beetle stage. The beetle is 

 about a quarter of an inch long and is striped with yellow and 

 black. It is very quick in its movements but does not fly 

 much, except in the middle of the day. 



Remedies — An extra amount of seed should be sown, so as 



to secure a good stand 

 and still allow some for 

 the beetles. Dusting the 

 vines, stems and leaves 

 when they are moist, 

 with air slaked lime, 

 road dust or similar 

 material containing a 

 little Paris green or 

 other poison is quite a 

 protection, and if per- 

 sistently followed up af- 

 ter every rain will gen- 

 erally prevent serious 

 loss. But care should 

 be taken to put the dust 

 on the stems as well as 

 the leaves. Paris green 

 and water is also a good 



Figure 39.— Cheesecloth screen for protecting 



cucumber, squashes and melon vines from remedy and is applied 

 the striped beetle when young. ,. , ., 



the same as tor the pota- 



tato beetle. Tobacco dust is also an excellent preventative used 

 in this way. Some gardeners having quite extensive plantings 

 and many who are working in a small way prefer to cover each hill 

 with a box or frame covered with cheese cloth. In this case, the 

 edges of the box or frame should be sunk an inch or so in the 

 ground to keep out the bugs. Frames for this purpose are 

 readily made of barrel hoops cut in halves and fastened to- 

 gether or of three slender sticks forming a sort of tent. This 

 method allows the light and air to circulate freely around the 



