24 THE SQUASH BUG 



fragmentary area fails. In the first place, where there are 

 several hundred hills of squashes for the bugs of a given 

 locality to attack, the injury will be so much scattered that it 

 will be, relatively, much less severe than where it is concen- 

 trated on a half a dozen hills. Consequently, the probability 

 is much greater that a large proportion of the vines will 

 develop without serious injury. In the second place, the 

 owner of the larger plantation' can aflbrd to give it more con- 

 stant care and attention than the one with a smaller crop is 

 likely to give. 



Consequently in the following discussion of preventive and 

 remedial measures it is to be borne in mind that they may not 

 all be practicable for a few hills in the garden, when the bugs 

 were as thick as they were in 1901. It was then no uncom- 

 mon thing to pick off several dozen bugs from the vines of 

 one hill at a single picking. Under such conditions, only by 

 constant vigilance can one hope to bring a few vines through. 

 But it is believed that the measures outlined will enable one to 

 grow the crops affected when planted in considerable areas. 



Protection by nettings. — The most dangerous attack from 

 the squash bug is that made upon the young plants when they 

 first come up, and before they have any but the two seed- 

 leaves. At this period one bug may be able to destroy the 

 plant in a very short time. To prevent this it is often worth 

 while, in garden practice, to cover the hills with netting of 

 some sort. The edges, however, must be very thoroughly 

 buried under the soil, or the bugs will dig under and get 

 inside, where they will be unmolested and soon ruin the plant. 

 Of course this netting has the additional advantage of keeping 

 out the little flea beetles and the yellow and black striped bee- 

 tles. As soon as the plants get four or five leaves it is better 

 to remove the coverin£f and fi^ht the bug^s bv other methods. 



Excessive seeding. — Most gardeners plant a great many 

 more seeds of squashes, melons, and cucumbers than can 

 develop properly, in order to provide against the destruction 

 of the whole hill by the numerous enemies present. This is 

 especially desirable when the squash bugs are abundant, for 

 with any methods of fighting the pest yet discovered the kill- 

 ing of part of the 3'oung plants is almost inevitable. 



