328 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



off their outgrown skins, till finally, after the last of these 

 molts, the changes brought about in this way produce the full- 

 grown adult bugs, which proceed to lay eggs for a second 

 brood. These develop in a similar manner, and many of 

 this brood have become adult b}'^ the time cold weather ap- 

 proaches, when they leave the plants to seek protected places 

 in which to pass the winter. 



Treatment. 



This insect does not lend itself readily to treatment. No 

 stomach poison is of any use, as both the young and adult 

 only suck the juices of the plant, and contact poisons such 

 as kerosene fail to kill any except the youngest, unless used 

 so strong as to destroy the vines. Under these circumstances, 

 other methods must be resorted to. 



It is evident that, if all the bugs which pass the winter 

 could be destroyed, no spring brood could be possible. As 

 to do this is impracticable, however, efibrts should be made 

 to reduce their numbers as much as possible. At all times, 

 but particularly when the nights begin to grow cool in the 

 fall, these insects tend to leave the plants towards dark 

 each evening, and seek protection under fallen leaves, sticks, 

 pieces of board, etc., on the ground. If shingles or pieces 

 of bark be placed near the plants at such times, an early 

 visit in the morning will show many thus collected, where 

 it is easy to kill them. Burning the vines as soon as the 

 crop has been gathered, and clean cultivation, reducing the 

 number of places where protection during the winter may be 

 found, also aid in reducing the number of these pests ; while 

 a frequent examination of the under side of the leaves of the 

 plants in June and the destruction by hand of all eggs and 

 young found will })rove to be of sufficient value to more than 

 pay for the time required to do this. 



Other methods which are of value are : the protection of 

 young plants by coverings, if the bugs appear while the 

 plants are still small ; applying land plaster well soaked 

 with turpentine or kerosene to the ground near the stems ; 

 planting an excess of seed, and forcing the rapid growth of 

 the plant by fertilizers. All of these are of value, but un- 

 fortunately no one of the methods here suggested can be 

 relied upon alone to accomplish the destruction desired. 



