No. 4.] INSECTS AND GARDEN CROPS. 331 



appear they gather upon them and upon the stem, which is 

 often cut completely off by the insects. Later, older j)lants 

 are injured by the beetles, while the young are at work at 

 the roots. 



The eggs of the l)eetle appear to be placed on the stalks 

 of the plants, just below the surface of the ground, and after 

 a time each hatches, })roducing a little slender, worm-like 

 form, which feeds on the cucumber roots and other parts of 

 the plant which touch the ground till full grown, when it is 

 a little more than a quarter of an inch long. After attaining 

 full size the grub changes in the ground into a quiet pupa, 

 which does no feeding and which remains in this condition 

 from one to two weeks, according as the weather is warm or 

 cold. When this period ends, the outside shell of the pupa 

 bursts, setting free the adult beetle, which proceeds to lay 

 eggs for a second brood. 



Just how many broods occur in Massachusetts is not 

 known, but there are at least two and possibly three each 

 year. 



Treatment. 



No entirely successful method for holding this insect in 

 check has as yet been found. In several ways, however, 

 their ravages may be lessened at small expense. Where 

 practicable, covering the hills with netting before the plants 

 appear is of value, as by the time the plants are too large for 

 the nets they have attained a size sufficient to enable them to 

 withstand the injuries caused by insects, better than those 

 just starting. A convenient form of netting cover is made 

 by taking two pieces of board about six inches wide, and 

 long enough to reach the plants of the hill. To the middle 

 of each board nail a pointed piece of lath, in such a way that 

 when the lath is driven into the ground the board will stand 

 on edge and form one side of a box. Two such pieces may 

 be placed at any desired distance apart, and cheese cloth be 

 tacked on so as to form the top and the other two sides of 

 the box. The chief advantage of such boxes is that on put- 

 ting them away, at the end of their usefulness, very little 

 space is needed in which to stow them. While in use the 

 earth should be so packed against the box as to leave no 

 space for the beetles to crawl under and thus reach the plants. 



