154 



TRUCK-FARMING AT THE SOUTH. 



moth, the Cabbage Plutella (Plutella cruciferarum) I 

 have often found on very young seedlings in cold-frames. 

 This worm is sometimes found in great numbers,, but it 

 is fortunately too small to inflict serious harm. It gen- 

 erally attacks only the outer leaves, when the cabbage 

 has headed. Very many of the worms have the eggs of a 

 little black inchneumon fly laid upon them. The cocoon 

 of the worm resembles that of the fly, but it is more 

 gauze like, while that of the fly looks like yellow opaque 

 paper. If these two worms were to become troublesome, 



Fig. 26. RAPE BUTTERFLY (Pleris rapce). 

 a, Larva ; ft, Chrysalis ; c, Female ; d, Male. 



they might be poisoned, but they are as yet not suf- 

 ficiently injurious to warrant the trouble. 



The most destructive green cabbage-worm at the South, 

 is the looping, or half-measuring, larva of the night- 

 flying, or noctuid moth, the Cabbage Plusia (Plusia 

 Irassicce). All cabbage growers know how these, with 

 the help of some others, honey-comb cabbages in the 

 spring. 



