CABBAGE. 159 



among them, and, if left alone, the lice would eventu- 

 ally succumb. An effective application would probably 

 destroy friend as well as foe. My only success in fighting 

 plant-lice was by transferring the larvao of the lady-bird 

 from less valuable ruta bagas to cauliflowers or cabbages. 

 The best advice in the premises is : prepare the land 

 thoroughly, manure it richly, and cultivate the crop fre- 

 quently and carefully, thus securing such vigorous and 

 luxuriant growth that the losses by cabbage-lice will be 

 insignificant. 



INSECT ENEMIES OF PLANT- LICE. 



The insect enemies of the plant-lice are legion, else 

 they would devour every green living thing upon the 

 earth. Some of these enemies are enumerated below. 

 One or two of the species of lady-birds may be confined 

 to other plant-lice than the Aphis brassicce. The lady- 

 birds, both in the perfect and larval state, feed upon 

 little else than plant-lice. Of these there are: 



First. The Nine-spotted Lady-bird (Coccinella-nota- 

 ta). Nearly round, brick-red, with nine black spots. 



Second. The Two-spotted Lady-bird (Coccinella bi- 

 punctata). Similar to No. 1, smaller, with two black spots. 



Third. The Spotted Lady-bird (Megilla maculata). 

 Imported from Europe. Pink, with large black spots. 



Fourth. The Thirteen-spotted Lady-bird (Hippo- 

 damia 13-punctata), Brick-red, with thirteen black spots. 



Fifth. The Trim Lady-bird (Cycloneda sanguinea). 

 It has no black spots. 



Sixth. The Convergent Lady-bird (Hippodamia con- 

 vergens). Deep orange-red, marked with black and white. 



Seventh. The Fifteen-spotted Mysia (Mysia 15- 

 punctatd). From light gray to chestnut-brown, with 

 fifteen black spots. 



Eighth. The Twice-stabbed Lady-bird (Chilocorus 

 bivulnerus). Highly polished black, with two red spots. 



