194 



TRUCK-FARMING AT THE SOUTH. 



No pod should be picked or packed which is yet flat, 

 for the reason that the peas are not sufficiently developed; 

 and none that are discolored or rough from over-ripeness 

 should be marketed. The ordinary bushel crate is the 

 only package used at present. The contents should be 

 thoroughly shaken down, and the crate be more than full, 

 when ready to be nailed up. 



The two weevils, Bruchus pisi and Bruchus granarius, 

 which are principally injurious to the pea, affect the 

 farmer only in so far as they are destructive to his seed, 

 the larvsB inhabiting it and feeding on its substance. 



Though they usually leave the germ untouched, and 

 buggy-peas will germinate, yet the plant, being without 



Fig. 48. PEA- WEEVIL (Bruchus pisi). 

 a, Beetle, enlarged ; &, Pea, with spot. 



Fig. 49. GRAIN BRUCHUS 



(Bruchus granarius). 



the nutriment provided for its early growth, is weak at 

 the start, and is never so vigorous and productive as 

 those from sound seed. Our common Pea- weevil (Bruchus 

 pisi) is given in fig. 48, much enlarged, its real size 

 being shown in the outline at the left. The Grain 

 Bruchus or Barn-beetle of Europe (Bruchus grananus), 

 fig. 49, infests both peas and beans. It is sometimes 

 imported with foreign seeds, but has not yet become 

 naturalized. It is somewhat smaller than the Pea- 

 beetle, and the markings of the two are very different. 

 The Cotton Boll-worm (Heliothis armigera) is some- 

 times found feeding upon the pea, but too seldom to do 

 much harm. 



