CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 



337 



ing on the roots, and the beetles are effective carriers of 

 the dreaded bacterial disease known as "cucurbit wilt." 

 The beetles appear in April or May, and feed on the 

 young plants as soon as they are up. Egg laying begins 

 promptly and the larvae feed on the stems, many of them 

 entering when the plants are greatly weakened if not 

 killed. When cold weather approaches, the beetles seek 

 shelter in which to hibernate. 



FIG. 82. POWER SPRAYER FOR CUCURBITS 



Various plans have been suggested to control this 

 pest. As poisons are not successful, preventive meas- 

 ures are usually employed. Covering the hills with 

 squares of mosquito netting is efficacious, but trouble- 

 some and expensive in a large field. If the plants are 

 started under glass and set in the field when four weeks 

 old, the danger of loss will not be so great. Seed should 

 be used liberally, to make allowance for insect depreda- 

 tions. Air-slaked lime is often an excellent repellent 

 when sprinkled on the plants; tobacco dust may be used 

 in the same way. 



