CHAPTER X 



Insects and Other Animals Injurious to Celery 



THE fact that the taste for celery has to be ac- 

 quired may account, in a measure, for its having 

 so few insect and other enemies. The unbleached 

 stems of celery have a strong aromatic flavor which 

 acts as a repellent to protect the plant. Celery be- 

 ing a comparatively new garden crop, may partially 

 account for the small number of its enemies, but 

 the list of species that feed upon it is constantly 

 increasing. Growers should be on their guard to 

 detect any insects injuring celery, and if doing any 

 considerable damage, a report, together with live 

 specimens, should be sent to the state experiment 

 station or to the Bureau of Entomology of the De- 

 partment of Agriculture at Washington, for infor- 

 mation regarding the best methods of combating the 

 pest. Most insects that prey upon this class of 

 plants, spend the winter under refuse in the garden 

 or celery field, in the surrounding weeds, and along 

 fences. Every possible means should be employed 

 to destroy the hibernating insects and prevent their 

 appearance in increased numbers the following sea- 

 son. It is not practical to apply poisonous solutions 

 to the growing celery, except while the plants are 

 young, and hand picking is generally recommended 

 for destroying celery-feeding insects. 



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