MASSACHUSETTS STATE 



Agricultural Experiment Stat 



BULLETIlSr ISTO. 3. 



MAY. 1884. 



182. NOTES UPON INSECTS INJURIOUS TO FARM 

 AND GARDEN CROPS. 



In the annual report of the Station is to be found a statement of 

 experiments made to ascertain the best means of destroying the 

 many insects that make havoc among the crops of the farm and gar- 

 den. . Some of the experiments gave satisfactory results and extended 

 preparations are being made to learn more of the more harmless materials 

 that may be used as insecticides. As the results cannot be presented 

 to the public in time to be of use the early part of this season, we 

 give a brief statement of the remedies thus far found to be the most 

 successful. 



Cabbage Flea. — The first insect of importance that appears is 

 the small black flea or jumping beetle that attacks the cabbage, rad- 

 ish, turnip, etc. Dusting with paris green mixed with one hundred 

 times its weight of plaster has proved an effectual remedy. This 

 must be done when the plants are wet and after every rain. 



Cut Worm. — The cut worm of which there are several species, 

 including the army worm, work only during the night, and may be 

 destroyed by the same remedy as the above. We would advise a trial 

 of pyrethrum powder mixed with five times its bulk of plaster as 

 being more safe, although we have no positive proof that it will be 

 effectual. 



Striped Squash Bug. — The striped squash bug which has been 

 so abundant for the past two seasons, is best kept in check by the 

 use of plaster and paris green. For the family garden the safest and 



