142 



GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



both in its perfect and larva states. When the plants 

 have attained some size the injury to the crop is slight, 

 but they generally take the young plants while in the seed 

 leaf, and destroy the crop entirely in a few hours, 

 whether it be a small bed, or a large field. 



The best remedies are preventive, such as to roll the 

 surface smoothly, so that the insects may find no hiding- 

 places in the soil, to sow the seed in drills, and in a fine, 



rich soil, and apply super- 

 phosphate of lime upon 

 the seed in the drills, to 

 b 



Fig. 45—Anasa trislis. a, Mature 

 female, b, Side view of head. 



c, abdominal segments of male. 



d, same of female, a, Twice 

 natural size ; b, c, d, slightly 

 more enlarged. Chittenden, 

 Div. Ent. U. S. Dept. Agri. 

 Cir. 39. 



Fig. 46—Phyllotrela vitluta. a, 

 Larva, b, Adult. Both great- 

 ly enlarged. Riley, Div. Ent. 

 U. S. Dept. Agri. Report, 1884. 



apply plenty of seed, and thin out the plants when in 

 the rough leaf. Anything that will accelerate growth 

 will soon place the crop out of danger from these little 

 insects. Some sow radish seed with turnips, as the flea 

 prefers the young radish leaf. If they once attack the 

 plants, dusting them with lime ashes and soot is some- 

 times useful, but when in great numbers, it is scarcely 

 possible to save the young crop. Kerosene emulsion 

 should be sprayed around the roots and stems to destroy 

 eggs and larvae. 



