INSECTS AND DISEASES 



71 



in diameter at the bottom, and costs from three to 

 four cents apiece. It is first dipped into white 

 paint and then placed over the hill when the seed is 

 planted, and it serves the following purposes : Mark- 

 ing the rows, so that they can be easily seen 

 throughout their entire length, whether the plants 

 are up or not; protecting the seed from the field 

 mice ; protecting the plants from the striped beetle ; 

 and protecting the plants from hail. It is claimed 

 that they will last for ten years. When the plants 



Fig. 15. 



A handy screen for fencing out the 

 striped beetle. 



are large enough to fill all the space, the cups are 

 then taken off, nested together and stored away for 

 the next season. 



Early Planting is one of the best protections thai- 

 can be given, as it enables the plants to get well 

 started before being exposed to the attacks of these 

 insects. Where the plants are started in hotbeds 

 or cold frames, they have already gotten a good 

 start and are practically able to care for themselves 

 when they are put out in the open ground. 



Trap Crops are sometimes used to good advantage^ 

 This beetle is especially fond of squash plants ; and 



