202 MANUAL OF GARDENING 
striped beetles appear in numbers and attack the plants as soon 
as they are up. Plant early squashes as a trap-crop around the field. 
Protect the vines with screens (Fig. 229) until they begin to run, or 
keep them covered with bordeaux mixture, thus making them dis- 
tasteful to the beetles. 
Squash vines are frequently killed by a white caterpillar that bur- 
rows in the stem near the base of the plant. Plant a few early squashes 
between the rows of the late varieties as a trap-crop. As soon as the 
early crop is harvested, remove and burn the vines. When the vines 
are long enough, cover them at the joints with earth in order to develop 
secondary root systems for the plant in case the main stem is injured. 
Dark green plant-lice feed on the under sides of squash leaves, 
causing them to curl and wither. Spray with kerosene emulsion 
diluted with 6 parts of water. It is necessary thoroughly to cover the 
under side of the leaves; the sprayer, therefore, must be fitted with 
an upturned nozzle. Burn the vines as soon as the crop is harvested 
and keep down all weeds. Tobacco sprays may be used. 
The stink-bug is very troublesome to squashes. The rusty-black 
adult emerges from hibernation in spring and lays its eggs on the 
under side of the leaves. The nymphs suck the sap from the leaves 
and stalks, causing serious injury. Trap the adults under boards in 
the spring. Examine the leaves for the smooth shining brownish 
eggs and destroy them. The young nymphs may be killed with 
kerosene emulsion. 
Curculio. — The adult curculio of the plum and peach is a small 
snout-beetle that inserts its eggs under the skin of the fruit and then 
makes a characteristic crescent-shaped cut beneath it. The grub feeds 
within the fruit and causes it to drop. When full grown, it enters the 
ground, changes in late summer to the beetle, which finally goes into 
hibernation in sheltered places. Spray plums just after blossoms fall 
with arsenate of lead, 6 to § lb. in 100 gal. of water, and repeat the 
application in about a week. After the fruit has set, jar the trees 
daily over a sheet or curculio-catcher and destroy the beetles; this is 
practically the only procedure for peaches, for they cannot be sprayed. 
The quince curculio is somewhat larger than that infesting the plum 
and differs in its life-history. The grubs leave the fruits in the fall 
and enter the ground, where they hibernate and transform to adults 
