CABBAGE. LEAVES^CABBAGE MOTH. 



171 



leaves of the cabbages were literally riddled with holes, more 



than half their substance being 

 eaten away. And at almost every 

 step, numbers of the little moths 

 which hatch from these worms 

 would arise upon the wing and 

 flit away a few yards, to some 

 covert, Tortunately, it is only 

 the free outer leaves of the cab- 

 bage which are preyed upon by 

 this worm, whilst the compacted 

 inner leaves, forming the head, 

 on which the value of this vegetable depends, are left uninjured. 

 But there is no doubt the eating away of the outer leaves, to such 

 an extent as is frequently doiie by this worm, weakens and stints 

 the growth of the head, which, it is well known, continues to 

 advance in size until the very end of the season. And among 

 those varieties of the cabbage which do not form large and com- 

 pact heads, such as the Savoy and broccoli, this moth must be 

 utterly ruinous. Even if it did no direct injury to the vegetable, 

 the presence of these little green worms, in such numbers upon 

 the leaves, wriggling about so spitefully when disturbed, is quite 

 annoying; and the eroded leaves mar the tidy appearance of the 

 garden. 



It is a little remarkable that this species occurs in all its states 

 so late in the autumn as the middle of October, as the several 

 British moths which are co-generic with it all make their appear- 

 ance in July and August. It is hence altogether probable that 

 there are two generations of the moth in each year; and if so, the 

 first generation will make its appearance, it is quite likely in the 

 month of June, or at all events before the heads have begun to 

 form and when all the leaves are yonng, open, and adapted for 

 its resort. It will consequently be liable, then, to do great 

 injury to this vegetable. 



This worm, in its appearance, motions and habits, has a close 

 aesemblance to the Palmer worm which has recently stripped 

 the foliage from our orchards and forests so extensively, and to 



