86 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. [No. 17. 



than the Philadelphia Early Turnip Beet, which is medium sized, 

 round, smooth, and of a fine dark red color. 



Bassano, and Early Blood Turnip are too well known to need 

 recommendation here. 



CORN. 



Tried several varieties of sweet corn, which were sent out by the 

 Department of Agriculture at Washington, D. C. 



Asylum Sweet, resembles somewhat the old standard sort, Stow- 

 elVs Evergreen, but its ears are larger and fewer rowed. 



JVarragansett Sioeet is perhaps worthy of some attention. It is 

 of a low and slender habit, producing its small but exceedingly 

 sweet ears very early in the season. Where earliness is important 

 this will probably be a very desirable variety. 



INSECTS. 



As Iowa has no State Entomologist, it may not be out of place to 

 name a few of the worst insects found on the garden. 



On Beans. Last season (1870) during the excessive drouth, beans 

 were attacked by the red spider (Trombidium telarium, Herm,) 

 which caused the crop to prove almost an entire failure. This pest 

 is a little mite, not more than one fiftieth of an inch in length, living on 

 the under surface of the leaves. Fortunately its habits prevent its 

 becoming injurious in seasons when there is much rain, as it can 

 not stand the wet. Remedy : copious watering with cold water. 



On Cabbage. The little black flea-beetle (Ilaltica striolata, Illi- 

 ger,) is often destructive to young cabbages, turnips and allied plants. 

 Ashes sprinkled on the plants when moist, will help the matter. 



Cut worms (Agrotis — perhaps several species,) did some damage 

 the past season. In order to get rid of these, every particle of rub- 

 bish should be taken off of the ground in the fall, and the whole 

 then plowed so as to expose it to all the freezing and thawing 

 possible. 



The Cabbage Moth {Plutella cruciferarum, Zeller,) was very 

 destructive here in 1870, and did some damage this year. The larvae 

 of this moth is a little green worm about half an inch in length ; it 



