50 



The Lance Rustic Moth {Agrotis telifera, Harris). (Ypsilon, Rott). — 

 Harris was the first to describe this fine insect, which 

 measures an inch and a half in expanse of wings. 

 (Fig. 19.) The fore wings are brown, dark along the 

 c'osta and through the middle. Near the hind margin 

 is a light-brown hand, and at the base of the wing is 

 a light-brown patch, shaped like the head of a fish 

 with the mouth open. Pointing outAvardly from the 

 I'eniform stigma is a black lance-shaped mark. The 

 hind wings of the moth are pearly white shaded yig. 19. 



with brown. 



The caterpillar known as the " Greasy Cut-worm," is dull leaden brown^ 

 spotted with shiny black. Its dorsal and side lines are yellowish. The creature 

 is highly destructive to corn, tobacco, tomatoes, etc., cutting the plants an inch 

 above the ground. 



The Clandestine Owlet Moth (Agrotis clandestina, Harris). — In expanse 

 of wings this moth measures an inch and three-quarters. It is a very sober- 

 coloured moth. The fore wings are dark ashen. In them the orbicular andreni- 

 form stigmata are connected by a black line. The hind wings are dirty brownish- 

 white, darker towards the hind margin. The fore part of the body is chestnut 

 brown. The moth received its name from its retiring habits and attempts at 

 concealment. 



The caterpillar (Fig. 20) is called the " W-marked Cut-worm." It is j^ellowish 

 grey in colour, lined with yellow, and finely sprinkled with 

 dark spots. On each side of the back, upon the abdominal 

 segments, is a row of black velvety marks. These marks, 

 when viewed from the front, are suggestive of the letter W 

 Fig. 20. — hence the common name of the creature. 



Nothing in the way of vegetables seems to come amiss to this cut-worm 

 beans, 3'oung corn, cabbage, pumpkins, etc., all are eagerly eaten by it. It has the 

 habit of dragging its food under stones or into the ground, that it may feed upon 

 it at leisure. 



The methods to be pursued for protecting garden crops from the cut-worms 

 appear to me to be these : — Because the caterpillars pass from plant to plant over 

 the surface of the earth, and will not ascend a friable mound corn should he 

 " planted in the hill." Around each newly-planted cabbage a ring of salt should 

 be placed, a few inches from the stem. The larvse will not pass over this, and 

 the salt will act as a fertilizer. Whenever a plant is found to be nipped off, the 

 cause of the damage should be dug for at the root with a knife or pointed stick, 

 and when found, destroyed. Orowing corn, cabbages, cauliflowers, tomatoes, etc.^ 

 should be earthed up several times during their period of growth. 



" The Husbandman's Own Insectide." Take plants of " poison poke," 

 {Veratrum viride, Aiton) roots, stems and leaves, cut them into manageable lengths, 

 make a decoction — a sap-kettle will be useful for the purpose — let the liquor cool, 

 and then apply with a sprinkler or water-can. This will be found useful where 

 the application of Paris green would be dangerous. 



The gardener has a multitude of insect foes to contend with, but prompt and 

 intelligent applications of preventives and remedies are very sure to be rewarded 

 with success against them. 



