98 VEGETABLE GARDENING. 



change in two weeks more to flies. This insect winters over iv, 

 the pupa state in the ground. 



Remedies.— When this insect attacks onions the infested 

 plant turns yellow and looks sickly and they should be pulled 

 and destroyed. The same treatment should be given to any 

 onions that may be found infested at harvest time. When onion 

 land becomes badly infested with this pest crop rotation should 

 be practiced and no onions should be raised near it for a year 

 or two. When beans, corn and peas are affected, the seed should 

 be treated with a very thin coating of coal tar and afterwards 

 rolled in plaster or other dust. The coal tar may be applied as 

 follows: Spread the grain out in a warm room on the floor 

 about six inches deep and wet it with warm water; sprinkle on a 

 very little warm coal tar (about one tablespoonful to one-half 

 bushel) until each grain is coated; then roll it in plaster to 

 dry it off. If this is carefully done the grains will not stick 

 together and may be planted by seed planter. This treatment 

 also prevents crows, gophers and squirrels from pulling newly 

 planted corn. 



When it attacks cabbage, cauliflower and similar plants it 

 may be destroyed by kerosene emulsion, since the maggots work 

 on the stem and roots of the plant near the surface of the 

 ground and such an application would be practicable in this 

 case, while in the case of many other crops such as onions, 

 beans, etc., it might be quite out of the question on account of 

 the large number of plants that would have to be treated to 

 make it effectual. In the case of cabbage however It may be 

 prevented from entering by inserting the plant through a small 

 piece of tarred paper, that is allowed to remain flat on the sur- 

 face of the ground. 



Cabbage Flea Beetle (Halticus sp.) — There are several in- 

 sects closely resembling each other and known as cabbage flea 

 beetles that feed on the surface of the leaves of cabbage, tur- 

 nips, radish, cauliflower, etc., and various wild plants. They 

 are very injurious to the very young plants if allowed to have 

 their way, but when the plants are nicely started they do not 

 seem to be seriously incommoded by this pest. These beetles 

 are very small and move very quickly. The adult insect is 

 black or nearly so; some of them lay their eggs near the roots 



