PROTECTING PLANTS 



187 



■'t^y:^ "'^ 



230. Protecting from 

 cut-worms. 



and the upper edge of the cotton turned down Hke the top of 

 a boot ; the insects cannot crawl over this obstruction (p. 203). 



The maggots that attack the roots of 

 cabbages and cauhflowers may be kept 

 from the plant by pieces of tarred paper, 

 which are placed close about the stem upon 

 the surface of the ground. Fig. 232 illus- 

 trates a hexagon of paper, and also shows 

 a tool used for cutting it. This means of 

 preventing the attacks of the cabbage 

 maggot is described in detail by the late 

 Professor Goff (for 

 another method of 



controllin g cabbage maggot see p. 201) : — 

 The cards are cut in a hexagonal 

 form, in order better to economize the 

 material, and a thinner grade of tarred 

 paper than the 

 ordinary roofing 

 felt is used, as 

 it is not only 

 cheaper, but be- 

 ing more flexible, 

 the cards made 

 from it are more 

 readily placed 

 about the plant 

 without being torn. The blade of the 

 tool, which should be made by an expert 

 blacksmith, is formed from a band of 

 steel, bent in the form of a half hexagon, 

 and then taking an acute angle, reaches 

 nearly to the center, as shown in Fig. 232. The part making 

 the star-shaped cut is formed from a separate piece of steel, so 



231 



Protecting trees from 

 cut-worms. 



232, Showing how paper is 

 cut for protecting cab- 

 bages from maggots. 

 The Goff device. 



