202 



MANUAL OF GARDENING 



striped beetles appear in numbers and attack the plants as soon 

 as they are up. Plant early squashes as a trap-crop around the field. 

 Protect the vines with screens (Fig. 229) until they begin to run, or 

 keep them covered with bordeaux mixture, thus making them dis- 

 tasteful to the beetles. 



Squash vines are frequently killed by a white caterpillar that bur- 

 rows in the stem near the base of the plant. Plant a few early squashes 

 between the rows of the late varieties as a trap-crop. As soon as the 

 early crop is harvested, remove and burn the vines. When the vines 

 are long enough, cover them at the joints with earth in order to develop 

 secondary root systems for the plant in case the main stem is injured. 



Dark green plant-lice feed on the under sides of squash leaves, 

 causing them to curl and wither. Spray with kerosene emulsion 

 diluted with 6 parts of water. It is necessary thoroughly to cover the 

 under side of the leaves ; the sprayer, therefore, must be fitted with 

 an upturned nozzle. Burn the vines as soon as the crop is harvested 

 and keep down all weeds. Tobacco sprays may be used. 



The stink-bug is very troublesome to squashes. The rusty-black 

 adult emerges from hibernation in spring and lays its eggs on the 

 under side of the leaves. The nymphs suck the sap from the leaves 

 and stalks, causing serious injury. Trap the adults under boards in 

 the spring. Examine the leaves for the smooth shining brownish 

 eggs and destroy them. The young nymphs may be killed with 

 kerosene emulsion. 



Curculio. — The adult curculio of the plum and peach is a small 

 snout-beetle that inserts its eggs under the skin of the fruit and then 

 makes a characteristic crescent-shaped cut beneath it. The grub feeds 

 within the fruit and causes it to drop. When full grown, it enters the 

 ground, changes in late summer to the beetle, which finally goes into 

 hibernation in sheltered places. Spray plums just after blossoms fall 

 with arsenate of lead, 6 to 8 lb. in 100 gal. of water, and repeat the 

 application in about a week. After the fruit has set, jar the trees 

 daily over a sheet or curculio-catcher and destroy the beetles ; this is 

 practically the only procedure for peaches, for they cannot be sprayed. 



The quince curculio is somewhat larger than that infesting the plum 

 and differs in its life-history. The grubs leave the fruits in the fall 

 and enter the ground,, where they hibernate and transform to adults 



