THE CABBAGE 



IXSECT EXEMIES OF THE LEAVES 



The transformations of the Imported Cabbage- 

 worm — the most destructive insect afifecting cabbage 

 — are ilhistrated in the picture on page 125. The adiilt 

 is a common white butterfly, which deposits, singly or 

 in clusters of two or three each, small, yellowish-white 

 eggs upon the cabbage. The eggs soon hatch into 

 little green larvae that feed upon the leaves. In about 

 two weeks they become full-grown (a),' when they 

 desert the cabbage plants, and finding some suitable 

 shelter — beneath a board or under a coping of a fence 

 — change to chrysalids (b) . They remain in this con- 

 dition about ten days, when they emerge as butterflies, 

 to lay eggs for another brood of worms. The winter 

 is passed in the chrysalis state.. 



Rcjjicdics — Pyrethrum (insect-powder or buhach), 

 hot water and kerosene either in mechanical mixture or 

 emulsion, are the best remedies. The insect-powder 

 may be applied as a dry powder or be mixed with 

 water, in the proportion of i ounce to 4 or 5 

 gallons of water, and sprayed upon the plants. Dr 

 Riley states that ''every worm visible upon the cab- 

 bages may be killed by the use of hot water at the tem- 

 perature of 130 degrees Fahrenheit. The water may 

 be boiling hot when put in the watering-can, but it 

 will not be too hot when it reaches the cabbage leaves." 

 Kerosene in mechanical mixture or emulsion can 

 advantageously be used when the plants are young, 

 though there would appear to be danger of tainting the 

 heads if applied to the fully developed plants. Which- 

 ever method of treatment is adopted, it should be 



