21 
the worms the past season, for the purpose of experimenting with 
them; on some che worms were quite numerous up to November, now 
it is almost imposible to find a chrysalis, while those bred in cases 
have long since passed into the pupa state, and most to the perfect insect. 
The question therefore arises, what has become of the worms on the 
cabbages?* Have they been transformed into butterflies by the warm 
weather? or have they been destroyed by parasites and other enemies? 
A few butterflies were seen as late as the first part of November, 
but not after all the worms had disappeared. Dr. Fitch noticed a 
spider which he names the “cabbage spider,” (Iheridion brassicce) 
feeding on the young caterpillers. This is about one-fifth of an inch 
long, of a waxy white color, with two black, parallel lines along the 
middle of the front part of the body; the legs long and slender. 
He also mentions and describes another species the “Underleaf 
spider,” ( Theridion kypophyllum ) about the same size as the preced¬ 
ing, with the front part of the body and thighs a bright cherry red; 
its globular abdomen black and shining. 
We inay add also as natural enemies, insect-eating birds and domes¬ 
tic fowls; the latter especially, are efficient aids, as will be found , by 
allowing a hen or two with flocks of chickens the range of the cab¬ 
bage patch, a plan I carried out in 1878, but neglected in 1879. 
Artificial Remedies.— Old Vincent Kollar in his work on Injurious 
Insects , says “The best way to destroy them is picking off and kill¬ 
ing the caterpillers as well as the pupae, as far as it is possible; the 
latter are found attached to adjacent trees, hedges and walls.” 
Curtis, in his Farm Insects says “There are several methods of re¬ 
ducing their number and checking their increase; the best is to look 
in the winter for the chrysalids, which are concealed under the ledges 
of walls, pailings, doors, window-sills, on bushes, in hedges, on the 
trunks of trees, etc., and crush them, but on no account to destroy 
the dark brown colored ones, which are full of the parasitic Pteromali . 
As the spring advances a ring or bag net may be used to catch the 
butterflies; and when the catterpillers are large enough to be seen, 
hand picking is neither difficult nor laborious; when they attack the 
seed crops, shaking the stems might prove useful, provided troops of 
ducks were to follow and pick up the caterpillers; or dusting the 
plants with hellebore powder, fresh and genuine would be worth 
a trial, as it is very effective in some instances.” 
Boisduval in his Entomologie Forticole, gives but one method, that 
of catching the butterflies with insect nets. 
Duponchel, in his Iconograph of caterpillars, says the most effica¬ 
cious way of destroying them will be for the gardeners to employ the 
children in capturing for slaughter all the white butterflies which are 
seen flying around their cabbages, as these are mostly females seeking 
places to lay their eggs; and that by slaying one female before she begins 
to lay, we destroy an entire generation of caterpillers. He also rec¬ 
ommends searching for and destroying the eggs and pupae. 
Dr. Fitch also recommends employing children to capture the butter¬ 
flies, and placing pieces of boards between the rows of cabbage, elevat¬ 
ed two or three inches above the grotind, as places for the worms to 
pupate, when the pupae can from time to time be collected and 
destroyed.. He also suggests searching the cabbage leaves over and 
* Many chrysalis *ere afterwards discovered on the weatherboards of the various out¬ 
houses. 
