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liar habit, so well known to farmers, gardeners and florists, is 
evidently caused by the fact that such caterpillars prefer 
wilted to more succulent food. This preference to wilted food 
seems to be a very general rule among all insects, since but 
very few enjoy very succulent foliage, but become sick if 
forced to consume it. Preferring more mature leaves or foli- 
age not filled with sap, they select this more suitable food later 
in the season, and as at that time there is an abundance of it 
the caterpillars are not forced to prepare it for themselves by 
cutting off the plants. Early in the spring matters are differ- 
ent; all the plants are just unfolding their new foliage or forc- 
ing their first delicate leaves full of sap towards the light. The 
warm and genial air of spring, which starts all vegetation fora 
new cycle of life, also awakens such young caterpillars as hib- 
ernate. After the long fast, enforced by cold and absence of 
food, their natural voracity is still greater than usual, and they 
are not slow to attack their food-plants which are, however, 
not yet in a suitable condition, being still too watery. The 
only way for the caterpillar to overcome this state of affairs is 
either to continue starving and wait for better times, or to solve 
the question of food-supply by cutting off the succulent plants 
and wilting them. This done the food is in a palatable con- 
dition for them. For this reason we have cut-worms only in 
the spring, and not late in theseason. This peculiar habit of 
-cut-worms of preparing their food is a habit we can make use 
of to lessen their injuries and to kill them. Knowing that such 
insects prefer wilted foliage we can supply this, and be certain 
that they will accept such a kind invitation by eating the food. 
If we poison the wilted food we furnish our enemies, the cut- 
worms will be killed in large numbers. The proper way to 
carry out this plan is to tie together small bundles of such 
plants as grass, clover, or any surplus of young cabbage-plants 
we may have to spare. These bundles, which should be about 
three inches in diameter, after being dipped in water contain- 
ing a large amount of Paris-green or London-purple, are now 
laid among the rows of plants that we wish to protect. Our 
traps or baits arenow ready for action. The bundles should be 
laid about six feet apart and only in such parts of the fields or 
gardens as will be first reached by the cut-worms. Close at- 
tention will show that not all parts of the garden or fields are 
