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October, when they might have been counted by hundreds. We 
submitted samples to Prof. 8. A. Forbes, State Entomologist of [li- 
nois, who thought that they had died from a contagious parasitic 
disease closely allied to the jlachérie, or schlaffsutch of the silk worm, 
a disease of which Prof. Forbes has made an especial study, and of 
which he furnished an account, which was published in the transac- 
tions of the Illinois Horticultural Society for 1883. 
There are grounds for hope therefore, that we may in the future 
be relieved, at least in a measure, from the ravages of one of the most 
troublesome pests of the garden. 
vA The Cabbage Maggot (larva of Anthomyta brassicae). 
Early in June, the roots of cabbage and cauliflower plants were 
found to be infested with the cabbage maggot. The attack was very 
severe, and for a time it seemed that the crop would be destroyed. 
On June 13, forty-three maggots were found upon, or within the 
root of a single plant. 
We made applications of the kerosene emulsion to the rootsby re- 
moving a little earth about the plant, pouring in the emulsion, and 
replacing the earth. An ounce of the Standard emulsion (four pounds 
common yellow hard soap, one gallon kerosene and one gallon water), 
dissolved in one pint of soft water, repeatedly applied, appeared to 
have no effect upon the maggots. Remembering the experience of 
1883, we feared to use a stronger emulsion. 
Prof. A. J. Cook’s experiments at the Michigan Agricultural Col- 
lege indicate that there is little danger of making the emulsion so 
strong as to injure the roots. He writes us that he used an emul- 
sion consisting of one quart soft soap, one gallon water, and one 
quart kerosene, about the roots of cabbage plants without any harm 
resulting. He adds that the emulsion of one half this strength 
proved fatal to all the maggots that it touched. He also used gas 
lime with excellent results. 
We tried a mixture of pulverized earth and mercury, after the man- 
ner that has been recommended in California for the Phylloxera, 
placing a little of the mixture about the plants.. This seemed to 
_ have a beneficial influence, but was not an entire success. We found 
some dead maggots in the plants treated, and many of the worms 
appeared to have left, but we also found some alive, in immediate 
contact with the mixture. 
V The cabbage aphis. 
About the middle of July, aphides became very numerous on a 
part of our cabbage plants. We found that an ounce of the kerosene 
emulsion diluted with one gallon of water, destroyed all that were 
wet with the mixture. We made an experiment to see whether a 
badly infested plant can be entirely cleared of the lice, by a liberal 
use of the emulsion. After removing all dying and shrivelled leaves, 
we sprinkled the remaining leaves upon both sides, and the stem, 
using the atomizing bellows, until every part of the surface appear- 
ed wet. The plant was temporarily cleared of its parasites, but in 
a few days it was infested as much as before. 
Abundance of rain fell about July 25, and after that, the aphides 
mostly disappeared, doing no further harm. 
