The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-03-24
AGRICULTURAL.
Destructive Insects.

Spring time is near at hand, and the first
warm days will bring forth from their dor
mant state, horde of destructive insects,
with sharp appetites, ready to prey upon the
first vegetation that makes it's appearance
above the surface of the ground. New spe-
cies of insects are from time to time making
their appearance, which prey upon the foil
age of plants, that have heretofore escaped,
which cause the farmers and gardeners an
extra amount of labor to protect their crops
from entire destruction. Thousands of dol
lars worth of crossing crops are yearly de-
stroyed In the State of Maine by these pests.
Farmers and gardeners are enquiring for
any means that will protect their crops
from the ravages of these destructive enc
mics. Many remedies are recommended.
Some are effective, some are worthless, some
contain poison and the timid hesitate to use
them. 1t is not my purpose at this time to
recommend special remedies for the destruc-
ton of these pests, but rather to recommend
the study Of the nature and ways of the enc
my you have to contend with, that you may
be better prepared to attack them in their
weakest places, and in any form
they may appear in. 1t is not nee
essary that any one should be scientific
entomologist to be able to understand the
nature of these insects, so that they may
distinguish them in all their various forms
of life.
These insects have three stages of life
the perfect, the larva and the pupa. In the
perfect state they are named beetles, moths
and butterflies. The beetles are commonly
called bugs, and the moth, nillers. Most of
them feed in the larva state; some in the
perfect BY giving little attention to the
habits OF these insects, you will soon be IA
miliar with their various changes in life
which is decided advantage, if you intend
to destroy them. 1t would be too much of
job to undertake to describe each kind in its
order. 1t will answer the purpose of this
communication to describe but one.
For an example l will select what is COM
monty called the green cabbage worm. The
perfect insect is the white butterfly, with
black spots on her wings. This is the moth
er of the green worm. She lays her eggs on
the under side of the cabbage leaf, one in a
place. They are about one size larger than
bolt nit, of yellowish color, and can be
readily seen by practiced eye. If the
weather is favorable, they will hatch in a
few days. As soon as Matched, they COM
mence to eat on the cabbage. In this stage
it is very difficult to see them; but they leave
their tracks which appear like the scratch of
pin. slight touch of the finger will de-
stroy the eggs of the worm in this tender
stage of life.
If allowed to live, in short time they will
entirely destroy the plant. This is the larva
of the perfect insect, and in a short time OBJ
tains its growth. Then it crawls under any
substanc e near by and undergoes another
change, which is the pupa state. 1t is fire.
quently found among the larger leaves of
the cabbage. II is of brownish green col
or with horns OH it's back. 1t does not feed
in this state. In a short time if the weather
is warm it soon comes out white butterfly
AGAIN. nrQnara0 10 with itS mischief
again.
We have not failed ON account of the
green worm, to raise crop of cabbages
every season. Our success was chiefly ow-
ing to understanding the nature of the ene-
mics we had to contend with. We Destroyed
in one season over seven hundred white but
teraies. We concluded the surest way OF
getting rid nf so troublesome family was to
destroy the parents.-Corr. Dirigo Rural.