The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-02-22

from in the spring is a mystery. for
their winter habits are not known yet
in this latitude. Farther south they
are known TO winter over on clover
and other legumes, sometimes becom-
ing SO numerous on crimson clover as
to destroy IL and make necessary a
migration to the pea vines. Many
plant lice which reproduce throughout
the winter for the south pass the win
ter in the egg stage here, and it is
quite possible the eggs of this pest
may he discovered on some other win
ter host plant.
The injury done by aphides may be
almost entirely attributed to the meth
cd and rapidlty of reproduction. To
detect the first appearance of this pest
ana TO rid the vines of IT early in the
season is of the greatest Importance,
as indeed in fighting all aphides
Kerosene emulsion diluted so as to
contain 10 per cent of kerosene or
whale oil soap, one pound to six gal
Ions OF water, will be found effective
for spraying. A mere covering of the
foliage is of no value. The aphides
must be hit to kill them, and this
will require a spray with some force
and applied from beneath the vines.
The common cabbage worm is
among the best known Of all garden
insects, both as larva and in the
adult stage when It becomes the COM
mon, black-spotted, white cabbage
butterfly. Possibly the best method
of control Is to spray the young plants
with arsenate of lead, one ounce to a
gallon of water, and keep the foliage
covered until they begin to head up
WELL Water heated to 1870 degrees
Fahrenheit will destroy all worms
which II hits, without injury to the
plants. In many sections this pest is
not so much feared as formerly, owing
to the very effective works Of its nat
ural parasite enemies in destroying It.
Another cabbage pest which is often
held in check by small parasitic flies
is the cabbage aphis.
The relation or parasites to Insects
Is a matter which should be studied
by every gardener 50 that he may aid
rather than hinder Natures insect
friends But often the cabbage aphis
does serious injury, cabbage growers
in Delaware reporting thousands of
dollars loss from it in recent years
Whale oil soap, one pound to FIVE gall
Ions of water, sprayed on the plants
with considerable force and so as to
reach the under surfaces of the leaves,
will be found effective Ten per cent
Kerosene emulsion Is also effective,
but occasionally Injuries plants. Where
hydrant water under pressure Is avail
able, strong jet from a garden hose
will often wash off and destroy the
aphides. Possibly the most serious
of cabbage pests is the root-maggot.
Frequently plants arc found withering
and when examined this win be found
embedded in the roots. These are the
young stage of flies, rather smaller
than bit nearly related to the house
fly, which deposit their eggs in the
soil near the stems.
The losses occasoned by garden
pests here and there in our small gar
dens seem trivial, though often dis.
| tresslngly annoying, but when we
come to consider the damage done the
truck crops of the whole country It is
seen TO be enormous. In 1904 c. L.
Marlett, assistant entomologist of the
| United States department of agriCul-
ture, estimated that 20 per cent of the
yalue of the truck crops OF the United
States was lost through the depreda-
tions of insect pests. At the present
time this would therefore mean some
100000, 900 loss every year from the
insect pests of garden crops.
II is evident from the unsatisfactory
knowledge we now have of remedies
for many Of these pests that tLIra Is
still much work for the observant
gardener, cooperating with the train
ed entomologist, to do in determin,na
the habits Of these insects upon which
measures of control may be based
And while these pests are to be dill.
gently fought, much pleasure may tC
secured by the progressive gartencI
in studying their hdb.s and lraas-
formations, for manv of than ar,
most wonderful and interesting, es-
pecially the relations Of their natural
enemies and with such knowledg, O'
their habits they may be much more
successfully controlled.
! Enr..la u. q I.uln lrnEnt. ..rl...I.. ..-. L..