Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-05-15
Protecting Cabbage Against Insects
And Diseases

Protecting Cabbage Against Insects
And Diseases
If you were to undertake the cul
tivation of cabbage, you would find
the crop beset with a number Of in
sect pests and plant diseases. How
would you proceed to protect it? I'm
less you did this, it would soon be
destroyed, and your effort wasted
1t would be mistake to let this
happen. Hence, we are interested
and concerned as to what entomolo
gists, plant pathologists and horti
culturists have found out about the
most effective means Of combating
these insect pests and diseases. AS
O. layman, the average farmer is in
terested not only in securing this
information therefore, but in haV'
ing it presented in as simple form
as possible, so that when he reads
the instructions offered, he may
readily apprehend the same and may
be able to put the suggestions con-
tanned therein into actual practice
on a simplified basis. The chief facts
pertaining to the control OF insects
and diseases attacking cabbage IN
Georgia have been assembled
through the agency of the workers
in the horticultural division OF the
Georgia State College OF AgrlcuI-
ture.
Cabbage worm. This Is the larVa
of the white butterfly that is so
often seen fitting about the gar
dens. These butterflies emerge early
III the spring and are easily recog-
!, f7ized. They are white, with a mark
ing of black near the tip of the fore
wings. They begin laying eggs,
which hatch in about a week into
little green worm. This worn at
tacks practically all Of the common
plants belonging to the mustard
family, such as cabbage, collard, and
cauliflower. They eat voraciously
and grow very rapidly. In from ten
days to two weeks, they are fully
grown and at that time they are
about one and one-fourth inches
long. They attach themselves to
some plant, pupate, and in about
two weeks thereafter, the butter
flies appear to start another gem
Grafton. These worms can be con-
trolled by spraying or busting with
Paris green, arsenate Of lead ana
calcium arsenate.
Cut worms-There are numerous
species of these worms. Every one
Ia familiar with their work. A great
MANY OF them are the larvae OIL
moths. Others belong to different
classes of insects. The methods OF
control lie in prevention. A small
paper collar, large enough to extend
an inch or two above and below the
i surface of the ground, will usually
prevent injury from these pests. Ii
! thew have been serious in previous
years, it is we'll to put the ground
in readiness for planting by turn
ing under all of the grass and other
plants that may be growing thereon.
| Then make up little balls of bran
and molasses mixed with some Paris
green. These should be scattered
about the ground before the plants
are set out. AS there is nothing
else for the cutworm to eat, they
will attack this material and the
poison will kill them. 1t is some
i times of service to put one Of these
/. balls of the poisoned bran by eacn
plant when it is set.
The Harlequin Bug. Sometimes
! Called Calico Back, Terrapin Bug,
Fire Bug, Yankee Bug and Sherman
i ug.)-Ths insect is probably one
Nof the hardest garden pests to con-
troll. The adults pass the winter In
. old cabbage stems and under leaves
and other rubbish. They appear in
the spring and the eggs for the tlrst
generation are deposited on collard,
turnips. wild mustard, or other
plants belonging to the mustard
n A.. T.,
eggs hatch and the insects attack
any of the mustard family that hap
pens to be at hand. They become
full grown in about four weeks. The
nymphs are something like adults,
but the wings do not appear until
after the fifth moult, when the adult
/ Is ready to begin laying eggs again.
{. In our warm countries there are
several generations in a year.
Tho best method of control is to
keep all rubbish and old cabbage
aturnps out of the field and to use
trap crops. A trap crop of turnips
may be planted to attract the first
insects that appear in the spring.
They can be killed upon this crop
lby an application of pure kerosene
oil. or, as Is feasible on a small
scale, by the covering Of the trap
crop with dry mulch and burning
lat over. In the fall, after q crop is
harvested, some heads of cabbage
may be left in the field for the
hugs to collect upon. They can then
he destroyed to a great extent be-
y fore they hibernate.
II Plant Lice.--Most every plant is
tacked by a louise. They are espe-
ally serious on cabbage and let
luce. They multiply very rapidly
and suck the juices of the plants,
and though they do not often kill a
plant, they render it unfit for use.
The pest is distributed from plant
ito plant by a winged generation. AS
a general thing, when cabbage or
lettuce head becomes very badly in
Tested, it should be taken out of the
match Immediately and destroyed.
When these pests begin first to ap-
pear. spraying with kerosene emul-
sion, soap or tobacco decoction will
usually control them.
III Squash Bugs.-EVery one Is fami-
lar with these insects, as they are