The Farm

An amateur gardener writes to the Manistee Times the result of his observations on the cabbage worm. as iollows: I have recently discovered that the cabbage worm, like all of its elass, has its parasitical enemy. During the recent pleasant weather I found hundreds of chrysalids of the cabbage worm hung up on the sides of the house and out-bsildings wherever the least protection was offered. Desirous of ob - taining specimens of the imago, (i. e. Ihe butterfly), and also to note any peculiarity in the transformaron, I gathered a dozen or more specimens. They all seemed to have an unusually dry and rough appearance. My first thought was that the severity of the winter was too much for them. On opening one, however, I discovered the true cause. It was lilled wlth parasitical maersots. Out of the several dred chrysalids I only found six or seven that showed any sign of ever coming to maturity. These I carefully putaway to await further developemenls. As to the parasite I can conjecture to what class it helongs, but cannot name it. I feit as if I had met a friend, and shall most certainly treat it with the greatest consideration, and will be able when warm weather comes to say much more about it. One tliing is certain, I am going to put out some cabbage plants, and think we may all do so with considerable safety it we plant in small quantities. The parasite has been most diligent in seeking for its victim. Inside of the bain, and in out of the way places, I fodnd the shells everywhere full of maggots. If the destruction is as general in other localities, cabbage butterflies will not be more numerous than last season, and Early Yorks can be raised without much trouble. With access to but one work, I have as yet been unable to find this cottage pest classified. The work I have used was published in 1873. Trom "Vieks" I find that it has been in the country some fifteen years. Later books than mine have doubtless given it attention. At any rate we will know for ourseives this season. Nature has provided a check to this new enemy of ours more efficiënt than man could have evolved, and it is to be hoped that we are more favored than other localities where for years they abandoned the culture of the cabbage family.