“Finally, who is to take in hand the stems of the clover? This task will fall to various caterpillars equipped with good teeth and strong jaws, as for example the glyphic noctua, a rather pretty moth with upper wings bearing irregular spots encircled each by a light-gray thread on a brown background, [[332]]and lower wings brightly spotted with a light shade of yellow.
“On every part of the clover, on stems and blossoms, leaves and roots, ravenous devourers are now installed. Have I exhausted the list? By no means. There are others in plenty, if only to take the leavings of those I have named.” [[333]]
CHAPTER XLV
CABBAGE-EATERS
One day Jacques came in from the garden with a cabbage root all covered with warts having the shape and size of a pea. In each wart was a little worm.
“Some of the cabbages are withering away,” announced the old gardener, “though there are no worms on the leaves. I think the trouble comes from the warts on the roots.”
“You have guessed right, my good Jacques,” replied Uncle Paul. “Leave me that root and pull up all the cabbages that appear to you to be affected. Of course you will burn all the diseased roots. By so doing you will arrest the evil in the beginning, as the insect causing the mischief is rare with us. The important thing is not to let it multiply in the garden, even if we have to throw away many of the cabbages in exterminating it.”
Uncle Paul’s instructions were followed, and no more warty roots have been seen since. Next day the cabbage’s enemies were the subject of conversation.
“Cultivated plants,” said Uncle Paul, “are more exposed to the ravages of insects than the same plants in a wild state, because they are of a finer [[334]]flavor, tenderer, and of more luxuriant growth. Let us first consider the cabbage, now that Jacques has furnished us the occasion.