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On Imeeti Injuriotu to the lumip Crop. By Mr James Hardy. 



The cultivation of the turnip crop may be said to con8titut« the fountU- 

 tion of the modern practice of husbandry ; as bv it increased numbers of 

 cattlu and sheep are reared, suhtuined, and prepared fur the market, with 

 tlie least possible trouble, and with the greatest posfeible economy ; the soil, 

 exhausted by a succession of scourging crops, has its fertility restored by 

 the application of a better quality of manures; and the land is kept in a 

 state adapted for cropping, and freed from weeds, without the necessity of 

 periodical intervals of barrenness. A failure of the turnip crop, in a dis- 

 trict such OS Berwickshire, cannot but be regarded as ono of the deepest 

 oalamiiies ; involving, as it doen, the ruin of one of the most valuable bran- 

 ches uf rural industry ; while, with but partial success in raising it, the far- 

 mer has his means restricted, his just calculations nullified, and his exertions 

 and labours insufficiently repaid. In respect to asubject, with which such im- 

 portant interests are combined, a very essential duty of the cultivator must 

 DC, to acquaint himself with the causes, whence originate his blighted hopes 

 and disappointed exptctations ; and to search after the means, if any such can 

 bo obtained, by wliich those evils may be remedied. With this view, he will 

 avail himself of the investigations of the physiologist, into the diseases to 

 which plants are subject; or of tlie naturalist, as to the injuries that accrue 

 from the attacks of msects or other animals ; regarding which, he himself 

 may have neither the leisure nor the means to institute experiments, or to 

 attend to their distinctions, instincts, or modes of living. The disease 

 once ascertained, suggestions as to reparation or cure may bo hazarded, in 

 accordance with its symptoms ; but, if misunderstood, grievous errors in 

 practice will be the consequence. It is with this object, that I venture t'> 

 bring forwar<l the results of the observations of naturalists respecting se- 

 veral of the insects that have been ascertained to be pernicious to the tur- 

 nip crop; noticing, at the same time, the various remedies which have been 

 applied to obviate their attacks. The amount of novelty, or of practical 

 benefit, arising from the remarks I may have to make may be but small ; 

 with many ot the circumstances I may mention,many of youarealready well 

 acquainted. My object, however, will be gained if I succeed in awaking in 

 practical agriculturists, an interest in a subject in which they are deeply 

 concerned, which may lead them to follow out inquiries that may enabfe 

 them successfully to cope with formidable enemies. 



The insects most hurtful to the turnip crop, are— 1. The Turnip Beetle, 

 or Turnip Fly. 2. Weevils. 3. Wireworms. 4. Caterpillars of Butterflies 

 and Moths. 5. Caterpillar of the Turnip Saw-fly. 6. Grubs of two-winged 

 Flies. 7. Aphides or Plant Lice. 



I. THE TURNIP BEETLv, OR TURitiP-rLT {Hulitca Mtnorum). 



The turnip beetle, or, as it is properly termed, the turnip fly, belongs to 

 a family of insects, all of which are vegetable feeders. In its natural con- 

 dition, like every other creature, it has its useful purpow^s to fulfil in the 

 scale of creation. Its aj>paront destination is to keep in cheek a numerous 

 class of plants termed, rrom the form of their flower being similar to that of 

 a cross, the Crucifera. Several of these, such as the wild mustard and radish, 

 (runch.) are prevalent and noxious weeils; and, unless some such restricting 

 agen had existed, they would so increase and flourish as to occupy a space 

 inconsistent with the distribution of vegetables of equal relative importance. 

 In this limited sphere its ravages are perfectly legitimate, and even whole- 

 some; it is oidy when, by the extensive cultivation of the turnip, a plant 

 belonging to the same natural elass as its indigenous favourites, thai it« 

 numbers, in consequence of the additional supply of nourishment thus af- 

 forded, have, in connortion with the labours of the agriculturist, hrconiewo 

 unduly increased, a% to become a 5en<»ral scour^o. It i^ a minute nieatnr*. 



