INJUIUOUS TO TUR: TUBITIP CROP. 32S^ 



Altcn)()U liavc been tnadu, and with a good rcHult, it would appear, lo ini. 

 preguato the plants tlirougli tho couUt of the seed, with properties which 

 render them nauseous. " The substances that have been tried with this 

 view/' Nays the Rev, Jas. Duncan, " are oil, brine, and 8ulphur,and the resuU 

 in many iustunces HeeniM to have been highly saiisfoctory. Soweliuies the 

 ivmU have hotn steeped in milk, with a little brimstone added; and I have 

 just been infortnod ihnt a Hiruior in Forfarshire eompletfly saved his crops 

 fron) the beetle for a long series of years, by keeping th« »co<i for home tiui« 

 previous to sowir.g in a considerable quantity of flour of sulphur, aitd sow. 

 in^ tho sulphur along with the seed. In this wav the juices of the plant 

 might be tainted by absorption, so that the insect nad no relish for it ; and 

 the disagreeable o<lour ari^ing from the sulphur strewed in the soil would 

 help to drive it away. The sulphur was found in no degree to injure tho 

 vegetative powers either of the seed or the plant. This plan was followed 

 by the farmer alluiled to, for fifteen years, with compUto success ; his tur- 

 nips being quite free from the insect, while iiiu neighbours continued to 

 suffer from its depredations."* Some damp the seed and mix it with sul- 

 phur, others pour it with tho seed into the bag previous to sowing. Half an 

 ounce of sulphur to a pound of turuiu seed, or an ounce to three pounds, are 

 the quantities specified. An East Lothian farmer informs me that he has 

 useil it for seven years, during which he has bustained comparatively little 

 damage from tlie tiy. Mr Calder, Fairncyside, has derived much benefit, by 

 keeping his seed during the winter, mixed with sulphur, at the rate of a 

 pound of sulphur to a bushel of seed. Ue states that in this way only can 

 he be sure of its proving effectual, and mentions as an instance of the suc- 

 ess attending it, that having parted with some of his sulphur- treated seed to 

 a neighbour, it was sowed by him every two drills alternately with seed that 

 had undergone no preparation; and the consequence was that the young 

 plants from the latter were totally taken otf by the fly, while the others 

 escaped. When tho young plant appears, bearing up on its leaves, the coat 

 of the seed, the latter on being rubbed between the fingers, still smells 

 strongly of the sulphur, and thus for a time, it shields these tender and es- 

 sential organs. In those cases where the sulphur treatment has succeeded, 

 the batfled flies had still ample scope hi tho surrounding district; it remains 

 to be ascertained, whether a more general application, miu;ht not deprive it 

 of its etficacy, by the fasting myriads acquiring a relish for whai they 

 might otherwise reject with disgust. The remedy is an old one ; and, from 

 the following extract from the Newcaatk Journal for Aug. 21, 1771), with 

 which, as a cui'iosity, 1 sliall conclude these remarks on the turnip beetle, 

 was iu vogue nearly 70 years ago : — 



** An excellent recipe for proven tiug the flies damaging the seedling leaves 

 of turnips, cabbages, cole, weld, flax, and many other vegetables, for less 

 than sixpence an acre charge. 



" Mix 1 oz. flour of brimstone with 3 lbs. of seed daily, for three days 

 successively, in an earthen glazed pot, aud keep it covered close, altogether 

 well at each fresh addition, that the seed may be the more tainted by the 

 sulphur ; tlieu sow it as usual on ono acre of ground, and let the weather 

 come wet or dry, it will keep the fly off till the third or fourth seedling 

 leaf is formed, and by this time they will all be somewhat biit v- ' ■;• I 

 consequently very much out of danger of the little black flyi; 

 which, in sununor time of the year, may be soinetinn^s seen in i-w , i 



the wing near the ground, searching for, and settling on, fresh bitrs, nil 

 they ruin thousiuuls of acres, by lying and residing under the little clods 

 of earth all night, aud coming forth during the «lay following " 



2. WEEVILS. 



The weevils arc a very destructive class of insects to vegetable produce. 

 J'hey are provided with a long beak or prubopcic, with which ihey per- 

 forate the objects of their attack ; or slice off sueci^dsivo |M>rUobs fro» 



* Qonrt. Jdurnat of Agrirulturr, viii., 960, 36K 



