= Turnip Flea, or Turnip Fly—continued. 
the plants, and shortens the duration of the dangerous 
period, is a valuable means of preventing harm. It is, 
therefore, of great importance to have the soil thoroughly 
prepared before the seed is sown, as Well as to give 
a good supply of manures, such as Phosphates and 
nitrogenous manures, and also to water the plants in 
dry weather. It has been suggested that thick sowing 
(up to 10lb. of seed per acre) will give a better prospect 
of escape from complete loss by the Turnip Flea; but 
this is not advisable, as overcrowding is apt to render 
the plants weak, and to prolong the period of danger 
from the Beetles, as well as to do harm in other ways. 
A method sometimes employed to protect Swedish 
Turnips, is to mix the seed with one-third of its weight 
of the seed of common Turnips, the young plants of 
which are preferred by the insects. 
Should the crops be attacked, the injury may be 
lessened, even though a cure should not be effected, by 
one or other of the following methods. A light, 
shallow tray may be tarred inside, and dragged over the 
rows of Turnips, having something at such a distance 
in front as to disturb the insects, so ag to cause them 
to leap into the tray when roused. Many can thus be 
caught, the tar holding them fast; or a large hand- 
net, such as entomologists use in “Sweeping” for 
insects, may be made use of, the plants being swept 
with it. Rolling the ground in the early morning has 
been found beneficial, as has been also the treading of 
a flock of sheep, kept in constant motion in the field, 
for an hour or two, in the early morning. The latter 
operations should be carried out only While the dew 
. is still on the herbage; and the same rule should be 
Observed in the application of dressings Of all kinds, as 
these are found to be far more efficacious if put on while 
. the plants are wet. Soot may be sprinkled along the 
drills of Tarnips; but the dressing that has given the 
best results is said to be made up as follows; One bushel 
of fresh gas-lime, one of fresh lime, ten Pounds of soot, 
and six pounds of flowers of sulphur, mixed and powdered 
thoroughly, and applied broadeast or the rows 
while the dew is still on. The above amount is enough 
for two acres. Another mixture also strongly re- 
commended is two bushels of road-scrapings, one of fresh 
lime, and fourteen pounds of sulphur per acre, applied 
as above. : 
TURNIP GALLS. The work of ® small Weevil, 
which also forms somewhat similar Galls on Cabbages, 
A brief description of the Beetle (Cewthorhynchus sul. 
cicollis) will be found under Cab Gall Weevil 
(where, however, the name is spelt Ceutorrhynchus). To 
the particulars there given, a few words may be added, 
The colour of the insect is black, slightly shining, 
sprinkled with a few grey hairs, or small scales; the 
head and thorax are much punctured, and the latter has 
a deep median furrow, and a small prominence on each 
side; the wing-cases bear small prominences in front of 
the tips, and each thigh of the hindmost legs is toothed 
on the inner side. The length of body is Xin. to tin. 
The females lay their eggs near the top of the roots of 
most Crucifers. In Turnips they do so & little above, 
or close to, the soil. In a short time, a Gall begins to 
appear, and at last its form and size may resemble a 
large half-pea fixed to the root by the flat side; or 
two or more may unite in growth. The alls are fleshy 
like the roots; and in each is a cavity, tenanted by a 
curved, whitish, footless maggot, which, When full-fed 
bores its way out, drops to earth, and PUpates lin. or 
2in. underground. This may be done in autumn, but the 
more backward larve winter in the Galle. 
, Remedies. The most certain is to cut off and destroy 
the Galls, with their occupants in them. Applications 
of soot or gas-lime, or other insecticides, to the soil 
whence infested plants have been lately Temoved, have 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Turnip Galls—continued. : 
proved valuable in lessening the prevalence of the Beetles. 
Other measures against injury will be found mentioned 
under Cabbage Gall Weevil. 
TURNIP, INDIAN. A common name for Arisema 
triphylla (which see). 4 
TURNIP, LION’S. The roots of Leontice Leonto- 
petalum. 
TURNIP MOTHS. The larve of several species 
of Moths feed on Turnip- plants, some preferring one 
organ, some another; but the insect which is usually 
denoted by the name of “Turnip Moth” is one of the 
Noctua: (see Moths and Noctua). Its scientific name 
is Agrotis segetum. The popular name is rather mis- 
leading, as the larvæ feed on many other plants, including 
most root crops and numerous weeds. Moreover, several 
other Moths are almost as hurtful, in the larval state, to 
the roots of Turnips as is A. segetum. The genus Agrotis 
is a large one, and in the same species there may exist 
great variations in markings and shade of colour; while 
the species show a great general similarity to one 
another. The fore wings are long and rather narrow, and 
* 
Fig. 134. TURNIP MOTH (Agrotis segetum). 
the hind wings are pale grey. 4. segetwm (see Fig. 134) 
reaches liin. to 13in. across the fore wings, which are grey 
FIG. 135. LARVÆ OF TURNIP MOTH. 
