§ Farm Insects observed in the Aherystivijth Area 



Several farmers harrowed in a dressing of soot and subsecjuently rolled, 

 with excellent effect, while both kainit and lime have proved their 

 value. 



On some farms about 15 cwt. per acre of ground lime mixed with the 

 surface soil during the preparation for roots, helps greatly to clear the 

 land of these pests. 



Plain rolling, although doubtless of assistance, seldom effects a cure 

 on the light stony soils. 



One farmer experimented with plots as follows: 



1. Rolling every other day. 



2. Applied soot and then rolled. 



3. Applied salt and rolled. 



4. Applied a dressing of nitrate of soda. 



No. 2 proved most effective, followed in order. by 4. This man noted 

 a daily advance of two yards by these larvae, he now controls any 

 patches that appear by the use of soot, harrow, and roller. 



The value of basic slag in controlling Agriotes larvae was noted by 

 Umnov in 1914. Part of a field manured with superphosphate was 

 injured, while a neighbouring part manured with basic slag was not 

 attacked^. 



Chafer Beetles, Phi/Uopertha horticola, Lin., etc. 



I have never seen a single specimen of the common Cockchafer 

 {Melolontha vulgark) within the Area, except about the town of 

 Aberystwyth ; and of Cetonia auraia, the Rose Chafer, one complaint 

 of damage to rambler roses reached me. From the appearance of 

 the foliage and the description given it is probable that that insect 

 was the cause. 



P. horticola. The so-called Garden Chafer, however, is locally 

 exceedingly abundant at times. It is typically an inhabitant of the 

 "slope land," and swarms about the dry sunny sides of the mountain 

 valleys. The adults were very abundant in June, 1915, especially in 

 the Northern valleys, and in August — September the larvae abounded 

 in the pasture lands of these slopes. Rooks and other birds assembled 

 upon these places in hundreds and in their search for the grubs literally 

 dug up acres of the already loosened herbage. Notwithstanding 

 their efforts a considerable number of larvae remained ; but there is 

 no doubt that this Chafer is largely controlled by these birds. Further 



^ A. Uinnov. Report, on tlie Work of the Entomological Bureau of Kaluga, 1913. 

 (Abstract from the Russian, in Review of Ajjplied Entomology, April, 1914.) 



