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Journal of Agriculture. 



[9 Dec, 1907 



should be carried out. Any moisture in the soil or manure will be con- 

 served and the soil be in a condition of fine tilth when required. 



Succession crops of French beans and jieas and various saladings should 

 be provided. Seeds of beans and peas should be sown at this season in 

 shallow trenches, in thoroughly moistened soil. A light mulching placed 

 in the trench is decidedly beneficial to the plants, and diminishes the need 

 of watering, in addition to neutralizing the action of the hot sunshine on 

 the soil. 



Tomatoes should l^e tied to stakes or other support as growth advances, 

 and all lateral shoots regularly removed from the selected shoot or shoots. 

 Two shoots to each plant is considered sufficient. Where the fruit has set 

 well tlie plants will need a fair supply of water, but where large gross 

 growths and foliage are the only produce of the plants, water should be 

 withheld. 



SAND MOUNDS ON LAWNS. 



j\Ir. T. W. Pockett, Head Gardener to the Malvern Town Council, 

 writes as follows : — 



" For several years during spring and autumn, particularly the latter, 

 many people have complained about sand mounds suddenly appearing on 

 their lawns. Some thought they were caused by caterpillars or grubs. 

 I attributed the cause to a black beetle — about 2| inches long when full 

 grown. About two years ago, after considerable trouble I managed to 

 trace a few by following the holes made by them. Mr. C. French, Govern- 

 ment Entomologist, was also satisified that the beetle referred to was the 

 cause of the trouble. 



Knowing that this beetle is not to be found in any lawns where the 

 soil is retentive, and that a very stiff soil, or clay added to lawns as 

 top-dressing, is very beneficial for a deep sandy soil, cau>^ed me to try 

 the experiment for the purpose of both. The result has been highly 

 satisfactory. No beetles have appeared where the lawn has been treated 

 with about 2 inches of clay, and the lawns being composed of Kentucky 

 blue grass, and buffalo mixed, there was a good turf a few weeks after. 

 This season I have just covered about 2 chains more with clay, and shall 

 be pleased to give the result later on, but anticipate that this also will be 

 immune from the pest. 



Where the beetles exist, they appear to lay their eggs (at least I take 

 them to be eggs) on the leaves of the grass on damp dewy nights about 

 the end of October or early in November. The eggs are quite round, 

 nearly the size of turnip seed, and are mostly rather dark. I think there 

 are from 200 to 500 eggs in each patch, which is about 3 inches in 

 diameter." 



