128 HOP. 



sucking away the juices of the plant, and thus both weaken- 

 ing it and injuring the healthiness of its condition by the 

 harm caused in the operation to the tender tissues. 



Mr. D. Turvill, of West Worldham, Alton, Hants, who 

 observed this attack and reported on it to me for three 

 successive years, forwarded me, in July, in 1881, the following 

 note as to the appearance of the attacked Hops, and the 

 method found most serviceable in getting rid of the insects : — 



" They principally infest the tops, and therefore most 

 succulent portions, of the bines : when once a plant becomes 

 a prey to them it is visibly checked in growth, the leaves 

 assume a deformed shape and curl at the edges, and it rarely 

 gets over (in the same season at least) the persistent attack 

 of these little pests." " This season the ravages they are 

 committing are very serious, many gardens being all but 

 ruined." 



Mr. Turvill notes the most serviceable remedy tried near 

 Alton has been the use of gas-tar. He mentions a very 

 extensive planter had two trays (about six feet by two feet six 

 inches) made expressly of corrugated iron, turned up with a 

 three-inch rim, and with a handle at each end. These were 

 smeared with tar, placed one on either side of the hill, and 

 (the poles being shaken) were found to collect the insects 

 most effectually, contact with the tar being immediate death 

 to them. The same principle was employed in other ways, as 

 by a strip of bagging or cloth tarred, &c., and found in every 

 case of great efficacy. 



If (as appears likely, from the young "Cuckoos" being 

 first seen on the shoots near or lying on the ground) they 

 hatch out of eggs amongst the shoots, or in the ground 

 beneath the surface of the hill, dressings such as have been 

 found useful for preventing young Hop Aphides coming up 

 (see p. 123), could not fail to be useful, or (generally) any 

 dressing or disturbance of the soil near the Hop which would 

 not hurt the plants, and would disturb or throw out the egg or 

 young " Cuckoo." 



Till we know certainly where the egg is laid, we cannot be 

 sure what measures will forestall attack ; but the following 

 note, also sent me from East Worldham, near Alton, Hants, 

 points to liability of transportation : — 



" A grower had a plantation infested by ' Cuckoos ' ; it was 

 grubbed and the poles reuioved during the winter to another 

 ground, which up to this time was free. It is now as badly 

 troubled as the old garden." — (G. T.) 



