132 HOP. 



cover up the young shoots ^Yith four to five inches of fine 

 mould, "which gives them security from being injured by th<3 

 Flea for several days, when the bines will have acquired more 

 strength and grow more rapidly away from attack ; and where 

 much injury is done, the application of a little rich manure, 

 as Peruvian guano, is recommended. — (' Farm Crops,' by 

 Prof. J. Wilson.) 



In the ' Pieport on the Flea-beetle of the Vineyards of the 

 United States of America,' where great losses are caused by 

 the species Graptodera {Haltica) cliahjhea, Illiger, besides the 

 above mentioned measures of clearing all pieces of old bine, 

 broken wood, and rubbish, under which the beetle can harbour 

 in winter, it is stated that when attack has commenced, good 

 may be done "by syringing the vines with a solution of 

 whale-oil (= fish-oil, Ed.), soft-soap, two pounds of soap to 

 sixteen gallons of water." 



The following method, which was found to keep the fiea- 

 beetles in check in a large vineyard at Arlington, Virginia, 

 might be serviceable : — 



"A strip of cotton-cloth three feet by six, kept open by 

 cross-sticks at the end, is thoroughly saturated with kerosene 

 and held under the vine, which is shaken by the supports 

 being struck. The beetles fall readily by the jar, and contact 



with the kerosene sooner or later destroys them After 



striking the sheet the flea-beetles show no disposition either 

 to fly or jump." — (Pieport of the Commissioner, Department 

 of Ag., U.S.A., 1879.) 



It is stated that, with these sheets, three boys rapidly clear 

 the vines over a large space of ground, and in case of bad 

 attack the method would be worth a trial in our Hop- 

 grounds. * 



Otter Moth. Hepkdxis humuU, Linn. 



The caterpillars of this moth (which is known also as the 

 Ghost Moth, or Ghost Swift) injure the Hop by infesting the 

 roots, "which they penetrate with their strong jaws, consum- 

 ing the inside as well as the bark." 



The moths fly in the evening, after lying concealed during 

 the day amongst leaves or grass, and it is stated that during 

 this flight the females drop their eggs one by one. 



The caterpillars are of a cream-colour, with brown heads, 

 and a scaly patch on the next segment. They bury them- 

 selves in the ground, and feed below the surface until they 



* For measures of prevention and remedy, tuinin<^- on cultivation and condi- 

 tion of ground, and state of surroundings, &c., see paper on " Turnip Flea-beetle," 



