TURNIP FLY, OR FLEA BEETLE. 183 



from. If, however, we take half the total of 1,149,768 acres 

 mentioned above, that is to say, 574,881 acres, as the area to 

 be re- sown once in the counties under consideration (a calcu- 

 lation which is probably much below the real amount), we 

 shall get a basis for an estimate. 



1st. Taking loss on seed alone for one re-sowing; if we take 

 the price of seed at 9(?. per pound, and three pounds per 

 acre as the quantity needed, this loss would amount to 

 i^64,674 9s. OfL 



2nd. Taking loss on one re-sowing of the same amount 

 of acreage, including outlay for scuffling, harrowing, rolling, 

 drilling seed, and possibly some additional superphosphate, 

 we cannot well put the cost per acre under 15s. (if ploughing 

 instead of scuffling should be required, it would be some 

 shillings more, say 5s.) ; but taking the outlay as 15s., this 

 would amount to the sum of £431,163 on the 574,884 acres. 



If, according to the estimate of some of our agriculturists, 

 much better able to estimate outlay per acre than myself, this 

 should be put at £\ rather than 15s., the loss of course 

 agrees in numbers of pounds with the acreage, £574,884 on 

 574,884 acres. 



In Scotland Turnip Fly was present in various localities, or 

 was generally prevalent to a serious extent in eleven counties. 



The acreage under Turnips and Swedes in these eleven 

 counties, as stated in the Government returns quoted above, 

 was 194,105 acres. 



Half of this total of 194,105 acres is 97,052, and, following 

 the previous method of calculation, the loss on this would be 

 for seed £10,918 7s. ; for one re-sowing at 15s. per acre, 

 £72,789 ; for one re-sowing at 20s. per acre, £97,052. 



The loss therefore on the amount of acreage named in the 

 twenty-two English and eleven Scottish counties would at the 

 above estimate stand thus : — For seed alone, £75,592 16s. : 

 for one re-sowing, including seed and cultivation at the rate of 

 15s. per acre, £503,952 ; the same at the rate of 20s. per acre, 

 £671,936. 



This amounts to just a little more (or considerably more) 

 than half a million, if the larger rate of 20s. per acre is 

 taken ; but though the direct amount of money loss on 

 unreturned outlay for seed and re- sowings in the districts 

 known to have been attacked amounts to this enormous sum, 

 and can at least be fairly well estimated, beyond this there 

 is still a heavy loss to be considered on lesser value of the 

 Wiiite Turnip than the Swede crop, and also on the deficiency 

 of the late-sown crops, as well as in some cases the total loss. 

 Also the deficiency of crop affects other points of agricul- 

 tural supply, as want of cattle-food, and consequent lesser 



