TURNIP FLY, OR FLEA BEETLE. 189 



Various methods of disturhing or driving awaxj the fly, Inj 

 rolling, sJieep-driring, application of dressings, cC-c. : the point 

 of Viang of these applications being made when the dew is on is 

 very important, not only because under these circumstances the 

 dressings adhere to the leaves, but also when the Fly or Flea Beetle 

 has its limbs clogged by moisture it cannot use its hind legs for 

 its long flea-like jumps ; consequently, much larger numbers 

 of fly remain in reach of the dressings. 



Rolling. — " A process which has been practised with marked 

 success by various farmers in the neighbourhood of Ilminster 

 is, when the plants have got their second leaf, and the fly has 

 made its appearance, to roll them with a heavy horse-roller 

 between one and two o'clock of a shimmer's morning, when it is 

 just light enough to see where to go. In some cases the 

 process has to be repeated at a fortnight's interval, but 

 usually one rolling is enough." — (Eev. G. T. Blomfield, Norton 

 Eectory, Ilminster.) 



" It is my invariable practice, when I see the plants attacked, 

 at once to run a light roll over them. The operation is not 

 pleasant to these troublesome insects." — (Charles Howard, 

 Biddenham, Beds.) 



" llolling often saves a piece of Turnips ; it dusts the young 

 plants, and * firms ' the soil to the injury of the fly, but to 

 the benefit of the Turnips." — (W. J. Edmonds, Lechlade.) 



Driving Sheep. — " From observations I found that the fly 

 does not feed freely on dusty plants ; so I have been in the 

 habit of driving a flock of sheep over the field as soon as the 

 plants appear. This I found very beneficial, as, if done early 

 in the morning ^ when there is a little dew on the young leaves, 

 the fine dust adheres to them, and the fly will not feed on 

 them until they have been washed. This remedy will not act 

 in rainy weather, but neither does the fly then work, or if it 

 does the plant soon outgrows the injury. If the sheep are 

 driven about on the land more than once they will do no harm, 

 only a few plants will be disturbed. This remedy is a very 

 simple one, and I have certainly found it efficacious." — 

 (Jabez Turner, Norman Cross, Peterborough.) 



Relatively to the same practice, I was favoured, in 1877, 

 with the following communication : — 



" The field of Turnips I drove sheep over was thirty-seven 

 acres ; number of sheep, 400 to 500. The fly, when I saw it 

 at the end of June, was so strong as to threaten clearing the 

 crop, and it had almost been decided to plough it up ; but 

 this treatment, which embodies disturbing and killing many 

 of the insects by the treading, and which also makes the 

 leaves distasteful for oviposition, both by rubbing of the sheep 

 and the coat of dust scattered in dry weather, saved the 



