l98 TURNIPS. 



they perish in it. Also — as mentioned above — if alarmed, 

 they drop from the leaf, and after the first few days they have 

 no power of spinning a thread ; consequently, have some 

 difficulty in getting back again. 



Looking at these points, it has been found useful to dislodge 

 the grubs by sweeping the Turnip-leaves with boughs of light 

 leafage or twigs, such as Fir, Furze, or Broom. 



Many different ways are noted : such as fastening the 

 boughs on a cart-rope, held by a man at each end, which thus 

 may be dragged along so as to brush the Turnips ; or fixing 

 them to a bar supported by two wheels so that the boughs may 

 lightly sweep the leaves as they pass over them ; or again, 

 fixing a good-sized Fir-branch or bunch of Broom in front of 

 a scufiier, and thus, whilst the blades do their regular work, 

 the branches sweep down the grubs, many of which are killed 

 or do not come up again. 



It is also found serviceable to drive sheep through an infested 

 field. The passage of the sheep disturbs the caterpillars, 

 many of which fall from the leaves and are trodden under 

 foot. 



Mr. Hart, of Park Farm, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent, 

 reported, in 1880, that in August he had " used sheep and lambs 

 "with good effect in an attack of ' Niggers ' on Turnips." About 

 a hundred of them were driven backwards and forwards for 

 an hour three days in succession, which quite cleared theiilants, 

 and did no harm to the animals. The attack was noted by 

 Mr. Hart as the only one of the kind which he ever had to 

 deal with, and he tried several other kinds of treatment before 

 resorting to the droving, but they were all useless, and there 

 is the special advantage, with regard to droving, that many of 

 the grubs are trampled to death by the sheep ; but any 

 measures that will make the grubs fall down are serviceable. 



Any treatment which may give a temporary check to the 

 plant whilst attack is on is particularly to be avoided, there- 

 fore singling and hoeing at such times are in no way desirable. 



Thick sowing is of advantage against the Sawfly, as well as 

 against the Turnip Flea Beetle, both for the reason that some 

 jiart of the crop has a chance of escaping and also because 

 the Sawfly likes sunshine and dryness. Where the leaves are 

 plentiful there is more moisture and shade, and these parts 

 are safer from attack ; and also in the hot dry seasons in 

 which these Sawflies thrive the thicker vegetation will help on 

 the plant, which loves moisture. 



Drenchings of liquid manure, or fluid stimulating dressing 

 of any kind preferred, distributed with as much force as was 

 safe for the leafage by the Strawsonizer might be expected to 

 be very beneficial. These would stimulate the growth of the 



