REMEDIES. 391 



that lettuce could not he. grown upon it, was cleaned in ten 

 days so that it yielded an excellent crop this season (1883). 



For the protection of field crops, summer-fallow and clean 

 out the weeds. Applications of salt, soot, etc., have been rec- 

 ommended, but probably the most ])racticable for large tracts 

 is as follows : 



Dr. Fitch quoted an article from an English pa})er reporting 

 the success of white mustard, which concluded as follows : 



" I am therefore under strong persuasion that the wire- 

 worms may be successfully repelled and eradicated by care- 

 fully destroying all weeds and roots, and drilling white mus- 

 tard seed, and keeping the ground clean by hoeing." 



The writer also adds that after the mustard crop he raised 

 the best crop of wheat he had in twenty-one years. 



Some of our California farmers express a doubt in regard to 

 sowing mustard, and stating their fears that the remedy would 

 be as troublesome to get rid of as the disease. I am credibly 

 informed that such is not the fact. 



The following is taken from the Special Report on Wire- 

 Worms, 1883, by Miss Eleanor A. Ormerod, F. M. S., Consult- 

 ing Entomologist of the Royal Agricultural Society of Eng- 

 land : 



1. '■ It has been found by practical experience that the 

 growing and plowing of white mustard will get rid of the wire- 

 worm." 



The following recommendations are reported by Miss 

 Ormerod : 



" The use of mustard as a growing manure crop is not 

 sufficiently resorted to. 



"Charles Caswell, Peterborough." 



2. " Mustard sown thickly and allowed to grow to a con- 

 siderable height, and then plowed in, has been found to be a 

 good preventive, and at the same time adding considerably to 

 the fertility of the land. Right Hon. Earl of Porvis, 



'' Per Adam Lee." 



3. " Found mustard a good preventive, and sometimes the 

 only safe crop to sow where wire-worms prevailed. 



" Right Hon. Viscount Portman, 

 " Per J. Forester." 



I 



