388 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
was the species), about the middle of September, on a few 
plants; whence in the drought of the last fortnight of that 
month, which was the most fruitful of all, they spread them- 
selves in spots here and there, but did not occasion much 
hurt in this quarter. The worst effects of them anywhere 
that I witnessed was on Swedes, on the gravelly and sandy 
soils about Wooler. The Aphides had begun to predominate 
there, when the turnip casts its outer leaves, and while the 
drought and the mildew kept back the young foliage; and 
the consequence was most disastrous. The sickly leaves, 
oppressed with disgusting insects, hung flagging on the 
ground; and the plants drained of sap grew weaker every 
day. ‘The smell of decaying turnips rose from the fields, fit 
to corrupt the air. The white and yellow turnips at the 
same time were infested with the green and pinkish Aphis 
vulgaris, called also A. Rap; and the fields wore as many 
tints of green, yellow and brown as the woods in autumn. 
I was told that in one inclosure the turnips were so 
disagreeable that sheep refused them. Other fields were 
being stripped of their produce to give to the cattle; thus 
losing a month or two’s growth. One farmer told me, that as 
soon as the presence of the insects was manifest, he, in order 
to starve them, had got the tops of the Swedes cut off; and 
that they were sprouting again, and growing healthy. Crops 
that were kept growing were certainly best off, such as those 
latest sown, or those among the hills, on which only a few 
insects were present, while the earliest fared worst; but the 
proposed remedy is a desperate one, “‘more to be honoured 
in the breach than in the observance.” 
I have again recourse to Mr. Langland’s report :—“ In the 
beginning of September the turnip louse (Aphis Brassicz) 
made its appearance; and its ravages on the early-sown 
Swedes, which had escaped the fly, were most pernicious. I 
was in the fine turnip district near Thirsk, and also on the 
Tees, at this time, and then first noticed the louse, which 
had already affected some fine fields of Swedes to a great 
extent. I found it appearing in this district, on my return, 
and it soon assumed a very destructive character. The early- 
sown Swedes, on the gravels and on strong land, seem to 
have gone off entirely. My own Swedes were partially 
affected only; but this I ascribe to the fact of being all later 
