NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 



165 



skins, the leaf then withers as if frost-bitten. On one field I 

 spread fresh-slaked lime whilst the dew was on,' beginning about 

 four a.m., but the pests are still there. On another piece I 

 sprinkled diluted fir tree oil, such as gardeners and nurserymen 

 use, but that was too costly, and to-day I have dusted nine acres, 

 plant by plant, with a mixture of fresh soot, fresh-slaked lime, 

 and flour of sulphur ; and one of the boys said between the 

 sneezes, * If this does not kill them I don't know what will ' " 

 (W. P. J. A). This week I have seen many young plants here 

 (Maldon) quite whitened from its attack. Mangolds generally 

 are a very thin and late plant on our heavy land, and from the 

 continued drought are very slow growing ; these larvae feeding on 

 the leaf-substance may be calculated to cause material loss of 

 crop. — E. A. F.] 



Anthomyia bet^ (the Mangold-fly). — Great injury from attacks 

 of the larvae of the Anthounjia hetce is of such very recent occur- 

 rence in this country, that as yet the only point that can fairly 

 be grasped with certainty as a remedy is any kind of treatment 

 that will encourage a quick and healthy growth, and thus enable 

 the plant to counterbalance by rapid formation of leafage the 

 amount which is gnawed away by the larvae. As far as we see 

 at present the larvae feed for about a month in the leaves, and 

 then turn to pupae, and two or possibly more broods occur during 



Beet- or Mangold-fly, J mag., line showing spread ot wings, nat. size. Head, mag. 

 Pupa, nat. size and magnified. Eggs (after Farsky), mag. 



the season, but the later brood is not so injurious as that of the 

 early summer, the leaves being then larger and better fitted to 

 bear attack. A dressing of some kind of manure which will 

 wash down to the roots on the first shower, and thus be imme- 

 diately available, is the best remedy of which we have informa- 

 tion at present. Guano has been found serviceable, and so has 

 the application of soot ; but mineral superphosphate is the most 



