122 STRAWBERRY. 



Sometimes the grubs may be found present in great numbers in a 

 given area. In the past year Mr. Thomas Forbes, of Swinton, 

 Masham, Yorks, favoured me with a note of having in January ob- 

 served great numbers of the larvae of the Common Cockchafer when 

 liaving pits dug [for tree planting] . The pits were made nine feet 

 apart, and on an average nearly eight of the Cockchafer grubs were 

 observed in every pit. This would show an amount of infestation 

 present in the ground very capable of doing serious mischief to any 

 roots suitable for grub ravage. 



The grub, when full-grown, is of the shape and size figured at 

 p. 120, whitish and fleshy, with the abdomen rather enlarged towards 

 the extremity, and tinged with a bluish colour, consequently on the 

 excrement showing through the skin. The yellowish horny head is 

 furnished with strong jaws, and each of the three segments behind the 

 head bears a pair of long reddish legs ; the usual position is (as 

 figured) lying on one side, and somewhat curved together. In the 

 pupal state, also figured, it resembles the beetle, with the immature 

 forming limbs folded beneath the body. 



For prevention of attack, destroying the beetles when they appear 

 in large numbers (as mentioned above) is of service, but destruction 

 of the grubs when established in such places as Strawberry beds would 

 be exceedingly difficult. 



As a matter of precaution, where large areas of Strawberries are 

 being planted (as mentioned at p. 120), it would be worth while for 

 someone personally interested in the matter and also acquainted with the 

 appearance of the grubs, to have some trial holes dug, about six inches 

 deep, here and there in the ground which it is intended to plant, so 

 as to ascertain whether the ground is clear of the infestation before 

 trusting the plants to it. 



Traps have sometimes been found to answer made of sods of 

 grass. These, it is mentioned, were cut eight to ten inches broad, 

 and six to eight inches thick, and laid (grass surface downwards) on 

 the surface of the ground in the autumn, and during examination in 

 July of the following year, the "turf-traps" afforded 16,000 grubs. 

 The extent of area is not stated, but the diminution of amount of 

 pests and broadscale proof of the plan being practically useful is 

 worth notice. 



It is neither likely nor to be desired that the expense of preventive 

 measures should be gone to, unless there is good reason for believing 

 grub infestation to be present; but this plan of "turf-traps" might 

 be well worth trying as a remedial measure when Cockchafer or other 

 Chafer grubs are found to be doing mischief. Also it might be well 

 worth trying whether "traps" of less elaborate formation, such as 

 pieces of slate, or tile, laid by the plants, might not serve sufficiently 



