BAT BEETLE. 125 



well worth the trouble, as we have lost no fruit this season.— (Signed) 

 Laxton Brothers." 



The trouble and expense of this method of treatment is so very 

 inconsiderable compared to the great losses where beetle ravage pro- 

 ceeds unchecked on the ripening fruit, that I strongly recommend it 

 to the attention of all concerned, as well as the following simple 

 and successful method of getting rid of the wasteful pests, for which 1 

 am indebted to the courtesy of Mr. Lewis Castle (Manager), Woburn 

 Experimental Fruit Farm, Eidgmont, Aspley Guise, Bedfordshire. 

 After mentioning in his letter of February 28th of the past year that 

 a year or two since they had been greatly troubled with these Straw- 

 berry beetles, Mr. Castle observed : — 



" I obtained a number of empty condensed milk-tins, placed about 

 half an inch of tar in the bottom of these, and plunged them in the 

 soil by the plants to the level of the rims. Enormous numbers were 

 caught in this way, and for two seasons we have not been seriously 

 troubled with them." — (L. C.) 



Two special points in the habits of the beetles which it is desirable 

 to bear in mind relatively to preventive measures are, — one, that they 

 are nocturnal in their habits, and seek shelter during the daylight 

 hours in cracks in the ground, or in the earth close to the attacked 

 plant, even under the bunch of fruit which they have been ravaging, 

 making their way down through the litter and straw placed round the 

 plants. Another point is that these Strawberry feeders do not lose 

 their carnivorous propensities, and may be attracted by meat. 



Eelatively to the first habit, another method which, if too expensive 

 for broadscale growing, answered excellently on the smaller scale of a 

 private garden, was mentioned to me by my friend and neighbour, the 

 Eev. J. A. Cruickshank, as having answered thoroughly in saving his 

 Strawberries in the Vicarage garden at Sandridge, near St. Albans, 

 from Harpalus ruficornis, which had done much mischief there the 

 previous year, and had again appeared. The ground amongst the 

 Strawberries was covered, as is customary, with straw, and the plan 

 adopted by the gardener was to remove the straw from a space, and 

 then, trowel in hand, turn over the surface of the ground temporarily 

 laid bare, and secure the sheltering beetles. Thus, gradually going in 

 this way through the bed, the beetles were captured by hundreds, and 

 whereas the first part of the crop was ruined, afterwards (when the 

 plan was carried out) the fruit was saved from further ravage. 



Eelatively to utilizing the carnivorous habits of the beetles, it has 

 been reported that " flesh covered by pieces of thick sacking attracts a 

 number, which are easily killed." It will be observed that in Messrs. 

 Laxton's method of trapping the basins were partially baited with 

 pieces of "lights." Conjecturally speaking, I should suppose any kind 



