TTTRNIP BEETLES. lOl 



farming about a tliousand acres there is often serious loss from various 

 pests. If you are able to suggest any remedy for this present pest I 

 shall be very glad. I have been using the arsenical solution you 

 recommend, and also paraffin with the Strawsonizer ; but as the beetles 

 do not appear to he feeding/ it does not kill them, and iliay Jiy to other 

 crops, and in a few days are as numerous as ever on the crop 

 treated." 



Removal of tops and early blooms from the Turnips and results. — On 

 the 18th of May, Mr. Moss wrote further : — " The remedy I have been 

 trying the last few days has been to have women pick the tops and 

 early blooms of the Turnip and Swede, putting them, with the beetles, 

 into bags, which, when full, are carefully tied and the contents buried 

 or burnt. By this means a great number will certainly be destroyed, 

 and as the attack appears to be an early one I hope that, as I have put 

 nitrate of soda on the crop, the later blooms will branch out and fill up, 

 and I trust be free from the beetles. This rain will greatly assist the 

 lower branches to grow." As the beetles chiefly attacked the top and 

 early blossoms, Mr. Moss hoped for good results. 



On the 17th of July, Mr. Moss wrote: — "I think a great deal of 

 good was done by securing the beetles by plucking off the early blossoms 

 containmg them, and having these destroyed ; but how much was due 

 to this or to the heavy rain and artificial manure I am unable to say, but 

 that which looked almost worthless (and would have been so without 

 help) is now a splendid crop. There are, however, a quantity of 

 bladdered or maggoty pods, for if there was not a second attack of the 

 beetles the attack was very long-continued." And to this Mr. Moss 

 added some observations drawing attention to this removal of the early 

 blossom, and causing the plants to branch out afresh, necessarily 

 causing the crop to be later. 



On the 3rd of August, Mr. Moss favoured me with a report regarding 

 the success of the treatment as shown ivhen the crop ivas cut, together with 

 some notes as to the period in the beetle attack at which it seemed 

 most desirable to cut off the shoots. 



Mr. Moss wrote to me : — " I am now in a position to speak definitely 

 as to result of the method I adopted to counteract the attack of beetle 

 on the Turnip seed. The men are now cutting the crop, and I am 

 happy to be able to report that it is a very good one, quite equal to 

 what I expected before any attack of the beetles was observable. I 

 think I told you that when on bloom the field (of twelve acres) had 

 quite a dirty sooty appearance instead of being bright yellow, and the 

 crop looked worthless ; but by securing and destroying the beetles and 

 damaged blossoms, which did not cost more than 5s. per acre, and 

 heavy dressing of manure, which fortunately was followed by heavy 

 rain, a new growth was encouraged and a heavy crop secured, which 



