110 



TURNIP. 



mation as might be placed in my bands, I arranged the following short 

 circular, and forwarded it to ray correspondents requesting their 

 assistance by replies to any of the points specified : — 



" 1. — A)it/ estimate of amount of loss, whether in acreage, mileage, 

 or money loss, on crop. 



"2. — Ayiif measures found to ansiver in lesseninrf amount of ravarfe or 

 loss from its efects ; as, for instance, effect of fertilizers, as nitrate of 

 soda, superphosphate, soot, lime, &c., given as dressings to push on 

 crop ; or any dry or fluid dressings applied to the leaves to clear the 

 grubs, and how applied, as by Strawsonizer, Knapsack Sprayer, &c. ; 

 also effects of any mechanical measures, as taking horse-hoes, or 

 scuflflers with boughs on them, through the crops ; or use of ' sheep 

 driving.' 



*' 3. — Opinion asked as to benefit of heavy rains. 



" 4. — Nature of land — also how cultivated (especially whether 

 autumn cultivated and whether ploughed deeply) — what manure was 

 used, and was salt used. 



" 5. — Was weather observably wet or dx'y in previous autumn, so as 

 to cause difficulty in cleaning the land, and was any particular weed 

 unusually noticeable. 



" 6. — Ts this caterpillar found to es'pecia.Wy frequent Charlock? 



"7. — What kind of birds are especially useful in clearing the 

 caterpillars." 



In the following notes I have arranged, in sequence (and with due 

 acknowledgment to the contributors), the observations sent me of first 

 outbreak of ravage of the caterpillars ; the replies sent to the inquiries 

 in the above circular ; and some amount of information as to direct 

 loss, or estimate of extent of deficiency of crop, wliich were forwarded 

 later in the year. These observations are given, as far as possible, in 

 the words of the contributors, with date and locality, and name of 

 writer. They are arranged under the main headings of England and 

 Scotland (with some small amount of observation of the presence of 

 the infestation m Ireland) ; and, so far as is practicable, are further 

 arranged under headings of counties, beginning in each country with 

 the first observation forwarded. In England this was sent from 

 Long Whins, Hunmanby, Yorkshire, a locality near the sea-coast, 

 about eight miles S.S.E. of Scarborough. 



ENGLAND. 

 Yorkshire. — Lontf Whins, TTuninanhi/, July 2nd. From Mr. Eobt. 

 AY. Smith. — The specimens of caterpillars sent accompanying varied 

 in size from about a quarter to fully grown, and were of various tints, 

 from yellowish to apple green. The Turnip leaves were much eaten 

 from the under side, so as often to leave mere patches of the upper 



