112 TURNIP. 



turn the leaves completely over ; by so doing it broke the webs and let 

 the caterpillars down, and the scuffler buried them. I found that to 

 answer better than using quicklime, as some of ray neighbours have 

 been doing. 



(3). " The heavy rains we had a week ago did an immense amount 

 of good, splashing the soil on to the under side of the leaf, and either 

 drowning or setting them away. 



(6 and 7). " I have noticed Charlock, but could never find any 

 caterpillars on ; and as for birds, the common House Sparrow has done 

 a lot of good by picking off the grubs." — J. P. D. 



Pocklhu/ton, Yorks., July 22nd. From Mr. Thomas Brown, with 

 specimens of Turnip and Cauliflower plants, infested by Diamond-back 

 Moth caterpillars, accompanying. — "According to report received, 

 there are scores of acres similarly affected. I am under the impression 

 that the principal cause is the dry weather of the last few days. 

 To-day, here, we have had some nice showers, beneficial in most 

 respects." — T. B. 



Great Dnffield, Yorks., July 24th. From Mr. G. W. Clark 

 (auctioneer and valuer). — Specimens of caterpillars of Diamond-back 

 Moth received as samples of "the pest that is making havoc of the 

 Turnips." 



Keplies to inquiries in circular (see p. 110), August 11th: — 



(1). " The loss I could not really estimate ; in some localities the 

 Turnip seems nearly worthless, in others half a crop, and the best, 

 where attacked, I should consider will only make two-thirds. 



(2). " My son, on a farm of Earl Londesborough's, tried nitrate of 

 soda, with better result by far than his neighbours, who used soot, 

 lime, and other manures. 



(4). "I travel through the greatest Turnip district in Yorks. 

 weekly, and observe the ravage of the pest very minutely. I find it to 

 vary very much, affecting the plant more on flinty soil on the wolds 

 than chalk ; also on low lands, where there are different kinds of soil 

 in one field, — say, strong, gravel, and peat, — affecting the gravel and 

 peat, and leaving Turnips on strong land very little hurt. 



(5). "I never saw the land in finer condition for the growth of 

 Turnips ; it was all that could be desired. 



(7). " I should say any small birds which congregate in large 

 numbers are there for food — the pest really. 



Everinijham., Yorks., July 2oth. From Mr. B. Pippet, Agent for The 

 Lord Herries, with specimens of Diamond-back Moth caterpillars and 

 badly injured Turnip leaves accompanying. — "I enclose you some 

 caterpillars with Turnip leaves. Lord Herries, of Everingham Park, 

 would like to know the species ; also the best method of destroying 

 them, as they are ruining whole fields of Turnips about here," 



