DIAMOND-BACK MOTH. 



119 



the plants have taken advantage of the rest, and will, I think, come 

 again ; the very heavy rain now will, I think, cure it. I had never 

 seen it here before ; the action was so rapid that two days seemed 

 enough to do the damage." 



Keplies to hiquiries in circular (see p. 110), August : — 



(1). " In early-sown Turnips the loss in yield is about 25 per cent. ; 

 in later 15 per cent. 



(2). " The insects lying very lightly on the leaves, brash harrowing 

 once lightly would remove them, and then Strawsonizing with paraffin 

 would, I think, be thoroughly effectual; but as the action of the cater- 

 pillars is very rapid, careful observation and instant action on their 

 appearance is imperative. 



(3). "Heavy rain would have the same effect as both the above 

 and has effectually cleaned them here ; the plants are mostly 

 recovering. 



(4). " Fine alluvial, deep and lightly ploughed in different parts. 

 Superphosphate and salt used 



(5). " Weather average. Land cleaned. No particular weed. 



(6). " Charlock and Turnips suffered equally, Mangold not at all, 

 in same fields. Have never known them on Charlock before, and we 

 have plenty. 



(7). " Fowls of sorts followed the hoers and eagerly ate the cater- 

 pillars. No birds specially noticed although looked for ; last winter 

 killed great numbers of Blackbirds and Thrushes. 



"Finally, if no Strawsouizer available, repeating the brush 

 harrowing would, I think, answer equally." — C. C. H. 



Oxnead Hall, Nonvich, August 8th. From Mr. E. C. Rising. — " My 

 Turnips are very much injured by the Diamond-back Moth, which is 

 so prevalent this year." 



The Manor House, Shropham, Thetford, Norfolk, August 7th. From 

 Mr. Fairman J. Mann. — " Fortunately in this immediate neighbour- 

 hood we have not suffered much from the Diamond-back Moth ; still 

 I think on my own farm the Swedes, and particularly the Thousand- 

 headed Kale, have been attacked shghtly. The latter are full of 

 holes in the heads, but I cannot find any caterpillars. We have 

 lately been deluged with rain, which, I hope, may have destroyed 

 these insects." 



August 11th. — " Several of my friends in this county have 



received most severe injuries from this moth, and they, on Saturday 



at Norwich, infoimed me that the caterpillars had disappeared. This 



my friends attributed to the enormous fall of rain which has recently 



fallen in Norfolk.^' 



Bale, Dereham, Norfolk, July 24th. From Mr. John Hammond, 

 M.R.C.V.S. (with specimens of caterpillars and cocoons of Diamond- 



