128 



TITRNTP. 



Burdon Sanderson was good enough to give me the following detailed 



account : — 



" There is no doubt that where Swedes were badly attacked by the 

 Diamond-backs, the roots are considerably smaller than they otherwise 

 would have been, which, I suppose, is caused by the check in growth 

 that they got at the perhaps most critical time, i.e., a week or two 

 after being singled. Some earlier Swedes in the same field have pulled 

 a first-rate crop of bulbs, but owing to their being almost met in the 

 drill when attached, the insects did practically no harm. Some yellow 

 Turnips, also early sown, turned out well, but the later ones are also 

 small in roots. 



" As you say in yonr letter, the leafage in all these cases was first 

 rate, but when we came to pull them they turned out as above. Of 

 course there were some cases in the neighbourhood where even good 

 strong Swede plants were entirely destroyed, and subsequently 

 ploughed out, but this di 1 not happen to any extent, and where it did 

 it was close to the coast. My land here lies close to a large tidal bay 

 which fills when the tule comes in, but we are some two miles or so 

 from the main sea. 



"I may mention that the Kohl Kabi and Drumhead Cabbages 

 have not sufferol to any great extent, although partially attacked." 



Newcafttle-on-Tyne, July 24th. From Messrs. Samuel Finney 

 & Co., Rped-merchants, with specimens of Diamond-back caterpillars 

 accompanyinpf. — " We beg to enclose you some specimens of a cater- 

 pillnr which the last few days has almost entirely eaten up the crops 

 of Turnip and Swedes ; it has also attacked Cauliflower and Savoy 

 plants; it seems to extend all along the sea-coast to beyond Berwick- 

 on-Tweed, and to go inland about five miles. The first indication was 

 the appearance of small white-winged insects, the size of the house 

 moth. It is painful to see large sturdy Turnip plants riddled like a 

 sieve, wither and die." 



The foUoicinri short records of appearances of the caterpillar in 

 Noi tlmmherland are taken from the number of the ' Alnwick Guardian ' 

 for Saturday, August 1st, 1891, by kind permission of the Editor 

 (who also was good enough to furnish me with full names of 

 locniity). In this, under the heading of " The Turnip Pest," 

 replies are given from many representative agriculturists of the 

 county of Northumberland to inquiries as to, Istly, whether the 

 coriespondent's Turnips were affected by this pest; 2ndly, whether 

 he believed the destruction of Rooks and small birds has been con- 

 ducive to the spread of the insect ; and 3rdly, what he considers 

 the best remedy. 



The paper contains much useful information, especially as placing 

 good practical observations on the subject of this attack, not being 



