132 



TURNIP. 



was copied by the local papers, and has been tried by several people 

 all over the county. Where the Turnips were brushed before the cater- 

 pillars had time to do much damage, it removed them in large 

 numbers. I tried dusting with quicklime on the under side of the 

 leaf; it did not kill them. Going back next morning I found they had 

 eaten part of the leaf, lime and all, and were still as lively as possible. 

 I also tried paraffin and water, one to fifty, put on by a garden syringe 

 with a very fine rose ; the only effect I could see it had was keeping 

 the birds off that part of the field. 



(3). " The cold weather and heavy rains we had during the week 

 ending August 1st killed great numbers. 



(4). " Part red clay, but mostly whinston gravel. All the land I 

 have Turnips this year (100 acres) has been limed within the last four 

 years at the rate of 7 tons shell lime per acre. All my Turnips are 

 after Oats. The land was all ploughed during autumn and early spring 

 about ten inches deep ; it all had two furrows just before sowing. 

 Thirty acres of Swedes had 15 loads farmyard manure, 5 cwt. 

 Thomas's phosphate powder, 2 cwt. kanit, and 1 cwt. nitrate of soda 

 put on the ridges and split in just before sowing ; 10 acres had the 

 same quantity of farm manure ploughed in during autumn. Also the 

 same artificial per acre, and the ridges split before the seed was sown. 

 After having the caterpillars brushed off, I top-dressed the whole with 

 ■| cwt. nitrate of soda and 2 cwt. salt per acre. Now it is scarcely 

 possible to tell whether anything has ever been on them, they are 

 looking so well. 



(5). " Here we do not clean our land until just before sowing ; the 

 weather at the time could not have been better for cleaning land. I never 

 sowed my land in better order. They were all sown by May 26th, 

 which is considered early for this district. There was no particular 

 weed noticeable. 



(6). " In examining the fields of Swedes, I found a few caterpillars 

 on some stray plants of Charlock, but nothing like the numbers in 

 proportion there were on the Swede leaves. I have 60 acres of 

 yellows and whites, and the caterpillars have scarcely been noticed on 

 them at all. 



(7). " There have been thousands of Starlings, green and golden 

 Plovers, Gulls, Chaff- and Greenfinches, frequenting all my Turnip 

 fields for some weeks, and I have no doubt they have cleared thousands 

 of caterpillars off daily during that time." — W. P. 



Mr. Hy. Annett, writing from The Cottage, Widdrinrjton, Northum- 

 berland, noted. — " As large areas of Turnips are apparently being 



time to do the damage caused along the coast, and by keeping the scufflers going I 

 hojje to be able to save the greater part of my crop." — Wm. Pringle, Branton, July 

 2iJth, 1891.-.From 'Newcastle Daily Journal,' July 30th, 1891. 



