DIAMOND-BACK MOTH. , 135 



Beyond that distance inland it gradually improves until the crops 

 promise to yield very abundantly. 



(2). "My experience was that lime or soot dressing had very little, 

 if any, effect. Nitrate of soda or superphosphate I did not try, as the 

 pest was making such rapid progress ; and (as I advised you) I tried 

 sulphur fumigating, as previously explained, which took the cater- 

 pillars off the leaves, and thereafter I ploughed them in.* 



(3), " I am of opinion that the heavy rains, high wind, and cold 

 weather that we had for two or three days had great effect in checking 

 the ravages ; the constant beating of the rain, the tossing by the wind, 

 knocked them off, and the chill appeared to deaden or paralyze them. 



(4). " The land round about here is particularly adapted for raising 

 a Turnip crop. It is autumn cultivated, and is ploughed to a depth 

 of not less than nine inches. Part of the land is manured with cur- 

 tain dung ploughed in, and when the Turnips are sown, artificial 

 manure is used by being sown in the drill. No salt is used in this 

 quarter ; the land does not require it, owing to the constant presence 

 of saline particles from close proximity to the sea. 



(5). " The weather here last autumn was fairly dry, nothing 

 abnormal, and allowed the ground to be well cleaned. No particular 

 rush of weed was observed. 



(6). " Yes, from my own observation; and any of this weed which 

 happens to be amoug the Turnips is stripped to a skeleton. 



(7). " As far as I have seen. Crows and Sparrows were the birds 

 that devoured the caterpillars chiefly. Sea Gulls, although following 

 the plough in thousands, and during the manuring time, did not take 

 to the grub. The Crows had to be 'herded' by boys from the Potatoes 

 when all at once they were observed to leave the Potatoes for the Tur- 

 nip fields, and were no doubt helpful in drawing attention to the 

 scourge in the first instance. Although near here I observed the 

 Starlings when they came here in clouds in the early spring, and 

 where they yet remain, I cannot say that I have seen them feeding on 

 the grub in any numbers." 



* Mr. Gibson here refers to a plan, arranged by his steward, for fumigating 

 Turnips by means of a sort of sledge about ten feet long, and wide enough to cover 

 two drills of Turnips. At the two ends and in the middle, " under the upper 

 side of the top floor there are three pots in which pure rock sulphur is kept burning. 

 The apparatus is open at both ends, save for curtains of sacking." 



This apparatus was drawn by one horse, and the united effects of stupifying the 

 grubs by fumigation, brushing them down by rubbing of the sacking, and finally 

 burying the fallen grubs by a small plough following the fumigator, was found to 

 answer well. I have, however, been afraid to recommend it, as without careful 

 management the apparatus might injure the Turnip, or the sulphur fumes possibly 

 be injurious to the leafage. — Ei>. 



