DIAMOND-BACK MOTH. 141 



and if buried under three inches of earth at once find their way to 

 the surface. 



" I put on my ploughs a good firm bundle of Wheat straw, bent 

 down at the ends, so as to rub the under part of the leaves without 

 damaging them, which the boughs are apt to do, 



(3). " I do not think rain has any effect in killing them. A high 

 wind I fancy is more effective. The land on which the Turnips are 

 worst is generally stiff, but not always. 



(4). "Those plants on parts of fields which are destroyed are 

 generally those which were not in a thinning state when they were 

 attacked. 



'• The depth at which the land in Fife is ploughed in stubble is 

 from six to eight inches. The manure used is very generally half-dung 

 and some light manure. No salt. 



(6). " The caterpillar seems to eat the Charlock much in the same 

 way as the Turnips, neither more nor less. 



(7). " During the time the caterpillars were most plentiful, the 

 Starlings and thousands of smaller birds might be seen feeding 

 on them." — J. L. 



RathiUet, Cupar, Fife, July 20th. From Mr. Dav. Carswell, with 

 Diamond-back Moth caterpillars sent accompanying, as specimens of 

 a grub which was eating, to a large extent, a field of yellow Turnips 

 belonging to the sender, and on the following day Mr. Carswell com- 

 municated further: — "Since writing you yesterday, I have heard in 

 the market here to-day great complaints of the green larva, specimens 

 of which I sent you yesterday, all over Fife ; some fields are almost 

 eaten up. 



" When in the field this morning I saw a great many white moths, 

 which, I presume, are the progenitors of the larva. On looking at my 

 two fields of Swedes I find them both affected. It is apparently to be 

 a great scourge in Fife." 



On July 23rd Mr. Carswell wrote further : — " Notwithstanding very 

 heavy rains, I find the caterpillars still very numerous on the under 

 side of the Turnips this morning, and a great many moths flying 

 about, so that I am afraid a Strawsonizer and water will have no eff'ect. 

 Some of my neighbours are trying nitrate of soda and superphosphate, 

 and another soot. These may stimulate the crop, but I am afraid will 

 do nothing to destroy the caterpillar, as it seems impossible to get at 

 it, unless, as you propose, by brushing it off. It appears as if whole 

 fields would soon be completely eaten up." 



On the 11th of August, Mr. Carswell noted that " the Turnips on 

 this farm have improved very much since the rains and some cold 

 nights. There are now very few caterpillars to be seen ; but on one 

 field especially, and that the one that was most affected, the moths are 



