DIAMOND-BAOK MOTH, 143 



Eepliea to inquiries in circular (see p. 110), August : — 



(2). " Light ploughs and other implements, with brushes attached, 

 were generally thought to be very serviceable ; and it was remarked 

 that the mere action of the horses' feet brushed off many of the cater- 

 pillars where the leaves were large. 



(3). " Heavy rain not thought to reduce caterpillar, and to be 

 beneficial only in promoting vegetation. 



(6). " Very destructive to Charlock." — W. D. and Sons. 



Letham, Leven, Fife, N.B., July 24th. From Mr. David Crole, 

 jun. Specimens of caterpillars of Diamond-back Moth sent accom- 

 panying, some full size. — " I lease an arable farm in this district (east 

 of the county of Fife), and the Turnip crop is one of the most 

 important. Within the last few days the Turnip crop on this farm 

 has been attacked by what I have been told is the larva of the 

 Diamond-back Moth. The leaves have been stripped, and also holed 

 (perhaps the latter, the first operation in the depredations). We have 

 not had such an experience before in Turnip cultivation in this county, 

 nor I believe in Scotland." — D. C. 



Kenneston, Leslie, Fife, N.B., July 25th. From Mr. J. Beveridge, 

 with specimens of Diamond-back Moth caterpillars accompanying, 

 some spinning up. — " I am sending you some specimens of cater- 

 pillars that have attacked the Turnips in this neighbourhood 



I have 20 acres that seemed all right a week ago; now it is riddled, 

 and seems in a fair way to be entirely destroyed. I am dressing it 

 with nitrate." 



Eeplies to inquiries in circular (see p. 110), August 13th : — 



(1). "I can form no estimate yet as to the loss, as the Turnips 

 are growing so fast now that they may be a fair crop yet, except about 

 one acre out of twenty, which is totally eaten up. 



(2). " I put on about 1 cwt. of nitrate and 1 cwt. of salt per acre. 

 I do not think this had any direct effect on the caterpillar, but has 

 helped the Turnips very much. We have also been hand- and horse- 

 hoeing as close to the Turnips as possible. 



(3). " The heavy rains we have had have done more good than 

 anything else ; even the first shower after the attack began had a 

 wonderful effect. My neighbours all concur in this opinion. 



(4). " The land is alluvial deposit and sand, and formed part of 

 the old bed of Loch Leven. It was five years in grass, Oats last year, 

 and was ploughed in December rather wet, and not touched a^ain till 

 June 1st. The Turnips were made with farmyard manure and about 

 6 cwt. of nitrate of soda and super. ; no salt. 



(5). " The weather after November last was very wet ; but noticed 

 no particular weed. 



