144 TURNIP. 



(6). " No Charlock. 



(7). " I have seen no birds near the field except Larks," — J. B. 



Easter Kincaple, St. Andreivs, Co. Fife, N.B., August 8th. From 

 Mr. George Dun, with specimens of the upper part of Charlock 

 (" Skellock") stems sent accompanying, with the leaves showing charac- 

 teristic workings of Diamond-back Moth caterpillar. (Turnip leaves 

 very much injured also forwarded, and some specimens of the cater- 

 pillars, Ed.) Mr. Dun had previously reported, on the 3rd of August, 

 that he had fifty acres of Turnips badly eaten by caterpillars. On the 

 8th Mr. Dun wrote further : — 



" I send you a few of the leaves that have been attacked. I noticed 

 my Turnips attacked three weeks past yesterday, and the moths in 

 droves. On "Wednesday last I saw again a large number of moths, 

 but not so numerous. I am afraid they are to master ten acres of 

 Swedes, although in the beginning of this week I had hoped they were 

 to turn out a fair crop ; they started with me when dunged in the 

 drill, the Turnip plant, after being thinned, sitting dry on the top of 

 the drill. I send you the only Skellock I can get in the field, but 

 they were quite as badly infested as the Turnips (the field is clear 

 of weeds)." 



Eeplies to inquiries in circular (see p. 110), August 10th : — 



(3). " The growth started after a very heavy thunder-shower on 

 the afternoon of the 22nd July ; on the 27th they showed decided 

 improvement. Yesterday we had a fine heavy rain, and to-day the 

 crop is looking better. 



(4). " My Turnip break was all ploughed again in spring, and 

 reduced to a fine mould, and brairded with the aid of showers the last 

 week of May. I noticed my Turnips not thriving, and all holed on 

 17th July in field of Swedes, 25 acres in extent, drilled east and west. 

 This field lies 20 ft. above sea-level; sandy subsoil, heavy loam in high 

 condition, within 500 yards of the River Eden, where the tide rises to 

 daily. Fourteen acres of this field were dunged during winter with 

 10 loads of dung ; the end rigs also. The remainder of the field was 

 dunged in the drill with 10 loads well-rotted farmyard dung, both plots 

 getting 3 cwt. best herring guano, 3 cwt. superphosphate, and ^ cwt. 

 nitrate per acre, sown when the land was drilled, and sown with 

 Turnip. On 20th July I dosed the whole Turnip crop on my farm 

 with ^ cwt. superphosphate and i cwt. nitre, sown with two hands, 

 taking two drills at a time, so as to reach and protect the heart of the 

 Turnip from the caterpillar.* 



* I have omitted to mention tliat my Turnips, where dunged in the drill, have 

 been by far the worst. My yellow Turnips are making a better recovery than the 

 Swedes, but are nearly all double shawed. 



