Rev. F. W. Hope's Remarks on Wireworms. 155 



do them little damage. With regard to the crops of potatoes I 

 find, on inquiry, that those which are sown early are generally 

 abimdant, those which are sown late are generally deficient in 

 quantity. There are, however, many exceptions to both rules. 

 Much depends on the nature of the soil, much on the mildness 

 and severity of the season. Ground lately broken up or obtained 

 from woodland generally abounds at the second crop with wire- 

 worms. The same land also, if planted with potatoes two suc- 

 cessive years, is sure to yield them in abundance. A common 

 saying in the county of Salop respecting potatoe crops is, change 

 the seed or change the soil ; to the latter opinion I am inclined to 

 agree, and certainly do not place much reliance on the former. 



The Curl, or rather Rootworm disease, which lakes place when 

 the haulm is well grown, may be occasioned by the wireworm 

 feeding on the wiry fibrous roots of the potatoe, which I have 

 occasionally observed to be eaten, affecting the plant by robbing 

 it of its natural juices. In the counties of Salop, Worcester, and 

 Hereford, the failure of the crops of 1838 was very considerable, 

 the real cause of it being little suspected or understood : I feel 

 no hesitation in ascribing it almost entirely to the wonderful in- 

 crease of wireworms. In some instances I have, during the years 

 1836 and 1838, taken twenty and even thirty wireworms feeding 

 upon a single turnip-root. Handpicking appears the simplest and 

 most effectual remedy for eradicating them. Let us look for a 

 moment to the natural enemies of wireworms, and see if some 

 good may not be derived by encouraging them. Among the 

 natural enemies of the wireworm, I mention the poor persecuted 

 mole, that raises his unsightly hillocks on our lawns and grass- 

 plots. It is while in quest of them that he forms his tunnels, his 

 viaducts, and mounds. 



I may here perhaps be allowed to state, en passant, that there 

 is probably no animal which man esteems injurious but it repays 

 us in some way or other for the damage it occasions. We are at 

 liberty to check the redundance of species, but are not allowed to 

 attempt extermination. Let us proceed with other enemies of the 

 wireworm, The harmless toad, too often wantonly trodden 

 underfoot, plays his part in diminishing their numbers. Among 

 birds, poultry, pheasants, and hosts of the smaller tribes, con- 

 tribute to thin them ; the invaluable rooks are unceasingly in 

 quest of them ; they boldly follow the plough-tracks for their oft- 

 repeated daily meals, and will glut themselves to satiety in the 

 infected turnip-field. The English farmer would act wisely did 

 he always encourage and protect the rooks. If on the one hand 



