ACCOUNT OF A CHAFER INFESTATION. 207 



noticed a chafer grub, and in the old nursery, distant about 200 

 yards south-west, an occasional grub is all that has been seen. 

 From these facts I concluded that the chafers preferred pasture 

 to cultivated land for oviposition, and that therefore the genera- 

 tion must have commenced before the new nursery was broken 

 out from pasture. 



This year's (1904) experience has proved the foregoing to be 

 correct. The swarm commenced on the evening of May 26th, 

 and lasted till well on in June. The beetles for the first two or 

 three evenings rose from the pasture round about the nursery 

 in a steady, continuous stream, and after this the numbers 

 gradually diminished. A peculiarity of the flight which was 

 observed was that it took place from the north towards the 

 south, and this was also noted by three of my men who lived 

 about a mile distant from the nursery. 



In order to (as far as possible) prevent a recurrence of this pest, 

 I adopted three plans. These were — 



(ist) I had several heaps of decomposed weeds and earth 

 piled up loosely as traps ; (2nd) I sowed flowers of sulphur over 

 the seed-beds and breaks occupied by plants ; (3rd) on the 

 breaks thrown out for manuring (this, I may mention, is done 

 by sowing tares in May and digging the crop in while in flower), 

 instead of sowing tares at the usual time, I had the ground 

 thoroughly consolidated by means of a roller until it was as hard 

 as a road. Towards the end of July the ground so treated was 

 carefully dug in search of young broods, but not a single grub 

 or egg was got. Had it been otherwise, I would have applied 

 a good dressing of gas lime. The breaks were then sown out 

 in tares as usual. 



An examination of the trap heaps and of the ground treated 

 as indicated above shows no sign of a new generation, and I am 

 inclined to believe that we are now clear of this pest. 



In conclusion, I beg to tender thanks to Dr MacDougall for 

 his valuable assistance and advice in this and other matters. 

 Unquestionably one of the greatest benefits derived from 

 membership of our Society is the advice we receive from our 

 Honorary Scientists. 



Note. — The approximate limits of the infested area are 

 indicated on the Plan by the dotted lines. 



