12 TURNIP. 



first week in June was almost entirely destroyed ; since then we have 

 not been troubled at all. As to cost of resowing this generally 

 entails the expense of an extra ploughing, or at least a scarifying of 

 the land. The former would cost about 10s. an acre ; to this add two 

 harrowings, 2,9. ; one rolling, Is. ; two hundredweight additional 

 superphosphate, say 9s. ; drilling, including either ashes or water, at 

 least 2s. more ; this would amount in the whole to 24s. per acre, 

 without seed, which would be at least Is. more that is, supposing the 

 land to be ploughed; if scarified it would be about 5s. less. 

 (T. H. B.) 



DORSETSHIRE. The Turnip crop suffered greatly from the Haltica 

 in Dorset this year (1881) ; people sowed Swedes three times over, and 

 had to give them up after all, and sow common Turnips. As a rule, 

 the best fields of Swedes are but patchy. My own Swedes are fairly 

 good, eighteen tons to the acre. I fortunately had not to sow a second 

 time, but they were late, or (if the " flea " had not taken them) the crop 

 would have been larger. (J. B.) 



SOMERSET. Frome. This year at the end of February I sowed ten 

 acres to Eape, and a few Tares ; the Eape was all destroyed by fly. 

 I broadshared the land and sowed Eape, which was eaten ; then 

 ploughed and sowed to Turnips and Eape, which was also destroyed ; 

 again cultivated the same field, which has proved satisfactory. The 

 last two sowings were with the water-drill and best superphosphate. 

 I also had to sow seven acres of Swedes three times with water and 

 artificial manure. (T. J. M.) 



DEVON. From Exeter it is mentioned on August 1st that the 

 Turnip crops about Seatoii and Beer were being devoured by Flea- 

 beetles, in some fields scarcely a plant being left. The fields are 

 difficult to manage, as they are covered with chalk-flints which nearly 

 touch each other and shelter the beetles, but also prevent evaporation 

 in dry weather ; so that they are considered indispensable to the crops 

 in dry summers in the light soil of the district. (E. P.) 



MIDLAND AND WEST DISTRICT. 



OXFORD. In the Thame district fly was very busy early in the 

 season, and in many cases the crops had to be sown two or three 

 times. The crop is estimated at about one-sixth of what might have 

 been expected. (T. B.) 



GLOSTER. From the neighbourhood of Lechlade. All early-sown 

 Turnips, Swedes, and Eape were this year attacked by the Turnip Fly 

 so much that every one who planted early had to replant. (W. J. E.) 



CIRENCESTER. At the Eoyal Agricultural College the loss by Turnip 

 Fly is estimated at about 30. Twelve acres of Swedes were resown 

 once, and four acres twice. Another lot of fourteen acres of Turnips 



