TURNIP FLY. 15 



months were unusually dry, the soil was friable, and required but little 

 work to bring it to a fit state for receiving the seed, which in many 

 cases was rather hurriedly put in to get clear of the work. No rain 

 fell from the 21st of May to the 10th of June, and from the 28th of 

 May to the 3rd of Jnne the maximum thermometer read at 80, 78 

 (three times), 74, 71, and 65, where the following week the minimum 

 thermometer fell on five mornings below the freezing-point, and on the 

 10th of June to 23 (that is, nine degrees of frost). Young Turnips 

 were weak where they were not killed, and easily fell a prey to the vast 

 numbers of fly in fact whole fields were eaten up in a few days' time. 

 The insects had it all their own way until the heavy rainfall of the 

 16th and 17th of June, and (though late) sowing still took place on 

 several farms, in hope of obtaining at least part of a crop ; nothing 

 seemed to stop the ravages of the fly ; but the rain, ten tons and 

 fourteen tons per acre, had no perceptible effect, and not till we had 

 a fall equal to fifty-eight tons on the 16th and forty-eight tons on the 

 17th, did the last of them disappear.* (P. L.) 



Earlston. The Turnip Fly (Phyllotreta undulata) has done much in- 

 jury. It began to get numerous in the first week in June, and continued 

 until nearly the end of July. Whole fields were destroyed, and had to be 

 resown, in a few cases three or four times ; and it is observed that it is 

 not so much in the expense of resowiug that the loss is felt, as in the 

 plants being so backward that they never get to any size. (K. E.) 



HADDINGTON. In the matter of the Turnip Fly our farmers have 

 lost very largely this year. I know many cases where second and 

 third sowings have been resorted to, and yet the crop is far below the 

 average ; and, as a result of the ravages of the fly, Swedes are very 

 scarce with us this season, not that the fly prefers them to White or 

 Yellow Turnips, but by being first sown they are first ready for attack, 

 and when eaten over it is, generally speaking, too late to sow the same 

 kind again with the prospect of a full crop, and Whites or Yellows 

 have to be substituted for them. (W. D.) 



Eaglescairnie. On application to the seedsmen of Haddington 

 as to extra amount of Turnip seed sold for sowing during the 

 past season, it is replied they have sold one-half more than the 

 usual quantity ; and from similar inquiries made in surrounding 

 counties it appears they also have sold one-half more than 

 usual. Taking the acreage under Swedes and Turnips in 1881 in 

 Haddington in round numbers as 14,000 imperial acres (number of 

 acres was rather more, 15,447, ED.), and estimating half of these to 

 have needed resowing, the rough estimate of loss to this county by fly 

 in this season of 1881 would amount to 15,660 sterling. 



* The rainfall of the 16th and 17th represent respectively rather more and 

 rather less than a fall of half an inch on an acre of ground. A fall of one inch 

 amounts to 101 tons per acre. (En.). 



