24 



SEED. 



The importance of thick sowing strongly brought forward. Observations 

 given of it having been found serviceable to sow seeds of various ages, 

 so that some of the plants may be likely to escape the fly. Mixture of 

 a small quantity of Mustard with the Turnip seed is mentioned as being 

 of use on account of the preference of the fly for the Mustard plant, 

 ivhich thus attracts it from the Turnips. Observations on early sowing ; 

 also on sowing in weather suitable for germination, avoiding extremes 

 of ivet, or soil clogged thereby, as well as drought. 



Unless the season is very favourable, I should prefer a thick seeding, 

 as I have invariably found the rank- sown drills to do better than the 

 thin, where the " flea " was numerous. As to the capabilities of the 

 different varieties of Turnip and Swede to withstand the attack, 

 I have found Turnips, as a rule, better than Swedes, and the some- 

 what coarse but hardy and vigorous variety of Swede raised in the 

 north to stand the attack better than the varieties of finer quality. 

 (W. H.) 



My only practical remedy was thick solving. (JR. S. S.) 



I have generally found thick sowing to stand better than thin, but 

 this year the flea-beetles appear to be in much greater numbers, and 

 stronger insects than usual, so that nothing will stand out against 

 them. (D. H.) 



Very thick solving is a great advantage, so that there may be plenty 

 of plants to allow of many being eaten. We sow here (Eaglescairnie- 

 Mains, Haddington), five pounds per imperial acre; but I observed 

 this year, where the lad had left the stopper out of the seed-barrel, and 

 had sown a few yards extraordinarily thick, the fly was not able to eat 

 them all, and consequently plants were obtained for a crop. (F. M.) 



I think the best preventive of the Turnip Fly is to sow plenty of 

 seed, because the thicker the seed the quicker it germinates ; after the 

 plant gets to a certain size the fly cannot hurt it ; also to have the 

 land worked as fine as possible. (J. W.) 



I fear the only remedy will be to feed our enemies by thick sowing. 

 On this farm (Fans, Earlston, N.B.) sowing was commenced on one 

 field on the 12th of May, and finished on the 14th, and, by way of 

 trial, eight drills were sown at the rate of nine pounds per acre of 

 Swede seed, and the rest of the field was sown with five pounds per 

 acre of the same seed. The eight drills were thinned on the 20th of 

 June, but part of the field sown with five pounds per acre was not ready 

 until the 4th of July, and the rest of this part had to be resown. On the 

 2nd of November the crop on the drills sown at the rate of nine 

 pounds was estimated as worth 4 or 5 per acre more than the part 



