28 TUENIP. 



some advantage, I also found that the difficulty of distribution was 

 much increased by the altered condition of the seed. (J. T.) 



Have heard that it is a safeguard to use half a gill of petroleum to 

 wet ten pounds of Turnip or Kape seed, but only tried with the last 

 sowing ; and as others that sowed at the same time and did not use 

 it had a good plant as well as myself, I cannot say that it is a 

 preventive.* (T. J. M.) 



IMPOETANCE OF A GOOD START TO THE PLANT, AND 

 EFFECT OF MOISTUEE, &c. 



Reasons why fly-ravage is worst in drought. Observations of watering bein</ 

 of service, with difference of weight a fortnight after germination of 

 watered and unwatered plants. Beneficial to sow in damp ground, and 

 immediately on it being ready. Importance of stimulating the first 

 growth by all means, including drilling manure with the seed, or use of 

 liquid manure drill. Water-drill noted as (in a general way) starting 

 the Turnips so that they are fit to single a week sooner than by the use 

 of the dry-drill ; but most serviceable in moist seasons, the small 

 quantity of water applied being in dry seasons liable to start germina- 

 tion, which afterwards may perish from drought. Use in garden 

 cultivation of watering with solutions of soft-soap, and very weak 

 paraffined -wa ter. 



Anything that would accelerate vegetation would be the best means 

 of saving the crop, but the reason the fly is so destructive on bright 



* As far as experience shows at present, the prevention of fly-attack on the 

 young plant, by previous use of steeps to the seed, is an uncertain matter, and, in 

 cases where good results have occurred, we do not know clearly (if they were the 

 direct result of the application) in what way the application worked. It is open to 

 possibility that in the case of some of the steeps the application in dilute form may 

 be absorbed into the tissues of the young plant to a sufficient degree to affect its 

 taste to the insect that feeds on it. In the case of experiment made by myself 

 (Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1878, Part iv., p. 333), as to absorption of phenol prepara- 

 tions, it was found on analysis (by Messrs. Savory and Moore) that a minute 

 quantity of a tarry volatile substance was present in the Carrot roots that had been 

 watered with the dilute preparation ; and if, by analysis of young Turnip plants 

 from steeped seed, the presence of matter from the steep could either be proved or 

 disproved satisfactorily, it would be a useful step. The point that seems more likely, 

 however, is that the scent of the dressing so affects the land by coming up through 

 the light surface-soil as to make it temporarily unpleasant to the fly. This would be 

 quite reconcilable with the very different experiences on this subject, for the amount 

 of smell would differ very much according to circumstances, such as dry heat, 

 which would evaporate it strongly and rapidly round the germinating plant, or rain, 

 which would drive the surface together, &c. If we could have notes with exact 

 detail of the nature and the amount of steep used, nature of soil, condition of 

 ground at time of sowing, and weather immediately following, we should see our 

 way very much better. ED, 



