TURNIP FLY. 11 



of lowering the price of store sheep and lambs from 5s. to 10s. each at 

 the sheep-fairs and sales round here (Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent). 

 Many of the large buyers from Essex, Surrey, &c., did not put in an 

 appearance at all, and those who did come only made limited 

 purchases ; and this owing to the failure of the root crops. The 

 bearings of the question are so extensive that one hardly knows what 

 interest is affected and what not. (T. H. H.)* 



SUSSEX. Considerable damage was caused by Turnip Fly (Phijllo- 

 treta undulata) on farms situated to the north and east of Chichester, 

 where the land is hilly and exposed ; whilst those to the south, where 

 the district is flat and low, enjoyed a comparative immunity. Acres 

 of the first sowing of the plants were in many cases destroyed; with 

 the second there was much better luck. (J. A.) 



HANTS. Downton. The "fly" was by far our most troublesome 

 pest in 1881. The soils on the Down slopes are very light and porous, 

 and Turnips, Swedes, and Eape on both sides of the valley were taken 

 once, twice, and even three times by the " fly " ; as a result the root 

 crops are backward and deficient. (W. F.) 



Strathfield Turgiss. The fly is reported to have been very 

 prevalent in this locality, and in most cases three sowings were 

 required. The total loss is estimated at about 60s. per acre. 

 (C. H. G.) 



Thruxton. The Turnip Fly (P. undulata) was very troublesome 

 here during May and the early part of June, in fact until we got some 

 good soaking ground-rains. I lost all my Swedes after twice sowing, 

 but had a good crop of late Turnips from the same land at the third 

 sowing. I applied no artificial watering or other means to save the 

 crop of Swedes. (H. K.) 



Alton. The Turnip Flea or Beetle has been more than usually 

 hurtful this year; large districts in this county have been entirely 

 stripped of every Swede and Turnip plant. (D. T.) 



Isle of Wight. At Birchwood about twenty-five acres of Swedes 

 and White Turnips (sown broadcast), which came up well, were all 

 lost by the fly ; the same land was then resown with Purple White 

 Tops, but from lateness and unfavourable weather the growth was 

 small, so as practically to give no crop ; and this case is estimated to 

 represent eight- or nine-tenths of the entire island. (H. P.) 



WILTS. Mere. In this locality nearly everything sown before the 



* Most of the cottagers about here (Kingsnorth, Kent) are in the habit of sowing 

 an ounce or two of some sort of Cabbage-seed in their garden, and selling the plants. 

 The returns are often sufficient to pay the rent of the garden. This year, in nine 

 cases out of ten the Flea-beetle swept the beds of every plant. I sowed about ten 

 shillings' worth of Cabbage-seeds of different sorts for field and garden, and did not 

 save a plant. (T. H. H.) 



c 



