96 TURNIP-FLY. 



hedge-rows are composed oi a luxuriant mass of charlock, 

 white mustard, hedge garlick, docks, thistles and kecks. 

 In such spots I exercised my sweeping-net, and here I 

 found the turnip-beetle in swarms, hoth kinds of them, and 

 principally on the charlock and mustard. I found that 

 these hedge-rows all through the spring and early summer 

 are regular preserves of the turnip-beetles : here they have 

 the most comfortable housing that could possibly be pro- 

 vided; here they fulfil the command, "increase and multi- 

 ply ;" here they congregate without fear of molestation ; 

 here, in fact, they may be said to be preserved, strictly 

 preserved, as the bigger pests called game are preserved 

 in other places. Well ! when the hedges are thoroughly 

 rank with weeds, and the weeds well stocked with turnip- 

 beetles, the farmer sets to work and sows his turnips : if 

 the weather is kind they come up directly, and the land is 

 soon seen to be sprinkled all over with the young and ten- 

 der crop. It must be known to every observer I was 

 just going to write farmer, but I believe fanners observe 

 nothing but fair-days and market-days it must, I say, be 

 known to every observer, that the turnips come up with 

 two seed-leaves, more juicy, tender and fleshy than any 

 they afterwards send forth, and also very different in shape 

 and appearance ; well, these seed-leaves of the turnip are 

 the very choicest food of the turnip-beetle : as buckwheat 

 sown around the pheasant preserves brings the pheasants 

 from their cover, so do the seedling turnips bring these lit- 

 tle skipping beetles from the preserves which the farmers 

 provide for them. The turnip-beetle not only runs and 

 jumps with activity, but flies with the greatest ease ; and 

 just at that warm time when the turnips are coming up ; 

 in those sunny, balmy days, the turnip-beetles and a huii- 



