98 TURNIP-FLY. 



when the hot sun again entices the beetles from their hid- 

 ing-places, there is not only a plentiful supply for them, 

 hut a supply greater than they can consume, so that they 

 may satisfy their cravings, however great, and still leave 

 enough for the farmer's requirings ; for it must be ob- 

 served, that the seed that is sown and the plants that come 

 up in favourable seasons, are as ten to one of the number 

 eventually suffered to arrive at maturity : if their insect 

 enemies spare them, a great part are sure to fall by the 

 hoe, in order that those which remain may grow to a big- 

 ger size. 



But suppose the weather to be hot and dry, what is 

 your remedy then ? Experience having taught me that 

 insects abominate smoke, and are killed by the fumes of 

 sulphur, I endeavoured to bring this experience to bear on 

 the turnip-beetle, and found it most successful. But to 

 revert to the huge embankments or preserves, I would be- 

 gin by reducing the magnitude and number of these : 

 where practicable, I would throw the whole space occupied 

 by them into the field : where there existed an absolute 

 necessity for a division or fence, I would reduce it to the 

 smallest dimensions that would answer the purpose : hav- 

 ing reduced the fences to the minimum of size actually 

 required, I would clear them from the charlock, mustard, 

 dock, thistles and kecks,* and instead of allowing these 

 plants to seed I would gather them in heaps along the 

 hedge-rows, and watching my opportunity of fine, sunny 

 weather, I would fire these heaps day after day, when the 

 beetles were on the wing, casting a pinch of flour of sul- 

 phur on each of them. The gain of land would repay 



* For some account of the Botany of Godalming, see Appendix A. 



