RA YAGERS OF CROPS 245 



namely, as a protection from rain and cold, and 

 as a means of transportation from one tree or 

 orchard to another. In neglected orchards this 

 wool may be seen in masses and festoons 

 hanging down from the branches of the trees, 

 and fragments may be seen ever and anon to 

 become detached and wafted away on the 

 wings of the wind, to spread the infestation in 

 other quarters; for every tuft of wool will be 

 found to contain a number of the Aphides. But 

 for the good work of the Blue Tit (Pants 

 cocntlens), who may be seen hunting over the 

 infected boughs and trunks during the winter, 

 clearing off the Aphides wholesale, our orchards 

 would indeed stand but a poor chance of yielding 

 any fruit. These beautiful and interesting little 

 birds deserve to be most thoroughly protected, 

 and encouraged in the orchards, for the 

 enormous amount of good they do far outweighs 

 any slight loss they may cause by destroying a 

 few buds, the greater number of which are 

 probably already infested with some hidden 

 insect foe. 



Another of our insect enemies, which though 

 of diminutive size is capable of causing terrible 

 havoc among turnips and similar crops, is the 

 Turnip Flea Beetle (Haltica nemorum), or, as it is 

 often called, the Turnip Fly. It measures but 

 a twelfth of an inch in length, belongs to the 

 order Coleoptera (Beetles), and has gained one 

 of its common names from its quick, jumpy 

 movements when alarmed. These little shining 

 blackish beetles may be found in myriads, in 

 fine sunny weather, busily engaged in gnawing 



