i88 5 .] 



SURFACE CATERPILLARS 



101 



best. I should much like to try the effect of watering with 

 salt and water, at a safe strength, but from my own garden 

 being so perpetually used for trial ground it is getting free 

 of regular pests. I have found watering with soft soap and 

 a little mineral oil (pp. 66-67, eighth report, 1884), act well 

 on these caterpillars. The application appeared to paralyse 

 the creature so that it could not get away from the poison- 

 ous effects of the mixture, which is a very important point. 



(a) i, Turnip moth ; 2, caterpillar. 



(6) i, Heart-and-dart moth ; 2, caterpillar ; 3, chrysalis in earth-cell. 



FIG. I. SURFACE CATERPILLARS : OF THE TURNIP OR DART MOTH, AGROTIS 

 SEGETUM, OCHSENHEIMER, AND OF THE HEART-AND-DART MOTH, 

 AGROl^IS EXCLAMATIONIS, LINN. 



I found this mixture act well on Cabbage green fly, and 

 if you should try it I shall be very much obliged for anj> 

 observation. The great point is to mix the ingredients at 

 boiling heat. I would try whether the strength noted was 

 safe for any special plant. I rather think it is for cabbage, 

 but certainly not for young leafage of roses. I shall be very 

 glad if I can be of any help in the matter. 



