SOIL PESTS 97 



robes, is greyish white in colour, and scarcely 1 inch over 

 all. (See Plate 21.) 



The Collembola, or Spring-tails, closely resemble the 

 foregoing. They are much the same size, and are most 

 commonly found under decaying leaves, and in loose earth, 

 always where there is dampness. Cold weather has no 

 effect on them, in fact their breeding time is said to be 

 during the winter months. In this respect it may be 

 mentioned that these insects exhibit a certain affinity 

 to fish, from which in the long course of ages the reptiles, 

 and from them the insects, have been developed. It 

 was suggested by Lord Avebury that the Thysanoura 

 could be looked upon not as insects proper, but as the 

 sole survivors of the original type of creatures from 

 which all insects have come. A specimen is shewn with 

 its tail bent under and about to leap into the air. This 

 kind is found under stones and other damp places. (See 

 Plate 21.) 



Of course one need not wallow in neglect for fear of 

 disturbing the dear Httle Bristle- tails. Their detailed 

 history is perhaps more interesting to the student than 

 the gardener, and I think it is quite obvious how they 

 may be induced to " hop it." 



We now come to Woodlice, about which little need be 

 said, as the situation and conditions under which they 

 accumulate are much the same as in the case of the 

 Spring-tails. The three common forms of Myriapods are 

 shown, and none of them, contrary to the common 

 notion, are what I would call really harmful. Call them 

 rather disagreeable insects, and bustle around with broom 

 and scraper, paint-brush and creosote. Little will 

 then be seen of woodHce. (See Plate 2L) 



With the Millipede we get a really harmful creature. 

 The species shown {Julus pulchellus), usually grows to 

 about I inch in length. This is the insect which eats 

 into the crowns of our carrot and parsnip crops, and does 

 a lot of damage often attributed to Wireworms. There 



