106 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA: 



and bade fair to ruin many of the pastures in that 

 district. I was anxious to secure living specimens for 

 experimental purposes ; but, in a few days from the time 

 of receiving the information, was unable 'to secure a 

 single living specimen, a fatal disease having suddenly 

 made itself known, and the grubs by the millions were 

 fastened on to the grass, dead, and in a state of putrif ac- 

 tion, so that a living specimen of the destroyer of 

 pastures was not obtainable. 



Prevention and Remedies. 



We now come to the most important part of the 

 matter, and Mr. Lea may well say ' The more I see 

 of this pest, the more difficult appears to be any way of 

 destroying it. ' ' Many plans have been tried and 

 suggested, the best results having been obtained by 

 spraying specially planted or sown patches of cocksfoot 

 grass with paris green, a remedy which is both cheap 

 and effective. In spraying with the arsenical prepar- 

 ations, however, care must be taken to keep stock off 

 the patches for several weeks, and the experiment, if I 

 may so term it, is well worth the trouble and the time 

 devoted to it. The plan of travelling sheep to and fro 

 over infected areas is no doubt a good one, as an injury 

 to these grubs, however slight, is usually fatal to them. 



Where the grubs can be brought to the surface 

 through the use of gypsum, sulphate of ammonia, or 

 similar agencies, a light brush harrow passed rapidly 

 over the land will destroy enormous numbers, and this 

 plan can be highly recommended, and full particulars 

 as to how to use the above materials will be found in 

 another chapter. When at all possible, flooding the 

 land has given excellent results, as this brings the 

 grubs to the surface, where birds, ants, and other 

 animals soon speedily make short work of them. 

 Catching the moths by means of nets, etc., is to be 

 commended, as, although males are the more numerous, 

 the more of either sex killed the better. 



