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once ; and lime applied immediately after draining 

 makes the operation more quickly effective Thorough, 

 working of the soil so as to induce healthy conditions 

 is beneficial, and is further advantageous because it 

 disturbs the insects, and brings them into reach of 

 birds. The plover is the farmer's greatest friend in 

 the destruction of these insects, and should be en- 

 couraged as much as possible. Rooks do great good, 

 but they must be debited with injury to the potato 

 crop, as they disturb the sets when placed shallow in 

 the soil; they scratch out the young tubers, and in 

 winter time in very severe weather do considerable 

 harm by pulling off the litter laid on the pits to keep 

 out frost. They are, therefore, not an unmitigated 

 blessing. Starlings, partridges, and larks also destroy 

 great numbers. 



Potatoes attacked by wire worms are generally 

 bored into in a straight line, suggestive of a prick 

 with a nail. " Pin-pricked " is a term commonly used 

 to denote the boring effected by the Julus guttatus, 

 because the hole is suggestive of a prick with a fine 

 pin. This pin-pricking is particularly annoying, as it 

 is not visible from the outside unless very carefully 

 examined for. A sample may appear perfect for 

 culinary purposes, but if cut in two a blemish is 

 found. All about the boring the tuber will cook 

 dirtily, consequently the value is greatly impaired. 

 Borings by larger worms are more easily detected, 

 though similarly the plants about them are injured. 

 Very often eel worms follow the worms, and may be 



