396 THE PESTS OF GARDEN PLANTS 



Wireworm, and it is in the larva state as long-lived. These, however, 

 are pests of the granary, and give us no trouble in the garden. 



For practical purposes the Wireworm may be regarded as inhabit- 

 ing every kind of soil and consuming every kind of crop. The crops 

 it is most partial to are Grass, Potatoes, Turnips, and the juicy stems 

 of all kinds of cereals. The first step towards its destruction must 

 consist in stirring the earth by spade or other agency. Lands that 

 have been long undisturbed, as fallows and pastures, for instance, are 

 usually crowded with Wireworm, and these, as a matter of course, 

 prey upon whatever crop is put upon the land when first it is broken 

 up. Soot, lime, salt, nitrate of soda, and sulphuric acid are cheap 

 and useful manures suitable to many soils and circumstances, and 

 directly destructive to Wireworm. 



The most convenient food is Potatoes ; the Wireworms seek these 

 out instantly upon their being committed to the soil, and thus they 

 serve as traps admirably. Chat Potatoes that have not been greened 

 might often be used advantageously to clear a piece of land of Wire- 

 worm. 



CLUB, ANBURY, AND FINGERS AND TOES. These affections of 

 the roots of brassicaceous plants, more especially Cabbages and 

 Turnips, are produced by various causes, insect agency being certainly 

 concerned, but the selection of the seed and the method of cultiva- 

 tion have also their several influences to induce or prevent them. 

 The supposed cause of one common form of Club is a little midge 

 called Trichocera hiemalis, and certain Weevils, one of which is 

 known as Ceutorhynchus sulricollis. These lay eggs on the ground 

 or amongst weeds, and the resultant maggots find their way to the 

 roots of brassicas, which they puncture, and a gall or excrescence is 

 soon produced. This grows rapidly at the expense of the entire 

 plant, and it soon becomes hollow and putrescent, when Beetles, 

 Wireworms, Millipedes, and Slugs find their way to it ; and when we 

 cut open a large offensive Club it is no unusual thing to find it packed 

 full of strange creatures like a travelling menagerie. In certain soils 

 Club is almost unknown ; in others it is so persistent a plague that 

 it is with difficulty a crop of Cabbage or Turnip can be produced. 

 According to the observations of a famous Russian botanist, M. 

 Woronin, the Fingers and Toes disease is caused by the attack of a 

 fungus named by him Plasmodiophora brassicce. The opinion of that 

 authority has to a considerable extent been confirmed by botanists 

 in this country; but it is desirable that further experiments should 



