THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



03 



winyre are ample ; ihe legs .are black, ihe shanks 

 or libife are bright ru>^t color al ihe back ; the 

 hinder thighs are very stout; the ititfrmoth;i!e 

 and hinder shanks are armed oiiisi(h^ with a shori 

 acute loodi, below the middle,* and Irinired uiih 

 hairs and loothed wiih sfjines ; the leei iiri* du^sky, 

 wiih Ibnr joints, similar to those of A. ncmorunl. 

 Length Horn | to 1 line. 



It inhabiis hedges, neltleg, grass ;ind tijrni|) 

 fields ; and i:^ abundant ihroiighuut E igland and 

 the south ol' Scotland in the spring and summer. 

 I had nearly forgotten to remark that there is 

 another little beetle of the same genu?, liir Iron) 

 uncommon upon the turnips, named Aliicaobsca- 

 rella ; but as I am ignorant of its economy I re- 

 frain ibr the present from describing it. 



In the investigation of this subject [ have 

 thought it necessary to cmsidcr every bearinir 

 that connects the beetle or fly with liie turnip 

 crop, that neither its habits nor any circumstance 

 adecting its economy might be overlooked ; but in 

 treating ol the other insects 1 shall not have such 

 a variety of materials to digest, which will allow 

 me to render their history more concise. I am 

 now induced to recapitulite the leading features 

 contained in the Ibregoing account, that they m ly 

 be brought at one view belbre the reader. 



There are at least two species of turnip-flies or 

 beetles, the striped and the brassy. 

 The habits of the latter are not known. 

 The eggs of the former are laid upon the under 

 side of the rough leai; from April to September: 

 they hatch in ten days. 



The maggots live between the two skins or cu- 

 ticles of the rough leaf, and arrive at maturity in 

 eixteen days. 



The chrysalis is buried just beneath the surface 

 of the earth, v/here it remains about a fortnight. 

 The beetles live through the winter in a torpid 

 state, and revive in the spring, when they destroy 

 the two first leaves, called the cotyledons, or seed 

 leaves. 



There are five or six broods in a season. 

 These insects are most to be (eared in fine sea- 

 sons. 



Heavy rains, cold springs, and long droughts, 

 destroy them. 



Their scent is very perfect : the beetles fly 

 against the wind, and are attracted from a dis- 

 tance. 



To extirpate them during the first three stages 

 is apparently most difficult. 



The beetles are sheltered in hedges, banks, un- 

 der bark of trees, &c. 



Their parasites have not yet been discovered. 

 First appearance ol the beetles to be punctually 

 observed, as affording' the best chance in applying 

 remedies. 



Manure to render soil obnoxious to the insects 

 scarcely to be expected. 



Rapid growth of the plant the best security. 

 To secure which, sow plenty of seed, and of the 

 same age. 



Burning beneficial, by destroying the chrysalides. 

 Sheep-folding must destroy the insects in every 

 state. 



Deep -ploughing excellent when (he chrysalides 

 are in the soil. 



Drilling far superior to broadcast, and believed 



in Scotland to keep away the beetles. 



DaiT'eroudi tosow on a stubble crop ] and long 

 raw manure harbors the beetles. 



Lime and sooi— the iicnefit derived from them in 

 this way very doubtful. , . ■ , , 



Mangel warzel tiot iavorableto the beetles ; and 

 5'u;ec/es''probaUly le=is atraciive than while turnips. 



Mixiti"' white lurnii s wiih Sweden no" desirable, 

 as the be'iles may be attracted by the strong sceul 

 of the Ibriner. 



Burly sowing attended with disadvantages. 



Destroy charlock, and all cruciferous weeds in 

 fields and hedges, lis they aflord support to tiie 

 beetles belore the turnips cume up. 



Hoeing and rolling harass and destroy the 

 beeiles. 



IVatering the crops, especially with weak brine, 



beneficial. 



Paul-net and painted boards uselul in destroy- 

 ing the l^eetles. 



Fumigation, by burtiiiig stubble, &c., will keep 

 off the beetles. 



Tnere are many other remedies proposed, some 



* From this circumstance 

 named Chcetocnema concinna. 



it has been recently 



of which it might be well worth trying; and il 

 we be deleated in our endeavors to vaiKjuish this 

 in-ecl enemy, we must take the field again with 

 fresh vigor until our efiorts are crowned with 

 success, and neither despair Irom disappointmen's 

 nor rest ill listless security Irom the apparent lu- 

 eriness of our Iocs. If we look back lor one in- 

 stant to experience, we shall fin'd that after violent 

 attiicks ol disease in the animal, or of blights in 

 the vegetable kingdoms, they are generally suc- 

 ceeded^ by a respite of many years, which throws 

 us so much off our guard, that when they return 

 we are not prepared with any proper remedies, 

 and not unfrequently they are altogether forgot- 

 ten ; thus, after a lengthened interval of tranquil- 

 lity, when we think the hordes of hostile insects 

 have departed (or ever, they suddenly make their 

 appearance, and take us by surprise and at advan- 

 tage. The intelligent farmer must therefore be 

 uifand stirring, to detect the first breath of infec- 

 tion, and be instantly prepared with his remedy. 



TRANSPLANTING PEAS ANI> EARLY VEGE- 

 TABLES. 



The method of rearing peas in pots or boxes in 

 hot-beds or hot-houses, and afterwards transplant- 

 ing them Hnto the open ground, is a common prac- 

 ticli, and olten succeeds well ; but I would recom- 

 mend a method not so well known, but far pre(er- 

 able to that of pots and boxes, especially when 

 they are to be raised on a hot-bed. This consists 

 in having a quantity of turf cut into strips, say ten 

 inches long and three inches wide, placing them 

 in a close and regular manner over the surface o(^ 

 the whole bed, graes-side downwards. A row of 

 peas, &c., is sown on each row of turf and after- 

 wards covered with rich earth. When they are 

 fit for transplanting, nothing more is required than 

 to lift up the turf piece by piece, with the peas, &c. 

 growing upon it, and place them where they are 

 to produce their crop. By this means, the roots 

 receive no injury, nor do the plants sustain the 

 least check in transplanting. This method may 

 be adopted with similar success in the raising of 

 potatoes, beans, &c.— iV. F. Farmer. 



