414 The Profitable Culture of Vegetables. 



known as " Click" or " Skip Jack" Beetles, from their power of springing 

 a few inches into the air with a clicking sound when turned on their 

 backs. The beetles are from half to two- thirds of an inch in length, and of 

 a dull brown colour ; they fly well, and after pairing in spring lay their 

 eggs near the roots of plants, those on grass or other undisturbed land 

 appearing to be preferred. The larvae which hatch from these live in the 

 soil from three to five years, during the whole of which time they are 

 actively mischievous except during hard frosts, when they go deeper into 

 the earth for protection. Wireworms are of a yellowish colour, with tough 

 shiny skins ; they vary from half to seven-eighths of an inch in length and 

 have three pairs of legs one pair to each of the first three segments of the 

 body a swelling or "foot" below the last segment, and a pair of very 

 strong jaws well adapted for biting roots. 



Treatment : Wireworms are always the most abundant in old pastures ; 

 the longer the soil of any field has lain undisturbed the more likely it is to 

 be infested with wireworm. Newly-broken grass land which may be badly 

 infested, if subjected to regular cultivation will gradually become less 

 afflicted with the pest, and in the course of three or four years compara- 

 tively free. This clearance is not brought about by any measures taken 

 for the destruction of the pest, though of course these have some effect, 

 but because the beetle prefers to lay its eggs in a situation where the soil 

 is undisturbed, and when the pupa hatch out of land under constant cultiva- 

 tion the emerging beetles fly away to situations more to their liking. From 

 this it is obvious that frequent stirring of the surface soil, especially during 

 the first half of the year, is not only of great benefit in many other ways 

 to the crops, but is also the best possible means of reducing the wireworm 

 pest to within narrow limits. 



On small areas carbon bi-sulphide injected into the ground may be used, 

 and will be found to reduce effectively the numbers of wireworms and other 

 soil insects ; it will also act beneficially if injected in heaps of grass sods 

 which may have been cut and stacked for special purposes and found in- 

 fested with the pest. Heaps of soil, compost, or manure which are to be 

 left standing for a time should be covered with gas-lime to repel the beetle 

 and other pests which will lay their eggs there if the heaps are allowed to 

 get over-grown with weeds. Several proprietary substances are advertised 

 as eradicators of wireworm ; these may 'be applied at much less cost than 

 carbon bi-sulphide, but as the results from their use varies in different 

 localities they should be tried first on a small scale and their use extended 

 if they prove satisfactory. 



Gas-lime has often been recommended as a specific for wireworm and 

 other soil insects, but unless heavy dressings are applied and ploughed 

 under immediately whilst in a crude condition it is comparatively useless 

 for the purpose. When fresh from the works it contains compounds 

 which are deadly to both plant and insect life. In this condition it 

 should be spread over grass land or clover lea prior to breaking it up, 

 at the rate of from four to eight tons per acre, according to the extent 

 of the infestation. The land cannot be cropped for several months 



