INSECT INJURIES. 413 



with all plants grown for their seed heads, is a period of 

 considerable importance. In their early growth they are 

 liable to the attacks of slugs, and the grubs of other 

 insects, which sometimes occasion great injury to them. 

 A top-dressing of lime, soot, or the other substances 

 already referred to in our forage and root crops, applied 

 along the rows early in the morning, when the dew is on 

 the young plants, will generally effectually stop their 

 ravages. The only other insect that has been noticed 

 infesting the teazle is the Pyrgus mcdvce or " grizzled 

 skipper/' a butterfly about an inch broad in the expanse 

 of the wings, the upper sides of which are of a dark brown 

 colour, marked with numerous cream-coloured spots. 

 The caterpillar is green, with pale longitudinal stripes, a 

 black head, and a yellow ring round the neck, and is met 

 with feeding on the leaves of the teazle, which it rolls up 

 and greatly injures. The species is a common one, 

 appearing about the end of May, and to be found in most 

 part of the country. 



Of the chemistry of the crop we can say nothing, as we 

 can find no records of analyses in the journals of our own 

 or of foreign countries. Although the cultivation of the 

 teazle itself offers but few inducements to the agriculture 

 of the present day, the investigation of its composition, 

 especially as regards its inorganic constituents, is recom- 

 mended to those chemists who are willing to take up 

 even an unimportant subject, when by so doing they can 

 contribute to the general stock of useful knowledge. 



