AMB 



C 28 ] 



AME 



^ Cabbage-plants are frequently infected 

 with am bury in the seed-bed, which in- 

 fection appears in the form of a gall or 

 wart on the stem near the roots. This 

 wart contains a small white maggot, the 

 larva of a little insect called the weevil. 

 If on the gall and its tenant being re- 

 moved, the plant is again placed in the 

 earth, where it is to remain, unless it is 

 again attacked, the wound usually heals, 

 and the growth is little retarded. On the 

 other hand, if the gall is left undisturbed, 

 the maggot continues to feed upon the 

 alburnum, or young woody part of the 

 stem, until the period arrives for its pass- 



turnip and cabbage usually attacks these 

 crops when grown for successive years on 

 the same soil. This is precisely what 

 might be expected; for, where the parent 

 insect always deposits her eggs, some of 

 these embryo ravages are to be expected. 

 The am bury is most frequently observed 

 in dry seasons. This is also what might 

 be anticipated ; for insects that inhabit 

 the earth just beneath its surface are al- 

 ways restricted and checked in their 

 movements by its abounding in moisture. 

 Moreover, the plants actually aifected by 

 the ambury are more able to contend 

 against the injury inflicted by the larva 



of the weevil by the same copious sup- 

 ply. Charcoal-dust, spread about half-on- 

 inch deep upon the surface, and just 



ing into the other insect form, previously 

 to which it gnaws its way out through the 



exterior bark. Ttie disease is now almost _ r ..^ ~ , ,, 



beyond the power of remedies. The gall, I mixed with it by the point of a spade, it 

 increased in size, encircles the whole ' is said, prevents the occurrence of this 

 stem ; the alburnum being so extensively disease. Soot, we have reason to believe, 

 destroyed, prevents the sap ascending ; i from a slight experience, is as effectual 

 consequently, in dry weather, sufficient J as charcoal-dust. Judging from theoreti- 



l"nryictmA ic vir*f c-nT^-rvlio/-! 4V/M-vi -flio Trvrvfc- ro1 T-oocrvnc? lira mirrlif />/~\*~ir1 n rlo fV*af if- 



moisture is not supplied from the roots 

 to counterbalance the transpiration of 

 the leaves, and the diseased plant is very 



reasons, we might conclude that it 

 would be more specifical ; for, in addition 

 to its being, like charcoal, finely divided 



discernible among its healthy compa- 1 carbon, it contains sulphur, to which in- 

 nions by its pallid hue and flagging fo- i sects also have an antipathy. A slight 

 liage. The disease now makes rapid | dressing of the surface-soil with a little 

 progress, the swelling continues to in- . of the dry hydro-sulphuret of lime from 

 crease, for the roots continue to afford i the gas-works would prevent the occur 

 their juices faster than they can be con- j rence of the disease, by driving the wee- 

 veyed away; moisture and air are ad- i vils from the soil. It would probably as 

 mitted to the interior of the excrescence, ! effectually banish the turnip fly or beetle, 

 through the perforation made by the : if sprinkled over the surface immediately 

 maggot; the wounded vessels ulcerate, ! after the seed is sown. For cabbages, 

 putrefaction supervenes, and death con- i twelve bushels per acre would not, pro- 

 eludes the stinted existence of the mise- ! bably, be too much, spread upon the sur- 

 rable plant. The tumour usually attains j face, and turned in with the spade or last 

 the size of a large hen's egg, has a rug- ' ploughing. To effect the banishment of 

 ged, ulcerated, and even mouldy surface, i the turnip-beetle, we should like a trial 

 smelling strong and offensively. The ! to be made of six or eight bushels spread 

 fibrous roots, besides being generally ! over the surface immediately after the 

 thickened, are distorted and monstrous j sowing and rolling are finished. Although 

 from swellings which appear throughout j we specify these quantities as those we 

 their length, apparently arising from an ; calculate most correct, yet in all experi- 

 effort of nature to form receptacles for i ments it is best to try various proportions, 

 the sap. These swellings do do not seem | Three or four bushels may be found suf- 

 1 i arise immediately from the attacks of j ficient; perhaps twelve, or even twenty, 

 the weevil. When it attacks the turnip, may not be too much. In cabbages, the 

 a large excrescence appears below the | ambury may usually be avoided by fre- 

 bulb, growing to the size of both hands, i quent transplanting^; for this enables the 



and, as soon as the winter sets in, it is, 

 by its own nature, brought to maturity, 

 becoming putrid, and smelling very offen- 

 sively. The parent weevil is of a dusky- 

 "black colour, with the breast spotted with 

 white, and the length of the body one 

 line and two-thirds. The ambury of the 



workman to remove the excrescences 

 upon their first appearance, and renders 

 the plants altogether more robusts and 

 ligneous ; the plant in its tender, sappy 

 stage of growth being most open to the 

 insect's attacks. 



AHELA'SCKIER. (This is the 



