WIRE- WORMS 281 



smaller than that of A. lineatus, but similar in shape 

 and general appearance. 



It is scarcely necessary to mention the crops that 

 are attacked by wire-worm, and it will suffice to state 

 that hardly any crop is free from their ravages. Cereals, 

 roots and vegetables of all kinds, suffer in turn. 

 Broken-up pasture and " seeds " or Clover-leys often 

 swarm with wire-worms, and on this ground the most 

 serious damage is done to cereals, roots and vegetable 

 crops, also to flower and fruit crops. 



Prevention and Remedies. The great point is so to 

 treat pasture and ley as to destroy eggs or wire- worms 

 that may be in the soil before the land is broken up. 

 The following procedure is advised : 



(a) Feed sheep and cattle with cake or other feeding 

 stuffs so that every inch of land shall be trodden and 

 eaten bare ; then apply a dressing of gas lime fresh 

 from gasworks, two and a half to five tons per acre, 

 thirty-five to seventy pounds per rod, spreading evenly 

 and leaving on the surface a month or six weeks before 

 ploughing, digging, or bastard trenching. This pro- 

 cedure should be done in late summer or autumn, always 

 a considerable time in advance of cropping. 



(b) The practice (a) cannot always be followed on 

 small plots, therefore apply ten tons of lime, freshly 

 burned, per acre or one hundred and forty pounds per 

 rod, placing in small convenient heaps and cover with 

 earth. Allow them to remain until the lumps are 

 reduced to a fine powder, then spread in the hot state 

 over the surface. The effect of hot lime is to burn off 



