94 MUSTARD. 



beetles by placing Mustard straw round the field where harvesting is 

 going on, and so being able to collect and destroy large numbers. 



Amoiigst preventive measures, removal of all kinds of shelters is sure 

 to be of use, and so far as getting rid of old Mustard rubbish, such as 

 roots, old stocks, or old straw, or not allowing this to be used for rough 

 sheltering of various kinds, this might be fairly easily done. And 

 giving such attention to rough growths at the bottom of hedges, or the 

 reeds and rushes by ditches, and other localities, as could be managed, 

 would be of use. But examination of seed for what amount of beetles 

 might be in it, would be a very simple measure. 



In the replies to inquiries sent in 1886, it was mentioned that the 

 beetles were frequently to be found in the Mustard seed when freshly 

 threshed, and also that the beetles had been found alive in sacks of the 

 seed for two years after it had been threshed. 



In last autumn, notes were sent me of appearance of the beetle to 

 a serious extent on two farms having followed purchase of seed from 

 elsewhere, and the infestation was believed to have been thus imported. 

 At any rate this may so easily occur that it is a point which it would 

 be well to look to. Writing regarding this during December to Mr. 

 H. L. Leonard, of Preston, Hull, he replied on the 14th: — "There 

 would not be the slightest difficulty in screening the beetles out of the 

 seed after threshing ; by altering the riddle in the winnowing machine 

 (through which all seed passes, or should pass, before delivery) it 

 would be done. Should a stray beetle or two get back to the screened 

 heap, they could easily be killed by a lad standing by." 



In 1886, Mr. Ernest Smith, of Southminster, Maldon, Essex, 

 noted : — " I should think careful sifting in a close sieve would prevent 

 their being sown with the seed, or I should think that the ordinary 

 solution of vitriol which is used for dressing seed Wheat would kill 

 them." This operation might be expected to do all that was needed, 

 if due attention was given to not using the chemical in amount that 

 would hurt the seed, and also to taking care that the beetles did not 

 escape. 



In ordinary course (unless torpid) they might be expected to expand 

 their wings and fly away as soon as they felt the effect of the chemical, 

 therefore the seed would probably need to be secured so that this could 

 not happen. But where there were only a few beetles in the seed, 

 these might be hand-picked without any great trouble. 



Transportation of the beetles with seed in sacks is a really impor- 

 tant matter, and where they are known to be present, baking the 

 emptied sacks to destroy any lurking infestation as well as all other 

 requisite treatment, is highly desirable. 



With regard to inquiry sent as to danger from eggs being mixed with the 

 seed ? This would not be likely to do harm. The natural place for 



