112 PEAS. 



maggots which have been feeding during spring at the roots of the 

 Peas or Clover. 



The maggots, of which I have received specimens, were about a 

 quarter of an inch long when full-grown; whitish, plump, and much 

 wrinkled ; without legs ; the head brownish or ochrey in colour, with 

 strong jaws. Fig. 3, p. 37, gives a very good idea of the appearance 

 of the maggot (much magnified) of the Dutch Clover Weevil when 

 lying at rest, but at pleasure they can extend themselves, so as to 

 appear narrower and straighter. 



The mischief caused by the maggots is often not suspected, but 

 nevertheless this maggot gnawing below ground is at times so severe 

 as totally to ruin the plant, even to the extent of necessitating 

 ploughing in. 



Towards autumn, when the Peas are being harvested, great quan- 

 tities of the weevils may be seen, and these lay the foundation for the 

 next year's attack. By the end of November, maggots are noticeable 

 in all stages of growth at the infested roots, and they may be found in 

 December and January still in larval state. Early in April some 

 of the larvfe cease to feed, and early in May may be observed to have 

 formed hollow earth chambers, in which, towards the end of that 

 month, they turn to chrysalids, from which the summer brood of 

 weevils begins to appear in June. 



Prevention and Eemedies. — Judging by the replies which have 

 been kindly sent me in reply to special enquiries, and also by search 

 into reports of previous years, very little indeed can be done by the 

 common methods of remedial treatment, as rolling, hoeing, dressing 

 with soot, and the like. But still some of the observations of what did 

 not do good may be of service in saving expense in experiment; and 

 also, if the partial success of some of the experiments are joined to con- 

 sideration of the habits and nature respectively of the insect pests, 

 and the attacked plants, some leading points may be worked out. 



The first attack appears to be from the ivintered beetles, and if the 

 ground is merely re-sown, after the crop has been swept oft", these 

 same beetles will, I believe, go on eating up each successive crop till it 

 is time for them to die off. 



The new brood of beetles, as far as we know, does not come out till 

 June. Therefore, if when one crop is destroyed the ploughing could be 

 so arranged, as will be found fully detailed in the following obser- 

 vations, there would appear good hope that the pests might be buried 

 down, and the loss (bad as it is) not be extended beyond the first 

 destruction. 



In the following note with which I was favoured on the 19th of 

 November, in reply to my enquiries, by Mr. Edw. A. Cabberley, of 



