24 CORN AND GRASS. 



insects devour Eoses, but so far we have not noticed that they eat other 

 leaves. They swarm ovit in the sunshine, but disappear within the 

 cups of flowers, or holes in the Grass, directly the sun is obscured, or 

 the weather becomes dull and cool. My brother is a grower of Hops, 

 Nuts, Plums, and Currants ; and the soil being very sandy and poor, a 

 very liberal use of manures is necessary for their successful culti- 

 vation." 



The specimens sent me were of the little bright brown and green 

 Eose Chafers, the Phylloj^ertha horticola. These I found to be wonder- 

 fully active in the earlier part of the day. In the evening they were 

 quiet and torpid, but when set on the window-sill, they roused up and 

 walked to the edge, and then (with one exception) spread their wings 

 and flew strongly away. 



The infestation was exceedingly prevalent near Haslemere, in 

 Surrey ; and the following note, with which I was favoured by Mr. 

 Charles Pratt, of Marley, near Shottermill, Haslemere, gives a very 

 good observation of it in that locality : — " The Chafer which has been 

 so destructive in my pastures and lawns, and other crops, is the bright 

 copper-coloured creature, with blue-green head, called (Mr. Buckton 

 tells me) Phyllopertha horticola. It did not attack the corn crops, but 

 infested Eoses and many garden things. Tlie grubs have eaten the 

 roots of the Grass which has decayed, and on being pulled comes off in 

 large patches. Thousands of starlings are at work in the pasture fields 

 pulling up the dead Grass, and turning it off to get at the fat succulent 

 grubs, and the thrushes are doing the same good work upon the 

 lawns." ..." What I propose to do is this : to harrow up with a 

 long spiked implement all the decayed turf, and leave the Grass exposed 

 to the further attention of the birds for a week or two. Then sow 

 renovating seeds over the bare places, covered with freshly dug sand 

 (my natural soil), and well roll it. The autumn rains will, I hope, 

 bring up the seeds before the frost sets in. Then I shall apply a heavy 

 dressing of lime all over, and leave it till the spring, at which season, 

 if it looks promising, I shall give a top-dressing of artificial manure (of 

 a sort to be decided upon), and trust to getting a little Grass for next 

 year's hay and pasturage." 



In a second letter on the subject, written by Mr. Chas. Pratt, on 

 Sept. 22nd, he mentioned: — "For the thirty years during which I 

 have had experience with land, I have had no knowledge of any insect 

 pest so destructive as this Phyllopertha Chafer. But I live on a sandy 

 hill, and I never knew such a drought before ! " . . . "I stated that 

 it had not infested my cornfields ; but the result of more complete 

 investigation to-day convinces me that my statement was premature. 

 The grubs are found in a lively condition about eight inches below the 

 surface in the corn stubbles. I doubt now whether any remedy will 



