68 MUSTARD. 



equally useful. This consists of one bushel of quick-liyne, and one of gas- 

 lime, six pounds of sulphur, and ten pounds of soot, well poivdered and 

 mixed together, and applied when the dew is on. The above arnoimt is 

 sufficient to dress about two acres of young Turnips, — the precise quantity 

 needed would depend on size of plant, and distance between the rows. — Ed. 



Mr. Leonard continued his report of the discussion as follows: — 



" It was generally agreed that the most damage is done the fort- 

 night before cutting the crop, when it is not possible to get amongst 

 it. It is therefore of the greatest importance that the first lot of 

 beetles in the spring be destroyed as much as possible. 



" It was also agreed that the beetle prefers white Mustard to 

 brown, and then Kape after the brown. One grower says that the 

 beetle will lay its eggs on Mustard, and a few on Rape ; but that 

 though it may feed on Swede Turnips, it will not breed there. If 

 there is no Mustard or Rape in a district, the beetle will die out, 

 because no eggs will be laid. Most growers were agreed that the best 

 thing to do would be to cease growing Mustard seed in badly infested 

 districts ; but it was found to be impossible to get the farmers all of 

 one mind. One grower suggested that Messrs. Colman & Keen should 

 refuse to buy seed from an infested district for five years, but it was 

 pointed out that there was nothing to prevent speculators from 

 buying it. 



" It was not thought that many beetles remained in the straw. 

 From the evidence, it strikes me that the most important thing to do 

 is to gather up and burn the stubble, into which nearly all the beetles 

 collect after the crop is cleared. As the stubble is green for some time 

 after cutting, it would not break off by being rolled, and I cannot see 

 how it could be done otherwise ; it would not burn as it stands in the 

 ground. A grass reaper might probably cut up a good lot, but not 

 all." — (Signed H. L. Leonard.) 



Some other observations bearing more generally on prevention of 

 attack were added, and also a few enquiries, to which I replied at the 

 time ; but it will be seen that the above notes give many points of 

 serviceable interest, both for present information, and as leading to 

 further enquiry. 



Consultations were held, and suggestions and leaflets issued, and 

 arrangements made in various quarters for field experiment as to 

 practicable means of getting rid of the Mustard Beetle ; but so far as 

 appears from reports received, weather or other circumstances so 

 influenced amount of this special pest, that though it (the Phcedon 

 betula), and its ally in causing damage, the Flower Beetle, did mischief 

 in various places, there was not the sweeping devastation which in 

 some years makes those interested willing to try any reasonable plan 

 of remedy. 



