74 MUSTARD, 



Doubtless amount of attack might be lessened by preventive 

 measures, but everybody who is really acquainted with farming will 

 know how little likely it is that money will be spent, and farm service 

 taken up in preparations for an infestation which it is just as likely as 

 not might not be going to occur in the next season. 



What we want here (as in many other attacks) is something on the 

 farm, or at hand for a neighbourhood, which may be put in working 

 order in a few hours or less when the pest is really seen to be on the 

 crop, and which may be trusted to clear it at once, without damage to 

 the plant, and, as far as I can form an opinion on the matter, in this 

 machine we have it. 



Charlock Weevil."'' Ceutorhynclms contractus, Marsh. 



Ceutoehynchus contractus. — In usual position, and also with wings expanded, 

 magnified ; also nat. size. 



The little weevil figured above did a great deal of harm early in 

 last season to the young sprouting Mustard plants by preying on the 

 germinating seed, or on the young plant just below the surface of the 

 ground. 



This Ceutorhynclms contractus is very like the well-known Turnip- 

 gall Weevil, also the Seed Weevil figured at p. 62 ; like them it is of a 

 hard rounded general figure, blunt behind, and tapering before into a 

 long curved proboscis, or snout, on the sides of which the elbowed 



* I am not aware of this little beetle being known under any generally accepted 

 English name, but in the Index to Curtis' 'Farm Insects,' at p. 519, there is a single 

 reference to it as the " Charlock-seed Weevil." Therefore, as the name of " Char- 

 lock Weevil " would include the root-galls (from which we have scientific record of 

 this weevil being bred) as well as other parts of the plants, I have thought this 

 name conveniently admissible. 



