98 STRAWBERRY. 



in East Lotliian. It was the common rape-cake thajt was used for the 

 cattle. 



" It tasted of Mustard seed. Cattle did not like it at first, and. had 

 to be coaxed by mixing it with linseed-cake. It was used because it 

 was cheap." 



On turning to Youatt's 'Complete Grazier' (13th Edition, 1893, 

 rewritten and enlarged by Dr. Fream), at p. 20G, I find the following 

 statement, which confirms Mr. Scot Skirving's views as to the nature 

 of the rape-cake, and may bear serviceably on the subject of its possible 

 effects: — '^ Rape- cake is less relished by cattle than linseed-cake, and 

 they require to be coaxed into partaldng of it ; once habituated to it, 

 they consume it freely. Dr. Voelcker says he believes ' the pungent 

 principle in rape-cake arises from the presence of Mustard seed, which 

 is often contained in considerable quantities in foreign rape-cake.' 

 Mustard and Eape seed belong to the same family of plants ; and in 

 Germany at least, I am sorry to say, our Eape fields are often very 

 foul with Mustard." 



The above quotation explains the taste of Mustard being present 

 in the cheap cake alluded to by Mr. Scot Skirving, and if in the coming 

 season any correspoudent should be disposed to kindly let me have a 

 supply of a few dozen Daddy Longlegs grubs,* I should be glad of the 

 opportunity of making some experiments, such as I tried in 1882, f 

 ■with regard to effect of rape-cake, and also of Indian, or Kurrachee 

 rape-cake, that is, cake formed of Mustard seed, on Wireworms. 



These were undertaken to ascertain whether there was any foundar 

 tion for the popular idea that Wireworms feed on rape-cake to such a 

 state of repletion that they burst. Such, however, did not prove to be 

 the case. The Wireworms that were fed solely on true rape-cake for 

 several weeks (broken up and moistened) went into it at once, and con- 

 tinued to thrive until there appeared no reason to continue observation 

 any longer. 



Those fed on the Kurrachee, or Mustard-cake, on the contrary, 

 refused to enter the cake for about three days, and remained in a bit 

 of turf which I had placed as a temporary and optional shelter for 

 them. About the fourth day, when a putrescent smell had succeeded 

 the first stinging scent of the moistened Mustard-cake, the Wireworm 

 went into it, and did apparently well for more than a week ; but at the 

 end of a fortnight I found many dead or dying, and though I supplied 

 them with fresh turf, also pieces of Potato and Turnip, as well as the 

 cake, they all died. 



* If a letter or card was sent beforehand, this would enable me to have all 

 ready. 



t See ' Report on Injurious Insects for 1882,' p. 47. . : . f r. 



