108 



TURNIP. 



about twenty times its bulk of water, and then used a water-pot, with 

 a fine rose, to sprinkle the soil, thoroughly mixing the soil afterwards." 



TURNIP. 



Diamond-back Moth. Plutella cniciferanim, Zeller. 



Plutella cruciferarum. — 1, caterpillar; 2, eggs; 3, Diamond-back Moth (all 

 natural size) ; 4, 5, Diamond-back Moth, at rest and flying (magnified). 



During the past season of 1893, so very little mention has been 

 made of damage caused by the caterpillars of the Diamond-back Moth, 

 that it seems worth while to notice this uon -observation in sequence 

 with the sudden and great amount of presence in 1891, and a good 

 deal of injury in 1892. 



It will be remembered that in 1891, a vast amount of mischief was 

 caused by the small delicate green caterpillars of this moth (figured 

 above at 1), to the leafage of Turnips, mainly along the coastland near 

 the eastern seaboard of the island, and more or less in every one of the 

 eastern counties, from Dover in Kent up to Aberdeenshire in Scotland. 

 This was first reported about the beginning of July, and enormous 

 flocks of the moths were also observed at various places along the 

 eastern coasts.* 



In 1892, the infestation was again present, but not to such a severe 

 extent ; also it was observed earlier in the season ; the reports of 

 damage ceased also earlier. The first notices of moth presence, 



* The fullest possible account of all details of this infestation, given from special 

 reports of observations in the area of injury, will be found in my paper on " Dia- 

 mond-back Moth," given in the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society, Vol. IL, 

 Third Series, Part III., pp. 596—630; and at pp. 105—164 of my own 'Annual 

 Report of Observations of Injurious Insects,' for 1891. 



