80 MANGOLDS. 



Barking (whose opinion on these matters is of much value), he men- 

 tioned the damage caused by Julus-worms (in this case the "Earth" 

 and the "Flattened" Millepede) to sprouting Kidney Beans, and 

 added : — " Your suggestions to move the ground frequently before 

 planting, to eradicate all rubbish and garbage, and to sow not too early, 

 are what I can endorse entirely." Of the dispersion of the pests from 

 heaps of rotting or rotten vegetable matter we have plenty of proof, but 

 we want more attention to the " animal remains " part of the question ; 

 that is, animal manure, rotting bones, or bone not fully crushed in 

 bone manure, and also what may be called " garbage," as attractions 

 to Millepede presence. In notes sent at different times, I have infor- 

 mation of the Millepedes as found in bunches at times round a bit of 

 bone or refuse left in the manure; and also, in some notes sent me by 

 Mr. J. A. Smith, Rise Hall, Akenham, of a remarkably large presence 

 of Earth Millepedes in connection with land which was annually 

 treated with town manure containing slaughter-house refuse, and what 

 may be generally described by the word garbage. 



The fact of the Millepedes living two years before they reach 

 maturity causes difficulty in the investigation, but taking for leading 

 points that they may be in old refuse heaps, and that they may be 

 found in great quantities in decayed vegetable matter, and also may be 

 found in animal refuse, or at bones used as manure or flung to manure 

 heaps, we might in the coming year make some advance in information. 



In the course of the past season, Mr. Winder, writing me on the 

 21st of June regarding the condition of a crop of Mangolds on land 

 under his superintendence at Fairmile, Ottery St. Mary, Devon, men- 

 tioned that the seed had been sown about six weeks, and as it did not 

 appear to prosper, — in fact, many of the plants were dying, — they 

 began to look for the reason, and found grey worm-like creatures, of 

 which he enclosed samples, showing them to be the spotted Millepede, 

 "which were apparently eating the Mangold, or whether they were 

 after the manure I cannot tell. It was what is called bone compound, 

 3 cwt. per acre, 1^ cwt. guano, and 4 cwt. salt. Salt sown broadcast 

 before sowing." — (E. A. W.) 



Mr. Winder forwarded me some of the bone compound for 

 examination, and I could not find any signs of infestation in it, so 

 in that case we got no nearer the cause. 



Nitrate of soda applied as a dry dressing had very little effect ; but 

 m this and another case the best application was rain setting in, which 

 brought the enrichments in the soil to bear, and saved a moderate 

 crop. 



Looking at the observations which have been sent in now from 

 time to time for eleven or more years, we do not find that any remedy 

 has yet been noted for these Millepede attacks when on the broad 



