102 TURNIP. 



done with them, as the wet weather has had a disastrous effect on the 

 moth, and stimulated the growth of the Turnip ; thus, practically 

 speaking, I think the danger is over with us." — (S. B. B.) 



A useful observation of the benefit of bird presence in keeping down 

 Diamond-back infestation was contributed to me by Mr. Eobert Iron- 

 side, of Auchlossan, Lumphanau, Aberdeenshire, on the 24th of July, 

 when his Turnips were, to some degree, suffering from the Diamond- 

 back caterpillars : — " As to the Diamond-back Moth, I think I have a 

 good friend in the lapwing. A few years ago, when my Turnips were 

 much infested with the moth, I was struck forcibly by the great 

 numbers among them, and I have no doubt they feed on the green 

 caterpillar ; at least the infestation did not do me much harm, although 

 I was strongly attacked. This year they have again come." — (E. I.) 



The following note, referring to attack of Diamond-back Moth (of 

 which I had identified a specimen) as late as August in Argyleshire, 

 and also giving a serviceably interesting note regarding kinds of sea- 

 gulls noticed on infested land, was sent me on December 2Gth by 

 Mr. W. Anderson, of Ardsheal, Ballachulish, Argyleshire : — " You 

 were kind enough to identify a Diamond-back Moth caterpillar that I 

 sent to you through the Editor of the ' Farming World ' in August of 

 tljis year. I omitted to mention a fact that may be of some im- 

 portance. My attention was fir^t drawn to the Turnip-field where 

 the caterpillar was discovered by a large flock of sea-gulls (herring 

 gull, common gull, and kittiwake) that had settled on one half of it, 

 and seemed to remain there day and night. I never actually detected 

 them eating anything ; on the contrary, they seemed to be wandering 

 about in rather an aimless way. On examining the crop, I found the 

 caterpillar was very plentiful on that half of the field occupied by the 

 gulls, and I was only able to find one or two specimens on that portion 

 of the field which was neglected by them. About eight miles south of 

 this there was a similar occurrence, with a blighted crop, the farmer 

 attributing destruction of his Turnips to the ravages of the gulls." — 

 (W. A.) 



The above notes would be well worth recording if only as a means 

 of preventing one of our best natural (and also giaUiitous !) forms of 

 protection being intentionally driven away. 



Successive observations have been given very fully on this infesta- 

 tion in my ' Keport on Injurious Insects for 1891 and 1892 ' ; but on 

 the threatening of another outburst in June of the past year, I issued 

 a leaflet with a detailed description of the infestation, and of the 

 remedies which were most approved, amongst which that of nitrate of 

 soda and soot, it will be seen by the above observations, answered 

 well. The leaflet will be sent with pleasure gratuitously to any 

 applicant; but I give here, to save trouble of reference, a short 



