104 TURNIP. 



The serviceableness of nitrate of soda and soot is noticed above, 

 together with some observations as to using this application at time 

 of singling ; and Mr. Burroughes' mechanical arrangement of boughs 

 of broom on the scufflers is excellent, — any light leafage that would 

 remove the infestation without bruising the Turnip-leaves, of course, 

 answering equally well. 



The great point, however, is by all possible means to secure such 

 a hearty growth as may carry the crop on past anything but over- 

 whelming attack. 



Turnip Mud-beetle. Heloplwrus nujosus, Oliv. = H. fenvicus, 



Stephens. 



Helophorus rugosus, flying, and on leaf, nat. size ; also magnitied (after 

 Eye) ; larva, and one of pair of caudal bristles, magnified. Turnip-leaves gnawed 

 by beetle. 



The following notes refer to a recently observed attack injurious 

 both to Turnip-bulbs and leafage, and of somewhat serious importance 

 in districts where this special pest is to be found. 



I believe the infestation had never been recorded as injurious to 

 crops until the summer of 1889, when Mr. John Milne, of Inverurie, 

 Aberdeenshire, favoured me with specimens of the beetles, together 

 with the information that they were injurious to the Turnip crop in 

 its early stages. This was very evidently the case from the condition 

 of the Turnip-leafage sent accompanying, a specimen of which I have 

 figured above, so as to show the damage caused by the beetle gnawiug, 

 life size, and a little magnified ; and since then, specimens of the 

 same attack have been sent from much the same district, but always 

 in connection with damage caused by the beetles (the perfect insects), 

 never with any reference to what might be caused by this Helophorus 

 rugosus in its maggot-state, although I was on the watch for any clue 

 that might lead to where it was to be found, until, on the 28th of 



