296 The Ver Blanc, or Larva of the Cockchqffer. 



rose. Numbers were picked from the bushes every day, and 

 the gardener received much assistance in this occupation from 

 sparrows and other semi-insectivorous birds. No insect is 

 more easily captured than this ; and if a few active boys were 

 to be employed at the proper season in picking them from the 

 bushes, the ravages of thousands, nay, of millions of the larvae 

 during the next three years would be effectually prevented. 



Regarding the destruction of the larva, it does not appear 

 that a sufficient course of experiments has been tried ; and 

 it even appears a matter of doubt, whether those few which 

 have been attempted have not, in reality, rather tended to in- 

 ci'ease than to check the evil. It is quite obvious that any 

 chemical application which is injurious to vegetable life must 

 be avoided altogether. A partial application would drive all 

 the insects to seek a closer shelter among the roots, while a 

 general application would destroy both them and the plants 

 together. Whether the free use of lime water, or of any new 

 chemical combination, will so saturate the soil round the roots 

 of the trees, as to destroy the larvae, seems to me very doubt- 

 ful ; but such experiments are certainly worthy of trial. 



Next in importance to the destruction of the larva is the 

 best mode for checking the future increase of the perfect in- 

 sect; and this, though a slow and prospective remedy, will 

 probably be found the most effectual. I have already alluded 

 to the facility with which this beetle, when at rest, may be 

 caught. We can only have a competent idea of the result 

 which would follow by a numerical estimate. Let us, then, 

 suppose that in an extensive nursery, such as Mr. Calvert's, 

 ten boys were employed to collect these beetles on their first 

 appearance, and that each boy, on an average for twenty days, 

 was able to gather only 300 per day, the result would be the 

 destruction of 60,000 beetles. Let one half of these be sup- 

 posed to be females, and that each female would have de- 

 posited in the earth 100 eggs, two thirds of which only would 

 have survived accidents, we shall then see that a progeny of 

 2,250,000 larvae would be annihilated, and their ravages for 

 three entire years prevented. 



But this mode, however assiduously followed, can only be 

 partial, and those insects which escape will inevitably deposit 

 their eggs in the same locality in which they themselves were 

 reared. To prevent this, I should recommend that, so soon 

 as the perfect insect appeared, a top dressing, as I believe it is 

 called, of either lime or cinders, be laid on every part of the 

 surface of the infected ground. This dressing should be finely 

 sifted and lie compact, so that the female could not readily 



