504 Queries cmd Afiswers. 



and made the best of, for show ; but, to my great surprise, I found tliat 

 the sample shown at our meeting was nothing to what it might have been. 

 The quantity of fruit on each plant was far beyond any thing that I have 

 ever seen before, and 1 have no hesitation in saying that it is the finest 

 strawberry now in cultivation. — U. AI. Ilort. Soc. Garden, July 15. 1833. 



Fingers and Toes on Turnips. (Vol. VIII. p. 498.) — J. M. says, theinsect 

 causing these malformations is called, by entomologists, Nedyus contractor. 

 Now, Professor Rennie writes, in Insect Archiiecture (p. 389.), that it is 

 probable these may be the larvae of a weevil (Curculio contractus, and 

 Rhynchae^nus assimilis, &c.);then, in Insect Transformations (p. 218.), 

 Nedyus contractor (a root weevil). May I ask J. M., or any other cor- 

 respondent, if these are all names for one poor insect, heaped upon it by 

 the learned, to deter us from prying too far into the secrets of nature ? If 

 not, which is the right name, or true insect? Perhaps some one may 

 favour us with a cut, as it does not yet appear to be generally known ; and 

 a little more of its history than the professor gives will be very acceptable 

 to me and to many more. 



To free the soil of the insect causing fingers and toes, will J. M. say how 

 the soapsuds are applied (Vol. VIII. p. 498.); the quantity, and expense, 

 and what other alkaline substance is likely to answer the same purpose ? — 

 J. C. Farmer. 



Curciilio contractus Marsham and Nedyus contractus Stej^hens are 

 two names for the same insect : Rhynchte^nus assimilis Fab., as mentioned 

 by Kirby and Spence (Introd., vol. i. p. 453.), is doubtless distinct, but 

 still closely allied, as it is most probably the Nedyus assimilis of Stephens, 

 and the 6'urculio assimilis of Marsham. Mr. Haworth, from whom, in 

 part, these synonymes have been learned, thus remarks on this subject : — 

 " But it is presumed, that not any Curculionidse [weevil tribe], nor even any 

 coleopterous insect, causes the vegetable disease called ' fingers and toes.' 

 This is one of contraction : it is more probably the work of Tenthredinid^ 

 [the sawfly tribe]. I have somewhere observed, in print, that lacerations 

 on the green or growing parts of vegetables usually enlarge themselves, as 

 is well observed on pin-scratched gourds, &c. The diseases of contraction, 

 or those diverting the sap, &c., seem to be effected by haustellated [fur- 

 nished with a sucker] insects. Marl is the great cure for ' fingers and toes,' 

 and Norfolk marl is said to be the best." — J. D. 



The Grub (^or Caterpillar, as an Entomologist would sat/) of the Phalcs^na 

 pronuba, j]refe7'S to feed on cruciferous Plants, and sometimes ravages young 

 Plants of the Turnip. — The grub of this moth is that yellowish brown 

 tough-skinned grub which every gardener has seen repeatedly on, and 

 just under, the very surface of the soil, where it eats through the collar or 

 stem of the young cabbage plants, &c. ; and, from numerous observations, I 

 have concluded that it prefers the cruciferous plants of any or every 

 genus to the plants of other natural orders, as the Cruciferse have all, in 

 a greater or less degree, a sinapine or mustai'd flavour. Seven or eight 

 years ago, it destroyed on the farm of Charles Harrison, Esq., at Bury St. 

 Edmunds, numerous young plants of turnips, when possessed of seven or 

 eight leaves, by eating through their incipient rootstalks or bulbs ; here- 

 upon the plants would fall aside and die. When this happened I knew 

 not the name of this grub, or rather of the moth in the grub or cater- 

 pillar state. This I learned from a lady versed in entomology, Mrs. 

 M. A. Robinson, 64. Red Lion Street, Holborn, who was then visiting 

 Bury St. Edmunds, and who took thence some of these grubs, larvae, or 

 caterpillars, and fed and kept them until they changed into the winged or 

 perfect state. — J. D. 



The Turnip Flea. — Has the history of this insect ever yet been fully 

 given in any book accessible to one who has not cash to spare for pur- 



