. . The White Grub of the May Beetle. 27 



cences which sometimes appear on potatoes, as well as preventing 

 rot. A less quantity, say half [three-fourths of a ton], or even 

 two or three barrels to the acre, though of course not as effectual, 

 will accomplish much" (Country Gentleman, for Aug. 3, 1882, p. 

 601, c. 2). ' 



If the above testimony to the value of salt as a grub-killer shall 

 be sustained by further experiment, I would strongly urge, in view 

 of the periodic character of these attacks in localities, that the salt 

 be applied in the year of the abundant appearance of the beetle, 

 and preferably during the month of August or September, although 

 no injury from the grub may be apparent. At this time the young 

 grubs which are produced from the eggs deposited in June are 

 within reach of the application, and may be killed far more readily 

 than when they have attained additional powers of resistance in 

 another year's growth. 



Caustic Lime ivash. — Mr. Daniel Batchelor, of Utica, N. Y., in 

 a paper on " Lawns and Lawn Grasses," read before the Western 

 New York Horticultural Society, at its annual meeting in January, 

 1885, in referring to the destructiveness of the white grub to the 

 roots of grasses, states : 



Its presence is made known by the appearance, in patches, of 

 dead and bleaching grasses, and then is the time to attack the 

 depredator. My method has been to pierce the sod with a steel 

 bar to the depth of about- six inches, and to make the perforations 

 the same distance apart. Into these holes I pour caustic lime wash 

 from the spout of a watering pot, and the pulpy fellow is done for. 

 After the lapse of a few days the denuded surface is thoroughly 

 raked, and some lawn seed sown. 



Hooting out by Swine. — The value of swine in freeing infested 

 grass lands from the grub has often been urged, and we think is 

 not overestimated. I believe that this remedy will prove success- 

 ful, if good rooters be employed, when other methods fail. Dr. 

 Fitch has written of it : • 



" I would recommend the placing of a temporary fence around 

 that portion of the meadow or pasture which is so thronged with 

 these grubs, thus for a while converting the patch into a hog pasture. 

 The propensity of these animals for rooting and tearing up the turf, 

 we are all aware, is for the very purpose of coming at and feeding 

 upon the grubs and worms that are lurking therein ; and who 

 knows but that this rooting propensity, which has all along been 

 complained of as being the most vicious and troublesome habit 



