ENEMIES or THE SUGAR BEET. 267 



When these insects are exposed to the action of the 

 sun their color becomes dark. 



Destruction of the Melolontha Vulgaris. — There have 

 been many and diverse arguments from time to time 

 in regard to the state (insect or larva) and time this 

 destruction should take place. We consider that there 

 can be no doubt that it is better to destroy the beetle, 

 and not wait until foi-ty eggs ai-e deposited, which are 

 each likely to be the cause of as much harm as the 

 cock-chafer itself. If these beetles be on a tree in the 

 neighborhood, by shaliing it they will fall to the 

 ground, as they have but little, if any, control over 

 their actions ; they should be gathered and destroyed 

 in the most convenient manner. If on the leaves of 

 the plant, the difficulty in gathering them is greatly 

 decreased. If this destruction is not complete, which 

 it never is, a second effort is then made upon its larva 

 (white worm), which under the ordinary conditions 

 would now have reached a number which it would be 

 impossible to estimate. 



In many sections of France and Belgium a heavy 

 fine is imposed upon the farmer if any white- worms are 

 found on his land, thus forcing him to destroy this 

 enemy. The method adopted is for the women and 

 children to follow the plough and pick them up. If the 

 soil be tilled three times in the season, as in many 

 cases, 70,000 have been frequently noticed per acre. 

 Mr. Jules Reiset, an energetic Frenchman, gathered 

 on his farm, in one season, 350,000 lbs. of these worms, 

 each of which weighed 0.07 of an ounce. 



