lu.^ects, etc.. Injurious to the Strairherri/. 



449 



back of the larva and tliou iiluiigc tliuir Loaks into tlium just lieldnd 

 the head ; soon alter this the Liv\-a fdckeiis and dies. 



Tliis predaceous enemy was sent nie in ixOi; froni Caulerhiiiy 

 and from Kimbolton in 1 luntingdunshire. A I'lingus, known us 

 CcD'iIi/irjis i'ii/oiniirrJii~<(, has lieen fouml invading these lav\-a' (1) 

 near :\[aidstone and also at Wve. This pavasiti(; fungus completely 

 invades tlie larva' and replaces every ]iart of tlieir liodv. They may 

 freituently he found covereil witli a coarse wliitc ]uvc(.'lium, forming 



:i!)o.— LAra'A 



iAI:lij;.\ SWIFT \ln'll[ A'l'TACKl']! 

 Cniiliicepx e,ilui,if>nin:„. 



a mossy-like growth. Later, a curious large fruitdjearing body 

 (Fig. '-i'.io) about 1 incli huig makes its appearance and grows up 

 into the air. This peculiar growth is reddish-l)r(jVv"n in colour, 

 darkened towards the tip, and from tliis body "spores" are jiassed 

 out o\-er the soil and thus fresh lar\;c are atfected. These so-called 

 " A'egetable Caterpillars" have also l.ieen found at Hitchin by 

 Cook (7). The Swifts or Kejjialida' are particularh' liable to be 

 invaded hj this and other ('iwiIi/rqK. 



Pjiea'e.xtiox anjj PiK.mf.dies. 



A good deal of good may be done in an infested Ijed by constant 

 hoeing; nurnljers of the whitish larva' will then lie destroyed. 



This should be folli:)«'ed liy a top dressing of some noxious 

 substance, and for this soot has been found excellent if worked 

 into tlie soil around the plants. At other times it completely 

 fails. 



Kainit and muriate of ])0tash have both been used with beneficial 

 results, wood ashes have also been found deleterious to them. The 

 Ijest results I have had ha\e been with gas lime and vaporite. This 

 is one of those attacks that can only be checked with patient work, 

 for it seeirrs that if left alone it may recur year after year. 



AVe can do nothing to prevent tlie moths from laying their eggs, 



2 c; 



