Ix] Butterflies and Moths 101 
habit of living underground. In the case of drilled 
crops such as turnips and mangolds, frequent hoeing 
is found to be useful as some of the caterpillars are 
destroyed and others exposed to birds. Starlings, 
plovers, rooks, and gulls will eat them in large numbers. 
Pigs will also eat them. 
With turnips and mangolds sown on the flat 
harrowing has sometimes proved effective. 
In market gardens handpicking has been found to 
be remunerative. The grubs are very difficult to find, 
except after dusk. Each worker should carry a lantern 
and a stout stick pointed at one end to search for cater- 
pillars near the plants. 
In the case of an attack on potatoes earthing up 
as early as possible has proved effective. Weeds should 
be kept down as eggs are often laid on them and also 
because the young caterpillars feed on them until the 
crop is ready. 
Poisoned baits put along the rows have proved 
advantageous. The bait consists of some green food 
stuff, such as clover or lucerne, dipped into or sprayed 
with a solution of Paris green (made by mixing 1 oz. 
of Paris green with 3 gallons of water), or lead arsenate. 
When the caterpillars eat this they are poisoned. 
In fields of cabbages, mangolds, or turnips, where an 
attack is feared, a small seed bed of cabbages will be 
found useful as the blank spaces in the rows caused by 
the caterpillars can be quickly filled by the cabbage 
plants. 
Toads will destroy enormous numbers and should 
be preserved. 
