x] Beetles 111 
Remedial Measures. 
The eggs are laid on the under surface of the leaves 
and do not lend themselves to treatment. As the 
larvae feed inside the leaves we cannot hope to attack 
the pest at this stage. It is chiefly against the adult 
stage that attacks are aimed. 
We have seen that the greatest amount of damage is 
done when the turnips are young, consequently we must 
aim at helping the plant in these stages and at the same 
time make things as unpleasant as possible for the beetle. 
Drought and frost retard the growth of the plant; 
the former also favours the beetles and consequently 
this state of affairs is bad for the turnip. 
Clean farming plays a very important part in 
reducing the numbers of this beetle as weeds, such as 
charlock, serve to sustain it until the abundant supply 
of food which the turnip crop supplies is ready. All 
cruciferous weeds should be destroyed and the grasses 
in hedges and ditches cut and burnt, as they provide 
shelter for the beetle during the winter. 
The method of cultivating the land is very important, 
and operations which help the plant in its early stages 
should be carried on. Cultivation should be done in 
the autumn if possible as more moisture is retained in 
the soil and a better tilth obtained. Seeds sown on a 
fine tilth usually suffer less for this favours the growth 
of the young plant and is unfavourable to the beetle, 
as there are few suitable hiding places for it. Careful 
rolling (if the land is suitable) after drilling the seed 
breaks up the clods and disturbs the beetles. Miss 
Ormerod says, “After a long experience I never saw 
a failure of a braird of turnips on land which had been 
