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weeds. Refuse from gas-works, nitrate of soda, rape-cake, and chloride of lime, mixed 

 and spread with manures are highly recommended, and the sowing of soda-ash or guano 

 broadcast when planting. 



A previous crop of white mustard is claimed to clear the land of them, presumably 

 by starving out, for the roots of the mustard are extremely acrid, and of course occupy the 

 soil to the exclusion of ahy more nutritive ones. A close grazing by sheep seems benefi- 

 cial where pastures are badly infested, perhaps because the surface is trodden down too 

 hard for the larvae to work through, or because the beetles are prevented from laying their 

 eggs, or have them destroyed. The same result is also obtained by compacting the surface 

 by heavy rollers. 



There are also means of striking directly at these pests which at the same time are of 

 more general utility, and whose adoption cannot be too strongly urged. Aside from any 

 mere questions of a taste for order, neatness and beauty, the practical wisdom and advan- 

 tages of keeping land thoroughly worked and cleaned are plain to everyone ; it does not 

 pay to leave neglected a single square yard of the farm. 



The larvae of these beetles, in common with hosts of other insects, find a pleasant 

 refuge in the uncultivated patches left about the farm, and under or among stones and 

 other rubbish. Farmers cannot bear this too constantly in mind, and they should strive 

 to have their fields, as well as gardens, free from all unnecessary disfigurements of such 

 kinds. The entomological collector may delight in the rank growth of all manner of 

 shrubs and plants along the fences and ditches of his neighbours, for he generally finds a 

 rich variety of specimens thereon ; but what is his gain is usually the owner's and the 

 country's loss. 



Leave no such strips along the fence-rows, nor of stubble in the fields. Let all loose 

 boards, stones, logs, brush and rubbish of every kind be removed, and thus, as far as pos- 

 sible, prevent insect foes, from harbouring about the fields ; there will be plenty of them 

 without furnishing such breeding and hiding places. 



Above all, learn to protect all their natural enemies, among the most powerful of 

 which are the birds. It is really disgraceful (and saddening to such as love and value 

 these bright little creatures) to see the merciless way in which they are shot and trapped 

 around this city (Ottawa), and I fear the same indiscriminate "slaughter of the innocents" 

 takes place all over the land. All those that are known to be insectivorous should be 

 vigorously protected and encouraged, even if occasionally they do exhibit a tendency to a 

 vegetarian diet and pilfer a few berries and seeds. 



Robins, thrushes, blackbirds, sparrows, etc., may be always seen searching and peck- 

 ing vigorously among the grass for elaters and other insects, while numerous species are 

 searching for them in all other situations. It has been estimated that an English rookery, 

 of 10,000 rooks, consumes annually about 200 tons of worms and insects. Now, our 

 much-abused crow, a brother of the rook, is just as active and voracious a bird, and feeds 

 its young (according to Fitch) almost solely on elaters and their larvae. Thousands of 

 these are probably consumed by the young crow before it even leaves the nest to hunt for 

 them itself. 



Toads and frogs live also mainly upon insects, and being nocturnal in their habits — 

 as are so many insects — they form the night relay, working to save the crops while the 

 birds are at rest. Turkeys, ducks and other poultry may profitably be allowed to run in 

 grain fields at suitable seasons, while among root crops they can seldom do any harm, and 

 devour immense numbers of all kinds of insects. 



In breaking up new land it is well to burn the turf, and the destruction of many in- 

 sects, in their various stages, is undoubtedly accomplished by the process of burning so 

 generally in use in this country. 



When the elaters reach the perfect state, they are entirely harmless beetles (except 

 that they lay the eggs for future broods), and are found upon flowers, grass, stumps, trees, 

 fences, etc., and when they are approached they have a very common habit of dropping 

 from their resting-place, so that it is often almost impossible to find them. They walk 

 slowly, but can fly well, and do so both by day and night, seldom, however, making 

 long flights, rather preferring to remain in the vicinity of their former feeding grounds. 



As it is not proposed to attempt in this paper any scientific classification or descrip- 



