June 1895.] I^VURIOUS INSECTS AND FUNGI. 



39 



The Turnip Fly and Mustard. 



The Board of Agriculture think it desirable to give publicity 

 to the following communication received by them from Sir j. 

 H. Heatlicoat Amorj^ Bart., and to some comments thereon by 

 the Technical Adviser to the Board. 



Sir, ^ Knightshayes Court, Tiverton. 



Having read an article in your Journal some time since 

 on the Turnip Fly, I write to inform your readers that if they 

 they will sow a small quantity of mustard seed with the turnip 

 seed they will never lose an acre of turnips frjm tiy. It is best 

 sown broadcast at the s nne time the turnip seed is drilled, as it 

 tlien comes up more quickly than if drilled with the turnip seed. 

 The fly will (at the mustard and leave the turnips, and the 

 mustard niay be hoed out the first time the turnips are hoed, as 

 the turnips will then have their rough leaves and be safe from 

 the fly. A very small quantity of mustard seed will be sutti- 

 cient. I have tried this for more than 80 years and it has never 

 failed. 



I am, Sir, 



Yours truly, 



The Secretary, (Signed) J. H. Heathcoat Amory. 

 Board of Agriculture, 

 London, S.W. 



Comments hy the Technical Adviser of the Board on the 

 above letter. 



In some seasons the sowing of mustard seed with turnip, 

 swede, cabbages, cauliflowers, broccoli, and other such plants 

 liable to the attacks of the Turnip Fly," which is really a 

 beetle, known as Fhyllotreta nemorum, preserves these plants 

 from serious injury. But in other seasons, when the attack 

 has been very virulent and generations of beetles have succeeded 

 each other quickly, it has been found to be of little value. In 

 ordinary cases it would be decidedly useful to sow mustard 

 with swedes and turnips, because it germinates and comes into 

 leaf before these latter plants, and engages the attention of the 

 beetles until the swedes and turnips get into the " rough leaf" 

 stage, when they are not so attractive to the insects. The 

 beetles do not take to the mustard in preference to the swedes 

 and turnips, but rather that being ravenous they attack the 

 mustard as it comes earlier. 



