THE APHIDES ATTACKING CULTIVATED PEAS. 



257 



Megoura viciae also winters ou Lathyrus sylvestris, and flies in 

 spring to the peas and beans. 



The part played by birds such as sparrows, starlings, willow wrens, 

 whitethroats, and tits in destroying these aphides was mentioned, and 

 two cases quoted where they had completely cleared them out. With 

 regard to treatment, it was stated that spraying with soft soap and 

 quassia, or tobacco wash, easily killed the aphis on tall garden peas, 

 but could not be applied in field peas. Nor could the American brush 

 and cultivator method be used in England, as there is not sufficient 

 space between the rows to allow this, owing to the luxuriant growth 

 which covers most of the soil. 



Cultural methods could probably be found which would enable us to 

 check the migration between the clovers and the peas, and in conjunc- 

 tion with this the eradication wherever possible of the wild Lathyri 

 in the hedgerows was advocjited. 



