Observations on the various Insects 
the divine law of the Creator which directs the insect in its ways 
as well as the planet in its course ! 
As it appears to be impracticable to destroy the eggs, we must 
attack these creatures when they are in the caterpillar or feeding 
state, and even at that period of their existence we know nothing 
at present, until they are more than half-grown, and their presence 
is only detected by the mischief they are doing. Even then it is 
difficult, as it is in most cases, to apply a certain remedy ; but as 
they come out only in the evening, to feed during the night, lying 
concealed by day in the earth or under clods, stones, and rubbish, 
it is evident that the proper time to apply any destructive liquids 
and powders must be after sunset. Tobacco-water will, for in- 
stance, kill the surface-caterpillars, if it come fairly in contact 
with their skins ; but if the turnips were profusely watered with 
that liquor in the daytime, I suspect it would not destroy a de- 
cimal part, since those in the earth would descend to a greater 
depth as soon as they detected the hateful shower. 
Bouche says that in a garden the only remedy, which is a very 
troublesome one, is to search for and kill these caterpillars. 
KoUar also believes the best method is to collect them into 
pots and kill them with hot water, when the tub, which may be 
placed where most convenient in the field, is sufficiently full, or 
the labour is ended ; of course the vessel must be closely covered 
to prevent their escape. The value of being acquainted Avith the 
habits of insects is very manifest with regard to these caterpillars, 
for any one ignorant of their economy might search for them in 
vain. The best plan to be adopted will be to turn over the stones 
and clods by day, and to pick them off the plants after sunset 
with a lantern ; and occasionally they may be found in the day, 
when they leave their hiding-places to change their skins or to fix 
on a suitable spot to undergo their transformation to a chrysalis. 
Kollar remarks that the operation of collecting, like all others of 
a similar nature, should be simultaneous on a farm or in a parish, 
and requires the united force of the neighbourhood, without which 
anything like extirpation cannot be effected. When turnips or 
cabbage-plants have been bitten off in the night, the soil should 
be removed as soon as possible from the stem or root, to the depth 
of an inch or two, where the enemy will generally be found se- 
creted and enjoying his repose. 
Mr. Denyers recommends laying dry sOot an inch thick over the 
ground and digging it in : — " In the grub's attacks on plants of 
the cabbage family, its habit is to eat some nearly and others quite 
asunder, a little below the heart : it often greatly annoys the 
farmers in their turnip-fields. I have made use of the above 
remedy and have never found it fail.''* Mr. Mathers also says, — 
* Gardener's Mag., vol. ix. p. 573. 
