122 
Report  on  Wireworm. 
“ Mustard  sown  thickly  and  allowed  to  grow  to  a considerable  length,  and 
then  ploughed  in,  has  been  found  to  be  a good  preventive,  and,  at  the  same 
time,  to  add  considerably  to  the  fertility  of  the  land. 
“Adam  Lee, 
“ For  Eight  Hon.  the  Earl  of  Powis,  Lydbury  North,  Shropshire.'” 
“Found  mustard  a good  preventive,  and  sometimes  the  only  safe  crop  to 
sow  where  wireworm  prevailed. 
“J.  Forrester, 
“ For  Eight  Hon.  Viscount  Portman,  Bryanston,  Blandfonl." 
“ I think  mustard  acts  as  a preventive. 
“George  Burgiss,  Tice  Farm,  Strutherglen,  Petworth. 
“ For  fallow  after  cleaning  sow  rape  or  mustard-seed,  about  the  end  of 
July,  and  plough  it  under  when  about  a foot  or  eighteen  inches  high. 
“ Per  J.  Craig,  Shifnal,  Salop.” 
“ The  wireworm  has  been  known  to  disappear  after  a crop  of  white 
mustard,  of  which  one  half  was  eaten  on  the  ground  by  sheep. 
“ Joseph  Paget,  Mansfield." 
“ I have  no  doubt  of  mustard  being  a good  remedy  where  it  can  he  applied 
so  as  to  he  ploughed  in  for  the  crop 
“ I would  suggest  that  flax  should  be  substituted  for  the  corn  crop  on  all 
land  most  liable  to  the  ravages  of  wireworm,  especially  now  that  the  fibre 
harvested  and  threshed  can  be  utilized  for  paper-making,  thus  opening  up  a 
new  and  remunerative  article  of  farm  produce.  I have  heard,  and  believe, 
that  it  is  invulnerable  to  the  wireworm,  but  cannot  speak  to  the  fact  from  my 
own  experience.* 
“ T.  E.  Hulbert,  North  Cerney,  Cirencester.” 
“ White  mustard  sown  and  allowed  to  stand  until  it  comes  into  flower  is  a 
very  useful  preparation,  when  ploughed  in  and  pressed,  for  all  corn,  and 
I think  prevents  the  wireworm  from  doing  so  much  mischief. 
“ Joseph  Addison,  Mapledurwell,  Basingstoke.” 
“ I have  never  known  wireworm  troublesome  after  mustard  or  vetches. 
“ M.  Locke  Blake,  llminster.” 
“ I have  not  found  that  red  clover  encourages  wireworm,  but  when  mixed 
seed  and  much  rye-grass  are  used,  I have  found  them  very  productive  of 
wireworm.  The  best  remedy,  and  one  frequently  adopted,  is  to  break-up 
early  and  plant  mustard,  which  is  an  excellent  preparation  for  wheat;  and 
1 have  found  mustard  the  best  preventive  of  attack. 
“ H.  Hayward,  Blalcemere  House,  Hereford.” 
“ I have  not  noticed  wheat  after  clovers,  beans,  or  peas  affected  if  no  grass 
had  grown  among  those  crops.  As  for  remedies,  I can  only  suggest  clean 
cultivation,  sowing  the  clover-seeds  only  for  feeding  or  hay,  if  wheat  or  oats  is 
to  be  taken  as  the  next  crop. 
“ Eobert  L.  Pudney,  Halstead,  Essex.” 
“ I have  never  known  peas  attacked  by  wireworm. 
“Thos.  Hy.  Baker,  Mere,  Wiltshire.” 
* The  only  beetles  that  I find  reference  to  as  injuring  the  flax  crops  either  in 
their  perfect  or  grub  state,  nre  cockchafers,  and  also  a kind  of  flea  beetle. — E.  A.  0. 
