Report  on  Wircworm.  135 
uninjured  from  November  to  Christmas.  State  of  the  weather,  wet  in  autumn 
and  over  dry  in  spring. 
“ We  are  greatly  troubled  by  rooks  and  larks,  and  they  generally  are  the 
first  to  draw  attention  to  the  damage ; it  is  impossible  to  detect  the  mischief 
until  some  time  after  the  wireworm  has  been  at  work ; then,  though  the  young 
corn  may  appear  healthy,  the  heart  or  central  shoot  will  be  found  turning 
slightly  yellow,  and  if  pulled  easily  comes  away. 
“ Various  measures  of  prevention  are  advocated,  as  hard  rolling,  gas  lime 
sown  at  the  same  time  as  the  seed,  or  a top-dressing  of  soot,  salt,  or  super- 
phosphate ; when  the  young  corn  is  able  to  stand  it,  an  after  rolling ; all  these 
methods  will  no  doubt  tend  to  counteract  injury  from  the  wireworm  by 
increasing  the  crop,  but  I do  not  think  that  they  in  any  way  destroy  the 
wireworm. 
“ I am  of  opinion  that  when  frost  sets  in,  the  wireworm  goes  down  and 
returns  again  when  the  weather  changes.  I have  noticed  when  trimming 
turnips — say  the  evening  before  frost,  that  wireworm  could  he  noticed  in 
hundreds  about  the  roots  of  the  turnips — a frost  sets  in,  and  if  you  pull  up 
the  whole  field  you  will  not  find  a wireworm  where  yesterday  there  were 
scores ; but  the  weather  changes  and  our  friend  reappears. 
“ The  injury  from  wireworm  has  been  less  this  year  than  almost  any  season 
I can  recollect.  I do  not  estimate  my  own  loss,  or  that  in  the  immediate 
neighbourhood  or  parish,  at  more  than  % bushel  per  acre. 
“ The  above  remarks  apply  entirely  to  this  district,  as  other  localities  may 
very  likely  he  affected  in  an  entirely  different  manner. 
“James  M’Whankell,  Olenduf,  Lcznyre .” 
