27(6 Biwmond'-hack Moih. 
G09 
hot sunny weather preceding the appearance of the infestation. 
Specimens received from the neighhourliood of Arbz'oath, of yellows 
just singled, and of swedes almost meeting in the drills, exhibited 
leaves almost riddled into lacework. A week ago, no one had 
recognised the evil, and now large fields are being resown. The hot 
sunny weather of the early part of the summer probably afforded 
the favourable conditions which led to this plague. 
Mr. David Crole, Junior, writing on July 24 from Letham, 
Leven, N.B., reported that within the last few days the turnip crop 
on the farm had been attacked by the diamond-back caterpillars 
and the leaves stripped and holed. 
On the following day Mr. John Beveridge, writing from Kinnes- 
ton, Leslie, Fife, also forwarded specimens of the same species of 
caterpillar, and requested information as to means of remedy, with 
the remark that he had twenty acres of turnips that seemed all 
right a week ago, and now the plant was riddled and seemed in a 
few days as if it would be entirely destroyed. 
Mr. George Dun, writing on August 3 from Easter Kincaple, near 
St. Andrews, mentioned that he had fifty acres of turnips badly 
eaten by the caterpillars. Writing again on August 8, Mr. Dun 
further mentioned that he noticed his turnips were attacked 
three weeks previously, and the moths in drives, and that on the 
preceding Wednesday (August 5) he again saw a large number of 
moths, but not so many. 
The following notes were forwarded me on August 19 by Mr. 
John Duncan, of Kirkmay, Crail, Fife, N.B., and are of much 
interest regarding plants, retarded in growth by drought or other 
causes, being more susceptible of injury from the caterpillars than 
those in vigorous health. 
Mr. Duncan wrote as follows : " In this district (East Neuk of 
Fife) the weather has been very dry, there only having been 6j- 
inches of rain for tiie first six months of the year. In July, when 
the moth and caterpillar appeared, the turnips were at a standstill 
for want of moisture, and I am of opinion that to this cause alone 
can be attributed the attack, as vermin of some sort is sure to attack 
a plant if it is unhealthy or not growing. As an example, I have a 
field of swedes on cold-bottomed land which had never stopped 
growing, and have therefore scarcely been touched except on the 
two end ridges where the crop was not so vigorous, whereas another 
field on very dry light land has been considerably damaged. Again, 
six miles westward, where there has been more rain all the season, 
the damage is not so great as in this corner. The moth is still very 
plentiful, but as we have now had rain I do not fear a second attack. 
I have often observed the same moth in previous yeai-s in walking 
through old pastures and at sides of roads, hedges, &c." 
Forfarshire. — On application to Mr. James Swan, of Inverpefier, 
Carnoustie, county Forfar, N.B., who, if not the first to suffer under 
the outbreak of diamond-back caterpillar, was, I believe, the first in 
the county to note the sudden attack, I was favoured with the 
following observations : " We left off working — i.e. hoeing — yellow 
