620 
The Diamond-hacic Moth. 
" Heavy rains and cold nights did universal benefit." — D. C. 
" The hea\-y rains have been very beneficial, especially where the 
nitrate of soda mixture was used." — R. C, for Lord Auckland. 
" Heavy showers, with an extremely low temperature on J uly 28, 
destroyed great numbers." — J. D. 
" The heavy rains we had a week ago did an immense amount of 
good, splashing the soil on to the under side of the leaf, and either 
drowning them or settling them away." — J. P. D. 
" The leaves up to about ten days ago [before Aug. 13 — E. A. 0.] 
had been eaten quite bare ; but after the heavy rain-showers of 
last week they grew again." — T. F. 
" The rains have done good in encouraging growth of the turnips, 
as had it been excessively dry the plants must have died." — W. F. 
" We had two wet cold days with high winds, and thereafter I 
think the turnips were much clearer, and the caterpillars which 
Avere left had not such a high vitality, and the crop appeared to be 
improving." — J. G. 
" I have no doubt that the weather does more to check the attack 
than anything you can do. \Ye had a week of very stormy weather, 
and it almost cleared the plants." — J. H. 
"It is believed that the heavy rains have been chiefly instrumental 
in clearing caterpillars." — M. K. 
" I do not think rain has any efiect in killing them." — J. L. 
" The benefit of heavy rains was so great that no further measures 
were needed to get rid of the caterpillars." — G. M. 
"Heavy rains, 1"73 in. and 2 in,, have done immense good, and 
caterpillars now gone." — " N. Lines." 
" The cold weather and heavy rains we had, during the week 
ending August 1, killed great numbers." — "W. P. 
" Rain appeared to stop ravages when accompanied by wind." — 
F. R. 
" Heavy rain did most good falling on dry parched surface, 
dashed the sand and mud on the under side of leaves, and made the 
life of the caterpillar no sinecure." — J. Sn. 
" Rain did not kill, or even wash oft' the caterpillars in my case, but 
as it kept the plants gi'owing to a certain extent it did good." — J. B. S. 
" I think that heavy rains do good by ' soiling ' the under sides 
of the turnip leaf, and making it rather difficult for the caterpillar 
to work ; also by alarming them, or washing them off"." — R. W. S. 
"(August 11.) I am informed that recent heavy rains have 
done much good, and, as a whole, the promise of the turnip crop in 
tlie island is a very good one." On August 13 it was further 
reported : " As rain at last came after months of drought, I do not 
think the crops will suffer." — R. S. S. 
" Very heavy thunder-sliowers might shake tlie leaves and 
cause the caterpillar to fall to the ground, but I believe a good 
strong wind would disturb the plants a great deal more so, there- 
fore would make it more difficult for the caterpillar to hold on to 
the leaf, and a fluid dressing of soot and salt would, I think, destroy 
the pest, and be a good fertiliser." — S. S. 
