630 
The Diamond-Back Moth. 
a single previous instance of really widespread and severe attack 
recorded of diamond-back moth ; and as we know that the insect is one 
recorded to be " always present, and sometimes very abundant, amongst 
cabbages and cruciferous plants," there seems to me to be good 
reason to hope that the attack is only one occurring seriously under 
special coincident circumstances, as of great importation and favour- 
able weather. If not, it is inexplicable why the attack (as is 
customary with most of our common crop insects) should not have 
been generally distributed. 
The relative amount of attack to plants on different kinds of 
soil, with different kinds of manurial preparations of ground, dates 
of sowing, etc., should be cai'efully studied if results are needed. 
The minute differences require too much space to enter on here, and 
indeed in some cases the reports sent me were so carefully detailed 
that I have with much regret not been able to insert the whole. 
The most important part of all, namely, possibility of some 
reasonable amount of remedial treatment, certainly does not lie 
beyond hope. In this I have especially directed my attention to 
use of applications and implements which are always at hand or 
may be easily purchasable. 
We all know that when plants are perishing from loss of leafage, 
one great assistance to us is an application which will imme- 
diately push on growth — and in the record of experiments nitrate 
of soda is frequently mentioned as having answered well. For 
removal of the caterpillar pests the use of scuffiers or horse-hoes, 
with light boughs before them, is frequently mentioned as doing 
much good. 
Such remedies as these lie within the means of all agriculturists ; 
and though, as with most other crop remedies, sometimes they 
answer and sometimes they do not, yet (for one thing) it may 
be expected that, in case the attack recuis, we should be ready, and 
apply the remedies in such good time that they tvould succeed, 
and (for another) that though very likely remains of this summer's 
guests may supply some amount of trouble for next year, yet so far 
as I can form an opinion, it appears to me that unless under very 
special coincidences, we have no cause to fear another such agricul- 
tural visitation upon our coasts. 
Eleanor A. Ormerod. 
