Ravages of the Diamond-hack Moth Caterpillar. Ixxxvii 
2. That a copy of the above reso- 
lation be forwarded to the Board of 
Agrictiltnre, with a promise of anv 
assistance which the Society and its 
oflScials can afford in making the 
inquiry suggested. 
Earl Cathcabt suggested whether 
inquiry should not be made as to 
whether a similar attack had taken 
place in Continental countries, such 
as Holland and Belgium. 
Sir Jacob Wilson said that along 
their sea coast a curious phenomenon 
had been observed. 'Within a mile of 
his own place the road had been 
covered with a shower of these white 
moths. 
Mr. Gabeett Tatlob seconded Sir 
Jacob Wilson's resolution, and gave 
particulars of an outbreak at Corton, 
near Lowestoft, where 200 acres of 
swedes had been completely destroyed. 
In an attack upon his own farm, he 
had applied a dressing of paraffin 
with nitrate of soda afterwards and 
superphosphate. They had had some 
heavy rain, and he thought his crops 
would get over it. 
The Earl of Ratexswobth thought 
it might be of interest, and possibly 
of use, if he gave one or two historical 
data in regard to this matter. It 
seemed that this moth first appeared 
in 1851, when it spread from Essex 
to Belfast, in the North of Ireland. 
It then appeared again in 1863. 
Then there was a lapse of twenty 
years between that outbreak and the 
subsequent outbreak, which appeared 
in 1SS2. And now, in 1891, they had 
this very serious outbreak again. 
These were historical facts, which he 
believed could be tested. He would 
refer to what had been written on a 
previous occasion — viz., a work en- 
titled "Insecta Britannica"' (185i), 
by a gentleman named Stainton. It 
was from that source that the infor- 
mation was derived that the attack 
spread from Essex to the North of 
Ireland. He observed that Mr. 
Donkin, a gentleman well known in 
Northumberland, stated that it was 
very prevalent and doing great in- 
jury in the Vale of the Coquet, a long 
way from the sea. There was great 
doubt about the effect of any appli- 
cation as a remedy. There seemed 
to be an animal provided by nature 
itself which affected the grub. He 
thought it would be very interesting 
if they could ascertain whether this 
parasite was found upon the cater- 
pillars or moths. 
Sir Jacob Wilson's resolutions 
were passed unanimously, and copies 
ordered to be sent to the President of 
the Board of Agriculture.' 
Mr. Whitehead thought he might 
say. without any breach of confidence, 
that the Board of Agriculttire were 
intensely interested in this very im- 
portant matter. The President was 
particularly interested himself in it, 
and was taking every possible pains 
to devise some means of increasing 
their knowledge of the subject, and 
to find some remedies for checking 
the present attack. The Board had 
already in hand a leaflet giving a 
full history of the insect and the 
methods of checking its progress, 
which would be distributed that 
' The following is a copy of the reply of the 
Board of Agricoltore, dated July 30, 1891 : — 
Sir. — I am directed by the President of the 
Board of Agriculture "to acknowledge your 
letter of yesterday's dare, conveying resoluf ions 
adopted by the Council of the Royal Agricul- 
tural Society of England, expressing a hope 
that the Board wfll institute an inquiry into 
the causes of the appearance of the Diamond, 
back iloth, and of its ravages on turnips and 
other crops, and into the steps which should 
be taken to prevent its spr^d, and offering 
the assistance of the Society and its officers in 
carrying out the same. 
In reply, I have to inform yon that the 
Board hare already directed an inqtury to be 
made in those districts where the Diamond- 
back iloth has been most prevalent, viz. :— 
Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Northumber- 
land, the Lcthians, Fifeshire, and Forfarshire. 
The inquiry has already commenced, and re- 
ports from those districts are expected very 
shortly. The Boanl have also given instructions 
that experiments shall be conducted in some 
of the worst districts, and they will be com- 
menced in Norfolk and Northumberland, it is 
hoped, not later than Saturday next, and in 
other districts subsequently if it shotild be 
necessary. 
From aU the information which has at 
present reached the Board the ravages of the 
pest appear to be unusually serious in the 
districts which have been "affected, and at 
present but little seems to be known either as 
to its origin or the remedies which can be most 
efficaciously applied. 
I am to ask yon to convey to the Council of 
yonr Society the thanks of the President for 
their offers of assistance in dealing with this 
matter, of which he will readily avail himself 
should the necessity arise. 
I am. Sir, your obedient servant, 
(Signed) Kichard Dawsox, 
Assistant Secretary, 
The Secretary, 
Boyal Agricultural Society of England. 
