96 
TURNIP-P^LY. 
hedge-rows are composed oi a luxuriant mass of charlock, 
white mustard, hedge garlick, docks, thistles and kecks. 
In such spots I exercised my sweeping-net, and here I 
found the turnip-beetle in swarms, both kinds of them, and 
principally on the charlock and mustard. I found that 
these hedge-rows all through the spring and early summer 
are regular preserves of the turnip-beetles : here they have 
the most comfortable housing that could possibly be pro- 
vided ; here they fulfil the command, "increase and multi- 
ply here they congregate without fear of molestation ; 
here, in fact, they may be said to be preserved, strictly 
preserved, as the bigger pests called game are preserved 
in other places. Well ! when the hedges are thoroughly 
rank with weeds, and the weeds well stocked with turnip- 
beetles, the farmer sets to work and sows his turnips : if 
the weather is kind they come up directly, and the land is 
soon seen to be sprinkled all over with the young and ten- 
der crop. It must be known to every observer — I was 
just going to write farmer, but I believe farmers observe 
nothing but fair-days and market-days — it must, I say, be 
known to every observer, that the turnips come up with 
two seed-leaves, more juicy, tender and fleshy than any 
they afterwards send forth, and also very different in shape 
and appearance ; well, these seed-leaves of the turnip are 
the very choicest food of the turnip-beetle : as buckwheat 
sown around the pheasant preserves brings the pheasants 
from their cover, so do the seedling turnips bring these lit- 
tle skipping beetles from the preserves which the farmers 
provide for them. The turnip-beetle not only runs and 
jumps with activity, but flies with the greatest ease ; and 
just at that warm time when the turnips are coming up ; 
in those sunny, balmy days, the turnip-beetles and a hun- 
