98 
TURNIP-FLY. 
when the hot sun again entices the beetles from their hid- 
ing-places, there is not only a plentiful supply for them, 
but a supply greater than they can consume, so that they 
may satisfy their cravings, however great, and still leave 
enough for the farmer's requirings; for it must be ob- 
served, that the seed that is sown and the plants that come 
up in favourable seasons, are as ten to one of the number 
eventually suffered to arrive at maturity ; if their insect 
enemies spare them, a great part are sure to fall by the 
hoe, in order that those which remain may grow to a big- 
ger size. 
But suppose the weather to be hot and dry, what is 
your remedy then ? Experience having taught me that 
insects abominate smoke, and are killed by the fumes of 
sulphur, I endeavoured to bring this experience to bear on 
the turnip-beetle, and found it most successful. But to 
revert to the huge embankments or preserves, I would be- 
gin by reducing the magnitude and number of these : 
where practicable, I would throw the whole space occupied 
by them into the field : where there existed an absolute 
necessity for a division or fence, I would reduce it to the 
smallest dimensions that would answer the purpose : hav- 
ing reduced the fences to the minimum of size actually 
required, I would clear them from the charlock, mustard, 
dock, thistles and kecks,* and instead of allowing these 
plants to seed I would gather them in heaps along the 
hedge-rows, and watching my opportunity of fine, sunny 
weather, I would fire these heaps day after day, when the 
beetles were on the wing, casting a pinch of flour of sul- 
phur on each of them. The gain of land would repay 
* For some account of the Botany of Godalming, see Appendix A. 
