203 
ately dry seasons, proves a most desperate enemy 
to this jjlant while in the seed-leaf ; crop after 
crop is commonly swept away, while in this state 
of grovvth ; and not only has the Horticulturist to 
complain of this enemy, but the farmers, in all 
parts of the kingdom, have to dread its laying- 
waste whole and extensive crops. 
For their Prevention, —Their depreda- 
tions may be greatly retarded by frequently dust- 
ing the seedlings over with quick lime, com- 
mencing- as soon as they break the surface, and a 
still more effectual preventive would be to sow 
the seed in rows, double the quantity intended to 
stand, say five or six inches asunder, and not to 
spare the seed, as a greater number of plants will 
afford more food, and necessarily give a better 
opportunity for some to escape ; every other row 
must be well dusted with lime, leaving the row 
not intended to stand free of the dust, that the 
Beetle may be allured to feed there in preference 
to those intended for the crop. 
It is a practice sometimes with farmers to roll 
the land over where the young- Turnips are g-row- 
ing with a roller, in the evening- or night time ; 
for what reason this is done I am not able to judge, 
except it is supposed that while they are in their 
nightly retreat under clods in the earth, &c., the 
rolling will crush them, or sadden the earth so as 
that they will not be able to ascend to make their 
appearance on the surface again, I should be 
afraid this plan would not be worth following, 
o 2 
