458 
OF THE TURNIP CATERPILLAR. 
worms, that the least concussion of the earth alarms and sends them 
either to the bottom of their holes below the tunnels of the moles, or 
writhing out upon the surface to escape. An angler in quest of worms 
for bait need not dig for them; he has only to take a kitchen poker, 
thrust it deep into a moist part of a meadow, and then, shaking it 
forcibly from side to side, so as to produce a disturbance around, the 
worms, if any near the spot, will come instantly to the surface to fly 
from what they conceive to be their natural enemy, to fall into the 
power of others equally merciless. 
The tunnels of the mole are fatal traps to the earth-worms; the 
latter, in their progress either up or down in the soil, fall into these 
openings, and there remain till the next journey of the mole; for, 
though worms can make a passage for themselves, if buried in the soil, 
by muscular force exerted laterally, yet, when in open space, being 
without limbs, they cannot enter the soil again, unless they get among 
the stalks of herbage, to permit insinuation and to gain a purchase, 
to enable them to progress by successive movements of their head and 
tail parts. 
If the earth-worm loses, by the spade or otherwise, a part of the tail, 
it is renewed again in the most extraordinary maimer: the central 
canal of the body becomes gradually elongated backward till it reaches 
its former length, and this is, in time, covered with the outer integu¬ 
ments. As worms have no skin, or, if there be anything like cuticle, 
it is most sensitive, any caustic or pungent quality affects them 
dreadfully, so that a solution of common salt or lime kills them 
outright. Hot lime dissolved in water, when drawn off clear, may 
be applied to potted plants, or to grass or gravel walks, with the best 
effects in banishing worms. 
Of the Turnip Caterpillar, called by Farmers the Black 
Jack. —These insects seldom visit gardens, nor are they constantly 
visitants of fields ; but when they do appear, they are, from their num¬ 
bers and voracity, most destructive to the turnip crop. 
They have made their appearance in many different districts of this 
country during the last summer, particularly in Cambridgeshire, where 
we have lately witnessed the effects of their ravages. Mr. W. Wool- 
lard, an intelligent farmer residing at Fen Ditton, in the neighbour¬ 
hood of Cambridge, has paid particular attention to the economy of this 
Insect, and his account of it is as follows » 
“ In the month of May last the caterpillar first appeared upon a 
piece of field cabbage, but, from the substantial foliage and gross habit 
of these drum-heads , the insect did little damage. In about a month 
