OBSERVED IN HERTFORDSHIRE IN 1887 . 
91 
blossoms of flowers, and finally the foliage of the more tender plants. 
House-martins, swallows, and swifts were comparatively scarce, 
probably owing to the difficulty they experienced in obtaining mud 
for the erection of their nests. This might partly account for the 
over-abundance of insect-life.” 
Miss Ormerod, writing in her report of the white cabbage-butterfly, 
says: “At St. Albans I found them on cabbage or cauliflower 
plants in my garden at Torrington House, when I moved there in 
September, in such numbers as to attract the attention of every 
one who came near. The position is very warm and sunny, 
sheltered from the north by a high garden-wall, and with the 
ground sloping rapidly down to the valley with a S.S.W. exposure, 
and the caterpillars swarmed to such an extent that some of the 
plants were eaten to complete skeletons. This was a case in which 
hand-picking would have saved the crop, but being much occupied 
from change of residence, I could not attend fully. Many of the 
caterpillars, as is their custom, wandered away, and, after crawling 
along about the width of the garden down the hill and over the 
wall, went into chrysalides on the sunny side.” 
In my own garden at Hedges these caterpillars were excessively 
abundant. A vigorous hand-picking considerably lessened their 
numbers and partially saved the crop. It is highly important as a 
remedial measure against this destructive caterpillar to well search 
likely places for the chrysalides, during the autumn, and destroy them. 
The turnip-grub (Agrotis segetum) was very prevalent during the 
past winter. It is one of the most voracious of our crop-pests, as 
it feeds on the plant in all stages of its growth. 
The bean-beetle, formerly supposed to be Bruchus granarius , 
now distinguished as rufinarius , has been very abundant. A local 
corn-merchant informed me that he had never before seen so many 
samples infested by it. It is difficult to find, at least in the South- 
Eastern counties, samples of beans—ticks, mazagans, and broad 
beans—that are free from black specks and holes, showing that 
they have been attacked by these beetles. Some samples have 
from 40 to 50 per cent, affected; others from 15 to 20 per cent. 
In one case of small mazagans from East Kent there was a very 
small proportion free from spots and holes. In all probability the 
warmth and dryness of the late summer were favourable to the 
development of these insects. 
Besides the possible failure of germination, and the certain 
weakness of plants from Bruchus-mi^tedi beans, the insects will 
be conveyed to the fields in the seed in largely-increased numbers 
to injure the next crop. Loss of weight, and of consequent feeding- 
value, is caused by the action of these beetles upon beans used for 
horses, sheep, and pigs. As a great means of prevention, beans 
infested by these beetles should not be used for seed. Kiln-drying, 
if judiciously performed, destroys the insects, and the soaking of 
beans in water has been found to be effectual. Steps should be 
taken to destroy beetles in the warehouses where they will swarm 
attracted by the first warm rays of spring sunshine. 
