234 
E. W. SILVESTER—REPORT ON - INSECTS 
As in 1883, the larvae of Tipula oleracea (daddy long-legs’ grubs) 
were very destructive throughout the county, and many thin plants 
of wheat were the result. The expedient of the application of 
nitrate of soda or soot as a counteractive was largely adopted. In 
addition to its stimulating properties, the former has been proved by 
experiment to be especially obnoxious to these grubs, which have 
also a strong objection to a heavy roller. 
My crops suffered very much from the turnip-fly (Phyllotreta 
undulata ;), and in one corner of one of the fields I had to sow three 
times, and then had to rest content with a very poor crop of white 
turnips, otherwise with the exception of a few patches the swede 
crop grew out of the way of these pests. In many places the 
turnip-root maggot, the larva of Anthomyia floralis, was very 
destructive. The rooks are great enemies of these maggots, and in 
a neighbouring county the services of these birds were invited in 
an ingenious manner. During the very dry weather of last summer 
a farmer noticed that some turnips growing in a field on the next 
farm were constantly visited by large flocks of rooks busily engaged 
in pecking at the grubs, while his own turnips were languishing, 
and not a rook would settle on his land. Viewing with envious 
eyes the salvation of his neighbour’s crop, it struck him that the 
rooks frequently quenched their thirst at some water provided for 
sheep close by. He took the hint, and placed several water-troughs 
in his field, replenishing them when needed, the thirsty rooks took 
to his farm, and as a result of his forethought he had the gratifica¬ 
tion of seeing his turnips rally as their foes succumbed to the per¬ 
sistent attacks of his feathered friends. The above anecdote well 
illustrates the debt agriculturists owe to birds, and it may here 
he appropriate to mention a few varieties which are especially ser¬ 
viceable in warding off insect attacks. On grass, besides the 
warblers, swallows, swifts, martins, and partridges, the pipits and 
starlings are of use, and on marshy lands the wagtails are useful as 
feeding on the marsh-snail—the forerunner of the liver-fluke. The 
cuckoo preys on hairy larvae, and the flycatcher has a great pre¬ 
dilection for white butterflies. In our gardens, titmice and warblers, 
and the wren and the cuckoo, do good service among the raspberry, 
currant, and gooseberry bushes. The farmer will find the presence 
of the partridge, spotted flycatcher, martin, swallow, and swift very 
beneficial among his turnips and cabbages. The market-gardener 
will find very serviceable among his apple and fruit trees the tit¬ 
mice, warblers, woodpeckers, nuthatch, and tree-creepers. 
This is a fitting place to allude to the sparrow question, which 
has received much attention at the hands of Miss E. A. Ormerod, 
E.R.Met.Soc. The eminent consulting entomologist to the Royal 
Agricultural Society of England has strongly urged the destruction 
of these mischievous birds, which drive away insectivorous birds 
and do much harm at harvest time. Any suggestion of Miss 
Ormerod’s carries great weight, and many in Hertfordshire have 
doubtless joined in the sparrow crusade, which should be renewed 
with vigour now that nesting-time is upon us. In addition to her 
