OBSERVED IN HERTFORDSHIRE IN 1884. 
235 
varied valuable labours, this county, in common with all other 
farming and grazing districts, is greatly indebted to the same 
talented lady for the observations on the “ warble fly, or ox-bot 
fly,” and the means found practicable and serviceable for its pre¬ 
vention, as published in her annual report on “ Injurious Insects 
and common farm pests.” The great damage done to hides, as well 
as the importance of having our cattle in a healthy and thriving 
state, makes the question an important one to all agriculturists, 
who should at once take steps to apply mercurial ointment to the 
warbles which will appear in their herds this month and next. 
Mr. Stratton, of Newport, says: “ 1 am persuaded that no remedy 
can be more safe, simple, and elfectual than this. It would not 
cost more than twopence a head to treat all the cattle in the country 
in this way.” 
Last year we had abundant crops of nuts and acorns, but the 
quantity of each attacked by the weevil was very great. 
Mr. John Hopkinson reports that several of his rose-trees were 
completely spoiled by caterpillars of the buff-tip moth during the 
past summer, in his garden at Wansford House, Watford. The 
attack was noticed as being more prevalent amongst the richer- 
foliaged bushes. The caterpillars were, in a measure, got rid of by 
handpicking. 
Miss Ormerod states that “surface caterpillars” (or larvae of 
turnip moth —Agrotis seget.um ; heart and dart— A. exclamationis ; 
and yellow under wing —Tryphcena pronuba ) did more harm than 
usual last year, because the warm and settled weather was favour¬ 
able to the moth, and the young caterpillars were not materially 
lessened in numbers by heavy rains, often so effectual in checking 
moth-caterpillar ravages. 
Thinking that a passing allusion to the ravages of injurious 
insects among our woods and forests might be interesting, I applied 
to Mr. Walter Rogers, of Watford, for a little information on the 
subject, and he kindly writes as follows : — “ I tried to find you a 
piece of wood with one of the wood-grubs in, but have been un¬ 
successful. My men have cut them out of the heart of trees which 
must have been from 60 to 100 years old, as long as my finger and 
as large, with heads as hard as the wood itself, or nearly so. They 
have no doubt worked their way from the bottom of the tree. I 
am sorry I cannot furnish you with further particulars at the pre¬ 
sent moment.” Insect injury to timber is well worth the considera¬ 
tion of our great landowners and others. 
In conclusion, I beg to express the hope that East and West 
Herts will vie with each other to overwhelm me with subject- 
matter for next year’s report. 
