84 
TUKNIP. 
down on alarm, and (like many other kinds of caterpillars) return up 
the line to its food-plant when the alarm is over. But after the first 
moult the power is stated to cease, the caterpillar rolls itself up in a 
ring, and is easily dislodged, and falls to the ground. In this way, 
when the whole family at work on each plant is dislodged, some at 
least are killed by whatever the application may be, and there is a 
temporary respite. 
Mr. Hart, of Park Farm, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent, reported, in 
1880, that in August he had “ used sheep and lambs with good efiect 
in an attack of “ niggers ” on Turnips. About a hundred of them 
were driven backwards and forwards for an hour three days in 
succession, which quite cleared the plants, and did no harm to the 
animals. The attack was noted by Mr. Hart as the only one of the 
kind which he ever had to deal with, and he tried several other kinds 
of treatment before resorting to the droving, but they were all useless. 
There is the special advantage, with regard to droving, that many 
of the grubs are trampled to death by the sheep; but any measures 
that will make the grubs fall down are serviceable. Any treatment 
that may give a temporary check to the plant whilst attack is on is 
particularly to be avoided ; therefore singling and hoeing at such times 
are in no way desirable. 
Where a Turnip field has been infested during autumn it is 
desirable to work the surface with a scarifier or grubber, so as to turn 
up the cocoons to the surface, where a good proportion of them, with 
their contents, are likely to be destroyed. 
Surface Caterpillars; Caterpillars of the Turnip or Dart 
Moth. Agrotis segetum, Westwood. 
Agkotis segetubi. 
Common Dart Moth ; 1, moth ; 2, caterpillar. 
The following notes regarding Turnip caterpillars all refer to 
useful practical points, as—the benefit of a good state of land (such 
