SUKFACE CATERPILLARS. 
85 
as is neither sodden, nor with the moisture just below the surface dried 
out of it) at sowing-time, as a means of keeping up the crop under 
attack ; attack of Turnip caterpillars to Mustard; the free use of 
drags and harrows amongst young roots as a means of disturbing the 
Turnip grubs, and bringing them within reach of Starlings and other 
birds ; the serviceableness of hand-picking; and likewise observations 
of the grub being found alive in the ground amougst Cabbage-stumps 
during February. This last point is very well worth notice, for, 
though it is part of the regular history of this grub to live—and, 
circumstances permitting, to feed—through the winter, so little 
attention is paid to the matter that in due season many a hatching 
of moths is allowed to take place, and start attack on the young crops, 
which might have easily been prevented by a timely ploughing, which 
would have turned out a good proportion of the half torpid grubs to 
destruction. 
On August 22nd Mr. Thomas Flower, of the Manor Farm, West 
Knoyle, Mere, Wilts, forwarded the following communication regarding 
attack by surface caterpillars to Turnip and Eape, which is of interest 
regarding the safety, or the bad injury, respectively occurring to the 
portions of the crop drilled on the first day of sowing before rain, or 
after a few days interval in wet weather. Specimens of caterpillars 
were sent accompanying. Mr. Flower mentioned :— 
“ The crop is drilled, three rows of Turnip and one of Eape. The 
first day’s drilling took place before the late rain, is of clean Eape, 
and has not been touched by the grub. The next day’s drilling of 
Eape and Turnip put in in wet weather after a few days interval is 
almost destroyed; in all about thirty acres is attacked by these pests. 
The soil is light flinty and backward. One interesting fact is, 
the grub scarcely touches the Turnip, but destroys the Eape as it 
goes, and is to be found in the day-time hidden in the ground close to 
the root of the plant.” 
(The method of feeding of the Turnip caterpillars, as they are 
called, though they feed on many kinds of plants, alters as they 
advance in age ; when first hatched they are considered to feed chiefly 
above ground, or rather on the part of the plant just at ground-level, 
as often observable by the young gnawed-off plants which are to be 
found lying about; when older the grubs generally feed under ground, 
or come up at night to feed. —Ed.) 
The following report is from Mr. W. Farrant, of Stokes Farm, 
Wokingham, sent with specimen of Turnip caterpillar accompanying, 
on the 19th of August. It will be seen, in the case of two portions 
of a field of Turnips treated with the same farm manure, the 
same artificial manure drilled with the seed, and the seed in each 
portion drilled on the same day, that the portion which was ploughed 
