NOTES OF OBSERVATIONS 
84 
Fruit crops, especially Pears and Apples, have been much injured 
by caterpillars, and the latter fruit much injured by grubs eating 
them to the core. 
Late-sown Turnips were in some instances entirely destroyed by 
the “Black Fly,” and the “White Tlirips” (/ Aleurodes brassictc) 
has done much harm generally in the Cabbage crops. It is mentioned 
that the climate of the island is so favourable to insect-life that it is 
much wished the subject should be followed up. 
Mr. Marsden, writing from Gwaynynog, Denbigh, North Wales, 
reports that Wirewonns, and insects generally, have been as 
active and destructive as ever, notwithstanding the long-continued 
frost of last winter, and have also been unusually prolific during the 
excessive humidity of 1879 ; and that in many instances beds of Celery 
and other vegetables have been entirely destroyed by insect attack. 
From Mr. Marsden’s account salt appears to be in frequent use in the 
neighbourhood, both as a deterrent to the Wire worm in the fields, and 
also in some gardens, where it is applied thickly around the vegetables 
to check the insect enemies. The effects of general blight and the 
ravages of insects have been specially marked on this year’s produce; 
and Mr. Marsden mentions that farmers are naturally most anxious to 
ascertain what effectual means can be employed to check or extermi¬ 
nate the pests which do such injury to their crops, and would readily 
experiment with an} 7 remedy that might reasonably be supposed to be 
of service. 
Ceutorhynchus sulcieollis. Cabbage and Turnip Gall 
Weevil. Mr. Webster notices that agriculturists have had much 
annoyance in the district round Fochabers, Banffshire, from the 
prevalence of the Turnip Gall Maggot; and Mr. Malcolm Dunn, 
writing from Dalkeith, Edinburgh, mentions that Cabbage, Savoys, 
and Cauliflowers have all suffered more from the attacks of C. s-ulci- 
collis than they have done for some years, although these attacks are 
partial, and confined to patches here and there. He mentions that a 
dressing of caustic lime, soot, or gas lime, is very beneficial, accom¬ 
panied by deep trenching of the ground. When plants are seen to be 
attacked they should be at once removed and burned to destroy the 
larvae, as they seldom arrive at a useful state afterwards. As soon as 
they are cleared off, the ground should be treated as above described. 
Mr. Philip Hannarn, of Nortlibourne Court, Deal, also mentions lime 
as a very good preventive, and recommends “ liming the ground to be 
planted with Swedes during the previous winter, not later than the 
end of January if possible.” In the district round Islewortli, where 
Cabbage is one of the chief crops of the neighbourhood, this Weevil is 
