18 
NOTES OF OBSERVATIONS 
remarkable endurance, either of prolonged stay in the gall or of 
premature ejection from it), the plan of leaving the galled Cabbage 
stumps undestroyed, or of lightly burying them, is a sure means of 
increasing the numbers of the beetle. Eeversely deep digging and 
change of crop mitigate the evil; but the knowledge of some dressing 
calculated to deter oviposition in the seed-beds would be very service¬ 
able. Mr. J. Chambers (nurseryman), of Hounslow, informs me that 
he finds throwing road-scrapings thickly amongst the seedlings to act 
well in keeping off both Cabbage Weevil and Cabbage Fly maggots, 
and to be beneficial to the plants as manure. 
For the coming season aid has already been kindly promised from 
observers in various quarters, and it is hoped those who have now 
given the benefit of their experience will kindly continue their 
assistance. Few but those practically acquainted with the subject 
know the great service that is being rendered in discovering the 
causes of the great insect attacks to the food crops, so that they may 
be counteracted or nipped in the bud, rather than an attempt made to 
meet them when the mischief is at its height, and too often past cure ; 
and for this purpose notes from practical men, such as have now come 
forward, would, if they would kindly favour us with them, in a very 
few seasons give a mass of information of great working value. 
The same list of species will stand for another year (that further 
information regarding treatment under various circumstances may be 
gained); but should observers meet with any extraordinary insect 
appearances, either injurious or otherwise, full details will be service¬ 
able. The remedy for the pest when fairly present (if it is still 
available) is a great point gained, but almost equally so is any 
information why it is there at all. We have some knowledge of how 
particular weeds and preparations of soil, certain weather and kinds of 
shelter, act on insect life; but we need to know more of these, and 
also of the power of the plant itself in various states of health for 
resisting attack, as shown in what is termed “growing past” or 
“away” from the infesting insect. 
It is obvious that a healthy plant is not as soon dragged down by 
exhaustion of its juices as a weak one, but beyond this it appears as if 
certain states of the vegetable were requisite to keep the feeder on it in 
health. In the case of the Celery Fly the grubs inside the leaf-blisters 
may be watched for weeks—healthy progress in fine weather alternating 
with disease or death from diarrhoea in rain, apparently from the more 
succulent nature of the food; and young Cabbage attacked by Aphides 
