58 
MUSTARD. 
Looking at the requirements of the Mustard plant in the way of 
preparation of the soil, kind of manures, &c., it would seem that a 
very large proportion of the measures of treatment advised by the 
many agriculturists who contributed information for the ‘ Report 
on Turnip Fly’* (which is in the hands of most of the readers of this 
paper), would be equally serviceable in the case of Mustard Beetle. 
The benefit of all measures that will push on good growth is 
equally important to keep either crop up before anything but 
devastating attack, and in either case clearing the surface of the 
ground beforehand of all shelter for the pests is very important. 
Amongst the various artificial manures noticed as good for Mustard, 
gypsum is mentioned as serviceable, by reason of containing the lime 
and sulphuric acid needed for proper formation of the seed. If these 
constituents could be applied in the shape of as strong a dressing of 
gas-lime as the grower considered safe to apply to the land, at the 
proper interval before the Mustard was put in, great benefit might be 
(so far as I can judge) hoped for. The gas-lime would be very 
beneficial in preventing the beetles taking up winter-quarters, and, 
with regard to amount, time of application before the land was resown, 
and other points as to safe and serviceable application of this chemical, 
see extracts from the paper ‘ On the use and application of Gas-lime ’ 
(by Dr. Augustus Voelcker), quoted at pp. 5, 6. 
The habit of these Mustard Beetles of collecting in large numbers 
and sweeping regularly on suggests that something could be done to 
destroy them in the mass. Lighted straw in a field gateway is noted 
as serviceable when they are in migration from one field to another ; 
and, looking at the point that they are noticed as not using their 
wings much at these times, the idea suggests itself whether a common 
wooden farm-roller, with liquid tar run over it by a man in attendance, 
might not be an effectual stop to these crowds, whether compressed in 
a gateway or advancing in long narrow line (as in another observation 
from life) across a field. If the roller and tar were found to act, 
it would be very easy to add a small and self-tarring apparatus to 
the roller. 
But information is greatly needed how to check the attack generally. 
It is probable many Mustard growers are well informed both as to 
means of lessening the evil, and also of the circumstances which 
favour its increase; and, if they would kindly favour me with any 
notes on the subject for my next Report, it would be a truly serviceable 
contribution, which I should have great pleasure in bringing forward. 
* ‘ Beport on Turnip Fly during the year 1881,’ Simpkin & Marshall. Published 
1882. 
