78 
TURNIP. 
One piece of Swedes of about twenty acres had suffered severely, quite 
eight acres being cleared. It was noted that the ground had worked 
down very fine, and the Swedes came up well and looked healthy; 
they were hoed and singled out, but a week before the date of 
communication they began to disappear. As many as four of the 
grubs were to be found at one plant, which they ate right into, and 
soon caused its death. 
On August 81st information was forwarded by Mr. H. Marshall, of 
Poulton Priory, Fairford, that the fields were devastated by what 
turned out, when specimens were forwarded, to be the generally 
destructive “ Turnip Moth caterpillar, the grub of A. segetum, and that 
nothing would induce the Kooks to look at them. Barley-sheaves had 
been placed about one field to induce poultry to hunt for them, and 
the poultry did go out and catch a good many, but would not stay out 
They appeared unable to stand the sunshine, and under many places 
where they had scratched there were still grubs.” 
It will be seen from the above notes that the main brunt of attack 
was reported during August, and observations sent of severe attack 
from these surface caterpillars at localities in Somersetshire, Surrey, 
Worcestershire, Oxon, Salop, Lincolnshire, Wilts, Gloucestershire, 
and from Co. Cork, Ireland ; also before or after from Kent, Essex, 
Berks, and Staffordshire. 
The following communication from Mr. W. W. Glenny, of Barking, 
is of special interest as showing, from notes of a thoroughly skilled 
observer, not only the severity of the ravages of these pernicious grubs, 
but the great variety of crops which they ravage :— 
“ In the autumn surface grubs were plentiful after the dry summer, 
and greedily devoured food of a varied character. It was difficult to 
escape these omnivorous insects, for no field and no crop was free from 
their inroads. Amongst transplanted Leeks and Cabbage they did 
most harm, yet they equally bit off, just near the top of the soil, 
Turnips, Spinach, Onions, Beetroot, Carrots, Lettuce, &c. Instead of 
describing which plant they prefer, it would be easier to say that there 
is no vegetable or herb they refuse. 
“ The late Potatoes were damaged by them, and a fair piece of 
Magnum Bonums was attacked in such a manner that, though it 
would have been convenient to have allowed the crop to mature and 
ripen in the field, it was absolutely necessary to dig the produce to 
prevent the grubs eating them all. It is not only the portion of the 
tuber consumed that is lost, but where the insect works his way into 
it much of the edible substance changes colour, and is wasted.” 
On Sept. 14th caterpillars of Agrotis segetum were sent to me by 
Mr. Alex. Crossman, from Longcrofts, near Burton-on-Trent, as 
specimens of a grub which was then completely destroying three acres 
