DADDY LONGLEGS. 
23 
Mansfield, forwarded me a box of Daddy Longlegs of the blackest 
slate-colour I ever saw, with the mention that they were infesting a 
particular part of the Duke of Portland’s property near Gringley, on 
what is known as the “ Carrs.” A quantity of the moist peaty earth 
in which they were found was put up with them, and the colour 
of the grubs was hardly distinguishable from that of the peat-soil. 
It was noted that “the havoc just now is very serious, and much 
anxiety is expressed as to the best means of getting rid of such a very 
dangerous pest to growing crops, which it devours not by yards , but 
by acres." 
On the 9tli of May specimens of Daddy Longlegs grubs were for¬ 
warded by the Hon. C. Bouverie, with the mention that they were 
injuring various plants in the garden at Longford Castle, Salisbury. 
The ground was noted as made soil, partly on a river deposit, partly 
on clay, lying very low, water-level three feet below surface. As this 
kind of grub has a habit of collecting in parties under turfs lying on 
the surface of the ground, I suggested, amongst other things, placing 
damp turfs near the infested spots, and examining them from time to 
time and clearing away the grubs. Later in the year I was informed 
the plan had been tried, and proved partially successful. 
On Sept. 3rd Mr. Bouverie forwarded more specimens of “ grub,” 
accompanied by chrysalids of the same, found together under turf in 
a low-lying situation near the Kiver Avon. 
From a communication received through the courtesy of the Editor 
of the ‘ Farmer’s Gazette,’ Dublin, I take a note that under one sod 
which had been brought to the surface by the harrow and then pressed 
down by the roller, so as still to retain a little moisture, no less than 
ninety-four grubs were counted. 
On the 1st of May Mr. R. Laycock wrote with respect to “ grubs ” 
then attacking his Oats at Winlaton, Blaydon-on-Tyne, and forwarded 
specimens taken from under clods of earth. He observed :—“ As any¬ 
thing I may put on the land to kill them seems hopeless, I think of 
trying to set people to collect them, and thus save part of a crop of 
Oats” ; and later on he reported that the hand-dickers had killed a large 
number , and likewise the Rooks came and had a feast. 
The following communication shows how rapidly heaped rotting 
turf is sometimes infested :— 
On the 24tli of March I received a packet of Daddy Longlegs grubs 
of various ages, up to being a third or half-grown, from Mr. J. Watson, 
Agent’s Office, Sliirburn, Tetsworth, with the mention that they were 
doing much harm to valuable plants in a propagating-frame, in which 
the soil was taken from a heap of old turf. The turf had been taken 
up about four inches deep at the end of October, and put in a heap. 
At the end of February some of it was sifted for use in the frame, and 
