CLICK BEETLES AND WIREWORMS. 
87 
also) they had risen to furrow-depth when the second lot of ploughing was 
clone, and so (on this part) they were exposed as prey to birds.” 
The above observations of Mr. Davies are quite in accordance with 
the habits of the Wireworms. They go down deeper and deeper into 
the ground in winter as the frost becomes more severe, and consequently 
the ploughing, &c., which would throw them to the top in mild 
weather, is of no service in getting rid of them if applied before they 
are come up again to their regular feeding level. 
The three following notes turn chiefly on the importance of healthy 
growth in carrying the plant through attack, with some observations 
as to effect of rolling. 
Mr. T. Aitken, writing from Spalding, observes :—“ lam sure that 
I should have the evidence of most farmers that generally the greatest 
damage has been done more upon lands wanting in fertility than those 
receiving frequent applications of well-made farm manure that is pro¬ 
duced from highly-fed stock. Indeed, the best remedy I know is land 
in a good state of cultivation so that the plants are vigorous, and even 
when cut by the Wireworm, capable of taking a fresh start. This 
fresh start is often assisted or made possible by the using a heavy roll, 
or by trampling, saving many a damaged plant from destruction by late 
spring frosts, which, coming when the land was open, destroyed all 
the weak plants. 
“I note that many of your correspondents strongly recommend 
the making of the land as firm as it is possible, of which treatment I 
fully approve, as it makes the light land more suitable for the Wheat 
crop, not that it will stop the working of the insect. [The pressure 
will not entirely check the movements of the Wireworm, but still any 
difficulty thrown in the way of travelling will be useful in lessening 
direct amount of injury, besides the benefit to the plant from the soil 
being firmed round it. —Ed.] 
“ The ploughing seed land with a light shallow furrow is also a 
good system, the Wheat roots growing better if there is a firm subsoil 
within reach. 
“We sometimes have a considerable loss of grain at harvest-time 
arising from shake ; this produces a quantity of Wheat plants in the 
following crop of Clover, and I never noticed any damage done to these 
plants by Wireworm. If this should be the experience of others it 
would be interesting to have the reasons why.” 
On the 5th of May, Mr. A. Bannester, writing from Barling, Essex, 
observed :—“ With regard to Wireworms, they are, in this neighbour¬ 
hood, more than usually troublesome. I have lately saved a crop of 
Barley (fourteen acres) by the early use of a very heavy stone roller. 
The Barley in question is now most luxuriant (lately dwindly and 
yellow), and the roots of the crop prior to the application of the 
