94 
WILLOW. 
Phratora vulgatissima, Linn., was present amongst them, but this does 
not affect the matter practically. 
It will be seen by the following notes that one of the main points 
to be worked on for preventing attack is that of the beetles wintering under 
old or loose Willow bark, or under rubbish on or near Willow grounds , and, 
in short, like the nearly-allied “Mustard-seed” Beetle, in any snug 
shelter, but especially such as is formed of rubbish of the plant which 
is its summer food. 
On the 21st of May Mr. Cosmo Melvill wrote from Kersal Cottage, 
Prestwicli, relatively to the Willow Beetle, Phratora Vitellince, which 
had then lately made its appearance in extensive Willow beds at 
Lymn, Cheshire, and was becoming so alarming a nuisance there in 
its inroads on the Osier beds as to call for unusual exertions to with¬ 
stand it, and information as to what could be done to extirpate the 
pest was asked in behalf of the growers of the locality. 
On the 28th Mr. Melvill further mentioned that every day the 
ravages of the insect were extending, and they were being carted away 
in bushels. Paraffin was then being used, and “ apparently with some 
success.” The following note regarding the widespread nature of the 
attack was forwarded :— 
“For some weeks past the Willow growers in Lymn, Statham, 
Thelwall, and other places in Cheshire, have been troubled by the 
appearance, among their Willow beds (some of which are extensive 
and very valuable) of numbers of beetles which threaten to destroy all 
the Willows in the neighbourhood, unless the means that are now 
being tried prove effectual. A meeting was held at Lymn for the 
purpose of considering the best means of exterminating the pest, and 
a resolution was carried which pledged the growers present to continue 
the use of paraffin oil, with the object of catching the beetles. By 
this means one grower has caught some millions in one day, and it is 
believed if this course is followed up the crops will be saved.” 
On the 29tli of May, Mr. H. Cameron, writing from Lymn, 
Cheshire, informed me that the Willow growers in that district, who 
were suffering from this insect scourge, had formed themselves into a 
society for mutual protection and interchange of experience. Of this 
society Mr. Cameron was the chairman. He informed me that:— 
“ The remedies hitherto tried (but so far with little success) are 
dusting the young shoots with hellebore powder, soot, sulphur, lime, 
and spent gas-lime. The plan now adopted is to hand-pick, or rather 
shake off, the insects into small vessels containing a small quantity of paraffin 
oil. This plan lias been steadily carried on by many of the Willow 
growers during the last fortnight with marked success ; but unfortunately 
a few people take little or no notice, and I fear these neglected lots 
will pollute the surroundings. 
