OF INJURIOUS INSECTS. 
11 
have fairly been expected. With regard to subsequent appearance of 
the Flies Mr. Fitch notices that they were common, but not unusually 
abundant; and he considers the dry weather of May did much to get 
rid of them by hardening the heavy land, which to a great extent stops 
the “ travelling” of the Grub, and also rubbish hoed up died, so that 
the Grubs were fairly starved out. 
Mi. S. Fitton, of Cheerbrook, Nantwicli, Cheshire, favours me 
with details of experiments tried by himself, or at his desire, which 
are of much value in showing the power of the Grub to endure 
poisonous applications (and consequently the little profit which often 
ensues on large outlay in these materials), and which also show the 
benefit arising from application of stimulating manure in such form 
as washes down at once to the roots, and so helps to carry the plant 
over the attack. The field observed was a seventeen acre field of 
Oats, in Clover the preceding year, and the attack commenced before 
May. On first discovery, the application of a heavy roller was tried, 
which did no good; afterwards a dressing of salt at the rate of three 
cwt. per acre was applied throughout the entire field, but also without 
success. Subsequently a heavy dressing of soot was applied to about 
three acres; three acres were spread over with rape cake, to the 
extent of four cwt. the acre ; and four acres were dressed with quick¬ 
lime. After the lapse of a week no difference could be detected in the 
state of the portions thus treated and the rest of the field to which 
only salt had been applied. Mr. Fitton then sowed ten acres of the 
ground with guano and salt mixed at about the rate of four cwt. to 
the statute acre, and since then Mr. Fitton noted (writing on the 25tli 
of May) he could not perceive any further damage, the repeated 
applications encouraged the plants, and the field was of a good colour, 
and for the most part looked well, though on inspection was thin of 
roots, the amount of plant destroyed being then estimated as follows:— 
Nine acres, about one third destroyed; five acres, one half ditto ; three 
acres, two-tliirds ditto. As the matter then stood, the loss fairly to 
be estimated to the yield of the coming crop was at “ the rate of 
twenty measures the acre,” and to the straw at the rate of ten cwt. 
the acre; besides the expense of the remedies and the application 
thereof, which was a good deal; “ the field was rolled, harrowed twice 
over, and about two acres were resown.” In this case, however, Mr. 
Fitton’s treatment in the use of stimulators brought the crop through 
beyond hope. By the 1st of July the greater part of the field was in 
hearty growth, averaging three feet high and ot a rich colour; and on 
the 27th of September the report of the field was that (with the 
exception of one acre that had been almost destroyed before any 
remedy was attempted) there was a very heavy crop. The stack from 
the field measured thirty-four yards long by five yards wide and four 
