OF INJURIOUS INSECTS. 
13 
has placed the “ Grubs” in a strong brine for twenty-four hours, and 
that it has not killed them. Shortness of food also does not affect the 
Grubs rapidly, as Mr. Fitton mentions that lie placed some of them in 
a glass globe with a little soil, but no plant-food, and three weeks 
after they appeared all right. The thing that the Grubs really cannot 
bear (as far as the experiments noted show for practical purposes) is 
drought. Of the large number sent me by post, I could rarely find 
enough alive for the experiments I wished to undertake, and I ascribe 
their condition to want of moist surroundings. Mr. Robert Service 
mentions that at Maxwell town this “Leather Coat Grub ” is as a rule the 
most damaging pest of the neighbourhood, but that this year, in which 
a dry cold spring followed in that locality on a fine winter, he did not 
see a field either of Grass or Corn affected to any extent. 
Mr. Loney, writing from Marclimont, Berwickshire, not far distant 
in geographical position from that of the above observation, also notes 
only a slight attack. A few patches of Oats were attacked during 
May, especially on soil that was not in a good state of cultivation, and 
he strongly advises deep winter ploughing as a preventive against the 
Grub. This is noticed by Mr. Malcolm Dunn as being less destructive 
than usual at Dalkeith during the past season. The same traps as 
are used for the Wireworm are also effective in catching the Grub of 
the “ Daddy Longlegs.” When the Cabbage tribe are planted in 
ground infested by the Grub, they should have their roots and stems 
up to the leaves well smeared in a thick mixture of clay, niglitsoil, 
and ammoniacal liquor (from gasworks), or some other equally nauseous 
compound, which the Grub does not care to attack. The stem of the 
plants is the part usually attacked just under the surface of the 
ground, and it is a good plan when the Grub is observed to be active 
to draw back the soil around the stem to a depth of a couple of inches, 
and put a ring of lime, soot, or even rotten manure round the stem of 
each plant, which will generally prevent the Grub attacking it. Mr. 
Dunn notes that the Spotted Crane Fly, Tipula maculosa , was scarcely 
seen, and not any serious damage done by it. The same appliances 
as for the “Daddy Longlegs” Grub are used to destroy it, but it is 
rather more difficult to kill. 
Mr. Anderson mentions that the Grubs were found to be very 
destructive amongst Strawberries at Oxenford Castle, Dalkeith, as 
many as from seven to twelve being found at the root of one plant just 
beneath the surface. Hand-picking was the only remedy resorted to, 
which, as Mr. Anderson justly remarks, “is both expensive and 
repulsive.” Mr. Wliitton mentions that at Coltness, Lanarkshire, 
there was a strong attack of Tipula oleracea , locally known as “ the 
Grub;” he notes that he never saw anything like it before for 
quantity, but that the damage done was not as great as might have 
