MANGOLD OR BEET ELY. 
78 
I was also favoured with notes by Mr. Jabez Turner, of Norman 
Cross, Peterborough, showing the benefit of autumn manuring and 
working of the ground, thus securing such a good tilth and condition 
of land at sowing-time as will force the plant on past ordinary fly- 
attack. 
In the past season experiment was made, at Rothamsted, as to effect 
of application of nitrate of soda to a crop of badly-infested Mangolds. 
This was attended with such marked success that I requested per¬ 
mission of Sir John B. Lawes to publish a note of it in this Report, 
and, this permission having been kindly given, I am much gratified 
to be able to lay before my readers the following valuable detailed 
observation on serviceable and easy remedial application for this de¬ 
structive attack:— 
“ Insect Injury , 1890 .—A field of Yellow Globe Mangolds of 14 acres 
on the farm of Sir J. B. Lawes, at Rothamsted, was badly attacked by 
the Mangold Maggot (Anthomyia betce). 
“ The field was manured with 20 tons per acre of farmyard dung, 
applied just previous to sowing the seed. The injury commenced in 
July, and gradually got worse until the leaves of the whole crop had 
the appearance of being scalded. They were of a brown colour and 
greatly shrivelled up. 
“In the first week of August an application of 2 cwt. of nitrate of 
soda per acre was sown broadcast over the whole field. The injured 
leaves soon died off, and the plants formed new growth. 
“ The crop was taken up towards the end of October, and gave an 
average produce of almost 18 tons of roots to the acre.”—(Communi¬ 
cated by J. J. Willis, with the permission of Sir J. B. Lawes.) 
