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neglected chaff heaps, which it used to be a custom, when 
I knew West Gloucestershire, to leave anywhere in odd 
corners on the small farms; also Celery Fly in the 
leaves (an important attack in market gardens), are 
instances of attention being needed. Aphides are in 
many cases self-protected against washes by the fact 
of the smooth or lightly powdered nature of their coats 
repelling simple watery applications ,* therefore it is that 
anything adhesive, as soft-soap, makes such an excellent 
foundation for a wash, as is practically shown in our 
Hop ground by the soft-soap washes regularly used. In 
most of our insect attacks there is similarly some one 
point on which the practical observer can lay his hand 
for prevention or remedy, which will be shown him by 
short study of its habits, but I fear I have already 
detained you at such length that I ought not to add 
more now on this subject, particularly as I wish to urge 
the importance in insect prevention of those principles 
of good cultivation, applicable alike to field, or orchard, 
or forest growths, which you, gentlemen, students of this 
College, with its world-wide reputation, are especially 
qualified to carry from it for our national benefit. 
It cannot be too strongly brought forward that in such 
means as will carry on a steady healthy growth lies 
much of the safety of the agriculturist, from severe loss 
by the commonly recurring pests of his fields. I do not 
say from all, for there are occasional visitations which 
cannot be foreseen, and also, although we may be careful, 
we cannot help our neighbours inflicting the con¬ 
sequences of their carelessness on us. One important 
means towards this is a good start. If the plant is 
checked in germination the chances are that plant never 
recovers it entirely as long as it lives, and will go down 
before insect attack much sooner than the others. The 
points to secure this it is not for me to enter on here, 
but I may just allude to the importance of good seed, and 
a good seed-bed ; such tilth as will throw no impediments 
in the upward or downward course of the sprouting 
plant, and also (speaking more especially of the Turnip 
