CLOVER-ROOT WEEVIL. 
15 
their eggs amongst the Clover, the maggots from which soon appear; 
but further observation has yet to show whether the greater part of 
them live as maggots through the winter, or whether they all turn 
before winter to the complete weevil. This autumn egg-laying 
appears to be the point to be specially prevented, if possible. Where 
the weevils are in the great quantities reported this year by 
Mr. Christy, last year by Mr. Hart, sweeping up these legions into 
buckets of mud or anything that would keep them from flying away, 
and then destroying them, would do something ; but the great thing 
would be to put some dressing—such as gas-lime, or other application 
offensive to the weevil, and not in quantity or quality strong enough 
to hurt the plant—on the Clover. 
As far as we see from habits of some other crop-pests, what we 
need is not so very particularly an application which will keep the 
insect from going .down into the ground to lay its eggs when it comes 
(though this is highly desirable), but something which will prevent the 
crop attracting it to come. There is a power, answering to our power 
of smell, in many kinds of insects which draws them in bodies to where 
their food is, as we see in Turnip Fly going up the wind to a Turnip 
field; in Gooseberry Sawfly caterpillars crossing a road from one 
market garden to another; and if some substance is applied, either 
with a peculiar smell, as above mentioned, or soot, guano, nitrate of 
soda, or any chemical or other application foreign to what is in any 
way likely to attract the beetle to lay eggs, and which is also beneficial 
in restoring “ Clover-sick ” land, it would be likely to be of great 
service; and practical observations on this point would be highly 
acceptable for publication. 
More than one kind of these weevils (scientifically Sitones) feed on 
Clover. Curtis mentions the S. lineatus also being destructive to it; 
and the Eev. W. Clutterbuck, of Long Wittenliam Vicarage, an 
observer for many years, gives a note of the Pea Weevil, S. lineatus , 
having been observed to shelter itself in the top joint of the stubble of 
Barley, Oats, or Wheat. He says, “ We traced the sometimes total 
loss of the crop of Trifolium to this source, inasmuch as we found the 
insects in the top joint of the stubble, among which we usually drilled 
the Trifolium incarnatum without ploughing. We lightly skimmed the 
stubble, and so deprived the weevil of its habitat and refuge; and we 
believe we abated the evil.” 
Mr. D. Turvill, of West Worldham, Hants, mentions an instance 
reported to him, in which Peas, having been sown after Clover, were 
so completely eaten off that the crop was worthless. 
For further observations on Clover, Pea and-Bean Weevils ( Sitones 
of different species), see “ Pea Weevil.” 
