WIREWORM AND CLICK BEETLE. 
31 
but we attribute this rather to the solidity of the land, which enables 
the roots to work better, than to the destruction of the Wireworm. 
During autumn last year we used gas-lime on Clover Ley before 
ploughing up for Oats, and, whether from that or from some other 
cause, there was no perceptible injury to the following Oat crop. 
On a farm which I formerly had in hand, but which I let some years 
ago, there were when first I began to occupy it a great number of 
Wireworms. These almost entirely disappeared in the course of a few 
years, and we attributed this fact to the more thorough cultivation and 
working of the land. My Bailiff suggests that the removal of weeds, 
especially “ twitch,” in which the Click Beetle may have laid its eggs, 
is perhaps the cause of this. It is certain that the Wireworm is fast 
disappearing from the farm I now occupy, and we have found no appre¬ 
ciable injury from it this year.—(Joseph Paget, Stuffynwood, Mansfield.) 
Breaking up Clovers and Rye Grass is generally done early, so as 
to insure decomposition of the plant, thus giving full effect to firming 
of the land by pressing with iron ring rollers. 
Treading with sheep where affected, rolling, and harrowing are the 
means generally adopted. The only manure used as a top-dressing is 
soot, which is a good remedy for Wireworm.—(H. Hayward, near 
Hereford.) 
I have suffered most in the Wheat crops grown upon the Clover 
Leys, and the best treatment that I ever discovered was to plough 
shallow, and after the seed was drilled either roll well or tread with 
sheep to well consolidate the ground. 
Another system I have adopted is to plough the Clover Ley early, 
and get a crop of Rape or Mustard, feed it off for sheep, and then 
plough again for Wheat. This method I have found a great preventive 
for Wireworms, but at the same time by the early ploughing some part 
of the summer feed is sacrificed.—(Richard Pullen, Slandeford, Wolver¬ 
hampton.) 
Wireworm are most plentiful on land that has lain long fallow, and 
from old pastures, or from Clover Ley. 
The methods of prevention in treating Clover Ley are—judicious 
fallowing, and such a thorough burning of rubbish as will destroy the 
eggs and grubs. Heavy rolling and brush harrowing will destroy many 
of them. 
Ploughing the surface two inches deep with a breast plough, the 
turf being burnt or allowed to die, is recommended.—(John Suther¬ 
land, Berridale, Caithness.) 
This year I have a splendid crop of Oats on very old ley. I used an 
American Prairie Plough with revolving mould-board, which brings up 
the subsoil to the surface. This made the ground easily broken down, 
and almost covered the sods. I then sowed with fine Rape Meal and 
