WIREWORM AND CLICK BEETLE. 
37 
Wire worms are more active in tlie spring months after a long frost 
(on account of the land being more porous then) than they are in mild 
winters. 
i 
I have used 80 cwt. of gas lime to the acre on Clover ley, and 
harrowed the land a week or nine days before being ploughed up for 
Wheat with good effect, and put the shepherd to drive the sheep close 
over the field when the drill was planted. In March, if the land is dry 
enough, put cattle and sheep to tread it, and roll down. I do not think 
rolling does as much good as the horses do in treading, especially if they 
are driven three abreast.—(G. Burgiss, Farm Manager to the Right 
Hon. Earl of Winterton, Strutlierglen Park, Petwortli.) 
No doubt in Hampshire the Wireworm is a scourge, but it is not 
numerous enough here (Downton) to cause us trouble. Our ground is 
heavily stocked with sheep, and probably their constantly treading 
interferes with its movements. 
Most of our land carries sheep at least once a year, and much 
of it twice. Vetches fed, followed by roots, fed, alternated with the 
ploughings and dressings necessary for the cultivation of the crops, 
must be an unsatisfactory state of things to the Wireworms. 
On poorer soils, where only about half the amount of sheep per 
acre is maintained, the Wireworm is to be found established more 
frequently.—(Professor John Wrightson, College of Agriculture, 
Downton). 
Our treatment of land where crops are affected is frequent use of 
heavy ring roller, and steady driving of sheep backwards and forwards 
over the land.—(J. Forrester, for the Right Hon. Viscount Portman, 
Bryanston, Blandford.) 
The firmer the land the better; consequently have often used 
sheep on the Wheat land when too wet for rolling. Good cultivation, 
plenty of harrowing, &c., is always beneficial.—(T.R. Hulbert, North 
Cerney, Cirencester.) 
Treading the ground with sheep and cattle and rolling with a heavy 
roller are good measures for killing the Worms.—(John Sutherland, 
Berridale, Caithness.) 
If the Wireworms attack a crop the only way I have found to stop 
them is to get the land into as firm condition as possible; if the land 
is open they can travel easily from plant to plant, and may often be 
seen working up a drill and killing all the plants in succession. If 
the land is firm and hard pressed the Wireworm has more difficulty in 
working about in it. Rolling constantly with a heavy roller, or 
turning sheep backwards and forwards on the ground, is the only way 
to get it properly consolidated.—(M. Locke Blake, near Ilminster.) 
All light land subject to Wireworm ought to be rolled twice with a 
ring roller as soon as the seed is sown, either in the autumn or 
