WIREWORM AND CLICK BEETLE. 
57 
trimming Turnips, say the evening before frost, that Wireworm could 
be noticed in hundreds about the roots of the Turnips. A frost sets 
in, and if you pull up the whole field you will not find a Wireworm 
where yesterday there were scores ; but the weather changes, and our 
friend re-appears. 
The injury from Wireworm has been less this year than almost 
any season I can recollect. I do not estimate my own loss, or that in 
the immediate neighbourhood or the parish, at more than half-a- 
bushel per acre. 
The above remarks apply entirely to this district, as other localities 
may very likely be affected in an entirely different manner.—(James 
McWhannell.) 
(The main points of the information with which I have been favoured 
by other contributors is embodied in the following tables. —Ed.) 
Table I. 
Observations 
regarding Rooks. 
Kooks always 
haunt crops 
infested by 
Wireworm. 
Not so much 
troubled by 
Rooks this 
year. 
Always a great 
pest here, but 
do not take 
Turnips till 
they are sin¬ 
gled. 
Kooks numerous 
where the 
Wireworms 
were seen; not 
observed on 
the low field. 
Rooks on crop 
E 1 en 2 or 3 
hes high. 
Injury about a 
month after. 
Remedies made 
use of. 
Rolling and sow¬ 
ing salt. 
Salt and rolling 
would as a 
rule prevent 
attack if in 
time. 
Salt sometimes 
used. Con¬ 
sider it does 
not destroy 
the worm, but 
feeds the crop. 
Sowing salt and 
rolling for 
Wheat. 
Amount of Loss 
to Observer, or in 
his neighbourhood. 
Injury more or 
less than in 
previous Years ? 
Observer’s loss 
about 2 bolls 
per acre, not 
aware of loss 
in neighbour¬ 
hood. 
Observer’s loss 
about a boll 
to the acre; 
not seen any 
crop spoiled in 
neighbourhood. 
None this year. 
Previously se¬ 
vere in Wheat 
and Carrots. 
Less this year 
than usual. 
Less 
About the same 
as last year. 
Less. In previous 
year Wheat 
£1 10s. per 
acre. Carrots 
£10 per acre. 
Remarks. 
Injury from Wireworm 
has much increased of 
late years; partly from 
prejudice against rooks 
and wholesale poison¬ 
ing of these birds; partly 
on account of farmers 
not having limed to any 
extent of late years, 
owing to agricultural 
depression and general 
want of means. 
If Rooks are kept away for 
two or three days after 
the Turnips are singled 
out they will not touch 
the crop after. 
I consider Wheat sown in 
November as generally 
exempt from destruc¬ 
tion by Wireworm. 
L 
