PEA WEEVIL. 
83 
is tlie knowledge of when and where the eggs are laid; but as the 
Weevils have been observed when in confinement pairing and laying- 
eggs rather earlier in the season than the time when the maggots 
were found feeding on the roots by Mr. Hart, it is presumable that 
when at large the females go down into the ground to deposit their 
eggs amongst these roots. 
In the maggot state they do not, as far as we see, cause nearly 
so much harm to the roots as the Weevil does afterwards (when it 
is developed) to the leafage of the Peas. Then—though the damage 
is only too plain—the Weevils are not often noticeable unless the 
plants are approached exceedingly gently, for at the least alarm they 
drop down and hide themselves. 
It is observed by Mr. Hart that if the soil in which the Pea 
Weevils are hidden is pressed firmly down with the foot for the space 
of some half-yard square that in a few seconds the place will appear 
alive with the Weevils, which will push their way to the surface. 
If, therefore, the weather admits of the free and repeated use of the 
roller a great proportion of the beetles may be crushed or rolled 
down so as to prevent them coming to the surface, and the plants 
being thus freed even for a time from attack, and helped afterwards 
by the use of the hoe, will be able to grow past the danger of being 
seriously injured. 
With regard to estimate of damage, Mr. Hart mentions that 
whilst one stack from eight acres of Peas that were not infested 
contained twenty-two loads, the piece of six acres that teas infested 
only produced eight loads, a load being as much as may be comfort¬ 
ably drawn by two horses in a four-wheeled waggon. Altogether the 
loss was estimated at not less than £20. 
Mr. Eussell Swanwick contributes the following note of injury 
caused by Pea Weevils at the Royal Agricultural College Farm, 
Cirencester. He says—The ravages of the Pea Weevil have this 
year been most serious. They not only attacked Peas, but also 
Vetches just as they got into their second leaf. Five acres of Peas 
sown February 28rd, and three acres sown a little later, were eaten 
to the extent of two-thirds, leaving only one-third of the plant to 
battle with the Weevil, and this remnant was so much eaten round 
the edge of the leaf as to be greatly weakened. 
Another acre of valuable Garden Peas, which were being grown 
for seed, and were sown on March 15th, also had fully half the crop 
destroyed by this Weevil. 
Two acres of Vetches were entirely eaten by them, and had to be 
ploughed up. Six more acres were badly injured. 
The actual damage cannot be calculated from the loss of crop 
only, as to this must be added the damage from the growth of weeds 
