14 
CABBAGE. 
The following note turns on the help from Rooks in getting rid of 
the maggots, which in this case the birds seem to have managed 
without destroying more than the attacked plants. 
Mr. Ralph Lowe says :—“ I went to inspect a crop of Turnips 
where the white maggot was at one time threatening to commit 
extensive damage. The Rooks were persistent in tearing up the plants, 
and the occupier had in despair taken off the “ tenter ” with his gun, 
in whicli he acted wisely, 
“I found that about ten acres had been unduly thinned, leaving 
about half a crop. But the Rook had done his work well; not only 
could no maggot in any stage of its growth he found, but not one 
injured Turnip. Wherever the grub had attacked a plant the Rook 
had pulled it up, and apparently carried off nearly the whole brood, 
leaving the Turnips in a perfectly healthy state.” 
Mr. W. W. Glenny, writing from Barking, September 24tli, notes : 
—“ The maggot at the root of the Cabbage has done mischief, and 
has occupied my attention to some extent. It seems that the only 
way to make circumstances disagreeable would be to dress the land 
with gas-lime, common salt, soot, or kindred substances that might by 
their pungent nature be obnoxious to its presence. 
“ At this time one field of mine has a good coat of refuse lime with 
a view to deterring its visits.” 
For some reason which it would be very desirable to know, but 
which at imesent is not clear, the Cabbage-root maggot does not 
appear to be known as a pest in the great Cabbage-growing district 
close to Hounslow and Islewortli. I have never been troubled with it 
at the roots of either Cabbage or Turnip in my own garden, but 
possibly constant applications of lime, gas-lime, and experimental 
chemicals of various sorts may account for its absence here. 
In regard to the neighbourhood I have the following communi¬ 
cation from Mr. John Wilmot, Derwent Lodge, Hounslow :—“ In 
answer to your inquiry respecting the Cabbage Fly maggot 1 am 
pleased to say I know very little about it, and am at a loss to under¬ 
stand our escaping from its ravages. I find that land in the highest 
state of cultivation is quite as liable to these pests as land not so well 
cared for. ... I believe gas-lime to be the only practical cure 
for the maggot tribe that infest our Brussel Sprouts, Broccoli, and 
Cabbage tribe.” 
Information was also sent, on July 27th, from Ashford, Kent, by 
Mr. Hart, of Park Farm, Kingsnorth, that whole fields of Swedes 
were in course of being destroyed by a maggot at the root. 
Likewise great destruction to Cabbage, by means of “ white worms” 
at the root, was reported from Carnfortli as taking place in that 
neighbourhood. 
