TURNIP-FLY. 
mum alliaria and Cardamine pratensis, to which 
these Altice are so strongly attached, for they grow 
in abundance in every hedge and meadow; they 
appear long before the turnips come up, and 
attract and give support to the parents of the 
future swarms that are to sweep away the crops 
of the farmer. As these plants often flower at 
the beginning of April, and produce their leaves 
at a much earlier period, it is almost certain 
that they nurse the fly, and are its great re- 
sources for food and nourishment in the earliest 
days of spring, But how to eradicate the Car- 
damine is for future consideration. The hedge- 
mustard, and other cruciferous plants on banks 
and road-sides, are quite under our control; and 
it is a duty which we owe to our neighbour as 
well as to ourselves to keep our fields and hedges 
clear of charlock and every allied weed of that 
family, all of which harbour the turnip-beetle.— 
Before dismissing this portion of the subject two 
or three remarks will be useful. It is certain 
that manure gives strength to the turnip-plant, 
but it is doubtful if it will destroy the beetles. 
Hoeing and rolling may harass and kill many of 
them ; and asthis process promotes the more rapid 
growth of the plants, it must be attended with 
no slight advantages. I expect also that, if it 
were performed in damp days, or after heavy 
dews, the benefit would be increased; for if the 
beetles leap in moist weather they often fall 
upon their backs, where they stick, and after 
being exhausted become torpid and apparently 
dead, if the air be cold; but they reanimate as 
they are dried by the sun. In cold and wet 
weather it might not prove less efficient; for 
multitudes of the flies are then sheltered under 
and about the clods, which being broken down, 
the insects must perish by the pressure; and if 
there were any chrysalides in the earth, they 
would in all probability suffer the same fate— 
There are many who consider that turnips should 
be sown immediately after ploughing, and that 
much of the success attending a crop depends 
upon the diligence employed in getting in the 
manure and seed; whilst some maintain that 
the land should lie undisturbed for a fortnight 
before sowing. Such conflicting opinions, as far 
as the fly is concerned, may often be reconciled 
by the difference of the seasons when the obser- 
vations were made. We know that turnips 
must not be sown in too dry nor too wet a state 
of the soil, yet this is precisely the state most 
fitted for the production of the fly; for it is well 
ascertained that a moderate degree of moisture 
is necessary to bring forth or to hatch almost all 
insects,—and if this be accompanied by a mild air 
it is the better suited to them. It is therefore 
reasonable to expect that after a fine early 
spring the turnip-beetles will be found most 
abundant.—From the dislike the fly has to re- 
peated wet, I have always thought that watering 
533 
commends them to be watered every other day, 
four, five, and six times, if necessary. Irrigat- 
ing the land would not have so good an effect, I 
think, as watering, because the beetles would 
only be floated off the leaves if they were de- 
tached at all; and if they were left thus for two 
or three days, there would be a great chance of 
their recovering when the plants were left dry ; 
whereas by the watering they would be forcibly 
brushed off, and get set fast in the earth and 
die. The benefit would be most felt, I conceive, 
on heavy lands, with regard to the annihilation 
of the beetles; but it would everywhere have 
the advantage of destroying the chrysalis, by 
stopping up the pores of the soil, and so prevent- 
ing the exit of the fly.—Nitrate of soda has been™ 
tried in two instances on crops of Swedish tur- 
nips with very beneficial effects; and it pro- 
bably assists, from its peculiar qualities, in 
checking the increase of the beetles. The ni- 
trate was sown two or three days after the seed ; 
and it may be used on all soils excepting on 
chalk. It should be sown broadcast, mixed with 
wood-ashes, which enable the sower to spread it 
more regularly. 
“ We now come to what may be termed direct 
remedies. The Paul-net, as it is called, after its 
inventor, although it has been considered as a 
toy, yet lam of opinion might be usefully em- 
ployed; for I have seen a quart bottle filled with 
the little turnip-beetles that were all caught 
with this net. If I remember correctly, Mr. 
Paul’s plan was to sow a small spot with white 
turnips early, as a decoy, and over that space to 
draw his net. It always struck me that vast 
quantities made their escape by skipping out of 
the net, which was its greatest defect; but this 
might be remedied by placing some sawdust at 
the extremity of the bag, mixed with lumps of 
common ammonia, or sprinkled with spirits of 
turpentine, which perhaps would be better; but 
either of these would kill a great many, and 
stupify the remainder, until the contents of the 
net were subjected to sufficient heat to deprive 
them of life. This process is no doubt trouble- 
some, and requires to be repeated; and unless, 
perhaps, some alterations were made, it would 
not answer on an extensive scale. This, how- 
ever, is no fatal objection to the principle—A 
board newly painted or tarred, and drawn over 
the turnips will catch multitudes of the beetles ; 
for on being disturbed they leap against it, and 
cannot release themselves. I should recommend 
white paint ; and the brighter it is the better, as 
all insects are attracted by light colours. Neither 
wet nor windy weather would be suited to these 
operations; for it is ascertained that the beetles 
are at such seasons disinclined to move; neither 
would mid-day in fine weather do, as they are 
then active, and fly well; for it is a well-known 
fact, corroborated also by the flight of swallows, 
the turnips would be highly useful; and this | that in hot days and sunshine insects fly high, 
opinion is supported by Mr. Bayldon, who re- | whilst in damp weather they keep upon or near 
ee 
a ee 
