IN SCOTLAND.

401

feed in September and October amply compensates for it.The ground is more sensibly enriched than by the summerpasturing, and rendered so fine, that the wheat crop couldeasily be drilled. By this method, the soil is not only putinto a rich and mellow state, but that something is removed,which makes wheat after grass otherwise unsuccessful *. Thetreading of the sheep, likewise, consolidates the soil, and pro-bably destroys the vermin which nestle in it, and their eggsor larvae.

The advantages that would result from the adoption ofthese practices, in the southern parts of the kingdom, wheresuch an extent of wheat, sown on clover ley, is annually de-stroyed by vermin, baffle all calculation.

The wire-worm .—For the reasons already mentioned, thered or wire-worm, is but little known in the generality ofthe Scotch counties This is a fortunate circumstance, astheir depredations arc so extensive and injurious where theyabound. These vermin remain in a grub state from oneto perhaps five years : from four to eight worms have beenfound in a square ell,, or four square feet, and it is ascertained,that a single worm has bitten from four to twenty stalks inone place J. Their attacks are less felt, where it is the practice,instead of wheat, to cultivate oats on clover and other leys,being a much hardier grain.

Some farmers are of opinion, that the application of hotJime will destroy these and other vermin, who nestle in thesurface of ley, or of old matted turf; but paring and burningi# found to be a more effectual remedy, and when both pro-cesses are united, success is certain. By some, culinarv salt

* Husbandry of Scotland , vol, i, p: S27.f Berwickshire Report, p. 497. Ayrshire ditto, p. 671. Stirlingshire dittop. 376.

t See Communications to the Board of Agriculture, vol. iv, p. 412 . By Tho-mas Marsham, Esq. He recommends employing children to follow the ploughto pick up these vermin, and ‘.a put them in a glass bottle, box or leather-bag,that they may be destroyed.

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