Reports to the Board of Agriculttire. 5 



developing grain. In Sweden tins second attack is often harmful, 

 producing light shrivelled samples of corn (frits). 



Little or nothing can be done when a crop is badly attacked, as 

 the one reported from Croydon. Moreover, the damage is now (June) 

 done, and the second brood cannot be materially lessened, even by 

 ploughing up the crop, as they are hatching out rapidly. 



One feature has been noticed in districts where Oscinis frit is 

 abundant, namely, that early sown crops suffer the least. Oats 

 sown 29th of March were not attacked ; those sown on 29th of April 

 had over 70 per cent, of the stems attacked. 



Where a field is ureparably damaged it is as well to deeply 

 plough it up at once, so as to bury the puparia of the fly and thus 

 prevent the second and summer brood, that cannot be so easily 

 destroyed, from appearing. 



Wlien early signs of the crop being attacked are noticed, the loss 

 may be materially lessened by the timely application of some 

 stimulating dressing such as nitrate of soda. 



Smut in Barley and Insects. 



The barley sent by a correspondent of the Board from Brackley, 

 Northamptonshire, was found to be suffering from the fungoid disease 

 called Loose Smut ( Ustilago nuclei, Jensenii). 



Two methods of treatment are known for Smuts : (1) the " blue- 

 stone " treatment and (2) the " hot water " treatment. The former 

 does well for covered smut ( Ustilago jensenii, Eostr.), but has little 

 effect on Loose Smut. 



The " hot water" treatment consists of soaking the grain for five 

 minutes in hot water heated to 126° F. 



The grain should be warmed just before by putting it in a sack 

 and steeping it for a few minutes in water of 120° F. After the 

 erain has been five minutes in the hot water, 126° F., it should be 

 taken out and plunged right away into cold water and then spread 

 out to dry. 



Some Clavicorn Beetles of the genus Phalacrus of PaykuU were 

 found in the diseased ears. They apparently feed upon the spores of 

 the Smut fungus, but at the same time they no doubt help to dis- 

 tribute this fungoid disease, for they are often seen covered with the 

 spores, amongst which they crawl during feeding time. The remedy 

 of this combined attack lies in treatment of the seed ; no steps need be 

 taken in regard to the insects. 



