WHEAT MIDGE. 43- 



development, the flies were not only to be found 

 attacking the wheat, but were to be found in great 

 numbers in clover-land which was in wheat in the 

 previous year, and also amongst rough grass at 

 hedge-sides. 



The maggots soon hatch, and feed on the germ or 

 some part of the soft grain ; they are very little grubs, 

 hardly more than the twelfth of an inch long, yellow, 

 orange, or scarlet in colour, and slightly pointed at 

 the head. The loss they cause by feeding on the 

 corn-grains sometimes amounts to as much as from 

 one to about three sacks (that is, about half the crop) 

 per acre. After they have left off feeding, some 

 remain in the corn, and are carried with it ; some 

 remain in the stubble, or fall, or go down into the 

 earth, where in time they change to chrysalids, from 

 which the Midge-flies come out about corn-flowering 

 time in the next year. 



In Canada, or ivhere the iveather can he reckoned on, 

 and the date of appearance of the Wheat Midge can 

 be reckoned on also, injury from attack is avoided by 

 sowing so that the wheat shall flower before or after 

 this special time. In one case the young grain is too 

 firm for the Eed Maggot to hurt it ; in the other, the 

 flower and germ are not far enough advanced for there 

 to be anything to attack until the Wheat Midge has 

 passed away ; consequently the corn is safe. We 

 sometimes benefit in this way here by accidental 

 circumstances, but we cannot depend on being able to 

 arrange it as in less changeable climates. 



Our best method of prevention is to destroy the Red 

 Maggot (or the chrysalis, if it has turned to it) in its 

 winter shelter. Deep ploughing, such as will turn 

 infested stubble thoroughly down, will act well, for 

 once deeply buried the Gnat -fly either will not deve- 

 lop or cannot come up again. It is not enough 

 considered in these matters that we may by our own 

 common knowledge often guide ourselves. If a weak 

 small grub (so small that we can scarcely see it) has 



