52 FLIES. 



The Onion, Cabbage, Beet, and Celery Fly, and 

 some others, have several broods in the summer. 

 This is the reason why it is an object to check the 

 very first attack, even by destroying part of the crop. 

 Often by raising the attacked Onions with a spud or a 

 broad knife, or something that will quite certainly 

 bring up all the maggots, we can check the attack, 

 and destroy the parents of what would in a few weeks 

 have been a devastating horde. Or it is a better plan 

 still to pour a few drops of carbolic acid carefully on 

 the destroyed bulb. This kills every grub it touches, 

 and does not encourage further attack by loosening 

 the soil, or bruising good bulbs. We may sometimes 

 check Celery, or Beet and Mangold Fly attack, by 

 cutting off bits of leaf, or drawing plants which are 

 infested. But we should be sure to destroy the drawn 

 plants. If they are merely left on the field, or thrown 

 to the rubbish heap, the maggots which are full grown 

 will turn to pupse, and the Flies develop as well as if 

 nothing had been done. 



In all cases of maggot attack to roots or hulhs, ii 

 should be borne in mind that if we can keep the Fliea 

 from laying their eggs on, or very near, what is their 

 maggot food, the plants will be to a great extent 

 safe. One at least of the Onion Flies lays her eggs on 

 the bulb, apparently on the lowest part she can reach. 

 If Onions are knocked about, and left bare in hoeing^ 

 they are at the mercy of the Fly, which in this and 

 other cases appears attracted by the smell of the 

 injured crop. 



With Onions, and also with Carrots, attack very 

 often follows on thinning; but the matter may be met.. 

 I have found that in garden treatment, where Onions 

 were in rows, earthing them well up above the col- 

 lars answered well; and with Carrots it has been 

 found, by various good growers, that thinning so early 

 that the operation did not throw the ground open was 

 a successful treatment, i^articularly if followed by 

 copious waterings to " settle" the ground. 



