CABBAGE FLY. 27 



applications, such as dressings of gas-lime, which make the 

 ground thoroughly obnoxious to the flies and maggots, and 

 increase at the same time the action of the manure, have been 

 found very serviceable. 



It was reported to me from one of the chief growers in the 

 great Cabbage-raising district near Hounslow, as follows : — 



" I believe gas-lime to be the only practical cure for the 

 maggot tribe that infest our Brussels-sjDrouts, Broccoli and 

 Cabbage tribe"; and near Falkirk, N. B. (to give an instance 

 in a widely separated part of the country), where maggot was 

 very bad in 1881, all the crop in one locality was saved that 

 was planted on ground which had been dressed with gas-lime 

 previously. 



In all cases gas-lime must be used with moderation and 

 discretion {vide Index for proportion and condition) ; also it 

 should 7iot be allowed to lie in heaps on the ground, or the 

 land beneath will become poisoned for a while, but in due 

 proportion the application is excellent. In continental 

 practice the application of superphosphate of lime is advised 

 as a means of prevention. 



Eotation of crops in garden growing, and puddling or 

 dipping the roots at planting time with soot and water or 

 lime, or earth and cow-dung, or earth and night-soil are 

 methods found useful to prevent attack. 



Where plants have failed from maggot, and the ground had 

 to be replanted, a handful of hot lime mixed where each plant 

 was to be placed, before dibbling in, proved successful. — 

 (J. E.) 



When attack is present, heavy showers, or rain, on land 

 previously dressed with nitrate of soda round the plants, and 

 superphosphate, stopped the spread of the maggots. Also, 

 the application of lime-water has been found very serviceable. 

 The plan adopted was soaking hot lime for twenty-four hours 

 in water, and watering with this, when clear, in the after- 

 noon ; this was found to destroy the maggot. — (J. M'K.) 



Plants that are attacked by the maggots may be easily 

 known by their yellow or dull lead-colour, and by the leaves 

 drooping or fading in the heat of the day ; and unless the 

 attack is checked, as above mentioned, these plants should be 

 carefully removed and burnt, or got rid of in any way that 

 may make sure of destroying the maggots in them ; and any 

 liquid application, such as strong brine, or ley of ashes, such 

 as will poison them should be poured into the holes to kill any 

 maggots that have been left. 



The practice of taking one crop of Cabbage after another 

 off the same ground creates a nursery for the propagation of 

 all the insect-pests which prey on this crop ; and in the case 



