DADDY LONGLEGS. 67 



It may be noticed, in crossing a large space of grass-land in 

 autumn, that where the ground is dry and the herbage short, 

 there are few of these flies to be seen ; whilst on the same 

 land, with only the difference of shade or some cause for 

 longer growth of herbage, they will rise in numbers before the 

 passer-by. 



Penning and hand-feeding sheep on spots where the grass 

 was not thoroughly eaten short would be a sure preservative. 

 The biting of the sheep would clear off the shelter for the fly, 

 and the trampling and general state of the surface consequent 

 on their droppings would stop all oviposition. 



Autumn top dressing would encourage, or deter, attack, 

 according to material employed. Farm-manure would only 

 make an agreeable shade or shelter for egg-laying purposes in 

 or around the lumps ; whilst, on the contrary, a dressing of 

 gas-lime and lime mixed would probably have a very deterring 

 effect. 



Where the land is so damp that the Daddy Longlegs are 

 present in most years to a hurtful extent, the ground should 

 be drained. 



Eooks are sometimes very useful in lessening amount of the 

 flies. Special observation of a flock of Eooks on ground much 

 infested showed they would catch and swallow the flies at a 

 rate of four a minute. 



2ndly. Measures of cultivation which ivill destroy the egg or 

 the grub in infested ground. — The grub is to be found most 

 plentifully after a wet autumn, because this state of weather 

 suits the flies (and in such circumstances the green crops are 

 also suitable for oviposition, as well as the meadows and 

 grassy spots which are most frequented in ordinary years), 

 and also because the continued wet does not allow of the land 

 being thoroughly cleared of surface rubbish. 



Daddy Longlegs grubs may be found as early as February 

 (as during 1880), when they were destroying hundreds of 

 acres of autumn-sown Wheat on heavy land after Clover, 

 round York at that date. Sometimes, as in the winter of 

 1883-84 preceding the severe attack of 1884, the autumn 

 hatched grubs are advanced enough to sweep off autumn 

 Wheat in December, and to continue actively through the 

 winter ; the regular work of destruction, however, usually 

 commences later, — about the beginning or middle of May, — 

 and continues till the end of June, or even to the beginning 

 of August. Much will depend upon the state of the weather, 

 the character of the soil, and the condition of the plant at the 

 date of attack, as to the amount of damage which the farmer 

 will have to sustain. 



The flies and grubs may be found throughout the summer, 



F 2 



