72 CORN AND GRASS. 



The above experiments point to the fact that frost "will not 

 rid us of these grubs, and also that flooding land to get rid of 

 them is not likely to be of much use unless the water is mixed 

 with some ingredient injurious to the grub, and is flooded on 

 to the land so completely and for so long a time that the grub 

 has no chance of escape. Where a field can be treated in this 

 way, the plan has been found to answer well close to sewage- 

 works. 



With regard to want of food, some of the grubs placed in a 

 vessel with a little earth, but no food-plant, were found to be 

 alive and perfectly healthy after about three weeks ; how 

 much longer is not mentioned. — (S. F.) 



Under drought, however, as far as experiment shows, the 

 grub rapidly fails. 



Methods of prevention and remedy of this infestation may 

 be said to lie in carrying out so far as can be done the follow- 

 ing principles : — Istly. Drainage, and clearing away all 

 unnecessary amount of wet neglected herbage; and such 

 treatment of rubbish in the fields as may prevent it serving 

 for food or sheltering places. 2ndly. Giving the plant a good 

 start, and keeping up a healthy growth by ordinary measures 

 of good cultivation and manuring; and 3rdly, in case of 

 attack, although mechanical measures, as rolling, hoeing, &c., 

 are of some service, mainly depending on such fertilising 

 application as will be available at once to the plant, and keep 

 up its strength by the extra supply of food.* 



Frit Fly. Osdnisfrit, L. {? Oscinis vastator, Curtis). 



The Frit Fly is a small, black, shining, two-winged fly, 

 rather under the eighth of an inch in length. " Legs black, 

 the tarsi (feet) of the hinder pair, with the exception of the 

 end joints, yellow ; the fore feet brown-yellow, the midmost 

 often much darker ; the wings transparent, somewhat brown 

 at the fore edge."t It is also distinguishable by its peculiar 

 habit of dancing or skipping about, which has been very 

 noticeable in the specimens I have reared. This fly is common 

 in various parts of the Continent, and especially recorded as 



* Many of the measures regarding treatment of land, and manuring, men- 

 tioned in paper on Wireworm, would be also serviceable for prevention of Daddy 

 Longlegs infestation. Special information on this attack and methods of pre- 

 vention will be found in my Eeports on Injurious Insects for 1880; 1883; and 

 1884. 



t For description of the "Frit Fly," see 'Fauna Austriaca, die Fliegen,' by 

 Dr. J. R. Schiner, ii. Theil, p. 224 ; and for description in all its stages, with 

 life-history, see 'Praktische Insekten Kunde,' by Dr. E. L. Taschenberg, pt. iv., 

 p. 151. 



