FRIT FLY ; GOUT FLY. 75 



stage of its growth -when it is liable to attack, is one of the 

 best measures available." 



From reports sent in, it appeared that after the maggots 

 turned to chrysalis state, the infested plants (where they had 

 not been destroyed past hope) threw out shoots, so that a 

 crop was obtained, though from unevenness of ripening it was 

 far from what could be wished. This suggests that if a 

 stimulating dressing was applied wdien the damage is first 

 beginning to show, time enough would thus be saved for a 

 growth which would give a more even crop. The nature of 

 the dressing will be best judged of by agriculturists them- 

 selves ; but in a series of experiments on Oats (noted further 

 on under the head of " Tulip-root "), it has been found now 

 for some years that sulphate of potash, or a mixture of 

 sulphate of potash with sulphate of ammonia and phosphates, 

 answers exceedingly well in bringing on a healthy crop. 



Where the crop cannot be saved, it is highly important so 

 to treat the surface of the land that the maggots or chrysalids 

 may be destroyed, which (if nothing is done, or the surface 

 only lightly stirred or cultivated for another crop) will 

 almost certainly produce a new brood of flies to continue in- 

 festation. For this purpose, ploughing with a skim-coulter 

 attached, so as to bury the infested surface well down, would 

 be about the best treatment. 



Looking at the point that in Sweden and Bohemia respec- 

 tively, the maggots of the summer brood have been found feed- 

 ing in ears of Barley and amongst the grains in Oat-heads, 

 it appears so far possible that infestation may be imported in 

 chrysalis form amongst the grain as to make it worth while to 

 examine it, and if the little reddish-brown chrysalis-cases 

 should be observed, to pickle the grain. For general appear- 

 ance of the maggots and chrysalids of the Frit Fly as seen 

 with the naked eye, those of the Wheat-bulb Fly (see figures 

 under this head) may be taken as examples, and the method 

 of injury to the young plant from the two attacks appears to 

 be indistino-uishable. 



Gout Fly (Ribbon-footed Corn Fly). 

 CIdorops tccnioptis, Meigen. 



The attack commonly known as "Gout " is caused by the 

 small black-and-yellow fly figured at p. 76. It affects Wheat, 

 Eye, and Barley, but is most prevalent on Barley ; and so 

 long ago as 1841 it was recorded by John Curtis that Wheat 

 in Surrey was infested ; and Barley in Lancashire destroyed 

 to a great extent by this attack. Now it commonly appears 



