[)() CORN AND GRASS. 



maggot feeding within, wliicli lowers the value of the straw for 

 plaiting purposes. Later on, where attack is severe and crop 

 at maturity, the field will appear as if storm-broken, from the 

 irregular falling of the severed straws. 



Prevention and Remedies. — The maggot cuts the Corn- 

 stalk below where the cutters of the reaper separate the stems, 

 and it remains, not in the upper part, which is carried away, 

 but down in the stump which remains in the ground. It 

 winters inside the lowest part of the stalks of the stubble ; 

 therefore any means whereby the stubble may be destroyed, 

 or buried too deeply for the fly to come up again after it has 

 developed, will be serviceable. 



Where there has been a bad attack, it is desirable to collect 

 the rubbish, that is, the roots of stubble, and either burn 

 it in heaps on the field, spreading the ashes afterwards over 

 the surface, or cart it off the land with the weeds, which, 

 mixed with quick-lime or gas-lime, forms a foundation 

 for a good compost-heap, and either treatment is a sure 

 method of destruction of the grubs. 



The clearing of the ground might be effected either by a 

 Biddle's scarifier or the broad-share paring-plough ; or a 

 common plough, with its mould-board unattached, and fitted 

 with a share a foot in breadth, might be set to work on the 

 stubble after the grain-crop is carted, and skim off the surface 

 to the depth of three or four inches ; the harrows will shake 

 the earth from the roots, and a turn of the chain-harrows 

 collect the refuse, which may be disposed of as above 

 mentioned. 



Ploughing would not be a sure preventive unless the stubble 

 was thoroughly well buried down ; if only partly buried the 

 maggots would probably be no way injured. If it could be 

 completely buried down and left there this would answer ; but 

 I believe the most sure plan is after harrowing, &c., to collect 

 the stubble in heaps and burn it. 



Burning the standing stn1)bles has been recommended, and 

 is an excellent method of destroying the maggot ; in some 

 cases, by the elevation of the finger bar of the reaper, the 

 stubble may be cut at such a height that the simple act of 

 setting the residue on fire will burn the whole surface of the 

 field, and prove a thorough remedy. (For the best method of 

 firing a stubble see p. 8G). 



The Sawfly does much harm on the Continent, and is 

 common in this country, in Corn-fields and on grasses growing 

 in the woods in June ; but is rarely known as one of our bad 

 crop-pests. 



