I( 



PKEFACE 



During the past season reports of observation of a great 

 variety of insect infestations were forwarded, many of these 

 being of our ordinary farm and orchard pests, but some also 

 which had been little previously noticed, and of others details of 

 habits, or of preventive measures, were contributed, serviceable 

 for completing previous notices. The only crop attack, however, 

 which was mentioned as seriously prevalent was that of Turnip 

 Flea-beetle. The caterpillars of Cabbage Butterflies (as in the 

 previous season) did a good deal of damage locally ; and for 

 about six to eight weeks from May 20th much application was 

 sent for leaflets on Wireworm, sometimes amounting to five or 

 six applications daily. 



Some infestations which are often seriously injurious were 

 little reported — as Surface Caterpillars to root crops ; and 

 Mangold-leaf Fly maggots ; orchard caterpillars (including 

 amongst them those of the Winter Moth) were little noticed ; the 

 caterpillars of the Gooseberry and Currant Moth and Sawfly 

 were also little mentioned. 



Amongst field crop attacks, some addition to previous in- 

 formation was noted in regard to different kinds of "Pear-shaped 

 Weevils " at Clover seed-heads. Amongst Corn attacks, some of 

 the well-known kinds — as those of the maggots of Oat Frit Fly, 

 Wheat-bulb Fly, and Corn Sawfly within Wheat stems — were 

 just enough reported to show they were not absent, as also 

 Hessian Fly in Wheat in one locality, and I would most 

 particularly desire to draw the attention of agriculturists (in 

 case of this infestation occurring again in the country) to the 

 notes given at p. 39, on the importance of destroying infested 

 screenings with the contained chrysalids, the so-called " Flax- 

 seeds." With regard to insect infestation in flour, whether as a 

 generally spread home trouble in mills, &c., or in imports, the 

 communications were on a much larger and graver scale than in 

 any preceding year, and I have especially drawn attention to 

 details connected with the " Mediterranean Mill Moth " in a paper 

 under that heading, pp. 76-92. Amongst Hop observations a 

 good working observation was given of possibility of broadscale 

 trapping of the Click Beetles (the parents of the Wireworms) ; 

 also notes of Hop Flea Beetle on the leafage, helped to give 

 some additions needed to connect this attack in summer with 

 that of the maggots later on in the Hop cones. Verv^iJitfe^ 



ft APR a 1900, 



