76 



MILLS. 



[1899 



(see ante, p. 72) April and the early part of May, whilst the shoots 

 are still young and tender, and by many weeks before the season of even 

 the beginning of the formation of the cones, consequently there is not 

 the slightest possibility of the application doing harm to the crop. 

 Trial, as mentioned above, would be necessary to ascertain what 

 proportion the Hop leafage would bear safely, and (this being clearly 

 known) the applications might be, after similar trial, found serviceable 

 in other cases of crop "Flea Beetle" infestation, for which we are 

 much needing to know of some broadscale applications. 



MILLS. 



Mediterranean Mill Moth. ]\phestio kuhuella, Zell. 



Ephestia kuhniella. — 1, moth, with wings expanded ; 2, moth, at rest ; 3, cater- 

 pillar ; 4, chrysalis — all magnified, lines showing natural length. 



This very seriously injurious flour mill infestation has been con- 

 tinuing to spread, until now it is widely prevalent in England and 

 Scotland, and also to some degree in Ireland ; and, though some 

 remedial measures lessen to some deyree the presence of the pest, I 

 believe I am right in saying that none of these can be applied without 

 risk of some sort or other, as to affecting condition of the flour, or of 

 the mill apparatus, and also entailing much trouble, and, at times, 

 considerable loss from temporary stoppage of mill working. 



The matter has often been entered on in my preceding Annual 

 Reports since 1888, in the autumn of which year the first complaint 

 of observation of the infestation as a serious mill pest was sent to 

 myself; but now in the serious difficulties from its presence, and also, 

 as still in some instances the nature of the attack does not appear to 



