1899] MEDITERRANEAN MILL BIOTH. 77 



be fully understood, I think it may be of use to give the main points 

 of the subject brought up to date, including amongst these, first, 

 notes sent me in the course of the past year showing the prevalence of 

 the pest, and the very great difficulty of bringing remedial measures 

 really and practically to bear on the matter, and afterwards detailed 

 descriptions of the appearance of the moth, egg, and caterpillar ; also 

 life-history and habits of the infestation, its regular and its occasional 

 food, the countries where it is known to exist, and likewise means of 

 prevention and remedy which are recommended. 



So far as material allows, I have described from reports placed in 

 my hands from the commencement of the attack in 1888 in our own 

 country (as this infestation is one that is affected by temperature), but 

 have also quoted (referred to as occasion requires) from the admirable 

 Monograph of Mons. J. Danysz, Director of the Laboratory of Patho- 

 logy of the Bourse de Commerce, Paris ; from the information given 

 in publications of the Department of Agriculture of the U.S.A., and 

 other sources. 



The following communications, which were sent me in the past 

 season referring especially to the great spread of this flour mill scourge, 

 were forwarded to me by millers working roller mills on a large scale, 

 and, being in business confidence, I am not permitted to give names 

 or localities. 



It will be seen that the first observations mention the spread of 

 the " scourge," until now it is " troubling most millers of the United 

 Kingdom"; and also what (so far as I can venture to think myself 

 able to understand the bearings of the matter) I believe to be a great 

 factor in this general spread — namely, the systematic concealment of 

 presence of attack, the complete secrecy (so far as is possible) which is 

 preserved by those troubled with the pest. Thus all concerned lose 

 much help that might be given by consultation and comparison of 

 experiments, and also debar themselves from the protection from 

 transmission of infestation which would be given if general presence 

 of the pest was acknowledged, and sacks, bags, and similar vehicles of 

 flour transport were, as matter of course, disinfected. Notes are also 

 given as to tdiy various methods of prevention and remedy usually 

 recommended for mill use fail in their effect, or do mischief coin- 

 cidently, as, for instance, by fumigation tainting the flour, and of flour 

 if subjected to the influence becoming a wet mass. 



The notes were sent me, after some correspondence, on May 20th 

 in the past season, and I give them verbatim : — 



"In reference to the scourge of moths at present troubling most 

 millers of the United Kingdom. ... Of course the millers do 

 not wish their customers, or, indeed, anyone, to know they have the 

 moth pest, and on that account they will not even communicate to 



