1899] PEAR GNAT MIDGE. 97 



kainite and nitrate of soda, also gas lime later on in the spring, Avhen 

 the maggots were falling ; but we cannot see any marked effect from 

 either, as the attack was uniformly less on all the trees. We will 

 watch them carefully again this season, and let you know if there is 

 any marked effect from either treatment." — (R. & B. B.) 



On June 6th, 1898, I was favoured by a communication from Mr. 

 Geo. Brown, Gardens, Bowood Park, Calne, Wilts, relatively to the 

 nature and means of prevention of an attack to young Pears, of which 

 samples were sent accompanying, and by which very many of the Pears 

 were said to be infested. Tliis attack was also of the Pear Gnat Midge, 

 DiplusiH piirirord, and showed bad infestation in an advanced stage, the 

 season of the duration of the attack now drawing to a close, and the 

 maggots leaving the destroyed young fruit. 



Of about thirty or more Pears sent me (ail of which I opened), I 

 found all excepting one were infested. In many cases the attack had 

 been completed, and the maggots gone. In most cases a great part of 

 the inside of the Pear was hollowed out, or decayed, consequently on 

 the attack. The decayed part sometimes reaching across the Pear, 

 and often making a damp, quite soft, decayed condition on part of the 

 side of the Pear through which it was presumable the maggots had 

 made their escape. Some, I found from examination, might very 

 probably have escaped by the communication of the infested decaying 

 and gnawed portion of the inside of the Pear witli the opening at the 

 calyx end of the Pear. The maggots appeared to be mostly fully 

 grown, and I counted their numbers up to about six and twenty 

 in two of the Pears which I examined. They were very active, 

 and their skipping powers were very noticeable as they dispersed 

 on the dark red and black tablecloth of my study table. ^(E. A. 0. ; 

 June 7th.) 



On Jan. 12th, 1900, Mr. Geo. Brown was good enough, at my 

 request, to place in my hands the following note of the results in 1899 

 of his careful treatment applied in 1898 — namely, of gathering and 

 destroying infested Pears, of skimming off and destroying surface soil 

 around infested trees, and also of dressing heavily witli kainite and also 

 with wood-ashes. The result, it will be observed, was that, although 

 the attack again made its appearance, yet " it was not to such an 

 alarming extent as in the previous years." 



" The Gardens, Bowood Park, Calne, Wilts, Jan. 12th, 1900 :— 

 I have much pleasure in complying with the request contained in 

 your letter of the 3rd inst., and now try to append the information you 

 ask for regarding the infestation of young Pears by Uiplosis pyiivom. 

 In June, 1898, you were good enough to recommend to me a means of 

 destroying this pest, which I accordingly carried out — 



" 1st. By gathering and destroying all the infested Pears. 



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