1900] PEAR GNAT MIDGK. 66 



my success in carrying out the means you were good enough to 

 recommend to me for destroying the Pear Gnat Midge, Diplusis pyrivora. 



"During last winter I trenched the ground under the trees, and in 

 that way destroyed most of the larvae deposited in the surface soil. 

 This year, in contrast to former years, the attack was comparatively 

 slight ; and, as an effort to complete the destruction of the pest, I made 

 it a daily operation to go carefully over the trees and pick and destroy 

 by burning all the infested fruit, not allowin;/ any to drop on the yronnd. 

 Where this course is practicable, I believe it to be the most effectual 

 method of eradicating the pest, for otherwise, should any of the 

 infested fruit drop on the ground, there is always a chance of some of 

 the larvae escaping to continue the mischief in the following year. 



" Owing chiefly to the attack of Diplosis pyrivora, the Pear crop 

 here has, for a number of years prior to this, been a complete failure; 

 this year, however, the crop has been an excellent one." — (G. B.) 



The following notes, which were sent me by Mr. H. H. Williams, 

 from Pencalenick, Truro, Cornwall, on May 18th, in the past season, 

 give valuable testimony to the serviceableness of hand-picking and 

 destroying the young pears infested by the maggot, with a few remarks 

 well worth attention. Likewise, it is noted that the " Pitmaston 

 Duchess" Pear is a kind peculiarly liable to attack, a circumstance 

 which is confirmed by the observations, sent me a little later, by Mr. 

 H. F. Getting, from Oakleigh, near Koss (see p. 66). 



On May 18th Mr. H. H, Williams wrote as follows : — 



" I am to-day sending you some pears attacked by the Pear Midge, 

 which pest, I am glad to report, is proportionately much less destruc- 

 tive this year than a year or two ago, considering the enormous crop 

 of pears that set this season. 



" After three years' trial of the methods advised by you, I feel sure 

 that hand-picking and destroying all diseased fruits is the only real 

 remedy. Kainite is doubtless an auxiliary, but, from my own obser- 

 vation, this alone is not sufficient ; while hand-picking, if thoroughly 

 done every year, will reduce the attacks to almost negligible proportions 

 in a fair fruit year. I would again draw attention to their marked 

 preference for Pitmaston Duchess over all other pears grown here, 

 while Louise Bonne, as usual, is almost untouched. 



"In conclusion, my experience is that when thoroughly done 

 hand-picking is a certain cure in time, but wliere this is not or cannot 

 be done, Pear growing in the open had better be discontinued at 

 once."— (H. H. W.) 



Of the little pears sent, such as showed some degree of infestation 

 were characteristically attacked — that is, showed presence of the Pear 

 Midge Maggot — and the substance of the young fruit was in course of 

 being eaten away. 



