30 CORN AND GRASS. 



have the power of suspeudmg themselves as the bees do. But when 

 they extend (i. e., the Mites), they do so in a continnoKs mass, some- 

 times several feet outwards. 



" They have been in Rye-grass and in meadow Grass this season, 

 but more abundant in the former. During the month of September 

 and early part of October they showed, or appeared to be, at their 

 greatest strength and activity ; after the middle of October they 

 gradually showed less vitality and power to move or extend, until now 

 (the beginning of November) all life is apparently gone, and the mass 

 of the once living organism has shrunk into less than one-half its 

 original size. 



" I cannot say, but the probability is, that the Mites are nourished 

 or sustained on the heads or seeds of the hay. And the fact that they 

 are to be found more abundant in Rye-grass seems to strengthen this 

 argument or idea, as the powdery anthers are more prolific or profuse 

 on this Grass than on meadow Grasses. 



" In appearance and colour they closely resemble the Cheese Mite. 

 They are to be met with in the North of Scotland, but not nearly to 

 the same extent as in the west, where the climate is much warmer and 

 moister, the north being colder but much drier." 



Prevention and Remedies. — In lofts where hay is commonly stored, 

 it would be desirable, after a supply has been finished, and Mites 

 are found to be so numerous that (as noted by Mr. Byrd) they can be 

 swept into little heaps, to have a thorough cleaning. A complete 

 sweeping together first, from all accessible places, whether floor, or 

 walls, or rafters, or any other parts, and especially the darkest and 

 most sheltered spots, and burning the collected masses, would be well 

 to begin with. This, if followed up by washing down with scalding 

 water, application of soft-soap wash (all the better for just a little 

 paraffin oil in it), and such applications as whitewashing walls, tarring 

 rafters, &c., could not fail to tend very much against reappearance of 

 the attack indoors. 



Out-of-doors, we need to know how and when they get into the 

 stacks. We have no observations of the infestation being in the Grass 

 when heh}(/ saved ; that is, nothing to connect the infestation with 

 being brought from the fields, in the seed-heads of the Grass or other- 

 wise. We have it noticed as brought with hay, or being present in, 

 or rather as dropping from, hay ; and it occurs whether, in these 

 instances, the Mites may not have taken up their quarters in the 

 rubbish which may often be left, year after year, on the site where one 

 stack after another is placed, and so infest the new hay. 



Where stacks are placed on any foundation which can harbour 

 Mite-vermin, especially of rough wood and logs which allow much old 



