WHEAT-BULB FLY, 33 



state of the ground, or even slight diflference of locality, or method of 

 treatment at the time of putting in the seed, on presence of this kind 

 of maggot attack. Mr. S. G. Jones wrote as follows : — 



" I send you sample of Wheat plants, taken out of the ground to- 

 day, from ten acres sown on the 10th October, after bare fallow. 

 Before the hard frost, the crop was up and looked well, and early in 

 February, just before the second heavy fall of snow, a good dressing of 

 soot was applied. The same seed was planted on the same day on 

 adjoining land, but following Beans, and is now a very strong crop. 

 The extraordinary thing about this ten acres is, that round the ' head- 

 lands,' where the seed was drilled in the opposite direction, there is a 

 good crop now. The good crop forms a sort of frame, and where the 

 picture should be the crop has entirely gone off, as per sample sent, 

 except just in the furrows at the lower end of the piece." 



The following notes by Mr. Kobt. Norman, previously quoted, also 

 turn (after the first observations) on the effect of state of ground, or 

 of method of cultivation, on amount . of attack. Mr. Norman 

 mentioned, with regard to the maggot, that this " I have unfortunately 

 been acquainted with for many years, to my cost, and am able to tell 

 very early in the season when the crop is attacked." Further, Mr. 

 Norman observed, regarding the maggots : — " After a fallow, on land 

 with which I am acquainted, the Wheat almost invariably 'goes off' 

 by them ; also where the land is stirred, by ploughing, scarifying, or 

 harrowing, during the months of September and October, it appears to 

 propagate them. I could give instances where land lying contiguous 

 has not been stirred, and the plant has escaped the attack." 



The following observations, from Mr. Wm. C. Gardiner, of Little 

 Yeldham Hall, near Halstead, Essex, note the extent of mischief 

 caused by the maggot by April 30th, the date of the first note ; the 

 second adds one more to the many previous observations of appearance 

 of this infestation after fallow. Mr. Gardiner wrote : — 



" I take the liberty of sending you specimens of maggots or grubs 

 which are devouring my Wheat plant, and are quite different from 

 any kind of insect that I have known to prey on the young Wheat. 

 Before, I had a full plant all over the field a month ago ; and where 

 the maggot is at work, it has wasted quite 50 per cent, and is still 

 going." 



On May 9th Mr. Gardiner wrote : — " I may say that the preparation 

 for Wheat was, Red Clover a full plant at first, but it gradually died 

 off ; so folded it with sheep, and broke the land about July. Being 

 clean I did not touch it any more till October, when I planted the seed. 

 It being a very warm September and autumn, I can quite understand 

 the land being in a favourable condition for the fly to lay its eggs 

 Vinder the furrows," 



