Miscellaneous Intelligence. 93 



very good, whilst all the other turnips in the parish sown at the same time, 

 in the usual manner totally failed. Another experiment was made in the 

 neighbourhood of Blandford, in Dorsetshire, the result of which was, the 

 only good crop of turnips obtained during the last year in that part of the 

 country. — Trans. S or. for Arts, Lond. vol. xlv. 



Preserving the Seed of Turnips.— The varieties of the turnip kind may be 

 multiplied and improved by a careful selection. The manner of securing a 

 good variety of seed, is to pick out from the field, in spring, the largest 

 and best shaped turnips, with the smallest tops and tails, and to plant them 

 in some separate place, in rows. When the plants flower, they must be 

 well guarded from the depredations of birds : and, just before they; are 

 fully ripe, the stems must be cut down and well dried, and then either 

 stored in stacks, to be thrashed out when wanted, or thrashed at once, and 

 the seed preserved in the granary. Those who raise seed for sale generally 

 sow the transplanted seed once more, in broadcast, and dispose of the pro- 

 duce of that which has been thus sown. — Quarterly Journal of 'Agriculture 



On the Insect which attacks the Ear of Wheat.— On inspecting many fields 

 of wheat when the ear had left the hose, almost every ear was observed to 

 contain a number of flowers, which were mis-shaped and discoloured. With- 

 in the husks of a sound flower, the parts of fructification were found, that is, 

 the three anthers, supported on their filaments, and filled with pollen, and 

 the ovary or young grain with its two hairy styles. But, on inspecting one 

 of the discoloured flowers, these parts were found to be mutilated to a 

 greater or less extent, and a number of little yellow worms were observed 

 lying in the concave of the inner husks, and clinging about the anthers. 

 These little maggots were of a bright lemon colour, and varied in size, 

 according to their age, from being almost invisible, to nearly the fifth of an 

 inch in length. They could not walk like caterpillars ; but, when laid upon 

 paper, they shewed good power of changing their place, by giving a spring 

 into the air, and alighting several inches from the place which they left. 

 That these animals were the cause of the disease in the wheat, there can be 

 no doubt. Let us, then, inquire a little into their history, which, if it does 

 not immediately lead to a cure, will at least be the first means that will 

 enable us to do so. 



. From its appearing at this season, before the grain is formed, it is eviden 

 that the grain cannot constitute the food of this species of worm ; and, as 

 the husks and the rudiment of the grain appear to remain uninjured, does 

 it not seem strange that even after the insect has left the flower, not a vestige 

 of the grain should be found in it ? Our wonder will cease when we find, 

 however, that its food seems to consist of the pollen which is contained 

 within the anthers, and (if we may so speak) its drink of the fluid which is 

 found upon the stigma. Those who have studied The Fructification of 

 Plant.*, are already informed that, by living in this way, the maggot has 

 completely placed itself between nature and the production of seed or corn. 

 It is known to them that, before seed can be produced, grains of pollen 

 must burst upon the viscid fluid which is found upon the feather which 

 surmounts the germ or rudimentary grain; and if this little worm consume- 

 either the grains or the fluid, and more particularly if it feed upon both, it 

 effectually castrates the plant, and renders it unable to produce fruit. 

 Such, then, appears to be the mode in which it effects its injury to our 

 crops. 



Let us now inquire whence comes this little enemy which thus is per- 

 mitted to consume such precious food. In the summer evenings, from 

 seven to nine o'clock, on observing attentively a wheat field destined to be 

 affected with this disease, multitudes of very small flies, less than the tenth 

 of an inch in length, will hi- seen flying about the ears which have newly 

 left the sheath. Others will be seen alighted upon them; and, if they be 

 examined with a magnifier, they will be found busily engaged in insinuating 

 their tail (which may be contracted, or extended to a long tube, at pleasure), 

 between the husks. With this apparatus they are depositing eggs about 

 the centre of the flower. Sometimes they entangle themselves so much 

 among its complicated parts, that they are unable to withdraw their Ovi- 

 positor; in which circumstances, they are detained as prisoners, and beirn: 

 lit and devoured by other insects^ become sacrifices to their posteiit v 



