FARM PESTS 39 



neighbourhood of Keswick illustrates the mode of pro- 

 cedure, where a level patch on the summit of Skiddaw 

 could be seen even from the town assuming a burnt-up 

 appearance. This was found to be the work of the 

 Antler Moth, and the progress of the caterpillars could be 

 marked off from day to day, in addition to which vast 

 numbers of rooks followed them down as they advanced. 

 What are we to do with a case like that ? Of course 

 it should be remembered that although Nature is often 

 quite ruthless about taking away, as a rule she unspar- 

 ingly gives back again eventually. In the present in- 

 stance the moth, which emerges at the end of August, 

 is somewhat erratic in its movements and likely to migrate 

 to another locality, whilst the devastated pastures will 

 grow again all the richer for its visitation. This may 

 be thought a poor consolation for the farmer or grazier 

 who has to depend upon his annual crop, but a knowledge 

 of these broad principles will prevent the wasting of 

 precious time and money on merely palliative efforts 

 or quack remedies. The rook is the farmer's best friend 

 for soil insects, and works for nothing, and it should there- 

 fore be allowed to stand as the natural enemy of the 

 Antler Moth. Wherever it is possible to open the ground 

 its useful work may be facilitated, and then followed by 

 the use of lime and the exposure of the newly-turned sods 

 to alternate frost and wet, which is fatal to moth pupse. 

 Our next subject is Cork, where several insect troubles 

 await us. First there is the Frit Fly {Oscinus frit) a 

 minute dipterous insect which is the cause of loss chiefly 

 in oats, but also with wheat, barley and other cereals. 

 This fly is only yV i^i^h long, shining black with 

 yellow legs. The maggots, about the same length, 

 are narrow at the head and provided with mouth-hooks 

 by which they mine their way into the heart of the 

 plants. This larva pupates within the plant itself and 

 the first brood hatches out in the month of April. The 

 important thing is to get the oats either winter-sown or 



