132 GROW YOUR OWN VEGETABLES 



The Carrot Fly causes much destruction to this crop, 

 boring into the roots and otherwise injuring them. The 

 preventive measures adopted to overcome this pest may 

 be tabulated as follows : 



(1) When it is noticed that the tops of carrots change 

 colour, prematurely, the roots should be examined, and those 

 that are infested must be forked up so that no part of them 

 is left in the ground, and destroyed. This will prevent 

 further infestation. 



(2) If the flies are seen on or near the carrot plants these 

 should be sprayed with paraffin emulsion. The emulsion is 

 made thus : Dissolve half a pound of soft soap in a gallon 

 of boiling water ; while this is still boiling pour it into two 

 gallons of paraffin, and churn thoroughly until a butter-like 

 mass results. If this be well made it will keep for a long 

 time. For use, dilute with twenty parts of water. This 

 emulsion can be distributed by means of a knapsack 

 machine. 



(3) The following has proved an excellent preventive 

 measure : Spray the carrot bed. after sowing, with the 

 paraffin emulsion, spraying again after germination, and a 

 third time after thinning. 



(4) In places where these flies cause injury coal ashes, 

 sawdust, sand, or wood-ashes, impregnated with paraffin oil 

 at the rate of from three to four quarts per cwt., may be put 

 into the drills with the seed. 



(5) Pressing the earth close round the stems tends to 

 prevent the flies from egg laying. This may be done 

 immediately after the plants are thinned. 



(6) Heavy watering of the crop after thinning tends to 

 consolidate the soil, and so wards off an attack. 



(7) Sand or ashes, impregnated with paraffin or carbolic 

 acid, may be scattered over the plants at thinning time to 

 keep the flies from them. The great object must be to 



