VIII. 



ENEMIES OF THE CROP. 

 INSECTS AND DISEASES, AND HOW TO FIGHT THEM. 



ONION MAGGOTS. — WHITE GRUB. — WIRE-WORM. — ONION RUST. — ONION 



SMUT. 



I have been growing onions for many years, but I do not 

 believe I have ever lost one half of one per cent, of the crop 

 by the interference of the onion maggot, which proves so 

 destructive to onions in many localities. It was only now 

 and then that I found a single solitary maggot. Whether 

 this is due to the fact that the maggots which attack the 

 onions, cabbage, radish, and similar vegetables, are the 

 larvae of one and the same species of fly, which for oviposi- 

 tion takes radishes as first choice, cabbages next, and 

 onions only when the other plants are not to be had close 

 by, and that I invariably plant radishes and cabbages in 

 closest proximity to the onion patch, I am unable to say. 

 I may state, however, that I cannot discover distinctive 

 differences between the maggots or flies which affect the 

 onion, radish, and cabbage respectively, and that there are 

 always plenty of these unwelcome visitors on my radishes 

 and cabbages. Fig. ^^ shows the eggs (a), the larva at 

 work (/5), and the adult considerably magnified (<:). 



Prevention is much better and easier than cure. The 

 best thing that can be done is to remove the plantation to 

 a new plot, as far away as possible, each year, or at least 

 every other year. It is also recommended to puddle the 

 plants, when transplanting in the new way, in a puddle to 

 which sulphur has been added, and to s'prinkle sulphur 

 about the plants after they are set. 



CG 



