CHAPTER VII. 



Frequent occurrence of shrivelled grains in samples of wheat— 

 Often caused by the wheat midge, or cecidomyia tritici— The 

 time for seeing this fly is June, in the evenings— Its occupation 

 of laying its eggs in the flowers — Larvae or maggots from these 

 eggs injure the young ovary — These maggots may be easily 

 found in the ears— Mistakes respecting them — The midge a 

 real parasite — Want of information amongst fanners respect- 

 ting it — Well described by Mr. Curtis — Long ago observed by 

 Mr. Kirby — His view of one laying its eggs — Peculiarities of 

 the larvae — May be found in the chafl" dust of wheat in barns 

 looking like chrysalides, but are only larvae, covered with a 

 membrane — Chrysalis state probably not reached till spring — 

 Failure of attempts to breed the midges— Curious entomolo- 

 gical question respecting them — Importance of deciding it — 

 Estimate of losses by the midge— Remarks— American wheat 

 midge, or Hessian fly. 



Remarkable as are the diseases prevalent in 

 the wheat, which have been treated on in the 

 last two chapters, they are scarcely more in- 

 teresting objects of inquiry than the curious 

 devastator of the growing crops to which 

 attention is now about to be directed. Every 

 farmer knows the loss that he constantly sus- 

 tains,, from the large mixture in his samples of 

 shrivelled and defective grains. This continu- 

 ally happens, even when the blossoming 



