136 REMEDIES. 



The author has before stated, that he could 

 not succeed in breeding the midges from the 

 larvae found in the chaff dust of the bam, and 

 that some of the larvse have been known to 

 enter the earth. There is, perhaps, reason to 

 believe that it may ultimately be distinctly 

 ascertained that the chrysalis condition is as- 

 sumed in the earth. If so, those persons who 

 throw this dust carelessly, as is the constant 

 habit, into the farm-yard, help the increase of 

 the fly. The best method of preventing the 

 multiplication of this destructive insect, seems 

 to be that suggested by professor Henslow. 

 He advises the farmers to get sieves made of 

 such a construction that the chaff may be saved, 

 and the dust containing the larvae pass through. 

 This dust may be destroyed by burning, and 

 with it the larvae themselves. 



The writer has reason to believe that the 

 efficacy of this mode is more than conjectural. 

 In the autumn of 1845, the larvae of the midge 

 were extremely numerous in the district in 

 which he resides, and several farms suffered 

 considerably. Two intelligent farmers had 

 adopted the precaution of the sieve on large 

 occupations. There were scarcely any midges 

 to be found in their wheat, while in other 



