" STRIG MAGGOT." 76 



splitting up the decayed mass the maggot tunnels and cells will be 

 easily seen. 



The various observations of attack were sent in September ; the 

 first (on the 5th of September) was sent from Upper Ensinge, Cnlham, 

 near Canterbury, by Mr. Edw. Leney, who mentioned : — " I have for- 

 warded a quantity of small maggots which are found embedded in the 

 core of the Hop, and doing considerable damage; in fact, in a very few 

 days the Hops go quite brown, and become useless. I shall be much 

 obliged if you will let me know the cause of same, and if anything 

 another year can be done to prevent it ; I think perhaps getting an 

 abundance of sap in the bine, to an extent increases it." 



A little later (on the 10th of September), Mr. Edward Goodwiu, 

 writing from Canon Court, Wateringbury, near Maidstone, sent the 

 following observations, which will be seen to be of considerable 

 interest. Mr. Goodwin notices the great number of "cones," which, 

 on careful examination, he found were infested; also the great number 

 of maggots (up to 40 or 50) which were to be found in a single head ; 

 and the fact of the maggots, at the time of observation, leaving 

 the cones to bury themselves in the ground, which is very important 

 relatively to preventive measures, is also noticed. 



Mr. Goodwin, alluding to a previous letter on the " Strig maggot," 

 remarked : — " Siuce writing you, I have looked more closely for the 

 above, and regret to find that the attack is more general and severe 

 than I thought. 



" In two gardens I went into yesterday, I failed to find a single 

 cone not attacked, and some contained 40 or 50 maggots. They are 

 leaving the cones rapidly, and I found large numbers on the ground 

 about to bury and pupate. I have been keeping some branches of 

 Hops in my larval cages, and I find that the maggots bury themselves 

 in the earth within a very few minutes after they fall. I notice that 

 they can spring an inch or two, apparently by a sudden contraction of 

 the body. 



" I intend to try one or more of the methods for killing the pupaB 

 you suggested last year in the letter you wrote me then." ..." I 

 believe that the damage done by this insect is enormous this year, 

 although not so apparent as sometimes on account of the comparatively 

 cool weather which has kept the Hops green, even where strigs were 

 eaten out. Two or three hot days' sun would show the mischief." 



On the 19th Sept., Mr. Hartridge, writing from Ifield Place, Thong, 

 Gravesend, requested information as to what would be the best remedy 

 for destroying the maggots that were in the strigs of the Hops sent 

 accompanying, without injury to the plant, at what time of the year to 

 use it, and when was it likely the attack was commenced ? 



Another application was also sent me by Mr. Wallace, from Ear- 



