76 fiop* 



diston, Tenbury, Worcestershire, requesting information as to any 

 practicable way of extirpating this infestation "which during the last 

 two seasons had increased very rapidly," 



The only methods of prevention of this attack would appear to be 

 (as previously suggested) destroying the pest in the ground. We know 

 that the maggots fall down from the Hop-cones, and they have been 

 seen to bury themselves, and we know nothing more about the infes- 

 tation until we find the Hop-cones being ruined by the Strig Maggot 

 in the following year. It is quite plain that this attack must necessarily 

 originate from the Strig Maggots, having in due course developed to 

 the little Gnat-Midges, minute Gnat-like flies, scientifically, Cecidomyice 

 very much in appearance like the well-known Wheat " Gnat-Midge," 

 which produces the "Red Maggot" of the Wheat; and the only 

 available treatment appears to be so treating the Hop hills as to get 

 rid of the pests lying at the surface before they develop to flying state. 



How best to do this is a matter for consideration of the Hop 

 growers. No one else can be certain to give right advice, consequent 

 on not knowing with certainty when, or how, in course of regular 

 cultivation, the requisite treatment can be given. 



Any disturbance of the surface of the Hop hills which will throw 

 just the surface open to weather, or distribute just the uppermost film 

 with its maggot contents on the land round, would certainly do good. 

 Thus the minute maggots would be exposed to the alternate wet and 

 cold of winter, which is a known means of maggot destruction, although 

 maggots will stand severe cold in their own shelters. 



P.S. — Whilst the above observations were going through press, I 

 gathered, from an incidental remark in a communication from Miss 

 Frances Pye, of Knights Place, Rochester, that some form of treatment 

 had been found to be of service in clearing Strig Maggot attack, and 

 on inquiry she wrote me as follows : — • 



" My father thinks he got great good from letting the sheep be on 

 the ground where we were most troubled with Strig Maggot. He had 

 Wurtzel, Turnips, and Swedes carried out to them, and let them tread 

 the ground well." 



I have let the previous observations stand, as (if practicable) 

 exposing the grubs to weather influences would be likely to be of use. 

 But where sheep could be put on the land, so as to press the ground 

 firm over the grubs, and also poison the surface (to the grubs) with 

 their fluid as well as solid droppings, the effect might be expected to 

 be very serviceable. 



