PtlEFACE. V 



Grass suffered very severely (see pp. 22 — 31) in various 

 places, especially in the south-east of England, from the maggots 

 of Eose Chafer, an attack liable to be confused with that of the 

 Cockchafer; and a little moth, without any very descriptive 

 popular name (scientifically, the Py rails glaucinalis), was found 

 in one locality infesting the outer portions of hay, and other 

 kinds of fodder, stacks, to an inconvenient extent. 



The infestation of Diamond-back Moths, which in 1891 caused 

 so much mischief to Turnip and Cabbage leafage, especially 

 along our eastern coasts, and which were to some extent present 

 in 1892, was hardly reported last year ; and where careful 

 examination was made, by request, in the districts round Hartle- 

 pool and King's Lynn, where it had been especially prevalent, the 

 infestation was last year notably absent. Other common pests 

 were present, as Surface Caterpillars of different kinds, Cabbage- 

 root grubs. Aphides, &c. ; these last in one instance to such a 

 great amount as to attract such vast numbers of Ladybirds 

 {Coccinellidce), that measures were being set on foot to destroy 

 these helpers as being the cause of the mischief ! On Hops also 

 (which suffered so severely in some places from Eed Spider that 

 the cutting had to be hastened), a verysmall kind of Black Lady- 

 bird, the Scymnus minimus, was found to be very serviceably at 

 work as a " Eed Spider " eater. 



The " Eoot-knot " ^obNovm, Heterodera radicicohi, affecting 

 Cucumber and Tomato roots, has been made the subject of very 

 careful experiment regarding effects of chemical applications to 

 infested soil or plants (see pp. 103 — 108). 



Onions (which were much attacked by maggot last year). 

 Carrots, Potatoes, and other ordinary field and garden crop infes- 

 tations, were enquired about in their season, as well as forest 

 injuries, amongst which Aphis attack in various forms, and 

 notably the troublesome Larch Chermes, were present. These 

 were all duly replied to as they occurred, and entered, with date 

 and name of sender, in my books, which now have been daily 

 kept for many years, so as to form a kind of index of reference. 

 But as the main points of the history and methods of prevention 

 (so far as known) of our common attacks which have been 

 entrusted to my care for publication have been in many cases 

 embodied in my Annual Eeports, of which the present is the 

 seventeenth of the series, it has seemed unnecessary to repeat 

 the observations. 



Therefore in this year's Eeport I have endeavoured, so far as 

 I could, to omit notice of the well-known attacks, excepting 

 where some additional point of information, or some peculiar 

 development coincident with the peculiar weather conditions of 

 the year, appeared worth noting. 



Amongst attacks injurious to the fruit industry which now 

 holds such an important position, it might be said that almost 

 each kind of orchard tree, or bush, or ground-growing fruit, had 



