184 ONIONS. 



Insects.— Occasionally, Onion growers suffer seri- 

 ous loss from the effects of the Onion Maggot 

 {Anthomyia cej>aruin), a small fly that deposits an 

 egg in the Onion near the ground. These eggs hatch 

 in a short time, giving tlie maggot and then the 

 change to the pupa state, from which comes the fly 

 again. Dusting with fresh wood-ashes is said by 

 many growers to be a preventive ; or burning the 

 surface over with old straw before sowing the seed, 



EAELT KBD. 



and scattering powdered charcoal with a dressing of 

 five bushels of salt to the acre. 



Although we have grown Onions in a large way 

 for many years, the maggot has never made its ap- 

 jjearance with us. I am inclined to think the insect 

 is a near relation of the Anthomyi-a hrassicw, and 

 that dusting the plants with fresh air-slacked lime 

 would be found of service ; or sowing some fine flour 

 of bone in the rows, still better. 



Vaeieties. — There is a long list of varieties, but 



