134 GARDENING FOR ALL. 
WIREWORM.—/(Elater linearis). 
There is no royal road to success in the destruction of 
this scourge to the gardener and farmer, and the pest is most 
difficult to extirpate. 
It is the larvz of a beetle, and remains as a wireworm 
four or five years, when it changes into the pupal state to 
ultimately come forth the perfect beetle. 
Good cultivation of the soil—which includes the frequent 
stirring of the soil—does much to reduce their numbers, 
because their feathered enemies find them more readily. 
Moles, pheasants, and rooks are said to feed upon them ; also 
starlings, blackbirds, thrushes, and partridges. Rape cake 
and rape dust is one of the best of baits for them, and by this 
means many acres of hops are protected from them. Carrots, 
turnips, potatoes, and beet are also good baits. The bait 
should be frequently examined and the wireworms destroyed. 
ONION FLY.—(Anthomyia ceparum). 
The onion maggot is the larve of a fly who deposits her 
eggs upon the onions principally during May. It is a simple 
matter to prevent the eggs being deposited, and so prevent the 
mischief. This may be done by frequent dressings with soot 
and lime, or soot alone. The soot should be applied evenly 
all over each plant in the bed by means of a dredger, or some 
dredging material such as coarse muslin or wasp netting, 
Take a piece of such material eighteen inches or two feet 
square, place in it a spadeful of soot, pick up the material by its 
four corners, and shake the soot through the meshes carefully 
all over the onions; do not miss one. Repeat the operation 
at intervals of about a week, to the end of May or beginning 
of June. 
According as these dressings are frequently and effec- 
tively given, so will be the immunity of the crop from the 
attack of the maggot if the onion fly is in the vicinity. To 
insure the most perfect success, the onions ought to be sown 
before the middle of March. 
CARROT FLY.—/Psila rose). 
Carrots are injured by the larve of the carrot-fly, who 
deposits her eggs about the top of the root. The preventive 
