THE ONION MAGGOT. 55 



It is recommended to run a roller over the ground a few- 

 times after the seed has been sown, thus compacting the soil, 

 so that the maggots cannot make their way through it from 

 one plant to another. 



Water raised nearly to the boiling point, and poured along 

 the rows from a tea-kettle or other convenient vessel, has 

 proved destructive to the maggots, without injury to the 

 plants. The water should be applied so as to go directly to 

 the bulbs and not to the leaves. 



Most excellent results have been obtained in England by 

 growing onions in trenches ; and as the bulbs grew, the earth 

 was worked down upon them so as to keep them buried 

 throughout the season. The onion bulbs should be covered 

 with earth up to the neck, or even higher, so that the fly 

 cannot get at them to lay her eggs. 



When the onions have been attacked, and show it by wilt- 

 ing and changing color, they should either be taken up with 

 a trowel and burned, or else a little dilute carbolic acid or 

 kerosene oil should be dropped on the infested plants, to run 

 down around them and destroy the maggots in the root and 

 in the soil around them." 



