1904.] 



The Indian Wheat Crop. 



37 



which is both poisonous and inflammable. The vapour of bisul- 

 phide of carbon liquid, used in the bee-keepers' " smoker," is 

 said to be a very good remedy for green fly, and does not 

 injure the most delicate flowers. 



In all cases the Aphides must be attacked as soon as an 

 invasion shows itself, especially when the species of Aphis has 

 the habit, like the Plum Aphis, of curling up the leaves and so 

 of protecting itself. 



Several insects prey upon Aphides, and should be encour- 

 aged. The chief of these are Ladybirds and their larvae 

 (Cocanellidce) ; Hover-fly maggots, which are the larvae of the 

 Syrphidce ; the larvae of the Lace-wing or Golden-eye flies ; 

 and various minute hymenopterous parasites (Chalcididce), 

 which lay their eggs in the bodies of the Aphides, and whose 

 maggots destroy them. 



Man cannot, however, rely solely on the services of these 

 beneficial creatures, but must check the increase of the Aphides 

 by washes as soon as they appear upon his cultivated plants. 



The second general memorandum of the season 1903-4, 

 issued on the 5th March, indicated a considerable addition in 



20 in the Central Provinces, 104 in Berar, 69 in Hyderabad, 9 

 in the Bombay Presidency (43 in Sind alone), and probably 10 

 in the United Provinces. 



As regards the yield, the reports from the United Provinces 

 were the least favourable, — 75 to 90 per cent, of the average, — 

 with the possibility of deterioration from rust. The Bengal 

 report was good, and indicated 94 per cent, of the normal. The 

 anxiety regarding the prospects of the crop in the Punjab and 

 the North-West Frontier was allayed by the rain which fell 

 early in March over the whole of North-Western and Central 

 India. The crop in the Central Provinces suffered somewhat 



Natural Checks. 



The 

 Indian Wheat 

 Crop. 



the acreage under wheat in India. Com- 

 pared with last year, the percentages of 

 increase are about 6 in Bengal, 8 in the 

 North-West Frontier, 1 1 in the Punjab, 



