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JOUKXAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



methods detailed in the last sentence is, I believe, invariably followed by 

 the grub. Such being my theory, I have to account, first, for bulbs having 

 a distinct hole in the base but from which the grub has not yet emerged ; 

 and, secondly, for bulbs having two distinct holes, one basal and one in the 

 neck generally, and containing the grub still. First, it appears to me that 

 the beast very often bores a hole through the base before it is ready to 

 emerge, and that it does this probably for sewage purposes. Secondly, in 

 the case of two distinct boles, 1 believe the one on the shoulder generally 

 has been made by a half-grown grub migrating to a new home and 

 boring its way in ; it then bores on to make its sewage hole at the base, 

 and having done this, fattens itself up upon the substance of the bulb. 

 These are not entirely guesses at truth," as I have seen more than one 

 example — and Dr. Bos records a case — of an almost, full-grown grub 

 boring its way into a fresh bulb as the bulbs lay upon the shelf har- 

 vesting. 



The full-grown fly can hardly be mistaken by any observant person, 

 as its manner of flight is so distinct. In appearance it is not unlike a 

 bee, but varies very much in the colouring of the body, having some- 

 times red, sometimes yellow, sometimes white stripes. They have only 

 two wings. Their flight is their distinguishing mark. It is more like a 

 drone bee's than anything I know, or like a humming-bird hawk moth. 

 They hover over the Dafibdil beds, moving their wings so swiftly that 

 they do not seem to work them at all, and if undisturbed they will 

 I^oise themselves thus for three or four minutes at a time without 

 change of place or position, their wungs going all the while with the 

 utmost rapidity. Then suddenly they dart to right or left (hardly ever, 

 I think, straight forward) with lightning speed — too quickly for the eye 

 to follow them. One only sees them again at a few yards' distance a 

 minute afterwards and guesses it is the same fly. I have often tried to 

 catch them, but have never succeeded except when they are pairing, and 

 then when once they have settled it is comparatively easy. I have never 

 seen one settle at any other time. 



This note has been called forth by the letter of a correspondent who 

 says " I feel sure Merodon enters at the base . . . and generally comes out 

 at the neck," and as my friend has this season been carefully observing 

 all he can of the habits and life history of this pest, he has promised to 

 bring the matter forward for discussion at one of the Society's April 

 meetings next year. Perhaps other Daffodil growers will do the same, so 

 that w^e may arrive at more accurate knowledge of the destroyer. Mean- 

 while the only remedy I know^ is to hand-pick all the bulbs carefully and 

 systematically, going over them twice, during the last week in July and 

 the first three weeks of August before replanting. Many growers like to 

 replant early in August, but if they want to find and exterminate 

 Merodon, they must once in a way be content to wait until September, as 

 the grub is often not sufficiently grown to be readily noticed before the 

 middle or end of August. I was myself once terribly plagued with 

 Merodon, but have almost if not entirely got rid of him in this way. The 

 worst of him is, he always attacks the rarest and most valuable amongst 

 one's bulbs ; it would almost seem as if some ratio existed between the 

 value of a bulb and its toothsomeness and flavour to Merodon's palate. 



