THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



859 



the upper part of the wings (near the shoul- 

 der) quite white. 



July 29th.— I saw a reed sparrow trying 

 to catch a dragon fly. who, at the third 

 attempt, was driven away by a willow wren. 

 The latter bird, after doing so, quietly flew 

 back to the bush by the side of the river on 

 which it was perched before. 



August ist. — Skinned a young kestrel 

 (female) which the keeper shot yesterday. 

 Also found a small brown moth alive inside 

 the tube of North American Sarracenia 

 (pitcher plant) which v.e have growing out 

 of doors. 



August 2nd. — Observed the following : — 

 Purple Loose-strife [Lythruvi Salicariu), 

 Toadflax {Linaria vulgaris), Eyebright 

 [Eiqjhraiia officinalis), Convolvulus sqnuvi, 

 C avcnse, Comfry [Symj^hytum officinih), 

 Alkanet {Anckussa sempervirem and Ilcra- 

 ch'um sphondylium). 



August 3rd. — Observed Upilvhium hirsu- 

 turn, Violu arvc'ise, Mitnulus luteus. 



August 6th. — Saw a herald moth by the 

 river Wey looking as if recently emerged. 



ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY. 



By S. L. Mosley. 

 {Continued Jroni page 343.) 

 Com. — Corn Aphis {Aphis granaria). 

 This aphis attacks all kinds of grain, both 

 in the young state, and .vhen the grain 

 begins to form. Sometimes the ears are so 

 badly infested as to materially injure the 

 crop. 



Remedies. — Two small flies are parasitic 

 on this aphis, and should be encouraged. 

 The artificial remedies are dusting with 

 lime ; early sowing and manure, so as to 

 ensure strong forward plants. 



Crane Flies {Tipula). — The grubs of 

 ihese flies are generally most hurtful in soft 

 land, injuring the roots of corn, grass, cab- 

 bage, &c. 



Remedies. — Drainage; clearing away all 

 unnecessary herbage and burniDg it ; well 



manuring, so as to give the young plants a 

 good start. Ground infested by the grub 

 may be watered with a strong solution of 

 sulphate of copper or iron, when the plants 

 come off. 



Gout Fly {Cholorops t^niopus). — This fly 

 attacks barley chiefly. The injury is caused 

 by the maggot eating a part of the ear and 

 causing a stunted growth. 



Remedies. — Guano and superphospate 

 applied at the time of sowing ; or nitrate of 

 soda and salt applied when an attack is 

 discovered. 



Wheat Midge {Cccidomyia tritici). — The 

 grub of this fly is orange, and infests the 

 ears of corn, causing imperfect growth. 



Remedies. — When a crop has been in- 

 fested, the stubble should be ploughed up 

 deep, the corn thrashed, and the chaff and 

 all refuse swept clean up and burned. 



Wire Worm (larva; of click beetles Agri- 

 otis). These grubs are perhaps the most 

 hurtful of any of our insect pests, and are 

 difficult to get rid of when once established. 



Remedies. — The national enemies of the 

 wire-worm are the mole, rooks, plovers, &c. 

 On farms it is best to dress the land with 

 fresh gas-lime in the autumn, and allow it to 

 remain empty till spring. Nitrate of soda, 

 salt, and soda-ash as said to be of service, 

 and any stimulating manure. In gardens 

 traps may be made by burying carrots and 

 potatoes, a few inches deep, and examining 

 them every few days. Paraffin is also of 

 service, either diluted with water, or mixed 

 with sand and strewn about. 



Hop. — Hop Aphis {Aphis humult).— 

 This insect is the most destructive one to 

 hop, some years doing considerable damage. 



Remedies. — All kinds of aphis-eating 

 lar\ce should be encouraged. The usual 

 plan adopted by growers is to wash the 

 plants with a solution of soft soap; this 

 should be begun directly the fly appears, 

 and every leaf thoroughly washed. 



(lo b( CQntinutd.) 



