Report of the Consulting Entomologist for 1886. 313 
another at the edge of the field, with the area as clearly defined as 
if it had been divided by a straight plough-line, thus pointing 
strongly to some local cause. 
The only application, which has been reported personally to 
me as of service, is sulphate of potash. Nitrate of soda was 
found of no service. At present, change of crop, and great 
suspicion of manure made from diseased oat-plants, are the 
main points suggested. 
Ear-cockle occurred in two localities. On stripping one of 
many ears sent me, I found fifty-eight or more cockle galls, and 
not one sound grain. Steeping in sulphate of copper is advised 
for infested seed ; but even throwing in water for a short time 
would apparently answer every purpose, as in the experiment 
I have tried, the cockle galls floated without any exceptions, 
and all the wheat which 1 tried, excepting some very abortive 
grains, sank. Skimming or floating off the cockles from the 
full water tub would to all appearance clear the infested wheat 
completely. 
I have been specially desired by various seed-merchants and 
farmers to draw attention to the great danger incurred by the 
Fig. 2. — Isosoma hordei (Harris). 
Joint-worm fly and maggot magnified, with nat. length. Galls on wheat stems 
caused by maggot. 
increased spread over the country of screenings of imported corn, 
so foul with various kinds of insects that in specimens sent to 
me the term " alive with them " was no over-statement. The 
screenings, or injured foul corn, are sold at very low rates for 
poultry food or other purposes. As in what I have examined, 
I have found wheat webbed together by caterpillars, and also 
broken pieces of straw, it is evident that the screenings are 
perfectly suited to the conveyance of serious corn pests such as 
