Report of the Honorary Consulting Entomologist for 1884. 327 
should be taken to keep water-supply free from farm filth, that I 
venture to report this attack, though it is not in the province 
of crop-pests ; and, if no other senses show presence of mischief, 
the appearance of grubs should draw attention to it. 
1 beg also to suggest (in consequence of communications 
received) that when large masses of vegetable material, be they 
English or imported, are found so infested with unknown grubs 
that they are (as reported) " only fit to throw to the manure- 
heap," that this is the precise place they should not be thrown to. 
It is important that all such material should be burnt ; no 
other course secures us against importation of destructive pests. 
A new and very important branch of observation has been 
brought forward in the applications of various seedsmen rela- 
tively to infested seed. Inquiries have been sent in respecting 
to the so-called " Death Watches," infesting dry, uncleaned seed. 
Mites, showing the grass-seed wherein they were housed was 
damp, and needed stirring ; likewise regarding red maggot in 
grass-seed, some of which being alive, leaves it quite open that 
the attack might be sown with the seed. 
Likewise turnip-seed sold as steeped to kill the turnip-" fly," 
or its eggs loithin the seed, was reported. I explained that the 
fly " could not possibly be destroyed in this way, as none of 
its life is passed in the seed. Isenefit is very likely to arise from 
steeps that will kill eggs or grubs mixed in seed ; but with regard 
to this special case, the error is one of so much practical im- 
portance, that it is desirable to draw attention to it. 
Many inquiries have been sent in as to methods of obtaining 
intelligible practical information as to the habits, and means of 
prevention of ravage, of farm insects. 
There is a great wish abroad for practical lectures expressed 
from various places by members of the Farmers' Clubs, and 
also help is sought at some of the schools in agricultural 
districts. 
In the latter case, 1 am able to be, in some slight degree, of 
assistance by correspondence ; but it would be of great benefit if 
a competent visitor attended even once a year, not so much for 
examination as to save much waste of labour, by giving the 
requisite guidance as to the points on which information is most 
needed for practical farm use. 
In consequence of the large amount of inquiry from cor- 
respondents regarding the chief successive attacks which recur 
each year, I am preparing " Notes " regarding respectively 
mangold-maggot, daddy-longlegs, and warble-fly. These give 
a figure of the insect, together with a short history of its habits, 
and the means which commonly are found serviceable for the 
prevention of its ravages — and are purposed to be enclosed to 
