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MISCELLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS AND NOTICES. 
I. — Oil the Action of Bones and Acid in the Third Year from 
its Application. By R. W. Purchas. 
To W. Miles, Esq., M.P. 
Sir, — Having promised last year to send you the result of crops grown 
after turnips with acid and bones, I now beg to enclose the result. You 
will be pleased to observe these trials are favouralile for (at least) tlie 
third crop. Some farmers who had a carboy of acid in 1844-5 now 
want a ton each, so much is this manure extending in this district as 
well as in Herefordshire. 
I am, Sir, 
Your most obedient servant, 
R. W. PURCHAS. 
Pilstone, near Monmouth, May 19, 1846. 
The field manured with sulphuric acid and bones in a liquid state 
in 1843 (see 'Royal Agricultural Society's Journal,' vol. v. p. 2) was 
last year planted with carrots. The part manured with acid and bones, 
at a cost of 20s. 6rf., produced 24i cwt. per acre more than the part 
manured Avith 20 bushels of bones at a cost of 54*. per acre. 
The field manured with turf-ashes and acid and bones in 1844 (see 
' Royal Agricultural Society's Journal,' vol. vi. p. 1) was last year 
planted wirh barley. The part manured with 160 bushels of turf-ashes 
and acid and bones, costing 12s., produced 6i bushels per acre more 
than the adjoining part, manured with 160 bushels of ashes only. 
Lindor's Farm, Gloucestershire. 
II. — On the Wheat Midge. By Robert Baker, Writtle, 
Essex. 
As the wheat crop of last year sustained so much injury from the 
insect known as the wheat-midge (Cecydomyia tritici), I am anxious to 
submit to the notice of the Council the result of a few observations, 
derived from an investigation of lacts connected with the habits of this 
insect, by which I had arrived at conclusions independent of the com- 
munications of Kirby and other naturalists, who have so ably devoted 
their talents to tlie investigation of the subject. In the year 1817, my 
attention was first directed to it, and from that time to the present 
I have been able, pretty nearly, to estimate the amount of damage that 
yearly follows their attacks, and which, I have no hesitation in stating, 
frequently has amounted to upwards of 3.j per cent. 
My observations lead me to conclude that the insect cannot well 
succeed in its object in hot and dry seasons ; but that a certain degree 
of moisture is necessary to enable its eggs to vivify, and this is in 
VOL. VII. ' X 
