8 
The fly appears during the Spring months, at periods dependent largely on the weather and 
temperature, and lays its eggs in the lower part of the foliage, the larva, when hatched, proceeding 
downwards, and, generally at least, attacks the bulb at the base. It then works upwards, des¬ 
troying—feeding on—the substance of the bulb en route until it ultimately emerges from the 
neck of the bulb and the pupal stage is reached. The offset of a bulb so attacked may be 
absolutely sound, so that the variety may be saved. 
The practical methods of dealing with this pest are these. To catch the fly in a net, the 
curious “hovering" flight of the fly, together with the shrill noise which it often makes when 
flying, serving to locate it. But this method involves time and patience not always at the disposal 
of the grower, especially when there are but few flies about. The more reasonably practical 
plan is the careful examination of the bulbs when lifted prior to re-planting. If the top of the 
bulb is found to be soft under moderate pressure probably a grub is to be found inside, and may 
sometimes be removed without material injury to the bulb. A further examination of the bulb 
sheuld be made at the base, and in places where the small rootlets present an unhealthy appear^ 
ance sometimes holes no larger than the head of a small pin will be found, each containing a 
larva of the Merodon in its earliest stage. This can be removed. 
Professor Rizema Boss has advised as a preventive measure, that bulbs, before re-planting, 
should be soaked in water for one or two days; but experiment has shown that, however 
efficacious this may possibly be with larvae in their earliest stage, it fails in the later stages, for 
larvae, placed in a jar of water for three full days, at the end seemed little, if any. the worse for their 
immersion. Careful examination of the bulbs before replanting would seem the more excellent 
way. 
And next we come to the newest of all the pests, namely the Lessen Narcissus |?|y f 
Eumerus lunulatus (striatus). This is a small fly, about the size of the common House Fly, and 
closely allied to the Merodon. About its life history little is yet definitely known, but there can 
be no question as to its devastating powers. i he fly appears to lay all, or at least very many, of 
its eggs in one bulb, as many as 100 grubs having been found in a single bulb of Narcissus “Glory 
of Noordwijk." That the larvae travel from bulb to bulb in search of new food is also estab' 
lished. It is stated that there may be two, or even more, broods of this fly in one season. If so 
the rate of possible increase is truly appalling. 
These flies are too small to be caught in a net, and the only possible plan appears to be to 
search for the missing bulb where a blank space occurs, and to lift and examine every bulb 
showing distinct signs of ill health, when once the presence of the fly in the garden has been 
established. So far this Eumerus has only previously been known to attack the Iris. It is a 
later discovery that it also attacks the Narcissus. 
Basal Rot, so called, may be a specific disease, or merely the outcome of some of the 
other diseases of the Narcissus. Certain varieties appear to be more liable to basal rot than others. 
By some it is considered to be the result of an over manured soil, but, in fact, very little is known 
with certainty about it. Simply remove the bulb so affected (Wc have proved that a cold 
soil and bad drainage are both favourable to the spread of basal rot in varieties liable 
to attack. C. & G.) 
Yellow Stripe shows itself, as the name suggests, in yellow stripes along the 
foliage. This would seem rather the result, and evidence, of general ill health, due to adverse 
climatic conditions or soil unsuitable to the particular variety, than to a specific disease. 
“ King Alfred " sometimes shows yellow stripe very markedly, but, transplanted to a warmer and 
more congenial position, throws it off in the next season It is probably not infectious, but 
personal to the bulb affected. 
Rust sometimes results from a rainy season, or too damp a situation. 
Eel Worm. In soils where these abound very considerable injury to Narcissus bulbs 
often results. It is claimed that the Eel Worm may be destroyed without injury to the bulbs by 
soaking the latter in a 5 per cent solution of Copper Sulphate But this is a poison, and until 
the claim so made receives very definite confirmation it would be desirable to use very great 
discretion in resorting to this remedy. Besides, the bulb so treated would be very soon exposed 
to renewed attacks by other Eel Worms in the soil. 
Swift-moth Ca/tenpillcin (Hepialus lupulinus). In April the Caterpill ars attack, 
underground, the bulbs and their roots. Should a feeble growth of the bulb lead to its being 
lifted, and should this caterpillar be the cause, one or more holes will be found bored into the 
bulb for a short way. But not many gardens have this pest. 
The conclusion of the whole matter would appear to be that the greatest safety is to be 
found in the annual lifting and careful examination of the bulbs before replanting. Of course it 
will be understood that the foregoing is applicable chiefly to special borders devoted solely to 
Narcissi, and would be more difficult of application to Narcissi grown in the ordinary “mixed 
border ” in the general garden. 
CHARLES E. SHEA. 
