20 
CORN. 
the past season. On the first farm on which the attack was observed 
near Hertford, I found on enquiry that London manure had been 
used of mixed kind, but mainly cow and horse manure in “ very long ” 
condition. 
Another way in which it is at least possible that the “ flax-seeds ” 
may be transmitted is in wheat or barley from infested countries. 
This method of transmission is stated not to be at all likely, because 
the sheathing-leaf enfolds the wheat or barley stem so tightly just 
above the joint where the pupae lie that it is considered they would 
not fall out in the process of threshing. But on investigation of the 
attacked straw, both in the field and after being stored away, I found 
it very liable to break at the bend, and thus expose the contained 
“ flax-seeds ” ; and on October 22nd I received information from Mr. 
Palmer, of Kevell’s Hall, that after threshing some of his infested 
barley he examined the small seeds and dust sifted out of the threshed 
corn which fell beneath the machine, and in this he found “ flax-seeds” 
to the amount of fifteen in a handful of siftings. Specimens of these 
were forwarded to me.* 
No pupae were found in chaff or grain. This matter will be further 
investigated by observations from other farms, and all information is 
solicited on the point, as it is of enormous importance. 
In cleaning seeds of the fox-tail grass from those infested by 
Cecidoinyia of another species, it is found the infested seed, being 
lightest, falls at a separate spot; and, if we find that the Hessian Fly 
puparia fall just below the machine customarily, there will be neither 
difficulty nor loss in collecting the rubbish and dirt and destroying it. 
From the above observation it appears that puparia or “ flax-seeds ” 
may be transmitted in corn rubbish. In samples of screenings and 
“ sweepings ” from imported corn I have found, besides a large amount 
of live and dead beetles, also weed-seeds, ergot, and other matters 
undesirable to spread abroad (as may easily be done where these are 
used for poultry-food, and thus thrown out in farmyards), and as, with 
these, broken bits of stem are to be found, it appears at least possible 
that “flax-seed” may also be conveyed. In Dr. Packard’s paper on 
the subject (previously quoted) he alludes to the possibility of the pest 
being transmitted in wheat. 
Methods of Prevention. 
At present nearly all we know on this head is learnt from agri¬ 
cultural publications of other countries, and especially from the 
Reports of the Agricultural Department of the United States, but in 
our own country we have one regular and constant safeguard against 
* The observation has since been further confirmed.—E. A. 0. 
