PREFACE. 
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1886 will always be notable agriculturally as the year of the 
first appearance of the Hessian Fly, Cecidomyia destructor, in 
Great Britain as a destructive corn pest. Where it has come 
from remains still to be made out, but we see from our own 
observations of the last few months that there are means of 
prevention of the multix3lication of this pest, easily available in 
this country, by which we might reasonably expect to keep it in 
moderate bounds, if these measures are used. If they are not, 
the example of its rapid spread over about two-thirds of European 
Eussia, so that since its first observation in that country in 1879 
.it has become the most destructive crop-scourge of the land, 
shows what we have to fear. 
The disease known as “ Tulip-root ” in Oats and also Warble 
attack to Horses are points which have been little noticed pre¬ 
viously ; and in the reports now submitted to my readers it will 
be observed that I have endeavoured as far as possible to limit 
them to attacks which have either not been previously observed 
in this country, or have not been as fully reported on as their 
importance deserved, or, in the case of some of our regular old- 
standing crop-pests, to information on points of habits and 
means of prevention not previously contributed. 
But \^hilst the common crop-attacks of “ Wireworm,” “ Turnip 
Fly,” “ Daddy Longlegs ” grubs, and possibly some others which 
have already been reported on at length, have been little entered 
on in this my Tenth Eeport, there is one subject of national 
importance, home and colonial, which ought not to be passed 
over in silence. This is the continued loss in some districts from 
overwhelming presence of House Sparrows. Further information 
based on sound observation has continued to come in regarding 
the injury caused to vegetable, fruit, and corn crops by fostering 
this most mischievous bird, and in the trouble in prospect of the 
presence of Hessian Fly, its preponderance is likely to be most 
