WHEAT-BULB FLY. 
49 
These wormlets are male and female, and multiply by laying eggs. 
As their history was given in my last year’s Beport, from Dr. Charlton 
Bastian’s valuable Monograph, there is no reason to repeat it now; 
but the method by which attack has been found to be set on foot is of 
considerable interest, both with regard to the Wheat-cockle, which it 
refers to, and also with regard to “ Tulip-root ” disease. “ When the 
infested galls are sown together with healthy seeds the young in a 
week or so, according to the degree of moisture of the soil, make 
their way out of the softened gall, and, diffusing themselves in all 
directions, some come at last into contact with the budding plant just 
sprouting from the healthy seed, and then insert themselves between 
the sheaths of its leaves, gradually working their way round till they 
come to the innermost of these, where they remain for a variable time 
without increasing much in size till the rudiment of the future ear 
begins to form.” 
As the Ear-cockle worms appear to live in the galls in the Wheat- 
ear, excepting during the time when they are transferring themselves 
from the “ Cockles ” which have been sown with the seed to the 
sprouting plant, where they establish themselves as soon as possible in 
the embryo ear, it is evident that repetition of the attack may be 
prevented by being careful not to sow grain infested by “ Cockles.” 
They are easily distinguishable by their purple colour, and suspected 
grain may be tested by throwing some handfuls into water. I have 
not found in my own experiment that there was a single “ Cockle ” 
which did not float, whilst the good grain sank to the bottom. 
Sulphate of copper steep has been suggested as a remedy, but the 
mere placing the grain in water without any chemical admixture, and 
skimming off the “ Cockles” as they floated, would be a simple way of 
getting rid of the infection. 
Wheat-bulb Fly. [? Hylemia coarctata, Fallen.) 
The following communications refer to injury to young Wheat 
occurring to a serious extent after summer fallow or Swedes, and 
apparently caused by the maggot of a small two-winged fly. 
Early in May I received specimens of infested Wheat-plant from 
Major Salmon, of Tockington Manor, Almondsbury, Gloucestershire, 
requesting information regarding the attack, as “ large flelds of Wheat 
have been seriously affected by the action (as he supposes) of the 
insect which will be found attached to the plants enclosed.” 
* “ Mon. on the Anguillulidas,” by Dr. Charlton Bastian, ‘ Trans, of Linn. Soc.,, 
VOl. XXV. 
E 
