44 
CORN. 
idea of resisting to a great extent the attacks of the fly. ‘ Archer’s 
Barley’ I have grown for several years, and find it grows a large 
quantity of straw of a strong nature (this might not be the case on 
lighter land); the grain also is large.” 
Non-presence of “Flax-seeds” in Imported Straw and Sweepings 
of Ships. 
With a view to ascertain whether the pest was being introduced on 
imported straw, careful watch was kept, and examination made, by 
qualified observers from time to time during the spring months, at 
Dundee, Leith, and Granton, Hull, Goole, and other localities mainly 
on the east of Britain. The search was carried on by opening out 
bales, examining sweepings of straw-ships, and also by gaining per¬ 
mission to have a watch kept at stables and other places whither the 
imported straw was conveyed for use. 
Specimens of seeds, &c., were successively sent me for identification, 
so minutely resembling the flat seed-like chrysalis-case of the Hessian 
Fly as to show that the observers were well acquainted with the 
appearance of the so-called “flax-seeds,” but only one true specimen 
was found. This was on a corn-stalk grown in Belgium, which is 
singular enough, as Belgium is one of the countries which is considered 
to be free from presence of the pest. 
I keep the various communications for reference, if necessary, but, 
as in some cases my co-operators did not, I believe, wish their names 
to appear, I only express my thanks here for a great deal of long- 
continued trouble taken to Mr. D. Taylor, jun., of Daleally, Errol; to 
Mr. Edm. Biley, of the Weir, Hessle, near Hull; and I have par¬ 
ticularly to express my thanks to Mr. Halls (of the firm of W. Halls 
and Son, the large straw importers in Hull) for the courteous and very 
great assistance they have given in allowing the straw to be examined, 
and the sweepings of the ships saved for inspection, and in directing the 
men to give every assistance in their power. I am also much obliged 
to Mr. John Bennett, of Goole. 
On May 18th Mr. E. Riley, who had bestowed much care on the 
subject at Hull, wrote, after some weeks’ attention and inspection:— 
“ I have examined some thousands of bales of straw at Hull and Goole 
during the last four weeks, from Harlingen [in the Netherlands, Ed.] , 
Dunkirk, Hamburg, Rotterdam, and Boulogne, but have not found the 
slightest trace of chrysalis of Hessian Fly.” 
The stevedore at Hull [who was well acquainted with the appear¬ 
ance of the “flax-seeds”— Ed.] has taken great pains in having all the 
sweepings of the vessels thoroughly examined. 
On August 12th, my co-operator, near Edinburgh, reported:— 
“ I have been keeping a close look-out all the season for the dreaded 
