OF INJURIOUS INSECTS. 
17 
there was not a single Onion on the break of about eighty square yards. 
The ground had been rather wet, so it had been drained in winter and 
trenched about two feet deep, and a good layer of farmyard manure 
placed at the bottom of the trench. In the spring, a few days before 
sowing, a compost was made of soot, sea sand, pigeon manure, and 
lime rubbish; a good coating of this was given all over the land, and 
it was forked in. Several dustings with soot were given when the 
Onions were above ground, but the whole crop, nevertheless, was lost. 
The Maggot is also reported by Mr. Russell as having been very 
destructive at Poltallock, Lochgilphead, Argyllshire. Mr. Russell 
considers that in the light soil of that neighbourhood the Onions do 
best on ground not trenched, and he gives two dressings of guano— 
one when the plants are about four inches high, one later on. The 
Onion Maggot is noticed by Mr. Wliitton as worse this year than 
usual at Coltness, Lanarkshire. The beds were dressed at the time 
of sowing with Annis’s chemical manure as a preventive ; on the first 
appearance of the Grub another dressing was given, but it failed on 
this occasion, though previously it had been found of use in checking 
the Maggot. Mr. Robert Coupar, writing from Craighall, Perthshire, 
mentions the Onions throughout that part of the country as being 
everywhere more or less damaged, and the Onion crop almost a 
failure. 
Mr. M‘Laren notes that at Hopetoun, South Queensferry, he has 
found a solution of alum in water a good and cheap remedy for the 
“ Worm ” in Onions. The Onion Fly was not so plentiful as usual in the 
district of Dalkeith, the past season being good for the Onion crop. 
Mr. Malcolm Dunn mentions—“ Autumn manuring with rich and 
well-made manure, deep cultivation, and change of ground every 
season, secure us first-rate crops, almost entirely free from ‘ Maggot.’ 
The soil is put up in ridges when trenched, or double dug in autumn, 
the ridges levelled with forks early in March, the surface firml 
trodden, raked, and drilled about a foot apart, and the seed sown. 
When the plants are about six inches high, they are thinned from 
three to five inches apart, according to the size they grow, and receive 
a dressing of dry soot on a damp morning. Keeping clean of weeds 
is all that they require afterwards till the crop is ready for lifting. 
Mr. P. Loney, writing from Marclimont, Berwickshire, mentions that 
he has no trouble with the Maggot, as “ on its first appearance 
I water freely with soap-suds two or three times, which usually destroys 
it, and nourishes the Onions.” In some localities the crop was 
entirely swept away, or was much injured. Mr. Robert Service, 
writing from Dumfries, mentions the attack of Maggot “ never was 
worse than it was in this district during July; I do not think there 
was a single bed of Onions unaffected by it.” At Sparliam, near 
D 
