18 
CORN AND GRASS. 
“I had some Oats slightly injured by this attack, on a piece 
of ground that has suffered from it more or less every time I have 
attempted to grow Oats (or Barley) there. The last time Oats were 
sown the crop was entirely destroyed. Now a narrow strip across the 
field was attacked just about where I grew Potatoes last year, but 
there being abundant moisture, the plant survived and produced 
a fair crop, though it was somewhat later than the rest of the field. 
It is singular that a narrow strip should be attacked in this way and 
the rest remain clear.” 
This fly appears to be without an English name of a serviceable 
kind; I have therefore ventured to suggest above the literal translation 
of one of its common German names—the “ Haulm Fly.” This does * 
not confuse it with any other of our crop flies, and is very descriptive, 
as the presence of the attack is known by the distorted state of the 
haulm, the stem being commonly stunted or swollen at the joint, with 
the ear in the case of Barley (which the fly particularly frequents) 
even at full growth still sheathed in the leaves, within which the 
stem, below the ear, is furrowed down to the first knot by the grub. 
The attack of this fly has been noticed in wet patches, as on one or 
two acres of the wettest part of a field, or along the water furrows. I 
have also seen the injured haulm on wet, poor land, and also near 
grassy headlands. The following notes, from German observations, 
give a reason for the appearance near wild grass land, and hint as to 
treatment :— 
It is observed—in answer to the question, Where do the flies 
come from in the spring ?—that the autumn brood have been 
found to lay their eggs on the late-sown Corn or on wild Grass. 
The maggot, which soon hatches, pierces into the inside of the plant 
down to the neck of the root, and there it winters ; the attack at this 
time is not noticeable. Next spring, when the young plant starts, 
the part that is not attacked grows on straight and tall, hiding the 
diseased growth, which is something like that of the diseased summer 
haulm,—that is, with wide leaves and a thickened shoot,—but from the 
different state of the plant is not precisely like what is observable in 
the grown crop. If this growth is cut open, the maggot will 
probably be found within. Commonly the diseased leafage (it is 
stated) dies, whilst the maggot within goes through its changes and 
comes out as the perfect “ Haulm Fly ” during March and April, and 
soon begins the egg depositing and producing summer attack.—From 
observations by Professors Nowicki and Konopka, quoted in ‘ Prak 
Insecten Kunde,” Hr. E. L. Tasclienburg, Part IV., pp. 148, 149. 
The remedies that suggest themselves from the above notes and 
our own observations appear to be, clearing away wild grasses, taking ® 
measures to prevent the soil being sodden or poor, and as the 
