HESSIAN FLY. 
51 
is troublesome to burn them, they may be thoroughly mixed in wet 
manure. If the “ flax-seeds ” in the rubbish are thus destroyed, there 
is an end of all damage from them ; but if they are left,—thrown aside 
in any odd corner,—the Hessian Flies will come out just as the common 
British Wheat Midges will come out (as I have myself seen) in legions 
from heaps of chaff-rubbish; and in the two cases respectively, 
attack of Hessian Fly maggot, or of our common red maggot, will be 
the consequence of allowing the two sorts of Wheat-midge to go free. 
In this respect preventive treatment for Cecidomyia destructor and 
C. tritici are just the same. 
Screenings and cleanings from imported corn, especially from 
Wheat or Barley imported from Russia or Eastern Europe, or any 
country infested by Hessian Fly, are to be looked on with great 
suspicion ; this not only on account of the Hessian Fly chrysalids or 
“ flax-seeds ” which maybe in them, but also because of the other 
kinds of injurious insect-attack which are extremely likely to be found 
in the short bits of broken straw, or are certainly found in injured 
grain or rubbish; and likewise on account of the weed-seeds, ergot, and 
other noxious pests, which are thus transported amongst us con¬ 
sequently on the grain being sent foul, and in some cases apparently 
deteriorated in quality purposely before shipping to this country. 
Rotation of crops and other means of preventing the Hessian Fly 
establishing itself, and of lessening the amount of mischief where it 
gains possession, have been already previously given ; but observations 
with which I have been favoured by Dr. C. Lindeman, of Moscow, 
during the past season point to the importance of clearing the surface- 
rubbish of infested fields as thoroughly as can be done. There has 
been doubt and difference of opinion as to the kinds of wild grasses 
which were liable to infestation by Hessian Fly, but during the past 
season Dr. C. Lindeman has been good enough to send me information 
of “ Timothy-grass,” Plileum pratense, having been found during 1887 
in one of the Russian Governments (that of Tambov) to be severely 
attacked by Hessian Fly, in corroboration of which many specimens of 
Hessian Fly pup aria were sent to him. 
In 1887 also Dr. Lindeman received specimens of stems of couch- 
grass (Triticum repens) sent from the Government of Tambov, and 
that of Woronetz, which were elbowed-down by, and infested by, puparia 
of the Hessian Fly; and communication was made to him at the same 
time that the couch-grass was so severely attacked, that in whole 
districts covered with this grass it was destroyed.* 
We have not as yet had reports of the Hessian Fly being observed 
* Leaflet on das Vorkommen der Hessenfliege an wildwachsenden Grasern. 
Berlin: R. Friedlander. 
e 2 
