IV 
PREFACE. 
turn to may thus be made out, which may help us to check 
attack. 
The observations on Hop Aphis are still quite imperfect. 
These are given as an Appendix, as it was desirable to distribute 
them amongst observers before the date of issuing this Report; 
and since then I have received information (from previous 
observations given by two careful observers) respectively of the 
Fly having been seen on young Hop just coming out of the 
ground, and of the nits being found at the lowest part of the 
stem and gradually spreading upwards. I have reason to 
believe these observations perfectly correct and very important. 
Further information would be particularly acceptable regarding 
Hop Aphis. 
Reports have been sent in regarding several kinds of attacks 
to fruit crops, which are important in orchard-farming, many 
of which, it will be observed, may be prevented or forestalled by 
any measures (such as having sheep present in orchards, or 
skimming the surface-soil in gardens) which will get rid at once 
of the fallen infested fruit, or the infested surface-soil, before 
the grubs go through their changes. 
One great point of the observations of the past year is the 
notice taken of the presence of grubs and maggots of various 
kinds that infest the roots of our farm crops being also found in 
dung, farm manure, and compost heaps, and thus carted on to 
the fields. 
This is one of the broad subjects, like amount of bird- 
presence, which bears on all agricultural practice, and which 
we need to know more about. It is not a question of with¬ 
holding farm manure, but of not 'permitting neglected or iveed - 
grown heaps to become head-quarters of Daddy Longlegs grubs, 
&c. Likewise, as there are many kinds of maggots whose whole 
history is not known, which are found in dung and compost 
heaps,—and also we find crops “ going off,” as it is termed, from 
attacks of maggots of which little has been recorded save that 
they have been found in rotting material ,—it would be very 
desirable to have specimens and notes of these maggots whereby 
to make out their whole history. 
This subject has been brought forward in clearer and better 
form than I can place it in the circular issued by the Royal 
Agricultural Society requesting observations, of which the main 
points desired are there fully given, with pages for entries. I 
