CELERY AND PARSNIP FLY. 
21 
Fly, as far as we know, always lays lier eggs on the under surface 
of the leaf. From these eggs in either case the maggots hatch, 
and feed between the two sides of the leaf, thus causing first a 
blister-like appearance, afterwards a brown patch where the skin 
has been killed by the substance within being eaten away. The 
maggots turn in a few weeks to chrysalids in the leaf, or in the 
earth, from which the Fly comes out so soon in summer as to 
give time for a succession of broods. The Fly is of the size marked 
by the cross-lines opposite, and handsomely mottled with brown or 
ocliry colour. 
The Flies attack both Celery and Parsnip, but, as it is the former 
that usually suffers most, I have put the observations together under 
the head of Celery, with reference from heading of “ Parsnip.” 
It will be noticed that at present scarcely any notes have been 
given of means of prevention, and the wide spread of the attack and 
great loss from it in market-gardening districts point to a cure being 
greatly wanted. 
One of the earliest notes of the appearance of this Leaf-miner, 
which has been widely destructive in the past season, was from Mr. 
C. Whitehead, who, writing on July 10th from Banning House, near 
Maidstone, mentioned:—“The Celery and Parsnip Leaf-miner is 
doing immense damage here ; hardly a plant has escaped.” 
Just about the same time the attack of this leaf-maggot was 
reported by Mr. J. Speir as having been unusually destructive to 
Parsnips on his land at Newton Farm, near Glasgow, the worst of the 
attack being on the part of the crop after Potatoes. 
It is noted :—“ About a week after I wrote to you last (July 10th) 
my Parsnips began to be affected with large brown spots on the 
leaves. These large spots look very like the browned parts on the 
leaves of the Mangolds, and I presume are caused in much the same 
way. One-half of the crop was dunged in the drill, each drill being 
29 in. wide, with two rows on it 6 or 7 in. apart. The other half was 
manured on the flat and afterwards drilled. 
“ The former up to a month ago looked by far the best crop, but, 
owing to the browned leaves, is now far behind the other, as the 
damage on it is several times greater. The worst damaged lot was 
after Potatoes last year, the other after Oats.” 
On Sept. 26th it was further noted that the attack of the Parsnip- 
miner maggot had turned out most destructive. “ Scarcely any season 
has ever passed without more or less damage being done (generally 
trifling, however), but this year my whole crop of three acres is worse 
than lost. At present scarcely a green blade is to be seen, and the 
i land being bare Chickweed is growing rapidly, and, although the 
present (Sept. 6th) is scarcely the time to use Parsnips, I shall be 
