HOP APHIS. 
15 
has several batches of eggs, as well as larvae of the Coccinella. I should 
not like to say positively that the Aphis is entirely held in check by 
the Ladybird, but I think the evidence to that effect is strong.”—Dr. 
T. A. Chapman, Hereford. 
“ The ‘ Crocodile,’ or larva of the Ladybird, is a great enemy to the 
Hop Aphis ; two or three will clear a Hop-stock in a very short time. 
The Ladybird lays her eggs in beautiful order under the Hop leaves, 
and, as soon as hatched, the larvse begin to feed, and shortly clear the 
Hops of their blight; but unfortunately they do not come soon enough 
to stop the Fly from breeding and spreading their numerous progeny.” 
—Richard Heming, Cheltenham. 
‘ ‘ The ‘ Fly Holdens ’ are our best friends ; they feast greedily on the 
Hop Fly. They lie dormant during the winter in our houses, build¬ 
ings, &c., and are now (May 12tli) resuming life again. If we were to 
watch closely where they go they might direct us where the origin of 
the blight is to be found.”— Horace Coleman, Brede, Sussex. 
Ladybirds were very numerous on the inside of the windows of 
my house near Islewortli for several days previous to April 9th, and a 
note was likewise sent me from the Kew Observatory, Richmond, of 
the unusually large number of Ladybirds then to be seen.— Ed. 
“ The Ladybird is well-liked, but disappears (no doubt going into 
winter quarters) when most wanted towards Hop-picking. The Niggers, 
that is, the maggot or grub (scientifically, larva of the Ladybird 
Beetle, Ed.), appears to be a much greater friend to the farmer; it has 
a greater appetite.”—F. L. Hausburg, Edenthal, Penshurst, Kent. 
“ Last year it was supposed that the Hops on strings were more 
suffering from blight than on the poles. I believe it was so, and I 
attribute it to the circumstance of the stiff hill-pole being preferred by 
the Ladybird and its larva to the twisting, moving strings.” — W. 
Gardner, Bekesbourne, Kent. 
‘ ‘ From the immense number of Fly Goldings about this winter 
(1882-83) the country people predict a good Hop year; whether (if 
there is any truth in this) it is that a crop-year generally follows 
a blight when Ladybirds are likely to be numerous, or whether the 
Ladybirds, when numerous, really do ensure a crop, I suppose remains 
' to be proved. 
“ To give an idea of their numbers, I moved a Fitzroy barometer, 
say 30 in. long by 4 in. wide, and the whole of the back was covered 
with torpid Fly Goldings. Sometimes the sparrow boards of buildings 
look quite red from the numbers of these insects wintering under their 
shelter.”— Richard Cooke, Detling, near Maidstone. 
The preceding few notes cannot be said to give a thorough view of 
what may be the opinions of many hundred growers. Still, it may be 
