May  6,  1897. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
393 
Fund  ?  ”  The  next  item  waa  the  reading  of  the  subscription  list  by 
Mr.  B.  Wynne,  as  follows  : — 
Sir  J.  Whittaker  Ellis,  £194  10s  (including  50  guineas  himself  and 
£100  from  Mr.  Leonard  Sutton)  ;  Sir  James  Whitehead.  £10  10s.  ;  Mr. 
G.  Reynolds,  £36  Is.  6d.  (including  Leopold  de  Rothschild,  E»q.,  £10  and 
Mr.  Anthony  Waterer,  £5)  ;  Covent  Garden  friends,  per  Mr.  J.  Assbee, 
£45  10a.  ;  Messrs.  Rothschilds,  £26  5s. ;  Mr.  N.  N.  Sherwood,  £38  2s. ; 
Baron  Schioler,  £25  ;  Mr.  A.  W.  G.  Weeks,  £20  8s.  ;  Mr.  Alfred  de 
Rothschild,  £10  ;  Dickson’s,  Ltd  ,  £10  10s.;  Mr.  Harry  J.  Veitch,  £10  10s.; 
Messrs.  J.  Yeitch  &  Sons,  £10  10s.  ;  Messrs.  Barr  &  Son,  £10  10s. ; 
Mr.  D.  P.  Laird,  £9  Is. ;  Mr.  W.  Poupart,  £9  ;  Mr.  W.  G.  Baker, 
£8  8s.  ;  Mr.  W.  J.  Nutting,  £7  17s.  61.  ;  Mr.  F.  T.  McKenzie,  £8  3s.  ; 
Mr.  K.  Drost,  £7  7s.  ;  Mr.  J.  F.  McLeod,  £7  5s.  ;  Mr.  E  Gilbert, 
£5  10s.  6d.  ;  Mr.  Geo.  Bunyard,  £5  5s.  ;  Mr.  A.  H.  Smee,  £5  ;  Mr. 
A.  W.  Sutton,  £5  ;  Mr.  J.  Walker,  £5  ;  Mr.  T.  Whillans,  £5  12s.  6d.  ; 
Mr,  P.  Crowley,  £7  2s.  ;  Mr.  G.  A.  Dickson,  £5  5s. ;  Mr.  Blackwood, 
£5  ;  Mr.  S.  C.  Ward,  £5  7s.  ;  Mr.  G.  H.  Richards,  £5  ;  Mr.  S.  M. 
Segar,  £5  ;  and  Mr.  W.  H.  Holmes,  £5  5s.  These,  with  several  smaller 
amounts,  making  a  total  of  £670. 
The  toast  of  “  The  Visitors  ”  was  ably  proposed  by  Mr.  Arnold 
Moss,  and  admirably  responded  to  by  Mr.  Sheriff  Rogers,  who  paid 
tribmte  to  the  ability  of  Mr.  W.  Marshall,  as  Coairman  of  the  Com¬ 
mittee.  At  this  point  the  Chairman  retired,  aod  his  place  was  taken 
by  Mr.  N.  N.  Sherwood.  A  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  Miss  Hudson, 
and  the  donors  of  the  fruits  and  flowers  for  the  dinner,  the  many  vases 
of  drooping  Parrot  Tulips,  given  by  Mr.  J.  Walker,  having  a  beautiful 
effect.  Other  toasts  were  “  The  Treasurer  ”  and  “  The  Secretary,  Mr. 
A.  F.  Barron.” 
An  excellent  programme  of  music  was  arranged  by  Mr.  Herbert 
Schartau,  and  his  efforts  during  the  evening  were  thoroughly  appreciated 
THE  CARROT  FLY  (PSILA  ROS^U). 
Carrots  are  frequently  much  injured  by  the  larvae  or  maggots  of 
this  fly,  which  bore  into  and  feed  upon  their  roots,  living  upon  them 
and  causing  them  to  become  brown  or  rusty,  and  finally  rotten.  In 
some  cases  of  early  attack  the  growth  of  the  small  roots  is  entirely 
stopped.  Carrots  grown  by  market  gardeners  and  market  garden 
farmers  for  “  hunching,”  or  pulling  early,  are  not  often  materially 
injured,  as  the  fly  does  not,  as  a  rule,  attack  them  until  the  middle  of 
May,  though  the  latest  of  these  early  pulled  roots  are  sometimes 
disfigured  and  their  value  depreciated  because  of  the  rusty  spots  made 
by  the  larvae  ;  but  those  that  are  dug  late  for  storing,  either  for  human 
or  for  cattle  food,  aie  very  frequent. y  seriously  damaged,  and  rot  in  the 
clamps  and  stores,  and  are  unsaleable  by  reason  of  the  rust  marks  upon 
them.  It  has  been  noticed  that  the  Carrot  fly  is  more  injurious  in  dry 
seasons,  when  the  growth  of  the  roots  is  not  so  luxuriant  and  rapid  as 
when  moisture  is  plentiful  and  the  rain  closes  the  soil,  which  in  some 
degree  may  hinder  the  fly  from  laying  eggs,  as  it  is  said  that  the  female 
fly  goes  below  the  earth  for  this  purpose. 
Carrots  badly  attacked  by  this  insect  have  deep  cracks  in  the  roots 
in  which  the  larvae  are  found.  These  frequently  extend  to  the  centre  of 
the  roots,  and  cause  them  to  rot.  The  tops  become  brown  and  wither 
away,  and  in  the  early  stages  of  the  attack,  when  as  yet  there  are  only 
a  few  larvae  in  the  roots,  the  foliage  changes  and  betrays  their  presence. 
When  these  indications  are  noticed,  it  will  be  generally  found  upon 
pulling  up  the  roots  that  larvae  are  protruding  from  the  holes  in  them. 
In  bad  cases  of  this  infestation,  decay  is  frequently  hastened  by  the 
attacks  of  millipedes  attracted  by  the  unhealthy  state  of  the  roots,  and 
by  slugs  and  “  pea  bugs  ”  (Oniscus).  The  larvae  of  the  Carrot  fly  often 
remain  in  the  roits  after  tney  have  been  stored,  and  continue  to  injure 
them  for  some  time. 
The  Carrot  fly  is  well  known  in  Germany.  Kuhn  says  it  causes  the 
most  common  disorder  of  Carrots  termed  “worm-rot”  (Wurmfaule) 
and  the  “iron  mould”  affection.  It  is  also  occasionally  troublesome 
in  France  and  in  bther  European  countries.  Recently  it  has  been 
noticed  in  Canada  Schiner  states  that  it  infests  R*pe  and  Turnips, 
and  that  the  flies  may  be  found  in  numbers  in  the  early  spring  on  the 
ower  branches  of  bushes  and  trees  in  damp  situations. 
Life  History. 
The  Carrot  fly  is  shiny  black  in  colour,  and  about  the  fifth  of  an  inch 
long,  with  a  wing  expanse  of  nearly  half  an  inch.  The  wings  are 
iridescent,  having  dark  yellow  veins.  The  head  is  round,  of  a  reddish 
yellow  colour,  and  very  sparingly  covered  with  hairs.  The  legs  are  of  a 
light  ochreous  colour.  There  is  not  much  difference  between  the  male 
and  female,  except  that  the  body  of  the  latter  is  more  pointed  than  that 
of  the  male,  and  is  furnished  with  a  long  retractile  egg  depositor. 
In  the  early  spring  the  flies  appear,  and  may  be  seen  upon  the  lower 
leaves  of  trees  and  bushes,  especially  near  brooks  and  streams.  When 
the  Carrot  roots  are  well  established  the  flies  lay  eggs  upon  them,  juBt 
below  the  ground.  All  authorities  agree  that  the  eggs  are  laid  below 
the  surface  of  the  ground,  but  none  have  actually  observed  how  deeply 
the  fly  goes  down  for  this  purpose.  It  is  believed  that  it  is  only  just 
below  the  surface,  and  that  the  larva  when  hatched  goes  down 
instinctively  to  the  lower  part  of  the  Carrot,  a9  the  root  is  softer  there 
and  more  easily  penetrated.  When  it  has  gained  a  footing  the  larva 
works  upwards  and  makes  passages,  with  frequent  holes  to  the  outside. 
The  larva  is  without  legs,  yellowish  white  in  colour,  like  parchment.,  as 
Bouchd  says,  and  nearly  a  quarter  of  an  inch  long.  It  has  no  distinct 
head,  but  its  fore  end  tapers  to  a  point,  in  which  there  are  two  claw- 
formed  hooks  for  bitiDg  and  boring.  Before  pupating  it  leaves  the  root, 
and,  going  into  the  earth,  assumes  a  pupa  case  of  a  light  brown  colour, 
with  many  wrinkled  folds.  At  the  tail  end  two  small  black  points  are 
seen.  The  head  end  is  very  sloping. 
There  are  several  generations  during  the  summer.  Kuhn  states  that 
the  series  of  changes  is  accomplished  in  between  three  and  four  weeks. 
The  pupae  of  the  last  generations  remain  in  the  earth,  and  occasionally 
in  the  roots,  during  the  winter,  and  the  flies  come  forth  in  the  first 
spring  days. 
Methods  of  Prevention  and  Remedies. 
When  it  is  noticed  that  the  tops  of  Carrots  change  colour  prematurely 
and  become  rusty,  the  roots  should  be  examined,  and  those  that  are 
infested  must  be  forked  up  so  that  no  part  of  them  is  left  in  the  ground, 
and  destroyed.  This  will  prevent  further  infestation. 
If  the  flies  are  seen  near  or  on  the  Carrot  plants  they  should  be 
sprinkled  with  paraffin  emulsion,  made  by  mixing  paraffin  and  softsoap 
together,  in  the  proportion  of  1  gallon  of  paraffin  and  half  a  pound  of 
softsoap  to  10  gallons  of  water.  The  softsoap  must  be  dissolved  in  a 
gallon  of  hot  water,  and  the  paraffin  added  and  thoroughly  incorporated 
by  means  of  a  hand  pump  or  syringe,  and  the  proper  quantity  of  water, 
added  to  dilute  it.  This  emulsion  can  be  put  on  by  means  of  a  knap- 
eack  machine,  or  in  large  fields  of  Carrots  by  a  horse  distributor. 
FIG.  80.— CARROT  FLY  AND  LARVAE. 
1,  2,  and  3,  Lame,  natural  size  and  magnified:  4,  infested  Carrot;  5  and  6,  pups; 
7  and  8,  Carrot  Fly,  natural  size  and  magnified. 
In  places  where  these  flies  cause  injury,  ashes,  sawdust,  sand,  wood 
ashes,  or  peat  moss,  well  triturated  and  impregnated  with  paraffin  oil  at 
t  le  rate  of  from  3  to  4  quarts  per  cwt.  may  be  put  into  tie  drills  with 
the  seed.  Curtis  recommends  a  gallon  of  spirit  of  tar  to  a  barrowful  of 
sand  for  this  purpose.  It  is  stated  that  pressing  the  earth  close  round 
the  root  stems  may  prevent  the  flies  from  egg-laying.  This  may  be 
done  immediately  after  the  plants  are  singled,  by  men  or  boys  treading 
hoth  sides  of  the  rows  ;  and  in  fields  where  Carrots  are  grown  on  a 
Urge  scale,  and  the  seed  is  broadcasted,  a  light  roller  may  be  used  for 
this  purpose. 
Sand  or  ashes  impregnated  with  paraffin  or  carbolic  acid  may  be 
scattered  over  the  plants  at  singling  time  to  keep  the  flies  from  them. 
The  great  object  must  be  to  prevent  the  flies  from  laying  eggs  on  the 
Carrots,  and  for  this  purpose  offensive  substances,  such  as  soot,  or  earth, 
ashes,  or  sand,  sprinkled  with  carbolic  acid,  might  be  applied  as  soon  as 
the  plants  are  well  established. 
After  an  infested  Carrot  crop  has  been  removed,  the  land  should  be 
trenched  in  gardens,  and  very  deeply  ploughed  in  fields.  A  good  dress¬ 
ing  of  gas  lime  should  be  applied  before  the  land  is  dug  or  ploughed  in 
the  ordinary  way. — ( Board  of  Agriculture  Leaflet ,  No  38) 
NATIONAL  AURICULA  SOCIETY. 
(Northern  Section.) 
This  Society  held  a  most  successsful  Exhibition  in  the  Fiee  Library, 
Middleton,  near  Manchester,  on  Saturday  last,  May  1st.  Both  plants 
and  exhibitors  were  present  in  unprecedentedly  large  numbers,  and  all 
the  classes  were  well  filled.  The  date  chosen  seemed  to  suit  ever;  one, 
and  competitors  from  districts  so  widely  apart  as  Birmingham  and 
North  Yorkshire  weie  enabled  to  meet  on  apparently  equal  terms. 
The  Rev.  F.  D.  Horner  brought  his  superb  seedlings  in  splendid 
order,  admiring  growers  yearned  to  possess  them  with  a  kind  of  hope 
deferred  expression  on  their  faces,  which  was  almost  pitiful.  It  is  much 
to  be  regretted  that  Messrs.  Horner’s  and  Simonite’s  highly  bred 
varieties  increase  so  slowly,  for  a  great  impetus  would  be  given  to  the 
rult  could  some  of  them  get  into  general  cultivation.  Mr.  Tom  Lord  of 
Todmorden  again  showed  what  could  be  done  with  the  old  varieties. 
It  is  always  a  treat  to  see  Geo.  Lightbody,  Rev.  F.  D.  Horner,  Acme, 
Prince  of  Greens,  and  Mrs.  Potts  as  grown  by  him.  Miss  Woodbead, 
Mr.  Kershaw,  Mr.  Midgley,  and  Mr.  A.  R.  Brown  also  showed  the  older 
varieties  in  most  creditable  style. 
The  premier  Auricula  was  a  superb  example  of  Barlow’s  Mrs. 
Henwood.  exhibited  by  the  Rev.  F.  D.  Horner.  A  curious  feature  of 
ite  6how  was  the  excellence  of  the  green  edged  class;  a  few  years 
back  this  division  was  very  weak,  but  thanks  to  the  labours  of  seedling 
raisers,  which  appear  to  have  been  concentrated  upon  this  class,  it  is 
now  actually  the  strongest.  Amongst  fine  new  green  edges  Orient  and 
Hamlet  (riomer),  Shirley  Hibberd  and  Chloe  (Simonite),  and  Mrs. 
Henwood  (Barlow)  may  be  mentioned.  Messrs.  Lord  and  Kershaw  also 
showed  good  unnamed  seedling  greens. 
In  grey  edges  not  so  much  has  been  done,  Mr.  Hoiner’s  Greyhound 
