A DAINTY MIDGE.
A curious discovery, of real importance to a small and picturesque native industry, has been made and extended in a more palpable sphere of biology and botany. The best species of willow (or sallow) for wattling and for basket work was suffering from the attacks of a midge, which took a fancy to the tiny tip of the growing shoot. Though the wound was small, it checked the central shoot and produced a faggot of weedy shoots instead of one central shoot ; and these were useless for the work required. Since no good method was forthcoming for dealing with the midge itself, the botanists were called in, and they got to work quickly. Within a few years they had " created " (by hybridization) a variety of willow, pretty well as good as the other for wicker work but imbued with a juice or flavour or scent uncongenial to the midge, which therefore left the buds alone. This was not all. The new variety is now grown not only for producing good wattle. The essence disliked of the midge is being extracted, and when used as a spray on the more vulnerable variety of willow successfully repels the midge. Immune itself, the new willow lends its cousin its repulsive quality ! * *
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