Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-07-22

calves, were Immediately turned on the
field, and permitted TO continue till the
middle ofFebruary. These kept it con-
stantly grazed to the earth, and thereby
literally exterminated by their .fess and
their mouths, these destructive creatures.
The cattle being removed at The above
mentioned period, the wheat quickly
sprung forth, and when nearly ready for
harvest. was Judged by several experien-
ced farmers 10 he good for - or Il tn The
bushel; but, the immense and continued
fall of rain during the Spring of 1907, ul-
timately destroyed i; whilst lying on Tie
ground.
From the full and complete success of
this experiment in relation To the d"3, no
hesitation was felt in making II for the
purpose OF DESTROYING the nm. Accord
ingly, in tie fall Of 1909 or 1910, q do not
nowr collect which il was repeated, aud
dccidenfatiy made under circumstances so
peculiar, tla, the result WAS both curious
and perfectly satisfactory.
In the commencement OF one OF The a
hove mentioned falls, the lot on which
the experiment WAS repeated was laid
down eoriy liz wheat. II so hapn"ned,
tina, small par, ot tn lot. ut the time
the wheat was sown. had been very re-
crn,ly c0'c pe,usd, a. the planters sly lie it.
This, together with the other part, was,
however, in short time after the wheat
began tn grow, found 10 be entirely over
run by the az The sheep and calves
were immediately turned on it. They
grazed the whole lot closely, except the
part recently c0w-p enned, (Which expert
enccd farmers know they cannot be mada
to craze and when removed about the
middle of February, that part uAich lad
teen gra<cd, sprung forth as under the
first experiment, and produced fine
crop. Whereas, the part recently coW-
peuled, and which was consequently not
grd<ed, WAS a cUrately defined TO line,
bearing all the 6Uncked and dwarfislI APP
pearance, so peculiarly characteristic of
the wheat destroyed by the fly.
Many other experiments have been
since made, not SO much for the purpose
of experimenting, as 10 save valuable
crops of wheat, and which have never
yet failed in a single instance. Eape-
rience, therefore, as far as have made it
the subject of observation, has thus fully
confirmed the efficacy of this method
which theory suggested.
am aware, however, Sir, that there
are AT least three objections which may
he offered To the above method. First, il
may be objected Ia IL that the cattle will
destroy vast quantities ofthe wheat, by
poachiHg the earth with their feet. and
pulling II up by the roots in graziug.-
Tins Hay, to some extent be true on uet
light funds, and on such, as during the We
ry cold weather of winter, are very much
disposed, as farmers say, 10 spel0. But
this may very easily be Obvlatcd, bv re-
moving The cattle from the field when In
either of these states The truth is, how
ever, that little or no injury has been per-
ceived 10 result TO the wheat from this
cause III all the experiments which have
been made, and these have been both on
wet low land and on red stiff lan-!, which
last Is most apt 10 cast up during severe
weather.
In the second place, il may be object
ed that the grazing alone, so late in tile sea
son, as may, be necessary 10 destroy lie
fly, or 10 prevent their ravages, must in
Iure Inc veal as much as they can posi-
| bly, no. But repeated experiments have
equally overturned this with the first oh
lection. The only effects which grazing
Is found TO have on the wheat, are these
! that it causes it TO branch much more
and 10 be sorie fer days later in coming fc
maturity than il otherwise would be. Bat
| for This, we are, perhaps, amply compen-
! stated III the great benefit which must ne
cessarlly result to the cattle, which ar,
| permitted TO feed on II, and at fine o
the year, toe, III which they most requir,
some such assistance.
The third, and tie most specious OBJ
| lection, remains 10 be confirmed or des
| troyed, by come future experiment. By
| the above observations il must have beer
| perceived, that IL is deemed necessary f.
| remove The cattle, (Which must. duriu,
the time they are on the wheat, coniinu
ally keep it in check, sufficiently early il
| February, ~ send forth new stalks O.
| branches, (t0here tkcy are required. il
time to come fully to maturity. Siinulc
| the wheat be liable to be attacked i'm any
case by the fly subsequent 10 the period
| at which the cattle must be removed
then, i'll that case, the method must fail
But such an one has not yet appeared
and from the rapid growth which III,
wheat takes in the Spring, (especialI>
i'll fertile land,) is perhaps not to be ap
| prehended. Should the ny, however, il
perceived in the middle of February, n
| large numbers, the stoci1 might very posi-
bly,, with perfect safety, be continued iii
the first, if the Spring should be- forward
or TO The middie OF March. if the Sprins
| should be late. After which time, / an
| convinced, from the result OF the above
experiments, no further danger need b,
apprehended.
| Thus, Sir, You will perceive that indie
! pendent of saving our valuable crops o
wheat, the general adoption of this me.
| thod will completely supercede the neces
| sitv of seeding our lands so lite as many
have done to The great injury Of the crop
and of purchasing at monopoIy price
! those varieties ofWheat which have beer
| proposed as exempt from the ravages O
the iiy, but which (f the Observations o
the Grunge Farmer" be corrccD are no
| In Eacf To hn nlfnnelher dennnLnh on,