Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-11-14

SIR-The following communication frem &C.
neral John H. Cooke, detailing some new and
highly interesting facts, OH The manner in
which the Hessian Fly deposits its eggs, was
read before the Agric gtural Society of Able.
marie, on the Sd of November. You are re-
quested to give it a publication in your paper.
T.. MINOR, See'y.
BRCMo, Octsber, 1917.
SIR-Believing ihe following facts to be new
i'm the natural history of the Hessian Fly, 1
Society.
That this destructive insect deposits its eggs
on the blades of the wheat. indiilerentlv a, from
halt an inch TO three inches from the main
stalk or central shoot.
That they remain upon the blade in the eor
state, from To days at least
And taat they are hatched into the worm or
inaggot on the blade.
That the egg is deposited on the leaf or blade
OF the wheat IS discoverabie By close examna
ton to the naked eve but may be put out of
all dispute, TO the dulest sight, by The aid of
riagntyins glass. The upper surface of a
blade OF wheat is formed inio alternate ridge.
ana burrows, running longitutlinally. and the
eggs are so sunk IN the burrows, that they will
not be disturbed by drawing the blade thro
the finger and thumb, under Il considerable
pressure. The shape of the egg is cylindrical,
rounded ut the ends, and at first in color and
ms II approaches to Matching, assumes redder
cast
On the 9th of October, first discovered the
eggs on piece of LAWYER, or fly proof wheat
which had beenaown as early as the 22d of
September. The plants al that time, general
ly had 'hree leaves, and there seemed to be
manifest preference IN the flies to place their
egg on the second or middle blade, but they
we're found indiscrminately scattered upon the
surface OF this leaf from half an inch to three
iuches from its point of contact with the cen
trail shoot. In several iusta noes as many as 40
eggs were counted by the aid of u glass ON a
single blade.
Particular eggs Which were identified from
day 10 day until they Matched, were found to
remain upon the leat-the shortest period of
time days, the longest seven. How long
they had been deposited when they were first
observed is uncertain, butt is presumed some
days, as the flies appeared in numbers out of
all proportion small 10 the vast multitude of
eggs. In Two instances only, were the eggs
discovered at the Instant of their being laid by
the flies, and in both of these eases the plants
were desirO. ed in removing them to the house
10 subject them to closer examination. And
thus the attempt was defeated TO fix the period
more dehEitely that the egg remains eXpOsed
on the leaf.
AS soon as the eggs hatch, the worms com
mence their Journey down the blade to IFS
point or contact with the main stalk and then
down between the boot and the embryo stalk
which II envelopes 10 the union of the boot aud
stalk al the crown OF the plant. Some of the
worms were detected in the act of moving
down the blade--but for the most part, after
the Disappearance of the eggs from the blade
by stripping down the boot, the worms were
found IN state so minute, as scarcely TO be
dlscoverable 10 the naked eye, lodged near the
root, just at that part of the plant which is the
seat OF all their mischief, and where they are
found IN the subsequent crystals state
when they have once planted themselves in
tins situation they aie Clearly beyordthe reach
OF oil renedies- but the fact being established
tilat they remain from to days ut least on
the blades OF the wheat, seems 10 hold OUT
some prospect that means may be Tesorted to
winch Will at least diminish, if not entirely
destroy them. May not be an experiment
worm trying, to waich the progress or the
flies, and as soon as they are found to have de-
Oft?
There are many difficulties which present
themselves to carrying this suggestion Into
practice upou large scale: but against so
great apevi partial remedy is better than
none-ifsuccesstul, possibly ii may be found
capable of extension sufficient for the object
Publications have already appeared, stating
the exemption OF graZed wheat from the wide
spread depredations oft!Ie fly last Spring-but
my knowledge OF tue insect al that time, net
extend ny further than The crystals, state in
whlcht they are 50 manitestly inaccessible to
any remedy that would not extirpate the
plant, my mind naturally referred the effect to
some other cause. Now il is clearly 10 he
comprehended, that this destructive INSECT
may have been devoured in the eye state with
the leaves ofthe wheat. j. IL. COOKE
PETER Minor. Esq. Secy) y
otRhe agricultural SOcie
~ If .4iGsmarte.