Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-07-17
To Doctor john das secp U pae Of t me 1a

II
tardt Soci tyof pirg;aia
SIR-in letter lately published bv order of
your society, from gentleman OF Amelia. a
nns il'iam FARMER is there attacked iOr his
HsteSX, I'D believing that, - If we would cover
our wheat three inches deep, and SOW ii early.
onr crops would be better guarded against the
fy, than they can ever he by grazing"
AZ me time that advice was given, il was
hOt DeileNed, that any recommendation of an
anonymous writer, would induce one indivdu
al, 10 cover his wheat deep who from exDrri
ence, knew il TO be Injurious
Ill appears TO be quite fashionable now a.
uays' 10 compliment gentlemen of nigh stand
ihg. Ii Is not intended TO detract from the
merits OF the communication made TO the
AiDemarie agricultural society, by Il gentle
man or fi"Vanna, and least of all. from the good
ihtehtions oil the writer--he will, il is hoped,
De convinced, that any allusion TO him Is il,
Seif defence, aud eXtorted BY some OF his other
friends. 1t know that gentleman, he will
never be displeaSed with friend for differing
win nm In opinion.
me fact ot tire ay depoStiug its e-e on the
blades of wheat, has been known to the nor
thern farmers, for wears, and how much have
they been benefited
As the gentleman of Amelia is desirons his
friend shOuld make him better acquainted with
Inc natural history of the Jipula udginaliS
tTH'et, the liberty is taken (iD the interim) OF
recommending for his pernsal, the most learned
history OF that insect that has yet been pub
l,siied. LII is from the pen of Doctor Samuel
Monthly Magazine, for August, 1917, No 4.
page 2!5. As no certain means are there
pointed out, for destroying our enemy. and
every recommendation in still Hypothetical,
Iexcepl tnat OF making our land richD il yet
remains Tor The scientific knowledge and
thirty years experience of the Amelia gentle.
man, TO furnish that great desideraium
To be better understood, reference is made
10 the sOcietys engraving. Promising that il
represents wheat as much matured as we
sometimes see il in April, when it has survived
the fall, and has only to contend with the
spriug fly. 1t is known to all practical far
meIs, that in attempting TO cover wheat, at
any given depth, some of the grains will he
deepest. Now TO practical facts.
Ii wheat is sown on the banks Of the Pammn-
key, from the last of September, to the middle
OF October, and covered not mere than three
inches deep, should the weather be dry. the
grains covered deepest, will FIST come up; If
seasonable, the reverse will happen. If the
fly should deposit on the first blade, at any
time before the corCnal roots form at ID. or
elsewhere, the naggots will force their way
down the stalk, two and half inches at mos /,
destroying II in their passage, and make their
exit between y. and Il. That nature being
baiFled in her first effort, new shoots are pro.
tTGded by ihe seminal root (Which ought to bel
at Is. That some OF the wheat now stacking
at the barn, is the product of these Shoots
That If not attacked by the Is, before the co.
TOnsl roots are formed, and the wheat begins
30 branch, the seminal roofs will invariably
die, so soon as the first named roots can sup.
mort the plant. Wheat covered not more than
from one to two inches deep. if attacked by
the fly, before the cOrohal roots form, that the
maggOts viii easily find their way to the EN-
| brSo crown at ID. and destroy the plant in toto.
! That after the cOronal roots to clther wheat
are formed, and the genteman's daughters
make their appearance, the tiy is attracted by
their superior charms, and my mother is Of
| course neglected.
Frsm the above facts, may be drawn the
foil 4.
| ing wheat early, and covering il not more
| than three inches deep, IN a light siliCious
loan, it has no unnatural effort OF nature what.
ever TO perform. That If the 1y should depo.
slt on the first blade, before the cOronal roots
form, the Nuggets have a yety unnatural Office
10 perform that OF digging their own graves.
two and BALI inches al most, from the sur
face. From which mey be inferred, that like
That The wheat roofing deepest. Will grow most in
winter, aud b. the spring Will best resist tie ny.