Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1829-07-29

Smpte sHeHOd ~ Destroying the Hes
sian F2y.-As the wheat crop this season
has, in some places, suffered considerable
damage from the destructive effects ofths
insect, we are happy to be enabled, by a
valuable and obliging correspondent to
publish the following directions for dcs-
roying it.
The Hessian fly deposits its eggs on tie
wheat ear before It is reaped the egg Is
so small as to be invisible TO the naked
eye, but may be very distinctly seen with
a microscope; sometimes one grain OF
wheat will be observed to have several Of
these eggs on 1t. They are attached to the
wheat by a giutiaous substance deposited
around them, 10y tue parent Ay, by which
they are held 60 FIRMLY 90 the surIaco, ae
not to be easily removed by the motion Of
reaping. threshing, sc. Shortly after the
seeds begin 10 terminate IN the soil, the
genial heat of the season brings the young
fly from It's eag, in the form of very
small maggot as IL the case Of insects P:
these little maggots deposit themselves at
the root of the stalk, 10 the seed OF which
their ego had been attached; between the
stem and the lowest blade or leaf, where
they may be discovered, during the month
of May, and beginning Of June, quietly
Ireposing here theyremain until the warmth
of the season brings them to maturity,
when they commence eating the substance
TO which they have been attached. i is
not until this period that their destructive
effects are visible by the wheat becoming
withered and bGghtcd. This accounts for
the fact that wheat, which is attacked 10y
this destructive insect, presents a healthy
appearance until the month of June. the
period at which this embryo fly begins to
Iuse lood.
Now itls evident that if the eggs Of this
| Nv can be destroyed on the seed wheat, b.
process that will not also destroy the
vegetable quality Of dc grain, the ruInou'
effects will be avoided This can be done
| by the following very simple process
Soak the seed wheat IN water for twelve
hours; spread It out on the barn floor, Sc
as TO allow the superintendent waters &c
escape then take fresh Stacked lime, anC
mix among the wheat 10 quantity suiticlen
to have every grain covered with The lime
taking care to stir the wheat well with ;
shovel so that no particle NAV escape com
ling In full contact with the line, which
when thus applied, Will in a short tim,
destroy the eggs, and consequently pre-
e-ve the graiu from destruction"
( Our correspondent assures Us that III,
egg. which before the application Of the
| lime appears clear and transparent, after
wards becomes opaque, and puts on tn
( appearance Of added eggs. The etilcac.
( of the above remedy has been established
by several experiments, one of which w
viii here relate Wheat, supposed 20 b
infected with the Hessian fly, was takei
one half of the quantity was treated wltI
lime. and the other half was sown IN tn
/ same soil with the prepared seed, IN al
ternate drills; the result was, that ever
stalk from the prepared seed came to ma
'lur!tv and was productive, whilst the alter
mate drills which had been sown wit
un2repared seed were almost totally des
uoyed.
The above remedy, Cor so serious a
evil. canuot be too widely circulated
we would recommend IT'S translation mt
the French papers, and we think The Cure
Of the country parishes would confer
benefit on ihciy Pensioners, by having
made known al their respective Churc
doors, after divine service.
Canadian C0WaEt.