The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-04-02
THE FARMER.
From the Maine Farmer.
ESSAY ON THE GRAIN WORM.


which the may have made for the consideration
of so many we'll established facts upon the sub
ject as il is desirable should be upon one of
such great importance to the community.
The GRAIN Worm is the product of slim or
slender and delicaely formed fly. This fly lodg-
es its egg in the husk, or rather between the
valves of the wheat when it blossoms. This
egg matches into small yeowIsh worm or mag
got. This worm attaches itself to the growing
kernal, and sucks from it all the milk or pulp,
and prevents its growth. A shrivelled and worth
less grain is the consequence.
After ii has arrived to maturity, it forms a
crystals in the place where it has lived, from
which it is dslodged, either by the ordinary pro-
cess OF thrashing or rpening and Smelling out of
the grain. 1t is not certain that it invariably re-
mains in the hnsk of the wheat to form the cry
sails. On the ninth of August last, Their was
warm rain and it was observed that immense
numbers of these worms were crawling our of
the wheat, and apparently seeking a shelter
somewhere ese But it has not been certainly
ascer;aned whether they actually went down
into the ground to put themselves into the pre-
paratory condition to change into the fly.
Yet it is certain that immense quantities of
them were in the wheat during the last harvest
and covered the threshing floors, being blown
out with the chaff.
1t has not yet been ascertained what length OF
time the insect remains in the crysas state
There. is little doubt however, that it continues in
the dormant stale during the winter, and even
through the spring, until near the time when the
wheat blossoms. 1t is at this time the1y is first
seen. 1t is soon after this time that the worm is
seen, and the crysalis has been observed in the
ohaff late in the fall, and it Is contrary to all the
laws of nature as applying to most insects which
undergo these transformations, to come into
the fly state during or Mt the beginning of winter.
The insect in question, has received the name
of weevil. This is incorrect, and leads many
TO wrong opinions in regard 10 its nature. The
weevil is an insect which infests some countries
and is exceedingly mischievous among grain af.
ter it is put into the bin, by eating into the dry
grain and devouring the farinaceous parts. But
the Grain Worm does all its mischief while the
grain is in the milk state, as it gets through this
state, or grub state, by the time the grain IS ripe,
and becomes dormant previous to changing to
the perfect state, II can do no damage to the
grain after it becomes hard.
That there is particular time when the fly
does and must deposit the egg that produces the
worm is certain. This is corroborated by OBJ
servation, and the fact that late sown grain was
not injured by them, while the early sown was.
Alter the warm rain above mentioned on the lth
of August, when so many of them left the heads
no new heads were injured, or no new depre-
nations were committed by them.
Many have supposed this insect to be identi-
cal with the small worm that is found in the
heals of clover, and is seen spinning down from
lofts of mows where clover has been slowed u.
waV The cold seasons having retarded the |
the wheat as substitute. However this may |
be, we are certain that the grain worm, or clover
worm, if clover worm it be, is not alone in its
multiplication.
The cut worm has become mere numerous of
late, also the white headed worm and grass
hoppers. The cause of this must be sought for
the state of the weather or seasons. Ever since |
the winter of 1880 and 81, the ground has been
long covered with snow. Even our January
thaws have not much reduced the covering Of
sn ow upon the grounds, so that the ground has
remained in one state or, has not often thawed
and frozen during the winter, and the worms
grubs not disturbed. When there shall come
a winter in which the ground shall be often
thawed g. frozen, so that the germ or whatever
produces the fly shall be disturbed, it will very
probably diminish their numbers, very much
Warm weather it is we'll known, is most congen-
ial to insects; yet they do not increase in exact
ratio TO the warmth of the climate. Why not?
Because the winters being more open or treez
ing or thawing more frequently kills them.
The present increase of the grain worm must
be multiplication of them, for hold that there
has been no new creation since the first six days,
ana II SO the causes above mentioned must have
brought it about. Having multiplied they must
nave spread in corresponding ratio to previous
numbers IN such situations as congenial to
them.
49, we hrst heard of them several years ago in
vermont State and they have travelled North g.
ao., ever since. thus it seem, their first in
crease was wa where the ground was covered early
IN the fall and late in the spring, and exactly
where according to my theory, they onght to
nave hegun. AS far as can learn, they are
not much known on the sea board, where the
snow does not lay on long or but short time in
the winter.
:. In regard to remedying the evils of this insect
It must be pretty'much or wholly, on the preven-
tive plan. think that lime or ashes. nut upou
the soil in sufficient quantities to make it disa-
greeable to the worm, must be good mode of
preventing its increase
l., From the fact that late sown grain has who'll
escaped, it must be evident that sowing late
SO as to bring the time of blossomine beyond
.ne time of the flys Matching, will prevent the