The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-07-07
The HeSsian Fly,

We find the following in Mr.. Peasants
Prize Essay, before the Md: Agricultural
Society:-The Hessian fly sis small two
winged fly or midge, nearly black" and
was supposed to have been brought to
Amsrlss by the Hessian troops during the
concerning this insect, and its natual his
tory is well understood; but no discovery
has been made by which it can be entire.
ly arrested in its ravages. In the fall of
the year, and again in the spring, it depos-
ties its eggs on the blades of the wheat,
which hatch in the course of a few days.
when the maggots crawl to the bottom of
the blades and find their nourishment in
the JUICE OF the plants. The circulation in
the plants becomes thereby impeded; the
blades first assume dark green color,
subsequently, they turn yellow. and finally
the whole plant perishes or lives out
sickly existence. The prevalence of the
fly has been the means Of bringing great
revolution in the culture of wheat Before
it was known it was customary to SOW
from one to two months earlier than can
now be done with safety. By early seed
ing the stools acquired such strength as to
enable them to till well in the spring and
the consequent early harvest secured the
crop from another enemy, no less formid-
able than the fly, namely rust. Since the
introduction of the fly it has been found
unsafe to SOW wheat sooner than about the
period of the first frost. Even then, or in
cases of still later sowing, there is no cer-
tain exemption from its ravages, while the
changes of seed-time renders it unprofita-
BILE to put any land to wheat which is not
in good state ofimprovement. The on
ly compensation therefore to the farmer
for the injury to his crops by the fly, and
the necessity he is under of sowing late, is
to place his wheat land in condition to
render it productive. He must give his
wheat not only nourishment enough for
the fly, but enough also to stimulate its
growth beyond the abstraction of its juices
which is caused by the fly. In favorable
seasons he may then calculate on reach
ing the maximum degree ofproductiveness.
But upon ordinary or poor lands, especi-
ally after corn, without the benefit Of ma
nure, the farmer is hardly ever reimburs-
ed for his expenses in seed and labor =.
Counting every expense, less than a crop
of ten bushels to the acre will not yield a
sufficient profit to justify the cultivation Of
wheat. And yet how many farmers there
are whose crops fall greatly below that
average, and who still persevere in the
culture from year to year. The presence
of the Hessian fly should then teach the
farmer an important lesson. Indeed some
persons have gone so far as to say that
they considered it a blessing instead of a
curse, from the absolute necessity, by its
existence ofusing every means to increase
the productiveness Of the soil. Without
fully receiving this opinion it is yet not
without force, and he who adopts the plan
of improvement for the purpose OF obviat-
ing these difficulties which nature interpo-
ses to his success, is the only intelligent
farmer-the only one who deserves suc-'
cess even when he does not command it.
The Houston Register says that many
Of The farmers Of Western Texas have al.
II. lr~<~. xx~rEt., -, tho ichoar