Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-01-26
From the Indiana Journal.
CAN WHEAT BEPRoTEcTED AGAINST TIL
ATTACKS OF THE HxssrAN FLY
Dlsrassed ~ fk Dekxafss and Mrmbcrs u ~
sfsfe Beard 81 Agriculture.

Mafc beard ~ 4Erfeahurr.
Mr.. Line-In the Miami Valley, II
was at one time supposed that red
chaf bearded wheat was exempt from
the attacks Of the fly. but II has not
been more able, than other sorts, to
escape. All kinds are injured. but
not to any considerable degree where
the growth Of wheat is vigorous
Lime, he thought, would prove pre-
tentative. IL sown broadcast over the
wheat when il was young.
Mr.. Dennis-The middle and east
ern portions Of the State had suffered
most from the fly during the past seas
on. But the white wheat had been
destroyed when the Mediterranean had
escaped. He had seen a field, half Of
which was sown with white and the
other half in Mediterranean. The
former was utterly destroyed, whilst
the latter yielded good crop. As 70
the remedy proposed by Mr.. Line. he
was satisfied IL would prove useless
He has seen 400 bushels sown on q
field Of ten acres, and narrowed in. buI
much Of it remaining on the surface
The crop was badly injured by the
Fly.
Mr.. Fees remarked that no remedy
had yet been found. He thought am
monia might prove useful in driving
the hy from the wheat, for he had no
ticed where IL was abundant, near 4
stables and manure piles. the whea
grew luxurinntly, whilst in poorer por
tons of the field. 4 was much injured
He proposed using plaster Of paris
although by retarding the ripening o
the wheat, he knew II would render !
more liable 10 the rust.
DR.. Stevenson asked whether the n,
ever attacked wheat in wet seasons
and when II was growing fast? III
believed that ammonia would not pro
tect wheat from the fly. but as IL wa
powerful manure, IL enabled tn
wheat TO overcome. by rapid and Wig
orous growth, the injury Is received
This was the reason why Il was luxu
rant near stables. He had observe,
the same difference between rich an
poor places in the same field.
Mr.. Brown concurred with DR.. Ste
venson in the opinion that ammoni
did not exempt wheat from the attack
Of hy, but only aided Il to ovcrcom
them. He believed. however, ths
tho Mediterranean by having stron
stem, and by being rapid in its growth
resisted better than any other kind tn
injury from the fly. In the past sea
son. he noticed two fields rs 10 so
and cultivation alike. and only separs
ted by lane, in one Of which blu
stem was sown. and in the other Med
terranean. The first was much inju
red. the other but little. although III
fly was in both.
Mr.. lowering said that in 1850 III
Fly was destructive. and liz that yea
he had sown field with Mediterrs
mean. which yielded 32t bushels
the acre, whilst his neighbors, VIII
sowed other kinds lost their crops
The same result occurred the follow
ing year. The third year he sowe
some white wheat, in order to tel
whether good cultivation made th
difference, but the fly destroyed
whilst his nsighbors who had proc,
red the Mediterranean, succeeded viii
il.
DR.. Brown remarked that he W,
disappointed as to the course the d
bate had taken. To ascertain VIII
remedies should be resorted again
the fy, we mist investigate its natu
and its habits. This Was the scientiI
course. and the only one that coul
with certainty, lead to good results
Such questions as the following shou
be answered: What are the habits
the ay? When do they commit The
depredations? Do they pass the wi
ter in the larva state, and how? Do
Il attack the other cereals?
the egg deposited in the stem or 70
Of the blade? What effect has china
on the insect? The chloride Of lin
wasvery offensive to insects general
and il might drive the fly from o
fields.
Mr.. Murray, in answer. said tn
the ylays its eggs on the blade Of h
young wheat. The eggs soon hate
and the larva work their way down
the first joint, where they live on d
sap of the wheat, and il there a
enough Of them to consume all I
sap. the plant soon dies. Hence. :
ate sowing. the farmer endeavors
void the insect, and this was, perhaI
the best way to shun its ravages.'
But on the account Of the danger
freezing out, very late sowing had
be avoided. He then referred 10