Smyrna times., 1857-08-12

Farmers Encyclopedia the time is said to
vary from four to fifteen days and even longe',
under circumstances more or less favorable
Th usands of insects in the faxseed state could
be seen in the stubble when the wheat was
reaped, and it is reasonable to suppose that the
fly will continue 10 hatch and deposit its eggs aa
long as the heat of the summer and autumn sun
is sufficient to admit of its development, and
transformation .,
Though | did not examine my wheat last
autumn, have but little doubt the larye was
10 1t during the winter. and if so, there appears
TO be no degree of cold that will not destroy
the wheat which cannot be endured by its great,
est enemy. | had several acres of wheat COW
cred with water after the snow-drifts had melt
ed 10. February. The ground was frozen and
the water did not subside for week or more.
The wheat was not materially Injured by it, in
fact looked greener in June than other parts of
the field which had been much exposed to the
frost and cold. l examined the wheat at that
place with some curiosity, and was surprised to
find the fly as prevalent there as elsewhere in
the field.
Though the Hessian fly is known to iniure
the wheat 10 some extent almost every year,
such visitation as we have been subjected to
the present season is unusual, and by many old
farmers it is believed that it's coming in swarms
like the locusts, is periodically for nearly twenty
years t1y has not generally caused serious
alarm, and may there not be some natural eau
ses operating TO produce these destructive in.
sects IN suce formidable numbers, and over so
large space at the same period r.,
1t is difficult to devise any practicable plan
for destroying this great enemy to our crops -
Its ravages have extended far beyond the limits
Of this State. | have witnessed fields in that
fine wheat-growing region, Talbot county,
Maryland, on which the greatest care had been
bestowed by the owners, that have not produced
sufficient grain TO pay the expenses of seeding.
Accounts from the Western Shore of MARYLAND,
and many parts of Virginia are 10 the same
purpOrt. As for the yield of wheat in this
county, am, from inquiry and observation,
satisfied that it is at least from fifty TO sixty per
cent. below an average crop The frequent
rains in the spring and early autumn were ia
vorable to the fields which had been partially
destroyed by the fly; they iaduced a second
growth from the lateral Shoots which would
under favorable circumstances have produced
from fourth to- half a crop, but the straw was
reaped green or ripened late, and the quality of
the grain was materially injured by mildew and
rust--the stems in which the fly is found sell
dom produce perfect ear.
Notwithstanding the entire destruction Of
OF others, there are occasionally rare exceptions
where fair returns have been obtained by the
husbandman. These exceptions, it might be
supposed, would afford to the inquire r.some in
formation by which he could be governed in
seeding the future crops; but unfortunately,
inquiry only adds to the difficulty of solving the
cause of this difference. Instances have been
noticed where the same variety of wheat had
been sOwn at the same time on two fields equal
ly fertile, within a few hundred yards of each
other, one of which was destroyed and the other
yielding an average crop.
After the prevalence of the Hessian fly some
twenty years ago, the farmers found great pro-
lection in the practice of seeding late few Of
them would risk their seed in the ground before
the last of October. This custom prevailed un-
til the Mediterranean wheat was introduced
about the year lS41; it had the reputation of
withstanding the attacks of the fly, and as an
early variety escaped the rust, it certainly did
produce more certain and heavier crops for sew T.
eral years, than any other variety grown in this
region, and in consequence of It's ripening early
il is still favorite with some of our farmers
will add that the quality of the grain is much
improved, but it has ceased to resist the effects
of the fly, and indeed, from the straw being
naturally weak it is more liable to be injured
by this insect than some other varieties, still il
might be well, if other imperial ations could be
made at this time, to renew the original quali-
ties of the grain.
The question now is, whether we shall return
again TO the practice oilate seeding. II is true
the fly has destroyed some of the late as well as
early sOwn wheat the present season, but there
are other remarkable instances, where the seed
ing was late, upon corn ground, and the wheat
has escaped. Wherever the practice of late
seeding is adopted, the earliest varieties of
wheat should be used. 1t would be well if
number of farmers in the same district, would
appoint the same time to seed their crops, either
early or lpte, we then may be able 10 Judge
whether the time of seeding has the effect which
has been attributed to it; but if some seed their
grain early, and others near by sow late, these
lIght-winged insects may be easily conveyed
from field to field by favorable wind aud oil
will be liable to fare alike.
For some years past wheat has been considered
one of our most certain aud profitable crops;
heavy outlays for guaHo and other fertilizers
have been made to apply to it, and the return
from these manures and a better mode ofculture
has hitherto been highly remuneratIve. Any
thing therefore approaching general failure of
this crop, is well calculated to cause serioas aR-
prehenslons In tn community, as we'll as in
other States where it's production is matter of
the first Importance, and it is really incumbent
upon the Agricultural Societies Of the wheat
growing States TO aid in their Investigations
those who have made the habits of insecis inju-
rions TO the gram crops. their study, and more
especially on occasions like the present, when
it would add so materially to The prosperity of
farmers and wealth of the State, TO discover
some means by which the ravages of this de-
structive pest can be prevented. !. g.s k ...ts.-
On motion of Mr.. 7. b.. Coursey the above
highly interesting paper was ordered 20 be pub.
llshed in the proceedings of Ibis meeting, with
the request that all the papers of the State
copy. ~ .1 -. "a. ..f...,,.
Alter an interesting conversation. .onthe rela-
tive merits of different concentrated fertilizers;
and the distribution of wheat and turnip seed,
received by the Recording Secretary from the
Patent Office.
On motion the Society adjourned.
G. w. s. NICHOLSON,
Recording Secretary.