Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-01-15
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

SMITHSONIAN INsrITUrIoS.-Dr. Morris, o
bsltlmore, addressed the National Agricultu
raj Society, last night, relative to insects inju
rlous to vegetation.
spoke in glowing terms of the investigation
made In natural history by Americans-inves
uSauons 30 extensive and patient that q new
hmerlc9n bird must be I" a rare bird, " a new
mammal something extraordinary, and a new
nsh "a queer fish" indeed There was yet,
however, unbOunded fields for the naturalist
70 explore in the new territories constantly
oelng added to the national domain.
Dr. Morris urged the necessity for sooiosy
ana botany, as well as geology, being pursued
az agricultural colleges. It was desirable
mat young farmers should acquire exact
knoWledge Of animals and plants Iney
should be acquainted with the anatomical
structure OF animals and understand the dit
ference between different grasses,
A knowledge of natural history has saved
millions of dollars to come governments. Lin
psus of Sweden, taught his countrymen
how to preserve ship timber from the ravages
of the marine worm, discovery of incalcu-
liable benefit, and how to stay the sea in its
ravages upon their coast by barrier made of
species Of beech grass.
Farmers complain Of the ravages Of insects,
touching the nature Of which they seem to
know very little; styling them, indiffsrently,
bugs, worms, or vermin. Thus q gentleman
OF Cecil county, Md, had brought him a speci.
men Of wheat, which he spoke Of as being
preyed on by something, which he termed
yarlously, as bug, woIm, weevil, or vermin.
On examination the insect proved to be a
species of the weevil. Farmers complain Of
birds as irjuring their fruit, and indiscrim-
mate slaughter takes place; when it is known
to naturalists that most birds preserve fruit
from injury.
Of the mammals, or four footed amin ais
which do injury, the fox, squirrel, rat and
weasel were too we'll known to dwell! upon
The squirrel it is said, always attacks the
outer rows OF a cornfeld, ard a laughable
anecdOte was told Of person who went to bis
nelgn Dor big with discovery which was to
cut on the ocvastations Of the fquirrel and
which when developed proved to DO that the
cornheld should be Planted without any
outer rows
OF all pests to the farmer or the gardener
the insect tribe Is the greatest AT the head
OF the marauier5 upon the field crops stands
the vil!sinOUs Hessran Fly. This great enemy
OF our wheat fields is tEO-Winged, and is not
more than a quarter Of IN inch in length 1t
does not NEEDLE with the grain, but preys
upon the wheat stalk Without doubt it is an
European insect The Investigations IF Her
rick, OF Yale College, had established this
fact The insect was introduced into this
country by the HesSiSns during the Revolu.
tiODaTy war, in straw in the ships which
brought them over. The fly was noticed in
August Of 1776, and is rayages scCa attracted
the attention of farmers Complaints were
made In the newspapers of the day. Wheat
fields were plowed up and planted with other
crops.
In 1856, on the occasion Of the expectation
OF some American wheat to Great Britain,
fears were entertained there Of the introduc-
ton Of the Hessian fly. The Privy Council
sat day alter day; expresses were sent to the
eustOm-hOuses requiring strict examination,
sCd a proclamation was issued prohibiting
the Introduction at any British port of Ameri-
can grown wheat. But ii was demonstrated
that the plant only is affected by the fly, and
that It cannot be propSGased by means of the
grain
The Hessian fly sends forth two annual
broods Various modes nave been employed
TO hinder Its rayages such as late sowing,
deep covering, soak king the seed, 81, &c, but
the d. has been found harder 10 conquer than
those who imported il. Il was, however one
Of the compensatiors Of nature that many of
The Ecseians remaining in this country, their
descendants were now amorSS: our most Valu-
able citizens and farmers in PennsylVanis and
Western Virginia.
The wheat hy is frequently COMPOUNDED with
the Hessian fly. This insect deposits eggs in
the head Of the wheat; commencing Tot far
from the end OK June, and continuing for about
thirty days The Larvae work their way into
the grain and live upon Its juices. The great
est enemy Of the wheat fly is the common yell
low bird
There were other destroyers Of wheat-the
real grain veeyil and the moth.
The eultiyator complains that his fruit il
destroyed by insects The apple has numerous
asSallants beautiful little butterfly lays
eggs in the blossom Of the apple which grows
with its growth and in time works its way out
leaving the orifce We notice upon the surface
Of a wormy apple. The peach and plum trees
have their peculiar enemies. A beetle makes
an InclslOn upon the plum in which it deposits
single egg. The best remedy known TO the
lecturer for this, was TO spread a sheet under
the tree infected, early in the morning when
iae Larvae are half asleep probably and when
by shaking the tree they are thrown to the
ground. Paving urder the tree with bricks
was also recommended A beautiful beetle
Injuries pears Singularly enough this beetle
which Is prevalent in Pennsylvania is never
foun in Maryland.
Forest trees have not yet received the scien
tihc consideration they deserve. They are
not cultivated with care, nor is sufficient at
tentlOn paid to their preservation. European
soVereigns appoint scientific men TO prepare
works on forest trees and the insects that rrcy
upon them, and officers are appointed to look
after the preservation If the forests. In
hundred years We should begin to appreciate
O.
The hickory, the pine, and other trees are in
Jnred by beetle. In E4lope great injury il
done to the pines by this insect, and in the
HartZ mountains the coal burners use prayer
like this, :" Lord deliver US from the Turks
and from these beetles -
In South Carolina whole forests Of pine have
been destroyed By this grub which is not larger
than grain Of rice. The lsrve only does the
mischief, the inject being quite harmless 1t
Is killed by HoOdpeckeTs
Inc toilAge Of the elm in New England is
yea every summer by what is called the
CANCER worm, the grub Of a little butter.
ny. The remedy there was 10 encircIe the
tree with troughs Of tar, which arrest the
progress OF the female butterfly OF her way up
the body OF the tree to lay her eggs Being
wingless tan anomaly in nature) she has no
otnet way OF gettlng at the follsge but by
climbing. These tarry fixtures are of no man
ner OF use in this latitude Some years ago
the elns Of Baltimore were devastated Of their