Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-09-05
Wheat and the Joint Worm.

mOnu-partlcularly klnS W llllam-Il;iS lai-
len far below the usual average in that Sec
ton, and that the failure is probably attribu'
table to the ravages of the joint-worm, beg
the privilege of submitting through your
columns to the Farmers in that region the
result of the experience and observation OF
an intelligent, practical agriculturist,-as |
know DR.. Meriwether to be-consained in u
letter addressed by him to the Editor of the
Southern Planter" in 1854. Previous to
that time the county of DR.. Ms residence
had suffered severed y from the depredatlons
of the joint-worm, and various expedients
for counteracting the destroyer were tried,
proved to be Intellectual and abandoned;
but, Us the result of experience, tho opinion
seems to have generally prevailed in favor
of early sowing of the earliest varieties OF
wheat, quickened and assisted in their
growth and maturation by the application of
| highly concentrated manures, as the great
est, if not the only safeguard against this
! formidable enemy. The liberal use of Pc
ruvian Guano, therefore, was resorted to,
with what effect, may be learned from the
subjoined letter, the perusal of which [ will
detain the reader from, only to remark: LIST.
that the "Phospho-Peruvian Guano" will
probably prove equally rs effective rs Peru.
Wan alone, in counteracting the ravages OF
the enemy, while the increase of the Phos-
phate Of lime-an essential element in per-
fecting the grain of wheat-is secured by
the intimate mixture of the two ingredients;
and ID that we have in this city, on estab-
lishment provided with the most approved
machinery for preparing the article in the
best manner, and conducted under auspices
which entitle it to the entire confidence Of
the public. Yours, very respectfully,
Richmond Wing. HESRlco.
The Wheat Crop and its Enemies.
Mr.. Editor: Whilst the wheat is 'root-
ing" as our great farmer Rogers used to ex-
press its winter growth, let us endeavor to
| dive into some of the mysteries of this won
derful plant The chief of these at present
is, the destroying joint-worm, which has
diminished the crop of this and several adj
Joining counties from 80 to 80 per cent
Yet, in the midst of it, for the last two years,
my crops have been the best ever made
| Of this fact will give the reasons, 50 far rs
| know, in the hope of throwing some light
on this engrossing topic.
A short review Of the wheat culture OF
Virginia may be of interest to our younger
brethren, and may illustrate more clearly
our present difficulty. In old times, before
the llessian fly, when the wheat was often
sowed and ploughed in at the last working
of tho corn, almost the only limit to the crop
vas in the extent and fertility of the land.
This success encouraged its cultivation, till
the wheat patch, as it was then called, ex-
| banded into the wheat field. Then came
, the fy, SO destructive under this system
that it was called IIessian, after 4 ruthless
| and unprovoked enemy, and enormously
supposed to be brought over by them. The
habits of this insect being carefully investi-
gated by Gov. Barbour, Gen. Cooke, and
others, showed the danger of too ear y seed
ing, and the advantage Of grazing and other
means of diminishing its rayages. To avoid
their fall deposit of eggs on the blades of
the wheat, it became the settled practice not
to begin sowing earlier than the first to the
fifth of October. This delay of full month
or more from the former usage, besides sub
jectng the latter part Of the crop to the
spring attack of the fly, aggravated enor-
mously the danger from rust--the univer-
sal enemy to the wheat. The necessity Of
early ripenng to escape the rust, while pre-
vented from early sowing by the fly, led to
the trial Of every possible variety of wheat,
nor is any one kind even yet decided on rs
the best The Mediterranean has ut least
the twofod advantage, that it may be sOwn
some ten days earlier, and ripens nearly AS
much sooner, than the white flint and other
! standard kinds. Its culture, in spite of
many objections, is extending, and Of this
our crops in this region partly consisted
when first attacked by the joint-worm. In
the panic occasioned by this dreadful enc
my, which has driven some Of our farmers
off the field, we could not ut first say that it
spared any kind. But on closer inspection
the old proverb proved true-"the devil take
the hndmost."
The ioint-wOrm has u certain time to
change from its chrysalis state and come
forth to work; but if IL little before this time
the wheat can head, the straw is then too
hard for them, and they seek that which is
more tender. Their mode Of operation is to
pierce the outer covering near the Joint, and
deposit their eggs, which soon hatch and cut
off all nourishmont from above that point.
! Upon these facts we base our practice, which
is to SOW in good time and with the best
| preparation the earlier kinds Of wheat, and
push them in every way to the speediest
maturity We begin by the middle Of Sep
! tember or as soon after ~ We can get ready,
| and sow for the first week or ten days Of
pure Mediterranean, then Of one-third early
purple straw with it, and finish with the
purple straw alone. If any Poland or late
wheat at all, it should be sowed early in
October on tobacco land or the most fsvora-
bic spots as to fertility and exposure. The
white May wheat We are now trying, to see
| if that will not head the enemy. My neigh
| Dor, +. X. Nelson, tried his last crop in
three ways, and all turned out WELL First.
prime clover fallow, sowed early in Mcdi-
terranean; second, we'll MANFRED land in
the same; and third, the corn field in earl
purple straw, with guano. These three
methods seem likely to succeed. | know of
no other. Ordinary fallow, or good corn
land, may do with one hundred pounds of
guano to the acre; but two hundred pounds
are necessary if the land be poor. The
wheat drill with the Guano attachment will,
| hope, do great things for us and the whole
country. A single experiment with it in
Fauquier is enough, Mt least, to attract at
tention. Three strips of land, sowed side
by side, the first, without help, brought ff-
teen bushels to the acre; the second, with
two hundred pounds Of guano broadcast, fiji
teen; and the third, drilled with fifty pounds
of guano, twenty bushels. Yours sincerely,
THOS. W. MERlWETllER.