Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1860-09-06
AGRICULTURAL,
How to Avoid Midge IN Wheat.

The red weeyil (more commonly called
the midge) is comparatively newcomer
in this latitude 1t is one of the most de-
structivc enemies of the wheat crop where
it has existed for length of time, and We
NAV expect that in the future it will not
spare US. We give the following practi-
cal suggestions from the Rural New York
er, published at Rochester, in the midst of
a country which has suffered very much
by its depredations Their timely applica-
ton here may prove very useful:
The practical question which arises
among cultiyators is, how can we best
evade the midge? Many conjectural and
some very plausible theories have hitherto
been promulgate on this point, few Of
which have proved of any great value, be-
ing either impracticable or too expensive.
The result Of careful experiments, by some
of our most intelligent, observing and ex-
perienced grain growers, however, proves
that there are three requisites to success
ful wheat culture in regions where the
midge prevails, and these we viii briefly
enumerate aud discuss.
l. FurietieS.-The first and most requi-
site is to secure and SOW seed Of early and
hardy varieties-such as the Mediterrane-
an, Golden Drop, Dayton, &c. Those who
have grown these, and experimental with
more recently introduced varieties, the past
year, have been quite successful. The
Mediterranean has improved in quality Of
late years, and also in productiveness. In
some instances, last year, from thirty to
forty bushels per acre were produced in
this county, the grain being of excellent
quality, and we presume from the fields
we have examined) that the yield and quail
ity will both prove good this season. The
Dayton variety was grown in Genesee coun-
ty last year, and gave good satisfaction
escaping the midge and producing thirty
FIVE bushels per acre. The success Of the
experiment induced several farmers Of
Wheatland, in this county. to procure
< from Ohio and SOW seed of this variety
last tall. the product Of which escaped the
midge and looked very promising two
weeks ago-when nearly ready for harvest
iug As we stated in the Rural of the
10Th, (after examining about seventy acres
on the farm Of Hon. Elisha Harmon lit
Is a very fine .rlety-a white bald wheat,
with stiff straw, and if it acclmates as
well as the Mediterranean will prove inyaI-
liable in this region Other new varie-
ties have been tried on a small scale this
year-such as the Boughton wheat, (seed
from Virginia. by Mr.. Wray, near this
city, and the Early May, seed from South
ern Illinois,) by Mr. James White of
Wayne county. We hope to hear soon
from these and other gentlemen who have
experimental with new varieties, and that
they will state the time Of sowing, yield
per acre, quality, &c, for the benefit Of
the public.
?. Time of SoUiHy-The general opin-
ion among our farmers Is that, whatever seed
Is used, At must be So5cH early to escape the
midge. Some are Of the opinion that the
Soule wheat can be successfully grown
as 1t has been this past season-by sowing
as earl y as the lst Of September on rich,
dry and well-prepared soil. 1t should be
remembered, however, that the present
season has been more favorable for wheat
in this region than any other for perhaps
twenty years, and hence that the result
this year is not a safe index for ordinary
seasons. We should prefer the early vari-
eties, such as those named above, and
-so,0 as eary as possible atter tie 25h Of
August-say the last week in August or
first of September. This is the opinion of
our best farmers, and those who have ex-
perimented most, been most successful in
wheat culture, since the prevalence of the
midge.
SOL and Cnture-Early varieties and
carly sowing will prove of little avail with
out rich dry ooheot soH and good culture.
The great cereal cannot be produced advan
ta2eously on poor, wet land in any part of
the Union, and especially in sections where
the nudge prevails, To produce wheat
abundauty and proftably, the soil must
contain the proper elements, and be in the
right condition In many cases under
draining is Of the utmost importance, even
on farms where it is not considered neces-
sary. No one need expect to grow good
wheat, and evade the midge, unless he has
rich, warm and comparatively drv soil.
and good culture,-but with these. and at
tention to the requisites above named, we
believe wheat can again be cultivated sue
cesstully in Western and Central New York
and other midgeinfested sections Of the
4cOuntry.-AmerIc0I 1,,1tc7,iI,,p5sf