The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-08-04
OH 9armeT.
Wheat Pests.


Wheat Pests
The farmers labors are continued |
round, and he no sooner secures his har- |
vest and threshes his grain, ready to get
it to market, when he is called upon to get
ready to sow his winter grain. And here
considerable responsibilities rest upon him.
The selection Of his seed, which should be
changed at least every third year, and the
obtainment OF such fertilizers as are suita-
BILE for the crops he is about to put in the
ground. This latter is most important
matter TO be considered, for it is now be-
yond any doubt settled question that no
one whose land is not in high condition
and naturally fertile can afford to dispense
with the fertilizers of commerce to exc
out the limited supply of manure which
his farm yard supplies; and even the latter
is made far more valuable by the COM
mingling Of the mineral and organic ma
nures in their application of the same to
the soil. And even those who have rich
or well improved soils find that the appli- |
cation Of the fertilizers of commerce adds
very largely to their grains wherever judic- |
iously applied. Due caution, however, is |
to be observed in obtaining such fertilizers
as contain the Ingredients necessary as
food for the plants, the principal Of which
are phosphoric acid, ammonia and potash.
The principal complaints which we have
seen in regard to the late cropping that
damage has been sustained in some sec.
tons, not to very great extent, it is true,
from the depredations of the nudge and
the Hessian fly, and in some cases from
the rust. This latter difficulty is believed |
to be remedied by simple process at the
command of the farmer, which we have
often commended to the attention of our
agricultural friends, which is the soaking
Of the seed in solution of blue yitriol or
cOpperas before sowing, which we believe
has been found sure remedy against this
evil
The process Of preparing and using the
soak we here add
dissolve three pounds of bluestone in
a wooden bucket, using hot water. Put
fifty to sixty gallons of water in trough |
and pour in the solution. Take sacks Of
wheat and divide them into other sacks, |
to make them convenient to handle. I'm
merse them in the trough for three or
four minutes; then lift them on platform,
where they will drain into the trough.
Add bluestone and water from time to |
time, so as to use four to six pounds of |
bluestone to each ton Of wheat"
The nudge and Hessian fly have ap-
peared in Michigan this season, and fears |
are entertained that much damage will be |
done to the grain crops in the future, as
one Of the most effective weapons against
these pests, that of the rotation of crops, |
is in danger of being interfered with by |
the demand for wheat, which will be like |
ly to induce farmers to overlook this dan
ger, and resew their wheat land with the
same grain the second year. By the adop-
ton Of this course the nudge, which pu-
yates in the ground, would be furnished with
food close at hand on its emerging in the
spring. And, with the Hessian fly, which
goes through its proper form in the stem
of the wheat, the large breadth of winter
wheat sown, aud the general earliness of
The operation, fulfil exactly the conditions
wanted to induce Joint attack And If
these nests come toSetber there will La
serious time of it during the next fonr
years
The Canada Farmer comment;ne NM,
this danger, remarks .-.sTo esco1s tbe
fly we must sow late. and if we wish 10 vat
the wheat SO far advanced as 10 he ont If
the way of the nudge when il anneors in
perfect form in June or Julv we must sow
early. The wheat Is hound 10 he corob,
by one enemy or the other and Tins stands
double chance Of destruction from two
foes, either Of which Is fully eomnetert ~
dispose Of il. The eutomoIoaist of ,be
Agricultural College Of Mjcbigan ment;ons