The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1885-07-11
THE HESSlAN FLY.
An Agricultural Pest VIII ch Is M Import.
ant Factor In Fixing IN. Price Of wheat.

An Agricultural Pest VIII ch Is M Import
ant Factor In Fixing III. Price Of wheat.
This pest received its nome from the
fac, that il was first observed In l776
on Staten Island. near the place where
the Hcsslan troops disembarked under
the lead OF Sir William Howe 1t is a
small insect. tho body being only about
one-tenih Of nm inch long. but Il works
immense damage. 1t generally natures
two brDods In the year. the first APP
praring about the 23d OF Nav In tho
Southern States, aud somewhat later
farther north. The eggs, about one
titicth Of an inch In length. arc placed
In the longitudinal creases Of the leaves
Of both varieties u wheat very soon
after the plants make their appearance
above the ground, sometimes more than
twenty being found on a single leaf. In
afew days the larvr are Matched out.
and tn themselves between the leaf and
the main stalk. just below the surface OF
the ground, WHERE they obtain nourish.
meut by sucking the juices Of the plant
II takes about siN weeks for the grub to
obtain his full growth, and during that
time two Or three are sufficient 10 kill
the plant II Is often found. however,
that the plant Is not completely killed,
but only stunted. and the full measure
OF damage wrought is not discovered
till the thrashing-out process shows
that there Is practically no grain left In
the ear TO reward the farmer for his toll.
The worst thing about tho HessiAn
fly has yet TO be- told. Most insects
continc their dcprndations 10 q single
season. Their rayagcs Of one harvest
time may be followed by an abundant
yield the very next year. But the Hes.
sian fly Is not content TO destroy during
M season. The grub rclaxcs into the
pupa state, when Il somewhat rescm.
blcs n grain Of iaNsccd. and lies In the
stubblc till the following spring or is
carried away In the straw TO be ready
for n resumption Of hostilities else.
where. This has been repeated for rs
many rs i've OF six years before the vi
tally Of the pest has yielded to the In.
cyilable aud left the farmer at peace.
Il becomes an important question II
the llessiaa fly viii repeat history In
this particular. II Il should DO 80 the
business Of whcat-raising In the United
States for export may prove 10
have received a check Of no
small magnitude. and tho Ameri.
can farmer may W find that he
has nearly all he can do 10 supply the
growing wants Of the home population.
With such q vast eNpansc II territory AS
Is now devoted 10 wheat culture In this
country there is room for hope that
things will not como 10 this worst phase.
especially a the wide arcas Of the
Northwest appear to b. free from the
scourgc. But Il Is worth while 10 look
ahead and survey the possibilities Of the
case. and all the more 80 as our wheat
market has long been depressed far be-
low IL average level. With the reduced
Yield for this year only. which now
seems 10 10 certain. IL Is folly 10 despise
the moderate surplus that remains over
from the last crop But II this should
prove to be only the trst In a series %
years Of comparative scarcity there
would he ample opportunity TO deplore
the shoftsiRhtcd policy that has recent.
" been exhibited IN the wheat trade.
and which finds a parallel in the folly
Of the wage-worker who refuses 20 earn
another dollar 50 long a. he has any
thing remaining from his last weeks
vaTes-Ckioago Tribuse