The Osceola times., 1885-07-11
THE HESSiAN FLY.
An Agricultural Pest Which Is an Import
ant Factor In Fixing the Price of Wheat.

An Agricultural Pest Which Is an Import
ant Factor In Fixing the Price of Wheat
This pest received its name from the
fact that il was first observed in 1776
on Staten Island, near the place where
the Hessian troops disembarked under
the lead of Sir William Howe. 1t is
small insect, the body being only about
one-tenth of an inch long, but it works
immense damage. 1t generally natures
two broods in the year, the first ap-
pearing about the 23d of May in the
Southern States, and some what later
farther north. The eggs. about one
iiftieth of an inch in length, are placed
in the longitudinal creases of the leaves
of both varieties of wheat very soon
after the plants make their appearance
above the ground, sometimes more than
twenty being found on single leaf. In
few days the larve are hatched cut.
and fix themselves between the leaf and
the main stalk, Just below the surface OF
the ground, where they obtain nourish-
ment by sucking the juices of the plant
IL takes about six weeks for the grub TO
obtain his full growth, and during that
time two or three are sufficient to kill
the plant. 1t 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 thrxshing-out process shows
that there is practically no grain left in
the ear to reward the farmer for his toll.
The worst thing about the Hessian
l. al a
coniine their depredations to a single
season. Their ravages 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
one season. The grub relaxes into the
pupa state, when it somewhat rescm-
bles grain Of haxseed. and lies in the
stubblc till the following spring or is
carried away in the straw to be ready
for resumption of hostilities else
where. This has been repeated for as
many as five or six years before the vi
tality OF the pest has yielded to the in
evitable and left the farmer at peace.
1t becomes an important question if
the Hessian fly will repeat history in
this particular. If it should do so the
business of wheat-raising in the United
States for export may prove to
have received check of no
small magnitude, and the Ameri.
can farmer may even find that he
has nearly all he can do to supply the
growing wants of the home population.
With such vast cypanse of territory as
is now devoted to wheat culture in this
country there is room for hope that
things will not come to this worst phase,
especially as the wide areas of the
Northwest appear TO be free from the
scourge. But it is worth while to look
ahead and survey the possibilities of the
case, and all the more so as our wheat
market has long been depressed far be
low its average level. With the reduced
yield for this year only, which now
seems to be certain, it is folly to despise
the moderate surplus that remains over
from the last crop. But if this should
prove to be only the first in series Of
years of comparative scarcity there
would be ample opportunity to deplore
the short-sighted policy that has recent
ly been exhibited in the wheat trade,
and which finds parallel in the folly
of the wage-worker who refuses to earn
another dollar so long as he has any
thing remaining from his last week s
wages.-Chtcago Tribune.