The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-05-27

surest, safest, cheapest and best OF
all insecticides. The kerosene emul-
sion is made as follows: Chip one
half pound of hard soap into a gallon
Of clean, soft, boiling water and boil
until dis solved. To this add two gal
Ions best quality of coal oil and churn
the mixture until thoroughly emulsi-
fed and reduced to a thin cream. An
old fashioned dash churn will do very
well for this use. The dash must De
applied vigorously and continued at
least Is minutes. When properly
done the oil does not separate from
the soap suds on cooling. 1t becomes
a white jelly when cool and in this
state it will keep good for any Lengths
of time. When wanted for use dilute
by adding Il parts of cold soft water
to n part of the jelly and apply as
already described. For a small plot
of ground or for garden plants the
diluted emulsion may be applied by
means of a broom, throwing the liquid
as hard as possible against the plants.
A common sprinkling can with a fine
rose will do tolerably well for this
purpose. Every farmer and gardener
should make a good supply of the coal
oil Jelly and keep it on hand for use
when wanted. 1t is very efectual
against all kinds of maggots, cater
pillars and grubs as well as most
winged insects.
THE HEssIAN fly ecidOmya destructOr.
This pest, long the terror of the
wheat grower, was introduced into
America from Europe in the year
1879. 1t first appeared on Long
Island, n. Y, and was supposed, but
enormously, to have been brought
over by the Hessian mercenaries in
the employ of the English, and hence
the popular name of the pest. The
Hessian fly first appeared in North
Carolina on the battlefield of Gull
ford, soon after that battle, and was
undoubtedly brought in the forage
used by the troops. It did nc great
1 Oou46SO Ia GHO SGnGO uubL1 1C4Os IL
then almost disappeared until 1871,
since when 1t has become more abun-
dant each year and Its presence now
demands prompt, vigorous and sys-
tematic action on the part of those in,
terested in wheat growing. The Hes
sian fly attacks no grain but wheat.
The life history of the fly is as fol,
lows: During the first warm days of
spring the winged insect issues from
pUpae which were produced from
eggs laid in the young wheat plants
the preceding fall. The female soon
lays her eggs, usually about 200 in
the anne plant, and all the winged in.
sects 500 die. From the eggs laid
on the leaves of the wheat plants
small white footless grubs are Matched
in four or five days. These find their
way to the sheaths of the leaves, and
there form a sort of gall, and suck the
sap of the plants for about 20 days.
The plant soon shows she effect of the
parasite by turning yellow and ceas.
ing to grow. After 20 days of eating
the grub spins for itself a sort of case
or coffin in which it lies dormant
without food for several months,
still remaining hidden in the lower
leaf sheaths of the plants. AS
it infests only the lowermost leaves.
when the field is harvested most of the
dormant pupae remain behind in the
stubble. From these pupa the winged
fly issues from September l to Is
sometimes earlier or later. These fall
insects lay eggs on the young fall
sown wheat when it is just above
ground, and from these eggs comes
the spring brood of flies already de
scribed. 1t is useless to apply poison
to this insect. The winged fly eats
nothing whatever and the voracious
grub is snugly concealed in its gal
where no poison can be made tc
reach it. The remedy then must be
preventive. Knowing the life history
of the pest we must look for it's mos
vulnerable point, and obviously this VIC
find in its summer sleep in the stubble
When the wheat is harvested
set the sickle bar as high al
possible SO as to avoid carrying of
any of the dormant insects in the
straw. AS sOon as cleared, the felC
should be burned over, thus DESTROYING
all the insects hidden in the stu6ble
After being burned over, the felC
should be sown in COW peas which
will prevent volunteer growth O:
wheat and also will keep down weeds
The peas vii be fit to turn under il
time for fall blowing and the lane
will be greatly enriched by the vines
turned under. The burning of The
stubble if pursued Systematically ovel
large districts must result in the ex
tirpation of the fly from that neigh
borhood. But to be eficacious tn
work must be thoroughly done. A
single neglected stubble field will
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