The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-12-02
HOW is YOUR WHEATr
The Fly Said to be Unusually Numerous
This Fall-COnditiOn of the Corn Crop.

BY observation aud the questioning Of farm
/ ers throughout the county we find that the
| corn crop was not properly cured before be-
| ing cribbed and much of it is molding, while
the ears are not as long or as well filled as
/ they usually are.
| Wheat has made an excellent growth, but
J upon close examination IT is found 10 have
| largely stooled and that there are many yellow
blades. Upon this Prof W. q. johnson,
| State Eutomologist al the Maryland Agncul-
tural College, says:
MANY farmers are now congratulating them
selves upon their fine stand of earlysown fall wheat
They say 1t is unusually green and well stooled.'
They are correct in their observation but they have
not seen the most important factor which is the
direct cause of the stooling. a few weeks hence,
or perhaps a few days, the green blades Will fade
to a yellowish, sckly color, and at or below the
surface OF the ground behind the leaf sheaths Will
appear a knotty swelling showing more or less dark
color through the sheath. If the sheath or blade is
stripped Off a number of brownish objects
will be seen In size shape and color they
semble daxseeds. They look harmless but within
this brown case Snugly tucked away sleeps the
greatest enemy of the wheat grower. 1t is the
cradle fthe Hessian fly. From this 'haxseed' the
adult ay "A gnat-like creature. viii appear next
spring and deposit its tiny eggs upon the leaf for
another brood. II the wheat is well stooled and
remains green this fall look out next spring, it
may ripen before it heads.
During the past week have had number OF
inquiries about the cause OF sickly, yeIlowish
wheat In every instance where samples accom-
panied the inquiry found an abundance of TAX
seed cradles cont lining the slumbering Hessian
infants The most important question in these let
tiers is What shall we do1' In very many instan-
ces It would be a hopeless task to attempt to save
the wheat 1t isa case Of Ny brother is sick, what
shall do But before doing anything the case
must le diagnosed II Is very hard to doctor sick
wheat especially when Il has the yellow fever
with fiaxsecds in its throat
Under ordinary circumstances the field might
De pasturud with sheep this fall; but If the wheat
is very yellow at this tine II might just well be
plowcd down in the spring, rolled and narrowed
and planted in coru. would no; advise plowing
up badly infested wheat ;his fall II You consider
it hopeless case, pasture Il this fall and pillow It
early next spring before the sleeping hsauteS come
ont Tor their sun hath
In the future be more cautious about seeding
and 80 NOS SOW too early. There are years when
hates oun wheat Is affected with ay also, but these
periods are raFc exceptions A few notes about the
habits of this notorious pest may not b amiss al
this time The following is from my bulletin NO.
- on the Hcssisn ay
There bot tao bruo3s of The Hcssisn ~
over Iarse area of the Quilted states. appear
INK IN tbs spring aud the other in the sAl There
is no question of doubt however about there being
supplemental bro1is. both ia the spring and ts!l,
parflcglary IN The Southern wheat area 10 the
sHirerpc Northern belt. n hcrc spring wheat Is
largely grown. thCse may IL only single brood
-Tas aAxsccss thAt have passed The winter In
the fall wheAg produce the winged individuals
which appear IN the spring daring April and May.
moro Hbaadan,ly abost the middle 81 The after
month The eggs arc drposissi usually on she up
pig surface % tire leaf Vita the spring hfuod.
hgEettr they arr sometimes shryast beneath the
.cag sheath ou the lower joiuis single female
r1.iuccs from 80 10 eEKS and hey arr deposit
e. in irregular r9yss q fgutn 80 OF ulorr.
Matching srasa the ssgs the yuanS larVa inesi
ihcfss,Iyss tauesth The .hcalh Ana sseR causing =
more or less d.ssortcsi plant, The sPEsng esood
sssssiy develops ia the lower !o3n's acas The
ground l.ufcr CERTAIN conditions the insrct EiEy
rvasaia dormant ia thc aANsred stats for yeAr %
more 49, sgi bssns forth sAu adult This is "iih-
Gas 10uht peoy ssiea % nature taieo3ei 70 pre-
rcas aes4rutal * srrtsiaAisoa q the sFcc-s~ The
migrating bygs~t ls The ouc ahieh 2PF~Ars tn ne
GIg sas spsIax brood do-s 40; usually leave ihc
ses5 ta zhagh Is IS Developed. 90