The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-07-27
THE nEssIAN FLY.
Purdue University Newspaper Bulletin,
s. July 49, 1900

Purdue University Newspaper Bulletin, No,
", July 10, 1900.
To this insect, either directly or
indirectly, is doubtless due the al
most total failure of the wheat crop
in Indiana the present year. The
freezing and thawing weather, dur
ing the winter, owing to the absence
OF snow most Of the time, doubtless
had much to do with it, but the
wheat plants had lost most of their
vitality during the fall, owing to
the ravages Of the fly, and were
thus rendered more susceptible to
the influence Of the winer.
Although this insect has been
known in this country for more than
a hundred years, its habits are not
well understood by the majority Of
farmers.
The adult fly somewhat resem-
bles very small mosquito, being
about one-eighth of an inch in
length; the female being more ro-
bust than the male, especially when
full Of eggs.
Soon after the adult fly comes
forth the female deposits her eggs
upon the upper side of the leaf.
The eggs soon hatch and the young
larvae work their way down beneath
the sheath to near its base which,
during autumn, is just above the
roots. Here they remain absorbing
the juices of the stem until full
grown, when they assume the "hax-
seed" state, in which they pass the
winter. During April and May,
the main portion of the spring brood
comes forth and the same process is
repeated, the "haxseed" state be-
ing reached just before harvest.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES.
The main question at issue is how
most effectually to prevent its rava-
ges. There are various means sug-
gested, all of which possess some
merit; but none of which will prove
entirely successful when practiced
in the usual hap-hazard manner.
There must be unity of effort all
along the line, in what ever is un-
dertaken.
Probably the most effective meas
ures to be recommended, are (D
sowing at proper time: (2) sowing
decoy strips: (3) thorough prepar-
alton and fertilization of the land SO
as to provide the most favorable
conditions for strong and rapid
growth.
The active period Of the fall
brood, in the northern counties ex-
tends approximately from the
last Of August to about the last OF
September, gradually getting later
as they 60 south, so that in the
southern portion they will be found
at work probably as late as the
middle of October. II is evident
then, that in order to avoid the fall
brood Of the fly, the proper time to
SOW wheat in the northern counties,
is between September 20 and 30,
and in the southern counties from
the first to the middle Of October.
The station will not sow earlier than
the first week in October this year,
as the flies were active Throughout
September 1899. Decoy strips
should be sown, in the north, the
last week in August, and in the
south, the first ten days Of Septem-
ber, plowing these under deeply
before sowing the main crop.
This places the time for sowing
some later than has been the usual
custom, but, by having the land in
first class condition, the chances
flor success will be much greater
than by practicing the old method
of early sowing, thereby giving the
lily every advantage.
j. TROOP, Horticulturist.