Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-07-17

POSO' LII OA0CI UudU we NAY QO
this intelligently, it is necessary
to know something of the condi-
tions affecting acceleration and
retarding of development. I'm
like the chinch-bug, the Hessian
fly fourishes best in wet weather.
Moisture seems beneficial to the
larva even though the weather
be cold. On the other hand, dry
hot weather is a menace to the
fly often causing serious mortali-
ty to the earlier stages of the
fall brood of adults. Hot, dry,
midsummer periods not only
tend to prevent volunteer plants
from growing, thus cutting off
their food-supply, but very prob
ably dry up many of the larva
and pupa in the field. 1t is also
a noticeable fact that conditions
which, in the fall, retard the
growth of wheat also retard the
development Of the fly.
One of the methods much en-
played in combating the pest is
the burning of the stubble. AS
we have seen, the fly infests the
lower joints of the straw, hence
by leaving a long stubble the
most of the 'shax-seeds'' will be
left in the field. The long stub
BILE will also insure a more rapid
spread of fire. The objection
has been raised to the burning
of the stubble that the enemies
of the fly will be destroyed along
with the fly. The fact that the
parasites are not retarded in
their development so much by
dry weather as is the fly may be
advantageously used in this con-
nection. The burning must of
course, be done before the flies
have emerged, but in dry wealth
er it may be postponed until
many Of the parasites have es-
capped. Fields should not be
allowed to grow up in weeds be-
fore burning. In case they get
start sufficient to hinder burn
ing, they may be moved and
then burned as soon as dry
enough. In connection with the
burning of the stubble, it is a
good plan to burn all chaff after
threshing; also the screening
should be fed or burned before
the flies emerge from any "faX-
seeds which may be contained
therein.
When burning is impractic-
able the stubble may be plowed
under as a substitute. This
should be done to a depth of
several inches and then the
ground should be rolled and
packed so that any flies which
might emerge from the pupa in
the ground could not escape.
The time to plow will, of course,
depend upon the season and the
conditions. Those conditions
which favor the development Of
the fly will put the ground in
condition for plowing.
During the late summer and
early autumn all volunteer
wheat, rye, or barley should be
destroyed or plowed under, as
these are the food-plants of the
fly and their destruction will
prevent the depositing of eggs.
One of the best methods and
one most practiced is the late
sowing of wheat. To be effect
i've, the sowing should be so
late the young plants will not
appear above the ground until
the bulk of the flies have issued
and died. No fixed dates can be
set for this as so much depends
upon latitude, altitude, and
climatic conditions.
Pasturing wheat during the
fall and winter has been recon-
mended by some authorities as
a means of holding the fly in
check. Many of the eggs, larvae,
and "fax-seeds'' will be destroy
ed by the tramping and feed
ing of the animals.
Another manner of lessenino.
the loss from this insect is the
growing of resistant varieties of
wheat. Those varieties having
strong, stiff, coarse stems are
not SO weakened by the fly, hence
do not fall and break down so
badly. Varieties which tend to
stool freely are also better able
to withstand the attacks of the
fly. No varieties of wheat have
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