The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1914-07-10
HAS YOUR WHEAT BEEN INFEST-
ED WITH THE HESSIAN FLY2

Has your wheat been infested by the Hes
sian fly this season is the question the U. s.
Agricultural Department Is now asking farm
ers The information is desired that there
may be general cooperation between all con-
cerned in reducing thu devastations of the fly.
There is every indication that the pest will be
unusually troublesome to the crop this fall.
Every wheat grower in the country who
suspects that his crop has been infested is
requested to send his name to the depart
ment's Bureau of Entomology at Washington,
d. G., with request for q question blank.
The questions to be answered are merely as to
whether the wheat growers crop was infested
at certain seasons. The farmer will then be
asked to forward some Of the infested wheat
plants for examination, postage to be paid by.
the Government. He will also be asked to
give his name, address, and the nearest rail
way station.
The department is cooperating with various
State experiment stations in this campaign
against the Hessian fly, and In some cases the
infested straw will be sent by the farmer to
local stations for examination. The wheat
grower can learn just where his sample of
strawis to be sent when he sends his name to
the department, indicating his willingness to
send the sample. The department encourages
the sender not to be afraid to forward too
much straw, even though it has to ibe sent by
parcel post. The upper part of the straw
need not be sent, but enough above the
ground should be included to get the insect in
what is known as the s'fiaxseed" stage, when
larva Is incased in Q hard, brown skin and
somewhat resembles a flaxseed. The insects
will remain for considerable time In the
'haxseed" state during drought and will
only emerge after rains have moistened the
soil. Dry weather in the late summer tends
to keep the insect in that stage, which is- a
fact of special Importance in the North,
where the wheat must be sown early enough
to enable the plants to stand the winter.
Probably no other insect causes more dam
age to the wheat crop in the United States
than the Hessian fly, although there are GER
tain years when the chinch bug exceeds the fly
in its devastations. During the seasons when
the fly is especially abundant hundreds of
thousands Of acres Of wheat may be either
totally destroyed or SO badly injured as to re-
duce the yield soto 70 per cent. The monetary
losses run far up into the millions.
A number of years ago there was in Kansas
general cooperation between grain dealers,
millers, and farmers to restrict the ravages of
this dangerous insect. According to their
own estimate. over million dollars were
saved by prompt action and thorough meas
ures. This year the department hopes to Sc
cure general cooperation throughout the
country in combating the pest. There are
indications that~its ravages may be severe.
Already in Iowa and Oklahoma there have
been threatening outbreaks of the insect
Not only are Federal and State organizations
of the Government cooperating in this cam
paign, but others, such as the National NIL
lers' Federation, are working to secure better
control over the Hsssian fly. The individual
wheat grower is asked to send his samples of
infested straw before the middle of Septem.
Der, and sooner II possible, as after that the
fly will have hatched and have entered into
the wheat.
Late sowing of the seed and burning Of the
stubble when not seeded to grass or clover are
the only measures known to date that are Of.
fectiye in controlling the Hessian fiy-that is,
for winter-wheat growing sections. In the
spring-wheat sections late seeding win not
apply. On the contrary, the earlier it is
sown in the spring the less it seems to suffer
from this pest.