Evening journal., 1914-06-01
HESSIAN FLY now
THREATENS WHEAT
Plant Plague Puts in Appear
ance in Upper Delaware
Counties
EXPERTS STUDY
THE SITUATION

FRENCHTOWN, N. j., June l.
Destruction of the 1914 wheat crop
in upper Delaware valley counties is
threatened by temperance Of the
dreaded growing-grain plague, known
as the Hessian fly Hundreds OF
wheat fields that gave promise of
producing an abundant harvest are
now criss-crossed with streaks of
yellow, showing that the larvae of
the fly have begun their work of ruin
inside the stalks.
State and national agricultural eX-
perts, who have been summoned TO
help fight the fly, say there is no hope
of saving the wheat crop already
growing, but express the belief that
rye is now too far advanced 20 be
injured by the insect The campaign
against the fly, they say, must rake
the form of "watchful waiting they
plan to eliminate any damage to the
winter wheat crop which will be
planted next fall Unless every
wheat-growing farmer joins in the
fight against the pest, and carefully
follows the directions of the govern
ment experts, the latter declare the
damage done the present crop will
be multiplied many times in the next
season.
Burning off the stuble of the wheat
fields, wherever possible, is recon-
mended by the government men as
the best direct plan of destroying the
4essian fly, its eggs and larvae. 1t
is the practice of most Of the wheat
growers IN this locality however, to
SOW timothy hay in the wheat fields,
which makes burning impossible.
Farmers also are urged to delay
planting their winter wheat from
three to four weeks. The wheat is
usually sowed the first week in Sep
tember, but experts advise that none
be planted this year until September
25. This, they say, will bring the
early shoots above the ground after
the flies have gone for the winter, and
the crop to be harvested next sum
mer will thus be immune from des-
truction. But should Jersey farmers
persist In sowing their wheat early in
September, the plants will appear in
time for the flies to deposit their
eggs on the tender shoots and thus
innoculate the entire crop Of next
season.
Anticipating that many farmers
will object to late planting, and take
chances with a tainted field, the
government experts have mapped out
a course of preparation for the plant
ing that they claim will overcome the
disadvantage of the delay.
BY careful preparation of the soil,
thorough plowing and narrowing, TO
form a well-pulverized, moisture-pre-
serving seed bed, and the application
Of some effective fertilizer, the results
Of late planting. they say, can be
overcome, and the young wheat will
develop sufficiently before freezing
weather to carry it through the win
ter in healthy condition.
officers Of the New Jersey depart
ment of agriculture say the need OF
cooperation between the farmer and
experts cannot be too greatly empha-
sized, if New Jersey is to escape an
experience such as has devastated the
whole wheat fields of the northwest
where the Hessian fly has made its
appearance. While they predict that
because of the plague, more rye than
wheat will be planted next fall, the
experts declare the same precautions
will be necessary then to save the
rye crops, which escaped the present
attack of the insects