The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-08-13

the last Of October according to latitude, the
maximum emergence occurring during the last
two weeks of September or the first week In
October depending the locality. This second
generation infests volunteer wheat and all wheat
sown before the ly-free date The "faxseeds" of
the second generation remain on the plants or
fallsown wheat till April Of the next year when
adults issue from them and begin another season.
No farmer need be in the least uncertain as to
the extent to which his wheat is infested in the
fall. An infested plant stands straight upward
in the drill row, with broader leaves OF a darker
green color, does not tiller. and therefore does
not spread out and cover the ground between the
rows. The Hessan fly attacks wheat. rye and
barley, but not oats.
Last year during the period from late May
til October, the department OF agriculture issued
repeated warnings and advisory statements to
the public press in its weekly letters tell
ing farmers that there was impending danger OF
a serious outbreak of the Hessian fly during the
year 1915 These warnings based observa-
tons made from field stations throughout the
entire area Of the threatened outbreak were not
for the purpose OF creating undue alarm but
fully justified, in view of the great abun-
dance Of the Hessan fly at that time and the
almost entire absence of the particular species
Of parasite or natural enemy that is most in.
fuential in holding the pest in check. 1t is to
be hoped that farmers generally will profit by
last years experience, and in no case plant wheat
during August but wait until the date indicated
on the accompanying map to the proper time
for planting in their locality
Nowhere. either in the East or West, should
wheat be wheat stubble If this course
can possibly be avoided. However. in the East,
well in some portions of Iowa and Missouri,
the wheat stubbe is universally seeded to tim.
othy and clover, and. therefore, any kind OF cuti
walton Of these stubbe fields is rendered i'm
practical though in most cases it would be far
better sacrifice all except the very best seed.
ing. Neither can the fields be burned over with
out destroying the young seeding. and where
these conditions prevail the only practical
method that the farmer is that Of delay.
ing his wheat sowing until the flies have made
their way from the stubble to the fields and died
there without being able to find any plants upon
which to deposit their eggs.
1t should be borne in mind that the most prac
teal and effective methods OF controlling the
Hessian fly are identical with the best methods
OF producing the maximum yields of wheat II
is entirely possible for the farmer to fight the
Hessian fay by the process OF good farming in
volvins thorough cultivation. good seed and
rotation OF crops The most serious objection to
most practical and effective method that can be
employed to control this pest in the held-name
y, late sowing-is that there is danger OF so
delaying the growth Of the plants that they do
not become sufficiently advanced to enable them
to Withstand the winter.
Much Of the delay in the growth of ate-sown
plants In the fall can be eliminated by paying
close attention TO the preparation OF the soil and
to the quality OF the seed but II the soil lacks
in fertility or has been poorly prepared, a slight
attack, that vigorous plants overcome, IS fatal
because of the badly nourshed condition OF tho
plant itself. The best advice that can be given ia
TO begin the preparation OF the field in the fail
precisely as though It was expected to SOW at a
very early date. but instead OF sowing use the
disk harrow and the roller. even after It appears
to be waste OF labor to till the field further
When finely pulverized. compact seed bed
has been secured. the seed should be selected,