Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1919-08-01
GOVERNMENT ADVISES
WHEAT GROWERS
How to Avoid Aeasian Fly.


ct should be borne IN mind that the
most practical and effective methods
of controlling he fIessian ily are iden-
itieal with The best methods Of produc-
ing the maximum yields Of wheat. 1t
does not seem 10 occur 10 the average
farmer that It Is possible for him 20
fight The Hessian fly by the process Of
good farming. involving thorough cur
tivation, good seed and rotation of
crops. Il has been said. and with
truthfulness, that outbreaks of this
pest are more often the result of poor
rious objection 10 the most practical
and effective method that can be en-
ployed 10 control this pest In the
fieid-namely. late sowing--is that
there is danger of so delaying the
growth of the plants that they do not
become sufficiently advanced to en-
able them to Withstand the winter.
The farmer is thus placed. "a 1t were.
between Seylla and Chnrybdis. and
must risk the ravages of the Hcssinn
dy on the one hand or the freezes of
winter on the other.
''Much of the delay In the growth
of iate-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. A thoroughly
vigorous wheat plant will not only
Withstand a slight attack of the He's
sian fly but II frequently occurs that
such light attack IL rather beneficial
than otherwise. for the reason TINT
the killing OF the first shoot that In
thrown mp from the kernel forces the
plant to tiiier. nnd In rich soil the
result Ii to produce more grain: but
IL the soil lacks fertility and has been
Ttooriy prepared. this slight attack
that vigorous plants overcome II fatal
TO weak plants. because Of the badly
nourished condition Of the plants The
best advice that can be given Ii TO
begin the preparations NJ the field in
the fall precisely ms though IL wns ex-
pected to SOW Of very early date.
but instead OF sowing use the disk
harrow and the roller. even after Il
appears to BE- a waste q 1abar %. ''u
n. 49, IS ~a~~s1. : = :. -.
"a. nsid further.
when a finely pulverized. compact
seedbed has been secured the seed
should be selected. and this should be-
done with the point In view that un-
naturally shrlveled or otherwise I'M
perfect kernels cannot produce healthy
wheat plants When the kernel sprouts
II at once sends fibrous roots down
into the soil from which to draw nour-
ishment for the young plant. and II
little or no nourishment ~ secured
the wheat plants are put into some
what. the condition of stnntsd calves.
pigs or other farm animals which are
underfed
Wheat plants cannot secure prompt
and ample nourtshmeni II me roots
must make their way about among
clods due TO poor preparation Of the
soil. or In soil that. lacks In fertility.
The farmer. then. should begin the
preparation Of his soil with the object
Of delaying the sowing OF the wheat
and afterwards OF pushing the growth
of the plant 10 the utmost until the be-
ginning Of the cold weather. There
ar. farmers who grow wheat eontinu.
ouzly year after year bur who rarely
lose 4 crop on account Of Hezzian fly
attacks and even more rarely does the
pest originate In their o8n fielts."--
Circular 81, y. s. Department Of Agri-
culture.