Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-07-17
GOVERNMENT ADVISES
WHEAi GROWERS
How to Avoid ;4essian Fly.

ut should be borne in mind that the
most practical ami effective methods
Of controlling me Hess.nn fly are iden-
teal with the best methods of oroduc-
ing the maximum yields of wheat. 1t
does not seem 20 occur to the average
farmer that it is possible for him to
fight the Hessian tv by the process of
good farming, involving thorough cuE
tivatiOn, good seed, and rotation of
crops. 1t has been said, and with
truthfulness, that outbreaks of this
pest are more often the result Of poor
farming han otherwise. The most Sc
riOus objection to the most practical
and effective method that can be en-
plOyed 10 control this pest in the
field-namcly, late sowing-is' that
there is danger of so delaying the
growth of the plants that they Go not
become, sufficiently advanced to en-
able them to withstand the winter
The farmer is thus placed, as it were,
between Scylla and Charybdis, and
must risk the ravagcs of the Hessan
fly on the one hand or the freezes of
winter on the other.
"Much of the delay In the growth
of late-sOwn plants in the fall can be
eliminated by paying close attention
to the preparation of the soil AID to
the quality of the seed. A thoroughly
vigorous wheat plant will not only
withstand a slight attack Of the Hes
sian fly but it frequently occurs that
such light attack is rather beneficial!
than otherwise, for the reason that
the killing of the first shoot that is
thrown up from the kernel forces the
plant to tiller,' ard In rich soil the
result Is to produce more grain; but
If the soil lacks fertility and has been
poorly prepared, this slight attack
that vigorous plants overcome Is fatal
to weak plants, because of the badly
nourished condition of the plants. The
best advice that can be given is to
begin the preparation of the field in
the fall precisely as though it was ex-
pected to sow at very early date,
but Instead of sowing use the disk
harrow and the roller, even after it
appears to be a waste of labor to till
the field further.
"When finely pulverized, compact
seedbed has been secured, the seed
should be selected and this should be
done with the point in view that I'M
naturally shriveled or otherwise i'm
perfect kernels cannot produce healthy
, wheat plants. When the kernel sprouts
1t at once sends iihrous roots down
into the soif from which to draw nour-
ishment for the young plant, and If
little or no nOurishment Is secured
the wheat plants are put into some
what the condition of stunted calves,
pigs or other farm animals which are
undcrfed.
wheat plants mot secure prompt
and ample nOurishment if the 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 to the utmost until the be-
ginning of the cold weather. There
are farmers who grow wheat cOntinu-
ouSly year after year but who rarely
lose II crop on account of HeSsan fv
at acks, and even more rarely does the
pest originate in their own tields."-
Circular 81, u. S. Department of Agri-
culture.