Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-09-18
GOVERNMENT ADVISES
WHEAT GROWERS
How to Avoid Hessian Fly.

at should be borne in mind that the
most practical and effective methods
of controlling the Iiessian fly are iden-
teal with the best methods Of produc-
ing the maximum yields of wheat. IL
does not seem TO occur To the average
farmer that ID is possible for him To
fight the Hessian hy by the process OF
good farming. involving thorough cur
tivation, good seed. and rotation of
crops II has been said, and with
truihfuneSS, that outbreaks Of this
pest are more often the result of poor
farming than otherwise The most So
rlous objection To the most practical
and effective method that can be en-
ployed 10 control this pest in the
field-namely, late sOwing--is that
there is danger OF so delaying tho
growth of the plants that they do not
become sufficiently advanced TO en-
able them TO Withstand the winter
The farmer is thus placed. as il were.
between Scylla and Charybdis. and
must risk the ravages of the Hessian
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 and to
the quality of the seed. A thoroughly
vigorous wheat plant will not only
Withstand a slight attack of the Hes
sian fly but il frequently occurs that
such Il 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. and 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 IL was ex-
pected to sow al very early date.
but instead OF sowing use the disk
harrow and the roller, even after 1t
appears TO be a waste Of labor to till
the field further.
when a finely pulverized, compact
seeded 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
IL at once sends fibrous roots down
into the soil from which to draw nour-
ishment for the young plant and IL
the wheat plants are put into some
what the condition OF stunted calves,
pigs or other farm animals which are
underfed.
Wheat plants cannot 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 OBJ ject
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
are farmers who grow wheat continu-
ously year after year but who rarely
lose a crop on account OF Hessian fly
attacks. and even more rarely does the
pest originate in their own fields. -
Circular 81, U. S. Department OF Agri-
culture. s,rsSA,sa.