THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 133^ 



Staten Island, and was brought in the straw used in packing. It was 

 in that vicinity that it first attacked the wheat-fiehls, and thence spread 

 over the country. It was totally unknown in this country before the 

 Eevolution. Its ravages soon began to excite the attention of farmers. 

 Whole crops were destroyed. Learned societies and agricultural as- 

 sociations offered rewards for its extirj)ation. The American Philo- 

 sophical Society, in 1792, appointed a committee, consisting of Mr. 

 Jefierson, B. Smith Barton, James Hutchinson, and Caspar Wistar, 

 to collect and communicate materials for the natural history of the 

 Hessian fly. So greatly was it dreaded in England, that in 1788 an. 

 order was issued by government, prohibiting the entry of wheat from 

 the United States into any of the ports of Great Britain, This order 

 was based on ignorance of the habits of the insect, for it is not the 

 grain that is affected by it, but the plant alone. It could not be 

 transported in the grain. The history of the little depredator was 

 given at length, and its form, &c., illustrated by large drawings. 



Its character and transformations, and the mode of its operations on 

 the wheat-stalk, were enlarged on. After describing its depredations, 

 it was observed, that if ^Providence had not provided an effectual 

 means of checking its ravages, they would literally swarm over the 

 land. TJiis insect is preyed on hy at least four others, which were 

 briefly described. Proper credit was awarded to Dr. Fitch and Mr. 

 Herrick for their interesting and successful investigations on this sub- 

 ject. The various remedies proposed were also noticed, but none, as 

 yet, appears infallible. A rich soil, late sowing, grazing, rolling, 

 mowing, steeps for the seed, &c., &c., have all been suggested. 



The history of another insect infesting our wheat was given, closely 

 allied to that already considered. This is the ivlieat fiy. They are, 

 by many^ considered the same ; and hence errors and confusion have 

 arisen. This insect deposites its eggs, not like the Hessian fly, in the 

 blades of the plant, but in the chaffy scales of the flowers. The larva 

 works its way into the grain, lives upon its juices, and thus destroys 

 it. It has, however, powerful enemies in some parasites, but espe- 

 cially in our common yellow bird, {Fringilla tristis.) 



There are other insects which attack stored grains — as a small wee- 

 vil {Colandva remote punctati) and a small moth, {Alucita cerealella,) 

 &c,, &c, 



Indian Corn. — This plant is attacked principally by the larva of 

 a moth, {Gortyna zece,) which penetrates into the soft centre of the 

 stalk near the ground, which destroys it. There is the larva of 

 another moth, (Agrotis segetum,) which attacks the roots and tender 

 sprouts of the young plants. This is familiarly known as the cict~ 

 worm, though several destructive worms are known by that name. 

 Various remedies have been proposed for these depredators, but none, 

 probably, effectual. 



Grass. — This is attacked by the grub of a beetle, [Melolontha 

 quercma.) The roots are devoured by it. The ivire-iform, Avhich is 

 the larva of a beetle, {Elater ohesics,) is also exceedingly destructive 

 to grass. 



In relation to garden plants, the lecturer enumerated the insects 

 most destructive, and the various methods of exterminating them. 



