Februar}', '17] DEAN: HESSIAN FLY 149 



grated in the spring into the late sown plots and deposited their eggs 

 in large numbers. 



(6) In North Central Kansas (Table V), somewhat earlier seeding 

 than for points east and south is desirable. This is because the eleva- 

 tion and latitude shorten the season and grain must be sowed earlier 

 to get a good start before winter. However, the sowing tests show 

 that, if He sian fly is abundant, the seeding should be delayed until 

 the second week in October. 



(7) In West Central Kansas (Table VI), the best yields have been 

 secured from September seedings. Probably the best date for this 

 section, on the average, is from September 15 to September 20. How- 

 ever, as in other sections of the state, if the Hessian fly is present in 

 damaging numbers, the seeding should be delayed until October 1. 



(8) In Pratt and Barber Counties (Table VII), the seeding tests 

 show that where no flies are present, seeding earlier than September 

 15 gives no better yields than somewhat later seeding. When flies are 

 present, later seeding, up to October 1 on poor soil and October 6-7 

 on fertile soil and a well-prepared seed-bed, will give better results 

 than early seeding. 



(9) In summarizing the time of seeding for the greater part of the 

 wheat belt, it may be said that on an average seed-bed when Hessian 

 fly is not present in damaging numbers, the maximum yield of wheat 

 will be obtained in an average season by seeding a little earlier than 

 the fly-free date (Table VIII). The better the seed-bed is prepared, 

 the safer it is to wait until the fly-free date to sow. It should be under- 

 stood that if the Hessian fly is present in damaging numbers and the 

 wheat is seeded earlier than the fly-free date, there is a greater risk of 

 the crop being injured by the fly and, therefore, seeding should be 

 delayed to as near the fly-free date as is practical. 



(10) "Wheat that is sowed late usually winter-kills considerably. 

 Since the roots do not penetrate the ground so deeply as when it is 

 sowed early, it is more subject to injury from drought and hot winds. 

 Late sown wheat tillers very little and hence usually gives a thin 

 stand. It ripens later and, in the eastern part of the State, is more 

 likely to be injured by rust than wheat that is sowed somewhat 

 earlier. The quality of late sown wheat is usually not as good as that 

 of early sown wheat. 



(11) "If the Hessian fly is present in the neighborhood, wheat that 

 is sowed early is practically certain to be injured by the fly and, in 

 many instances, totally destroyed. In dry seasons, very early seeding is 

 often detrimental because the heavy growth uses all the moisture stored 

 in the soil and leaves the crop entirely dependent on seasonal rains. 

 This happens frequently in the western edge of the wheat belt." ^ 



1 Bui. 213, Kansas Experiment Station, 1916. 



