THE HESSIAN FLY. 61 



crops. The Hessian fly has in some instances been instrumental 

 in compelhng farmers to have recourse to a rational system of 

 farming practice. Mr. Ezra L'Houmediea tells us in the Genessee 

 farmer, that in his county (Suffolk, N.Y.) the land was so con- 

 stantly tilled without manuring, that on an average not more 

 than five or six bushels to the acre of wheat was raised. The 

 Hessian fly put an end to this kind of husbandry, no other way 

 being found to prevent injury to this crop by the insect than that 

 of highly manuring the land. 



102. We need not cross the frontier for examples of the en- 

 couragement which has been afforded to the Hessian fly and 

 the wheat midge, during the past quarter of a century, to take 

 up their abode in our midst. We everywhere find a practice 

 similar to that related by Mr. L'Houmediea obtaining in Canada, 

 and there are many reasons why such a system should have pre- 

 vailed before railroads opened up the country and created a mar- 

 ket for produce, and few cared to look forward to the future con- 

 dition of their farms. 



103. By way of contrast to the foregoing paragraphs, it may 

 be well here to notice the magnificent crops of wheat obtained 

 in 1852 in Niagara County, N.Y., on the Canadian frontier; 

 they are recorded in the Patent Office Report for 1853, by Mr. 

 Heman Powers of Lewiston. In 1849-50 Mr. William Hotchkiss 

 had a field of six acres which averaged 63^ bushels to the acre, 

 weighing 63fts. to the bushel. The seed was ' Soule's wheat.' 

 Mr. Thomas Powell of the same County, raised in 1853, 489 

 bushels from a field of seven measured acres ; this showing a 

 yield of nearly 70 bushels to the acre. The circumstances under 

 which this large yield was produced were as follows : — 



In the fall a heavy dressing of swamp muck was applied. 

 During the winter the field was used as a yard for stock, includ- 

 ing a flock of sheep. In May was carted on a liberal coating of 



