THE HESSIAN FLY. 71 



Steeping, and afterwards drying in some special manure. (i) (See 

 Appendix for drying manure.) 



124. With reference to steeping wheat before it is sown, there 

 can be no longer any dowbt as to the benefit it confers, when 

 properly done, both in accelerating germination and future 

 growth, and in preventing, or greatly diminishing, the affection 

 of smut. (See Smut, ^ 231,) 



125. The recommendation " Sow Late/' to avoid the Hessian 

 fly, appears to be diametrically opposed to the advice given in 

 paragraph 121, &c., to avoid the ravages of the wheat midge, 

 and that dreadful scourge " rust." It is to meet the case of a 

 simultaneous presence or appearance of both Hessian fly and 

 wheat midge, that late sowing, with a forcing preparation of the 

 seed, is recommended and practised. If acting with special re- 

 ference to an individual insect, one would sow late to avoid the 

 Hessian fly, or early to avoid the wheat midge ; but it is very 

 manifest that under ordinary methods of culture, if both insects 

 prevail (and they may now always be expected) during the same 

 year, or if they succeed one another, the crops must suffer from 

 the attacks of one of them. Tlierefore, it is better to be ready for 

 both contingencies, sowing late on well prepared land to avoid 

 the Hessian fly, and anticipating the arrival of the midge by 

 stimulating your crops to attain, before winter sets in, the same 

 development of parts which they would hare acquired by being 

 a fortnight longer in the soil, taking care at the same time to se- 

 lect a good variety of seed, flinty stemmed, and an early ripener, 

 and one which is not acclimated. This subject of ripening early 



. will be more particularly alluded to in the chapter on the Wheat 

 Midge. 



126. With respect to spring wheat, it has been urged that the 



(1) Lime (?) Gypsum, Charcoal, &c. Experiments on this subject not completc- 

 (&ee Appendix.) 



