THE WHEAT MIDGE. 83 



Very general and destructive throughout the northern wheat 

 growing districts of the United States. In 1854, at the August 

 meeting of the American Institute, in New York, Mr. Solon Ro- 

 binson stated that the red weevil (wheat midge) is the most ter- 

 rible pest ever encountered by wheat growers. Destructive in 

 Grand Bay, Saguenay, L. C. 



143. "In almost every section of the State of New York, 

 where the wheat crop is grown, the ravages of the wheat midge 

 have been most extensive, especially with the white wheat. The 

 Mediterranean wheat, when early sown, has generally escaped. 

 Assuming that the loss was one-third from this cause — although 

 it was probably considerably greater — it is represented in money 

 value (at i^2. 15 per bushel, the average price,) by <S'9,403,012,85. 

 (Abstract from N. Y. S. A. S., 1854. Seg. Agr. Meeting.") 



" The pecuniary loss which our country has sustained from 

 this insect, is incalculable ; but it is truly appalling, nay terrific. 

 Some writers have thought that a wet season favored the increase 

 of the midge, but in this country it has never been more de- 

 structive than it was in the summer of 1854, noted as one of the 

 driest seasons known. In gathering the agricultural statistics of 

 that year, our State Agricultural Society inserted in its circular 

 the query : ' To what extent was the wheat crop in your vicinity 

 injured by the midge V And the answer to this inquiry furnish- 

 es us with quite authentic information upon this topic. The able 

 and efficient Secretary of the Society, Hon. B. P. Johnson, in- 

 formed me, that on getting together all the replies to this in- 

 quiry, and placing everything at the lowest figure, so as to be 

 certain the estimate was within truth, the wheat which this in- 

 sect had that year destroyed in our State, at its then current 

 market price, exceeded in value fifteen millions of dollars ! 

 This amount would be more than a third larger, if estimated at 

 the price to which wheat afterwards arose last winter. Truly, it 



