21 
fly nor yet so late as to cause danger of winter killing, much of the 
damage in normal seasons to winter wheat from this insect may be 
avoided. 
Burning stubble.—The fact has been noted in the life history that the 
- second brood develops in the lower joints of the wheat and is left, for 
the most part, in the field in the flaxseed state at harvesting. All these 
individuals may be destroyed by promptly burning the stubble. Burn- 
ing may be more easily effected if a rather long stubble be left, and 
especially if it be broken down by rolling. If the burning of the stub- 
ble be neglected until the rank growth of weeds has sprung up which 
usually follows harvest, it will be well to run a mower over the fields, 
cutting off the stubble, weeds, and grass as close to the ground as pos- 
sible, and burning over as soon as the weeds and grass dry sufficiently. 
Careful burning will very largely prevent an abundant fall brood of 
flies, and may be supplemented by burning all screenings of the wheat 
if thrashing precedes the fall appearance of the fly. 
Plowing under stubble.—In line with burning, and of nearly equal 
importance, is turning the stubble under by deep plowing, and after- 
wards rolling the field to compact the earth and prevent any flies which 
may mature from issuing. 
Rotation of crops—The regular practice of a system of rotation in 
the growth of crops is of the utmost importance in avoiding damage. 
Its value may be offset at times by invasion from neighboring fields 
of wheat on other farms, but usually comparative freedom from attack 
will result and the benefit will extend to the other crops coming in the 
system adopted in checking the insect enemies of these at the same 
time. 
In seasons like that of 1899-1900, and possibly also 1900-1901, where 
the fly is very generally present, rotation of crops may fail very largely 
in being protective, and it may be even necessary to abandon wheat 
planting for a year over an entire county or State. Undoubtedly the 
Hessian fly can be starved out almost completely by the abandonment 
of the culture for one year of the crops in which it breeds, namely, 
wheat, rye, and barley, and occasions will probably arise again when 
this course will be advisable. To gain the full benefit of such a pro- 
cedure all volunteer wheat, rye, or barley must be destroyed. 
Trap or decoy plantings.—One of the earliest preventives recom- 
mended and one of considerable value is the early planting of narrow 
strips of wheat to act as decoys to attract the flies with the object of 
turning the infested wheat deeply under with the plow in late fall. 
This procedure will greatly reduce the numbers of the pest and should 
give greater immunity to late-planted wheat. 
Destruction of volunteer wheat.—The supplemental fall brood ante- 
dating the principal brood will come to nothing if all volunteer wheat 
be plowed under or destroyed within a few weeks after its appearance. 
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