40 THE WHEAT INDUSTRY 



ence of this pest. He examines many stalks at 

 the places where the leaves join the stem. This 

 is the favorite position for the fly to get its nour- 

 ishment from the wheat plant when it is approach- 

 ing the flaxseed stage. If the season is dry, 

 the chinch bug is also to be feared. The losses 

 caused by the chinch bug to the wheat grow- 

 ers of the Mississippi valley have in some years 

 amounted to many millions of dollars. 



Fortunately fairly effective methods of fighting 

 these pests have been discovered and farmers do 

 not now feel as helpless as they formerly did. 

 These problems and difficulties must be mastered 

 by the wheat growers if they are to succeed. 

 Thus we can readily see that wheat farmers must 

 be thinkers, men of brains as well as men of brawn. 



But the season advances. The dangers are 

 passed one after another. Rainfall has been 

 sufficient. The wheat heads out, passes through 

 its blossoming period unnoticed, for it is a self 

 fertilizing plant, and finally forms the seeds, the 

 grain, in the heads. When they first reach a 

 fairly good size they are plump and soft and are 

 filled with a milky fluid. Then they become 

 solid, though not hard. The plant loses its green 

 coloring and the field changes slowly to lighter 

 hues. At last comes the golden yellow which 

 marks readiness for harvest. The period of growth 

 is ended and the period of reaping is at hand. The 



