286 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



fiy has deposited her eggs upon the leaves of the growing plant, they hatch and the maggots 

 or larvae work down the leaf between the sheath and stem to a joint in the stalk, and attach 

 themselves, feeding upon the juices of the plant, which soon shows unmistakable signs of 

 their presence by turning yellow, and a swelling of the stalk. Sometimes the joint of the 

 plant becomes so weakened, that it breaks off at the point of their depredations. In five or 

 six weeks they enter a semi-pupa, or what is termed the &quot;flaxseed state,&quot; from which they 

 change into the pupa, and then become perfect insects. 



The remedies are those suggested for the chinch bug, burning all the stubble and refuse 

 of the field in the autumn, being the most effectual; however, this necessitates also the 

 destruction of the parasites of the fly, which destroy large numbers of them. Some recom 

 mend late sowing as a remedy to avoid the evil, since if deferred until the fly has laid its eggs, 

 the wheat escapes the first brood; but this is objectionable in respect to the crop not being 

 thus able to obtain a good start before the- frost comes, and will consequently be liable to 

 winter kill. Pasturing the crop with sheep for a day or two, or mowing off the tops of the 

 plants and feeding to stock in order to destroy the eggs, together with the use of the roller, 

 are means often employed, but, as we have recommended as a remedy for the chinch bug, 

 and as has previoiisly been stated, we consider burning the stubble the most effectual remedy 

 aside from that of giving the best chance to the crop to obtain a vigorous growth before these 

 pests make their appearance. 



Prof. Cook, of the Michigan Agricultural College, states that when the season approaches, 

 the flies will lay their eggs upon the first suitable plant they can find, and recommends 

 sowing a narrow strip of wheat around each field in August or early in September, and defer 

 as long as the season will permit, sowing the wheat from which the crop is to be obtained. 

 By this means, the wheat sown in the strip will make its appearance first, and most of the 

 eggs of the fly will be laid upon it, after which period it should be plowed under very deeply, 

 that the eggs may be destroyed, and the later wheat then sowed. The outer strip may then 

 be included also. This method, if successfully carried out, will destroy the fly and protect 

 the wheat at the same time. These insect pests come and go in occasional and consecutive 

 years, and will sometimes disappear altogether for a longer or shorter period, when they will 

 again suddenly make their appearance. There are several kinds of destructive parasites of 

 the Hessian fly, the combined attacks of which are supposed by entomologists to destroy 

 about nine-tenths of all that are hatched. The most important of these is the Chalcid four- 

 winged fly (Semiotellus destructor], which destroys what is termed the &quot;flaxseed &quot;; there is also 

 another important parasite that does much injury to the eggs. An application of unleached 

 ashes in damp weather is sometimes beneficial in destroying the larvae, and lime and soot are 

 used with the same effect , but lime should be applied with care, as it is liable to injure the 

 plant. The sowing of hardy varieties is advisable as a protection against most of the dis 

 eases or insect enemies to which the wheat crop is subject. Grasshoppers or locusts are often 

 very destructive to the cereal crops of the West, coming as they do in such swarms as to destroy 

 every green thing, and leaving no appearance of vegetation in their track. We know of no 

 better remedy for this evil than the prevention of the wanton destruction of birds, which 

 feed upon such insects. 



