158 . FIELD CROPS 



several times during the process to insure the thorough 

 moistening of each kernel. The smut spores are on the out- 

 side of the kernels, and all that is required is to bring the 

 solution in contact with them. Loose smut is very difficult 

 to handle, as the spores get into the open flowers and become 

 enclosed within the wheat kernel. The only treatment that 

 is effective is the modified hot water treatment, which is ex- 

 tremely difficult to apply. The wheat is soaked for four 

 hours in cool water, because heat will pass through the kernel 

 more quickly when it is wet. It is then soaked for ten min- 

 utes in water at 129 degrees Fahrenheit. It is not advisable, 

 without a great deal of experience, to treat much seed in this 

 way, as the germination of the grain is likely to be lowered or 

 destroyed. Treat only enough for a seed plat, and get clean 

 seed for the main part of the crop in this way. 



197. Insect Enemies. There are several insects which 

 occasionally cause great damage to the wheat crop. Only 

 the more important will be discussed. These include the 

 Hessian fly, chinch bug, grasshopper, and army worm. 



(a). The Hessian fly resembles the mosquito quite closely. 

 It lays its eggs in the growing wheat. When the maggots 

 hatch, they work in the lower part of the stem, weakening it 

 and causing the head to fall over so that it is missed by the 

 binder. Fall plowing, rotation, and burning straw, stubble, 

 screenings, and Utter are all effective methods of checking 

 the loss from this insect. 



(5). Chinch bugs often destroy much wheat by sucking the 

 sap from the plants. They are blackish in color, with white 

 wing covers, and are about one fifth of an inch long. They 

 live over winter in the matm^e form, under rubbish and leaves. 

 In the spring the females lay their eggs; a little later, the 

 young appear as very small, reddish bugs. The hatching 

 period extends over several weeks, and so bugs of all sizes 

 may be seen at one time. There are no effective remedies 

 against these bugs in wheat, except to bum or othe^v^'ise dis- 



