1846.] Insects Injurious to Vegetation. 259* 



In 1843, it was so abundant in western Pennsylvania in June, 

 that it was thought it would diminish the crop twenty-five per 

 cent. Through Maryland, and the great wheat-growing valley 

 of Virginia, it was noticed at the same time as committing great 

 havoc in many fields, and threatening a very decided failure in 

 the crop: at harvest, however, the yield was found to be much 

 better than was anticipated. In Ohio it was less injurious than in 

 the preceding year. Upon some parts of Long Island it was ob- 

 served, but in limited numbers. 



In 1844 it seems to have been much more destructive than in 

 either of the perceding years, and to have made its appearance 

 prominently in some districts where it had been unobserved be- 

 fore. Thus, through all the northern parts of Indiana and Illinois, 

 and the contiguous parts of Michigan and Wisconsin, it did much 

 injury, and in many places occasioned almost a total failure of the 

 crops. Near Goshen, la., a person writes, the fly is taking the 

 wheat here at a dreadful rate, destroying some pieces entirely: 

 some fields have been plowed up, and corn planted therein. The 

 Prairie Farmer states that the wheat crop has suffered severely 

 in various sections by the fly. In Will county. 111., says the Chi- 

 cago Journal, several entire fields of both winter and spring wheat 

 have been destroyed by the Hessian fly. In Michigan also, it is 

 reported to have made sad havoc, particularly in light sandy soils. 

 From different places in this state, we are told as follows: "In 

 some cases the injury was so severe, that the farmers had to plow 

 up their fields and sow them over again." " There is not more 

 than one-fourth of the surplus of 1843, owing to the wet season 

 and the ravages of the fly." " The wheat crop is almost an en- 

 tire failure. The insects took it last fall, and the rust in the spring, 

 and then again the insects a second time." It is also stated that 

 the same enemy had made its appearance in great force at the 

 close of the season, in the early fall sown w^heat. From different 

 parts of Ohio, the crop was reported in May and June to be suf- 

 fering considerably from the ravages of the fly. In the vicinity 

 of Masillon it had never been so destructive before, whole fields 

 being entirely destroyed. In the neighborhood of Rochester, N. 



