Season of 1816. 209 



The very seasonable spring we have had, seemed, at 

 one time, to have providentially interposed between us 

 and this destroying mischief ; but, since the wheat has 

 come into head, we find it stand very thin, even on good 

 soils, few stalks not wounded, and many falling daily, in 

 their progress to maturity, giving the wheat a tangled ap- 

 pearance ; while the fly continues to depredate on the ten- 

 der stalks, lately put forth, and will probably destroy them 

 all. Throughout this country, the degree of injury is 

 various, except in the Jones wheat, which has sustained 

 none ; and the difference of degrees is sometimes exhi- 

 bited in the same field, without any known circumstance 

 to account for it. The general estimate of injury in this 

 part of the country, from the ravages of the fly, cannot, I 

 think, be made less than three-fourths of the crops. In 

 former years, the proportion of wheat made into flour, for 

 exportation, was at least as ten to one of the consump- 

 tion ; but, from the circumstance of the crops of Indian 

 corn having been very short, many will be obliged to 

 feed entirely on small grain, for four or five months to 

 come ; therefore, in all probability, not more than one- 

 half of that made will be for exportation. 



In this immediate vicinity, the disease called the stunt 

 is unknown. 



On the subject of the cut worm, it cannot be said that 

 any remedy, tested by general experience, has been dis- 

 covered. In this neighbourhood, its effects have been 

 partially felt, in some instances, without any known cause 

 for the difference in others. Causes have been assigned. 

 The one most generally accredited, is found in die mode 

 of cultivation. When the ground has been partially 

 broken up, the injurv from the worm may be said to be 



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