Season of 1816. 211 



Kinnersley, Queen Ann's County \ Md. 

 June 10, 1817. 



Sir, 

 Considering it desirable that the erroneous impression 

 taken up by many persons, should be removed, as re- 

 gards the blue or purple straw wheat being exempt from 

 the ravages of the Hessian fly, I can assure you that that 

 kind of wheat, throughout this district of country, has 

 suffered considerably more than any other kind. At dif- 

 ferent periods, I have been induced to purchase the blue 

 straw, the red chaff bearded, the yellow bearded, and the 

 white Washington wheat, which last named wheat is the 

 favourite of all the farmers living on the best lands of 

 Wye and Chester rivers, all three kinds recommended 

 by different persons, as suffering least from the Hessian 

 fly. In the course of twenty-five years' experience, I 

 have no reason, on that score, to give either the prefer- 

 ence : they are all equally sufferers, by the ravages of that 

 destructive insect. 



Farmers have tried different modes to get rid of this 

 troublesome and voracious fly, but I cannot say that I 

 have ever heard of any person's having been able to suc- 

 ceed in getting clear of their visits. A gentleman of my 

 acquaintance, Matthew Tilghman, Esq. formerly of Kent 

 county, a few days since informed me, that he once im- 

 mersed his wheat, for a few seconds, while in a sieve, in 

 pots of boiling water, then suffered it to drain for a mi- 

 nute or so, and afterwards threw it on the barn floor, and 

 sprinkled quick lime over it, and spread it thin, to dry : 

 this course he followed every evening, scalding as much 

 wheat every evening, as he intended to sow the following 



