170 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 3 



could be promoted, it would doubtless gratify him 

 highly thus to benefit his country. 



^ A. B. 



Although it was long the prevailing (and scarcely 

 questioned) opinion, that the Hessian fly was of Eu- 

 ropean origin, and was first brought to America in the 

 straw beds of the Hessian soldiers employed in the re- 

 volutionary war, that opinion seems to have yielded to 

 one entirely opposed, namely, that this insect was al- 

 together unknown in Europe. This last opinion seems 

 sustained by strong indirect testimony, in this respect, 

 that if the fly existed in Europe at all, its ravages 

 would certainly have been heard of, and to great ex- 

 tent — whereas, no such evil is mentioned by authors, 

 among the many to which the wheat crop is usually suo- 

 ject. This objection to the existence of the fly in Eu- 

 rope is not removed by the quotation furnished by our 

 correspondent: but it must be admitted that the des- 

 cription agrees so closely with that of the Hessian fly, 

 that if taken alone, there could be but little doubt as to 

 its being the insect tliere described. The passag-e is 

 at least curious and interesting — though it had escaped 

 our observation in a former perusal of this work, and, 

 also, probably the observation of other farmers, and has 

 been first noticed by our correspondent, who has no 

 practical acquaintance with farming. 



But though we shall rejoice to have agricultural in- 

 quiry in general extended, and consider the exchange 

 of information between this country and Europe es- 

 pecially wanted, it is not believed that any inquiry as 

 to the disappearance of this insect could lead to any va- 

 luable result — or that it could compare in importance 

 with hundreds of other matters on which information 

 might be obtained, but for the want of suitable inter- 

 course. The plagues of different insects have prevailed 

 to great extent, at many times, and have afterwards 

 ceased, as suddenly, and as unaccountably, as they first 

 arose and spread. Such a case occurred in the alarm- 

 ing numbers and ravages of the chinch bug, some dozen 

 years ago in part of Virginia, which, by their increase, 

 threatened destruction to the crops of both corn and 

 wheat — but which disappeared after two or three years. 

 Another case is presented in the next succeeding pao-e 

 of the work which our correspondent quotes from, in a 

 passage which shows very clearly, (notwithstanding the 

 ignorance of facts, or false reasoning displayed,) that 

 the common moth-weevil of Virginia was once very de- 

 structive to wheat in France. Yet that insect is not 

 known at most times as a cause of injury in Europe; 

 and within the last two years, the same scourge has 

 again appeared, and seems to be considered (under the 

 name of aluate des grains) as a new foe to agriculture 

 —and the investigations of agricultural societies, and 

 their offers of premiums, have been directed to obtain 

 knowledge of the habits, and to stay the ravages of this 

 insect. Seeing that the description, in recent French 

 papers, agreed fully with the moth-weevil, and believ- 

 ing that the articles on that insect in vol. I. of the Far- 

 mers' Register, were both correct and convincing, as to 

 its propagation, and the means of preventing its°'rava- 

 ges, we attempted to convey these papers to the Cen- 

 tral and Royal Agricultural Society of France : but 



whether they were never received, or were deemed of 

 no importance, there has been no notice taken of them 

 in the proceedings of that Society. But this is a di- 

 gression from what was designed — which was to copy 

 from Duhamel the evidence that moth-weevil, former- 

 ly existed in France, and was very destructive. The 

 passage which follows, is part of a letter to Mr. Du- 

 hamel, from a gentleman of Angoumois. 



'' 'The great loss, which we have suffered in this 

 " province in our corn, and especially our wheat, for 

 " seventeen or eighteen yeais past, has put us upon 

 " making strict inquiries into the causes of a corrup- 

 " tion with which our grain is infected. The common 

 " opinion is, that when the corn is in bloom, that is to 

 " say in the month of June, small white butterflies lay 

 " their eggs in the flowers. When the grain is ripe, 

 " the eggs are enclosed in it. As soon as the corn is 

 " laid up to be kept, it is found to ferment. This fer- 

 " mentation raises a heat, which hatches the eggs, 

 " whence little worms proceed, which are transformed 

 " into chrysalides, and tliese are afterwards metamor- 

 " phosed into little gray butterflies, or moths. In this 

 '' state they quit the grain, which is then void of flower. 

 "This insect not onlyspoils the grain in which it is hatch- 

 "ed, but likewise communicates a most disagreeable 

 "smell to all the grain near it; a smell which is sometimes 

 " so strong and nauseous, that fowls, and even hogs, 

 " will not eat the grain. 



" Others impute it to the maize, or Turkey wheat, 

 " which is sown in great quantities in this jirovince, 

 " and which spreads its roots so far, and so impover- 

 " ishes the earth, that other corn sown affer it, in the 

 " same ground, can find no nourishment. This is not 

 " probable: for it could only alter the quality of the 

 " grain, but not bring on an entire putrefaction. — The 

 " two following experiments were tried to prevent 

 " it. 



" A farmer had three or four acres of land which 

 " had been under grass for more than sixt}' years. He 

 " had ploughed and dunged it well. He had his seed 

 " from Poitou; and, in short, took every precaution to 

 " guard against this contagion. The wheat ripened 

 " and was very good. He cut it down in a dry sea- 

 " son, thrashed it in the open air, and cleansed and win- 

 " nowed it very carefully. It was laid in a granary 

 " which had no communication with any other, and 

 " which had an opening to the north. The farmer or- 

 " dered it not to be laid above three inches thick on the 

 " floor, and to be turned twice a day. Four days passed 

 " before the least heat was perceived ; but on the fifth 

 " day, it began to grow a little warm ; and from that 

 " time the heat increased, notwithstanding every means 

 " that had been, and still continued to be used. All 

 " that could be done, was, to prevent its being so much 

 " spoilt as corn in general was that year. 



" The other experiment succeeded better. As soon 

 " as the wheat was thrashed, well cleaned and win- 

 " nowed, it was put into an oven heated to a certain 

 " degree. The floor of the oven was covered with 

 " wicker hurdles, on which the corn was spread four 

 " inches thick : the door of the oven was then shut, 

 " and remained twenty-four hours without bein" 

 " opened. JVfany have followed this example. Their 

 " grain has not changed : only its color is not so 

 " bright. Care must be taken that the oven be not too 

 " hot: otherwise, the bread made of this flour will have 

 " a burnt taste. It is likewise necessary to cover the 

 " bottom of the oven, lest the wheat should comunicate 

 " its taste to it. 



" I confess that this operation is long and trouble- 

 " some, where a great quantity of corn is to be pre- 

 " served; for only ten or twelve bushels can be put in- 

 " to the oven at a time: and besides, it must be done 

 " the moment it is thrashed; otherwise it will infallibly 

 " spoil.' " 



