476 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 8 



to the dullest sight, by the aid of a magnifying 

 glass. The upper surface of a blade of wheat, is 

 Ibrmed into alternate ridges and tiirrows, running 

 longitudinally, ami the eggs are so sunk in the fur- 

 rows, that they will not be disturbed by drawing 

 the blade through the fingers and thumb under 

 considerable pressure. The shape of the egg is 

 cylindrical, rounded at the ends, and at first, in 

 color and appearance, resembles a piece of amber, 

 but as it approaches to hatching, assumes a red- 

 der cast. On the 9fh Oct. I first discovered the 

 eggs on a piece of lawler or fly-proof wheat, 

 which had been sown as early as the 22d of Sep- 

 tember. The plants at that time, generally had 

 three leaves, and there seemed to be a manifest 

 preference in the flies to place their eggs on the 

 second or middle blade, but they were found in- 

 discriminately scattered upon the surface of this 

 leaf, fi'om half an inch to three inches from its 

 point of contact with the central shoot. In sever- 

 al instances as many as forty eggs were counted 

 by the aid of a glass on a single blade. 



Particular eggs which were identified from day 

 to day until they hatched, were found to remain 

 upon the leaf] the shortest period of time, five 

 days, the longest seven. How long they had 

 been deposited when first discovered is uncertain, 

 but it is presumed, some days, as the flies appear- 

 ed in numbers, out of all proportion, small to the 

 vast number of eggs. In two instances only, were 

 the eggs discovered at the instant of their beinfj 

 laid by the flies, and in both of these cases the 

 plants were destroyed in removing them to the 

 house, to subject them to close examination : and 

 thus the attempt was defeated to fix the period 

 more definitely, that the egg remains exposed on 

 the leaf. 



As soon as the eggs hatch, the worms com- 

 mence their journey down the blade, to its point of 

 contact with the main stalk, which it envelopes 

 to the union of the boot and stalk at the crown of 

 the plant. Some of the worms were detected in 

 the act of moving down the blade ; but for the 

 most part, after the disappearance of the eggs 

 from the blade, by stripping down the boot, the 

 worms were found in a state so minute, as scarce- 

 ly to be discoverable to the naked eye, lodged near 

 the root, just at that part of the plant which is the 

 seat of all their mischief ; and where they are 

 found in the subsequent chrysalis state. 



When they have once placed themselves in this 

 situation, they are clearly beyond the reach of ail 

 remedies. But the fact being established, that 

 they remain from five to seven days at least, on 

 the blades of the wheat, seems to hold out some 

 prospect, that means may be resorted to, that will 

 Qt least diminish, if not entirely destroy them. 



May it not be an experiment worth trying, to 

 watch the progress of the flies, and as soon as 

 they are found to have deposited their egces, to 

 graze the crop closely? There are many dilficul- 

 ties which present themselves, to carry this sug- 

 gestion into practice upon a large scale, but 

 against so great an evil, a partial remedy is better 

 thau none. If successful, |)ossibly it may be (bund 

 capable of extension sufficient for the object. 



Publications have already appeared, stating the 

 exemption of grazed wheat from the wide spread 

 depredations of tlie fly last spring — but my know- 

 ledge of the insect at that time, not extending far- 

 ther than the chrysalis, a state in which they are so 



manifestly inaccessible to any remedy that would 

 not extirpate the plant, my mind naturally referred 

 the eflect to some other cause. Now it is clearly to 

 be comprehended that this destructive insect may 

 have been devoured m the egg state, with the 

 leaves of the wheat. 



JOIIIV II. COCKE. 

 PETEH MINOn 



Secretary of the jigrkultural Socieiy ofjllbeviarle. 



Fiom the Alcsandiia Gazette. 

 WAR WITH THE BEES. 



Our quiet neighbors at West End, were on 

 Tuesday put in no little commotion by the singu- 

 lar and unexpected breaking out of a war in their 

 territories, which raged with great fury for several 

 hours, and whilst it lasted was destructive to m.an 

 and beast. We have to enumerate one killed! 

 many wounded, and multitudes put to flight. 



It seems that the bees in a gentleman's garden 

 became enraged at the near approach to their 

 hives of two horses and carts which were backed 

 up for the purpose of unloading wood. They sal- 

 lied out at once, and attacked with vigor the horses 

 and drivers. In a i'ew minutes the drivers were 

 put to flight, but the horses not being able to dis- 

 engage themselves, had to bear the brunt of the 

 onset as they best could, and that was but feebly 

 indeed. One of the poor animals was stung so 

 severely that he actually died in a short time, and 

 the other was rescued by the servants wrapping 

 themselves in blankets and going with determina- 

 tion to his assistance. 'I'his accomplished, all 

 hands, we believe, precipitately retired from the 

 vengeance of the winged warriors. 



The bees, finding that their enemies had "in- 

 gloriously fled" from the field of battle, resolved to 

 carry the " war into Africa." Mustering their 

 forces, they invaded the village, scattering them- 

 selves abroad, stinging pigs, dogs, and cows, and 

 chasing men, women and children. They abso- 

 lutely held entire possession of the enemies' coun- 

 try for some time, driving back several pedlers 

 who attempted to cross the Stone Bridge with 

 their wagons. 



The approach of night put an end to the con- 

 test, but the justice of history compels us to say, 

 after a calm review of the event* of the whole day, 

 that considering all the facts and circumstances, 

 the bees had decidedly " the best of the battle." 



From tlie Lancaster Express. 



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