WHEAT. 99 



for placing the egg in immediate contact with the 

 berry while in its softest state ; and sometimes the 

 glass will detect three or four of these little. worms 

 playing on a single kernel. Most generally, how- 

 ever, there is not more than one to a berry, though 

 there may be a dozen in the ear. The worm or 

 larva is yellow, and about half an inch in length ; and, 

 if the wheat is threshed immediately after harvest- 

 ing, may, where it exists, usually be found in large 

 numbers in the screen-boxes of the fanning-mill. 

 When it leaves the ear, as it generally does before 

 the wheat is cut, it falls to the ground, which it pen- 

 etrates, and remains in the lan-a state until with the 

 returning year it becomes a perfect insect, and re- 

 news its attack on the blossoming and earing grain. 

 Perhaps no single insect has attracted more notice 

 in this country, or caused more exertion to discover 

 some method of destroying it or preventing its at- 

 tacks, and, we regret to say, thus far with very little 

 success. Much was expected at one time from the 

 application of lime to the ear; but subsequent expe- 

 rience has not justified the hopes at first entertained. 

 Perhaps, in some cases, the fault has been in the lime 

 not being fresh or quick, as it clearly should be when 

 applied ; and perhaps the application was delayed so 

 long that the mischief was already done, and the 

 worm safe from the effects of the lime. Has sprink- 

 ling the ears, when attacked by the fly, with lime- 

 water, ever been tried T We think such an applica- 

 tion, of the proper strength, would be fatal to the 

 egg or the worm, and might be disagreeable to the 

 liy. Fumigating the field with sulphur has been 

 recommended ; and, could it be carried into effect at 

 dusk, when there is a little dew on the grain and the 

 fly the most active, there can scarcely be a doubt of 

 ils good effects. The sulphurous acid that would be 

 thus generated would be fatal to flies, as experience 

 proves it to be to bees and other insects when re- 

 spired. We are inclined to think that, eventually, 



