DISEASES AND INSECTS ATTACKING WHEAT. 65 



a good preventive and cure. But early harvest, while the 

 grain is soft, is a very sure way to avoid the destruction 

 by rust. 



THE CHINCH BUG AND HESSIAN FLY. 



In some sections and seasons the Chinch Bug (Micropus 

 leucopterus) is very destructive, especially in dry seasons, 

 but wet weather is unfavorable to it ; all grains are 

 more or less liable to be infested by this insect. Ex- 

 perienced farmers have found that spreading eight to ten 

 bushels of quick lime, to the acre, on the stubble and 

 among the weeds, and plowing it all under in August, 

 for seeding in September, is a pretty sure way of getting 

 rid of this pest, as well as many other insects which in- 

 fest the wheat crop ; but a second shallower plowing, or 

 working with the cultivator, and thorough rolling, before 

 seeding, should be done, to fit the land nicely for the 

 drill, and to more perfectly mix the lime and soil. 



Another troublesome pest is the Hessian Fly (Ceci- 

 domyia destructor) which often appears in some localities 

 and seasons. 



A writer in the "Allentown (Penn.) Democrat" 

 says : ' < There are two broods of the Hessian fly brought 

 to perfection each year in the fall and the spring ; the 

 transformation of ^some appear to be often retarded beyond 

 the usual time, and the life of individuals is sometimes 

 longer than a year, and the continuation of the species 

 in after years made sure. The mature insect deposits it? 

 eggs on the young plants soon after they appear above the 

 ground, and are several weeks doing this ; the eggs are 

 about five days in hatching, the young worms going 

 directly to a joint of the stalk, where they affix them- 

 selves and become stationary, until their transformations 

 are completed, but do not go to the center of the stalk, 

 nor bore into it, as some suppose, but lie upon its sur- 



