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SINCE the foregoing collection has been in the 

 press, 1 have been informed, but do not vouch for the 

 fact, that plaister has a considerable effect in preventing 

 the fly from injuring wheat. Whether, like a success- 

 ful medicine, when much in vogue, the gyps is ima- 

 gined to be a panacea^ and good for every thing ; or 

 whether there be really foundation for this information, 

 I cannot determine : but it is well worth inquiry. We 

 know that some things are offensive to vermin, and 

 drive them away ; and others destroy them. One or 

 the other of these results (if it be of any use at all in 

 this particular) may flow from strewing plaister on win- 

 ter grain. 



I have thoughts of trying the following experiments, 

 on my wheat fields ; as the fly is among us. But I 

 have not fixed on the time; — \a hether it shall be in the 

 season when the old fly deposits its eggs, i. e. soon 

 after the wheat is sown in the autumn ; or in the 

 spring, so as to destroy, or drive off, the young brood, as 

 they are produced from the eggs. Perhaps it will bq 

 right to try the experiments in both seasons. 



None of these to be so powerful as to injure the grain. 



1. Brine two lands with salt and water, or sow com- 

 mon salt thereon. 



2. On two other lands, plaister of Paris. 



3. On two other lands, soot, and a small proportion 

 of sulphur. 



4. On two others, lime just slacked. 



