vol,. XV. NO. la. 



AND GARDENER'S JOURNAL 



93 



A PREVENTIVE OP THE WHEAT FLY. 



The following conimiinicatioti we copy fro!n 

 the BaUimore American, and commend it to our 

 readers as being worthy of their attention. We 

 published under our head of " Work for Septem- 

 ber," in our 18th number last year, the same re- 

 cipe, with the exception that we recommended the 

 seed to be passed through strong ley, or lime wa- 

 ter, instead of pickle. — Bait. Far. 



Messrs Editors — Some time since in a com- 

 munication published in the Baltimore papers, I 

 stated my views on the destruction of wheat by 

 the Hessian fly, and offered a remedy against its 

 ravages. As this season will be remarkable for 

 the devastation committed by this insect, and as 

 the time is approaching for seeding for the next 

 crop, I request a small space in your columns to 

 bring before our larmei's again the remedy then 

 [iroposed, fully believing that if followed much 

 good will be the result from it. 



On observation it has been found that the insect 

 producing the fly progresses with the growth of 

 the wheat ; and if the wheat is early sown, and 

 the season is favorable to a luxuriant vegetation, 

 the fly will be very perceptible in the autumn. — 

 The progress of the insect, as is observed in a for- 

 mer communication, is from the seed upwards, on 

 one stem between the root and surface of the earth. 

 The question then arises, how is this insect gen- 

 erated, and what means should be used to destroy 

 it ? It is either generated in the grain of wheat 

 similar to the bug which infests the pea, or the in- 

 sect when in its winged state deposites an egg on 

 the surface of the grain when in the ear and thus 

 when the wheat is sown and begins to vegetate, 

 the egg vivifies and the destructive worm is 

 formed. 



- For the following reasons I am strongly inclin- 

 ed to the latter opinion. It is known that this in- 

 sect releases itself by bursting the blade that cov- 

 ers it, when the head is forming, and assumes its 

 winged state, and there is to my mind no doubt 

 that this fly deposits its egg on the wheat when 

 filling and coming to perfection. If I had any 

 doubts on this subject they would be removed by 

 the fact that with the aid of the microscope the 

 egg is discernible in the form of a glutinous mat- 

 ter. If this opinion be correct, the remedy is sim- 

 ple, and worthy at least of a fair trial. Provi- 

 dence inflicts no evil upon mankind without also 

 providing some remedy, and unless this is intend- 

 ed as a special curse upon the husbandman, there 

 is and must be a remedy which he must find out 

 by actual e-xperiment. 



In the course of twenty years experience in 

 this matter, I have known but one experiment 

 made to destroy this fly, and that proved success- 

 ful. An intelligent farmer in Loudon county, Va. 

 having understood that some of his neighbors with 

 the aid of a microscope, had discovered a glutin- 

 ous matter on the surface of wheat which they be- 

 lieved to be the egg of the fly, determined to fry 

 an experiment for its destructicn and succeeded in 

 that crop ; but unfortunately it was not followed 

 up, and whether it will be an effectual remedy in 

 all seasons, remains yet to be tested. This plan 

 which he followed, and which it is the object of 

 this communication to recommend to the notice 

 of the farmers, is simply to pass the seed wheat 

 through a strong brine or pickle, washing it well, 

 and then rolling it in slackened lime, (similar to 

 rolling it in Plaster of Paris) not preparing at one 

 time more than a day's sowing. Washing the 



wheat in brine, and rolling it in the lime are done 

 l)riniarily for the piu-pose of destroying the egg, 

 but it answers another good purpose — tlint of pre- 

 venting the growth of smut. The lime will also 

 1)0 found to act as a powerful stimulant to the 

 growth of the wheat, and superior to that of plas- 

 ter. 



This remedy being so simple, and as I firmly 

 believe so eflicacious, I hope there will be many 

 farmers disposed to make trial of it, and thereby 

 fully test its correctness. If I should be instru- 

 mental in arresting the progress of this direful en- 

 emy of the farmer, I shall be amply compensated 

 in the recollection that I have discharged my duty 

 to the community. 



An Agriculturist of Maryland. 



CATTIiE SHOAV. 



It is with much pleasure that the undersigned 

 complies with the direction of the Committee of 

 Arrangements for the Cattle Show and Exhibition 

 of Manufactures by the Worcester County Agri- 

 cultural Society, on the 5th day of Octolier next, 

 in giving information that the gratuity oSered for 

 a team of Working Cattle, is fifty dollars instead 

 of thirty dollars, as heretofore published. Know- 

 ing that any of the towns in the vicinity can fur- 

 nish such a team as will he creditable to them- 

 selves and to the County, he ho|)es that it is only 

 necessary to appeal to the honorable pri<le of the 

 farmer, to induce their friends in one of the neigh- 

 boring towns to take upon themselves the trouble 

 of exhibiting a team, and thereby greatly adding 

 to the interest of the Show. The team which 

 was exhibited the last year having been owned in 

 Worcester, it is the wish of the Committee that a 

 team of VVorkiog Cattle may be exhibited the pres- 

 ent year by the farmers of another town. 



It is retjuested that the Bulls which may be 

 exhibited may have a ring in their nose, with a 

 chain or rope to keep them in security, and it is 

 also desired that all cattle, which may be exhibit- 

 ed in the yoke, may have a chain to fasten them 

 to the posts. 



Those interested are reminded that it is requir- 

 ed that every manufactured article offered for 

 premium must be entered and delivered to the 

 person appointed to receive them, before 11 o'clock 

 A. M., of the day preccdiug the Show; and this 

 rule applies as well to Cider, Butter, and Cheese, 

 as to the other articles which may be exhibited. 

 It is important that this rule should be observed, 

 that tlie judges, appointed for their examination, 

 may have suitable time allowed them to discharge 

 their duty before the Halls are opened for public 

 exhibition. Careful persons will be in attendance 

 at the Town Hall on Monday and Tuesday, the 

 3il and 4th days of October, for the purpose of re- 

 ceiving any articles which may be offered for pre- 

 mium or for exhibition only, and it is desired that 

 they ™8y be furnished with full employment. 



.lOHN W. LINCOLN. Chairman. 



ESSEX AGItICXJI.TI KAl, SOCIETY. 



The Aimual Exhibition by the Society will be 

 at the South Parish in Danvers, on Wednesday, 

 Sejjt. 281 h. 



All claims for Prenjiums to be awarded on the 

 day of exhibition, must be entered with the Sec- 

 retary of the Society, or his agent, on or bafore 9 

 o'clock A. M. of that day. 



All other claims for Premiums must be handed 

 or forwarded to the Secretary in writing. 



All articles of domestic manufacture must be 

 entered and depositeil at the Hall for this purpose, 

 under Mr Austin's Meeting House by 9 o'clock 

 A. M. 



These articles will be examined and arranged 

 by the Committee, and at 12 o'clock, will be open- 

 ed for public examination. 



All animals or articles exhibited must remain 

 for public inspection until 3 o'clock P. M. 



The Ploughing Match will take place at 10 

 o'clock A. M. 



Butter, Cheese, Fruits and Flowers, will be de- 

 posited in the lower story of Mr Goodridge's Hall, 

 near Mr Sewall's Meeting House. 



Agricultural implements will be deposited in 

 the same room. 



All persons who feel disposed to encourage 

 these exhibitions, and who are willing to do their 

 part to sustain the reputation of the County, and 

 to improve the taste for agriculture, horticulture, 

 &c. having in their possession articles curious and 

 worthy of notice, are respectfully requested to 

 bring them forward. 



The Members of the Society and invited guests, 

 will dine together at the Essex Coffee House, at 

 1 o'clock, P. M. Tickets for the Dinner can be 

 had .It the Bar. 



At 3 o'clock, P.M. there will be a meeting of 

 the Society at the Rev. Mr Sewall's church, where 

 an Address will be delivered by N. W. Hazen, 

 Esq.. and the Reports of Committees read, and 

 premiums awarded. 



The Annual Meeting for the choice of officers 

 and transaction of the business of the Society will 

 then follow. 



By order of the Committee of Jlrrang;emenfs, 



J. W. PROCTOR, Sec'y. 

 Danvers, Sept. 13, 1836. 



A letter from a town near Portland, dated Sept. 

 8th says : — 



" Tuesday last was like a winter day, and the 

 night following was so cold that the vines and 

 their fruits were frozen. It is melancholy to look 

 on the desolation. Not an ear of corn is there 

 anywhere in this neighborhood that has arrived at 

 a fit state even for boiling. Potatoes are about 

 half g 'own, and every thing much in the same 

 condl -JD." 



Corn. — The warm weather of last week was 

 very favorable for corn, and as it hereabouts has 

 thus far been but slightly injured by frosts, our 

 Farmers entertain cheering hopes that something 

 of a crop will yet be realized. — Greenfeld Gaz. 



Wild Honey. — Bee trees or trees in the decay- 

 ed branches of which wild bees have established 

 their hives, are not unfrequently found in our for- 

 ests. We understand that Mr B. K. Carrier, of 

 Bernardston, had the good luck to find two of these 

 sweet prizes in one day, a week or two since, from 

 one of which lie extraeted about 80 lbs. of delic- 

 ious honey and comb, and from the others about 

 half the quantity. — lb. 



An English paper says that pipe clay, dissolved 

 among the water employed in washing, gives the 

 dirtiestlinen the a|)pearance of having been bleach- 

 ed, and cleans them thoroughly with about half 

 the labor, and full a saving of one fourth the soap. 

 The method adopted, was to dissolve a little of 

 the pipe clay among the warm water in a wash- 

 ing tub, or to rub a little of it together with the 

 soap on the articles to be washed. 



