378 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



defatigable friend Townend Glover, of Fishkill, in the state of 

 New- York, who does not fail to render justice to all who labor in 

 that department. We make the following extract relative to the 

 wheat destroyer : 



THE HESSIAN FLY. 



The Hessian Fly is subject to the attacks of several parasitic 

 insects, which serve more or less to lessen their numbers, the 

 chief of which is ceraphron destructor of Say, a shining, black, 

 four-winged fly, about one-tenth of an inch in length. This fact 

 is mentioned because it has often been Tnistaken for the true Hes- 

 sian Fly^ from its being seen in wheat fields, in vast numbers, 

 and from its being known to come out of the dried larva skins of 

 the Hessian Fly, which it had, however., previously destroyed. 



Burning the stubble immediately after harvest, and then plow- 

 ing and harrowing the land, are also highly recommended. 



Dr. Harris is fully and deservedly credited for his very valua- 

 ble works on Insects. The conclusion, says Mr. D. J. Browne, is, 

 that without particular observation the Wheat Midge, the Hes- 

 sian Fly, and the Joint- worm, so destructive to wheat or grain 

 crops, are scarcely to be distinguished by the naked eye, and 

 their very minuteness causes them to be overlooked both by birds 

 and men, until their ravages show where the destroyers have 

 been after it is too late. 



Mr. Browne has given a-highly useful and interesting essay on 

 Climatology, which every man who cares for his garden, or farm, 

 ought to read, and then study for himself. So long as " seed 

 time and harvest" shall come, the farmer must keep himself in- 

 formed on this point. Linnseus thought that a universal rule 

 was established as to sowing seeds, viz : the bud, leaf, and flower 

 of trees and shrubs differing in every country by soils, exposures, 

 seasons, but in most instances uniform as to tlieir succession, being 

 bound down by nature herself. There is a certain kind of genial 

 warmth which the earth should enjoy at the time seeds are sown, 

 and the budding, lealing and flow^ering of plants seem to indicate 

 this happy temperature of the soil and air. 



This U. S. volume contains tables showing periodical phenomena 

 of certain trees, plants and animals, from observations made in 

 various places, under the direction of the Smithsonian Institution, 

 viz : General period of the flowering of the peach, cherry, apple, 

 red maple, dogw^ood, and straAvberry. Flight of Wild Geese to the 

 North. First appearance of the bai-n swallows, whippoorwill, 



