44 



Values of Wheat. 



served after the blossoming of the plants^ and to which the destruc- 

 tion of many of the seeds was owing. 



Observations of this kind might be easily and generally made^ 

 and they would be useful as information regarding the nature and 

 habits of the insects which attack wheat; and answers to the how ? 

 when ? and where ? on the subject^ which would thus be obtained^ 

 afford the only guide to the invention of means for their destruction. 



1838. EXTRACT FROM JOURNAL. 



July 5th. — All the wheat is in blossom, except Nos. 13 and 15. 



14th. — Very rainy and windy weather. Whether will this be 

 found to injure or improve the quality of the grain? 



16th. — Since the rain of the 14th, an orange-coloured substance, 

 like rust, has been observed in the seed-vessels of some of 

 the ears, as if the rain had got in and rotted the pollen. A 

 very small fly has been observed about the ears in the even- 

 ing. Many of the ears are filling rapidly, some are already 

 full, and others are only in blossom. 



19th. — In the ears of wheat, which were before-mentioned as having 

 abortive grains, owing, as was thought, to the pollen having 

 been rotted by the rain, I now find small orange-coloured 

 grubs, about the tenth of an inch long, doubtless the offspring 

 of the small fly observed about a week ago. 



Aug. 4th. — All these grubs have disappeared. 



27th. — Nos. 4, 10, and 11, are ripe and pulled. 



28th. — Nos. 3, 5, and 6, are ripe and pulled. 



29th. — Nos. 7, 8, and 9, are ripe and pulled. 



30th. — Nos. 2, 12, and 16, are ripe and pulled. 

 Sept. 1st. — Nos. 1 and 14 are ripe and pulled. 



2nd. — Nos. 13 and 15 are ripe and pulled. 



The account of this experiment is thus finished^ and there now 

 remains but to state what will have already occurred to the reader, 

 especially if he be apractical man^ that it is not one nor many 

 experiments^ if conducted on a small scale, which will accurately 

 determine the point this tends to ascertain. 



The farmer himself must first be convinced of its importance, 

 and the observations and experiments on this subject, which, if h^ 

 be actuated by no higher motive, self-interest will then urge him to 

 prosecute with diligence, will ultimately, no doubt, be crowned 

 with success. 



John Morton. 



To the Secretary of the English 

 Agricultural Society, 



