354 
[Assembly 
within the preceding twenty-four hours. Cn repairing to the field 
whence these plants were taken, the fly was found to be out in large 
numbers. At every step, a dozen or more would arise from their 
coverts, sluggishly fly a few feet, and alight again. In other fields, 
where none of the flax seeds could previously be found, an occa¬ 
sional fly was met with, on the same day. A week after this, on 
a thorough examination, no flies could be found, nor were but two 
specimens afterwards met with, until the coming out of the summer 
brood. 
Second Generation. 
After the full details that have already been given, but a few 
words will be required under this head. About the first of May the 
fly appears, and deposits its eggs upon the same crop of grain that 
has already reared one brood, and also upon any spring wheat that 
is sufficiently forward for its purposes. The radical leaves of the 
winter wheat are now more or less withered, and the fly therefore 
selects the more luxuriant leaves that have put forth above these. 
The worm hatches, and again makes its short journey to its future 
home, at the base of the sheath; it consequently now nestles at the 
first and second joints of the young stalk, and is sometimes, though 
rarely, as high as the third joint. Even before the worm reaches 
the base of the sheath, it has frequently grown nearly to its full size, 
(as shown, fig. m.). The stalk has now attained such vigor and hardi¬ 
ness that it is seldom destroyed by this spring attack. A slight 
swelling, immediately above the joint, (fig. B. commonly indi¬ 
cates the presence of the larva beneath. This is a fact which has 
been overlooked, or at least not distinctly stated by writers hitherto. 
We only find it noticed by Mr. Bergen, ( Cultivator , viii., 133,) who- 
informs us that in a crop of barley which was destroyed by the Hes¬ 
sian fly, many of the stalks were “ at the joints as thick as a man’s 
finger.” The insect is therefore a true ^a/Mly, although when but 
one larva succeeds in reaching the joint, the swelling caused by it is 
but little if at all apparent. More commonly however, the straw 
becomes so weakened, that it is unable to sustain the weight of the 
wheat head, and it accordingly bends down (as represented, fig. 
Bj-f,) with the force of the wind and rains. The appearance of a 
badly infested field, as harvest time approaches, cannot better be 
