298 
ANNUAL REPORT OP NEW YORK 
The summers of 1856 and 185T, I spent in Seneca county, and 
only know by report, that the wheat was injured over a large sec¬ 
tion of the county in 1856; I had heard it was in Ontario county 
the year before, but it was a rumor; still I always supposed it 
came from the east. The growing of white wheat has ceased to 
be the crop of the Genesee Valley. The Mediterranean wheat is 
said to be much improved for the last year or two, and many sup¬ 
pose it may be made a partial substitute; we shall probably raise 
enough for our bread of Mediterranean. 
1857 and 1858, the white wheat was destroyed, with now and 
then an exception. It has not disappeared at. any time. 
I have never heard of the wheat being injured years ago by the 
midge. Some of my friends have complained of the midge in their 
barley; and I have heard rumors of clover seed being injured also; 
but this latter not sufficiently reliable for me to state it as a fact. 
The Mediterranean has been injured the least. 
The dry land escapes if any does. 
The damage is the entire profits of the wheat crop at least, and 
the consequent depreciation in the value of lands of at least of 
$20 per acre, in the wheat growing towns of this county. 
We have tried good farming with partial success. 
Know of no parasite which destroys the midge. 
In 1856 there was considerable damage by what was called 
Hessian fly in this neighborhood. The stalk was eaten into near 
the lower joint, and the straw would break off, many small worms 
being found in the stalk. 
I have no knowledge in regard to the midge, other than most 
of farmers—that we find a fly about the size of a musquito 
in the fields, and soon the little red maggots in the head. 
I have waited the answering of your circular, hoping some¬ 
thing might turn up.” There are a few men in the county who 
will act in this matter of the midge ; but the large majority 
seem inclined to consider it a visitation of Providence, and sit 
quietly down under it. Perhaps they are the wisest. 
Very respectfully yours, 
SAMUEL L. FULLER. 
Hon. STEPHEN HAIGHT — Washington, Dutchess Co. 
June 1th, 1858. 
Friend B. P. Johnson : 
I am in receipt of a circular which purports to be issued by 
the Executive Committee of the New York State Agricultural 
