The Daily Advertiser

Extract of a letter from Falls township, Bucks county (Pennsylvania), May 20.

"The little thing called the Hessian fly or insect, I have heard, sirs, began to make its appearance on Long Island, and cut off most of the wheat there for several years past, and last season did considerable damage to the wheat in many parts of East-Jersey, and near Croswicks cut off many fields, and even appeared on the banks of Delaware river. Near seed time last year, many persons on the Pennsylvania shore saw the same insect so thick in the air that they appeared like a cloud coming over Delaware river, and on examining some of the largest flies, they had many of their young brood clinging to them; some of them could fly and others not. They have now infested the wheat fields, from the Falls township to Makefield, and many are of opinion much further, that some persons discovering their numbers have pastured their green wheat, ploughed and planted their fields with spring produce and more are following their example.

"The 17th instant I went into a wheat field to examine for the insect, some other persons came on the like occasion, and on drawing up either green, dry or dead spires of wheat, we saw them plenty in each, in a white coloured nit, seed or worm, and where rye grew amongst the wheat, it was also full of the insect, and since that the owner of the wheat field has turned in his horses to pasture and intends to plant it with corn shortly. I am credibly informed that it is the opinion of many in Amwell and Hopewell, New-Jersey, that they do not expect to save so much as their seed, many of them have ploughed all up and planted with corn. It would be well for all concerned to examine their wheat fields in time, as delays may prove dangerous, and if they discover their fields infested with the insect, it may not be too late to follow the above example.

"The insect in the spring resembles a small flax seed, rather of a rounder shape, but now mostly appears of a white colour, and rather longer than when in their brown colour; they lay mostly and may be found between the first, second and third blades near the root above the ground, sometimes in the middle of the spire near the root."