Alexandria Gazette

Fly In the Wheat,-How to destroy it,

We have heard complaints of "fly in the wheat" from farmers in nearly all of the adjacent counties. The early seeded wheat and the warm weather that has since continued for weeks, has in the first place furnished the fly with good picking, and a good season for propagation. It is very desirable that this pest be cleared out at once, and destroyed so as to prevent their reappearance in the spring. The Southern Planter recommends all who have this calamitous visitation, to try the remedy proposed by Jas. A. Cochran of Augusta, sanctioned as it is by his experience for several years.

It is simply to apply from one to two bushels of water-slacked-not air slacked-lime per acre, to the wheat when the dew or other moisture is on the wheat, so that the lime will readily make a ley which will run down the groove of the blade to the nidus of the fly or, as it then is, maggot. The same application, made in the spring if not found fully effective in the fall, Mr. Cochran found to rid him almost entirely of this pest.

The hands that apply the lime, may handle it with impunity if they will only keep their hands well greased. Mr. Cochran used small tins, like the dippers used for sugar and coffee by the grocers, to scatter it.- But on land that will bear the tread of horses a broadcasting machine will answer much the best purpose.-Fredericksburg Herald.