118 TE2VAJVTS 0?^ AN OLD FARM. 



"The question.'' I rejoiiR-d, '• was not whether tlie 

 eustoni originated in or wns maintained b}' superstition, 

 but whether the Nodfeur aslies were benefieial ; and I 

 answer that confidently in the airirniative. If one were to 

 spi'inkle such material upon the veo;etables when covered 

 with the morning dew it wf)uld adhere to the leaves and 

 thus make them distasteful to the caterpillars. This 

 says nothing of the effect of the ])otash in the ashes, 

 whi(;h may l)e injurious, nor of the dislike of larva? and, 

 indeed, of many insects to move over surfaces covered 

 with pulverized matter. I attribute nothing at all, of 

 course, to the effect of the/(t/r/(, but much to the protec- 

 tion given by making the natural food-plant ol)noxious 

 to the Avorms. 



"There is anolher element wliich enters into the 

 utility of this and all like remedies. IMany 3'ears ago 

 I read an incident which illustrates my thought. I re- 

 peat it from memory, and cannot vouch for all the de- 

 tails, but give the substance of the story as I remember 

 it. A noble German lady found that despite her best 

 endeavor there was a vast wastage in her household and 

 a consequent trenching upon her limited income. At 

 last she went to a hermit famous for godliness and 

 wisdom, and asked for a charm to protect her frora 

 this grief. The good man gave her a little sealed box, 

 containing the required charm, instructing her to place 

 the same in one corner of every room in her house and 

 out-buildings once every day, varying as much as pos- 

 sible the hour of her daily visit. He bade her, also, 

 return at the end of a year to report results. 



