229 



0. What birds are beneficial to the farmer, and what injurious ? 



10. Treatment of domestic animals, including feeding, &c. 



11. Fertilizers. 



12. Plowing. 



13. Protective tariff— how does it bear on the farmer? 



HOW TO KILL THE CUECULIO. 



The St. Joseph Fruit Growers' Association recommend the following 

 method of destroying this pest, the credit for the discovery of which is 

 ascribed to Mr. B. Eansom, of St. Joseph, which appears to have been 

 quite effective, if the statement of the extraordinary number of cur- 

 culios destroyed can be credited. It is often found in the experience of 

 the entomologist of this Department that other and quite different (and 

 sometimes beneficial) insects are assumed to be the curculios : 



Put the orchard in the best order ; level down the soil about the root of every peach 

 tree, and smooth a circle for a diameter of two and a half feet from the tree as a center. 

 Have the grouud very clear around the base of the tree. Do not leave a single hole 

 near the tree. Leave no place where the curculio can hide, except under the shelter 

 you provide. Now lay close to the tree, and close to the ground, about four pieces to 

 a tree, either chip, or bark, or board, or lath, or rag, or anything, for a cover. 



The curculio Avill conceal itself under this shelter, and may be destroyed by the 

 thousands. Go round every day and tiuii over each chip. Kill every cnrcnlio. They 

 will generally adhere to the chip, but may often be found on the grouud under the 

 I -hip. 



By this method Mr. Whittlesey killed two thousand seven hundred 

 and fifteen curculios about the roots of two hundred trees on the loth ; 

 in four hours under the same trees he killed one thousand five hundred 

 aiid sixty-six. In three small orchards Mr. W. and Mr. Eansom destroyed 

 upwards of five thousand in five hours. In four hours, in his own orch- 

 ard, Mr. E. destroyed two thousand one hundred and nine, by actual 

 count. Peach-growers are called upon to unite in ridding the orchards 

 of the pest thus early in the season, and thus save the crop, which is . 

 now threatened with destruction. 



THE STATE OF OEEGOK. 



The San Francisco Bulletin speaks as follows of the great resources 

 and bright future of this rich agricultural district on the Pacific : 



It is cheering to notice the r.'ipid strides that our sister Pacific State is making iuth« 

 direction of healthy and iieramnent j)rosperity. The construction of a trunk railroad 

 through her central valleys, fi'om the Columbia to the California line, soon to be con- 

 nected with the Pacific railroad, both by way of Idaho and this State ; the multiplica- 

 tion of manufactures and natural products ; the enlargement of home commerce ; the 

 greater amount of land under cultivation; the growth of towns. and enhancement of 

 real values ; the quickened demand for land, and the influx of immigration — these are 

 all circumstances which the telegraph reports daily, and which make up a record of 

 substantial progress. The fact is that Oregon, in common with California, is just enter- 

 ing on a career of such prosperous development as marked the history of several of the 

 Mississippi States in the decade following IHoO. This was delayed twenty years by the 

 remoteness and isolation which have been ended at last, and by the completion of the 

 Pacific railroad and the construction of local branches. 



There is no more orderly and economical State in the Union than Oregon. All its 

 growth has been gradual and healthy, for while it possesses great mineral resoui'ces, it 

 has never been demoralized by great mining excitements. With an area larger than 

 that of Pennsylvania and New York combined, half of which is adapted to ajjricultnre 



