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Sheep seem to delight in grazing upon it. I think it a great blessing for our 
old and worn-out fields. It grows in the shade and on any land where there is 
the least soil. It is rapidly destroying the broom sedge of our old fields, and 
is killing out that hated Bermuda grass, which is so troublesome on some of our 
plantations. It is not hard to destroy, as, well pulled up, it dies. It is a great 
renovator of the soil—a fact which has been demonstrated more than once to 
my certain knowledge. 
“Our oldest citizens say it first appeared in the summer or spring after a 
severe dry storm which occurred five or six years ago. One intelligeut gentle- 
man says that it was introduced in an adjoining county (Green) by a Scotchman, 
who received the seed from Scotland. Whatever its name or origin makes little 
difference to the horses, mules, cows, and sheep.” 
SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN GEORGIA. 
The same correspondent, in speaking of sheep-raising in Georgia, expresses 
the opinion that “ when the Lespedeza striata shall cover our worn-out lands and 
pine thickets, and rooted out our broom sedge, which it is fast doing, and legis- 
lative action be taken in regard to the sheep’s worst enemy, dogs, middle Georgia 
will become a wool-growing section. I had thirty head of sheep last winter— 
common stock of the country. I did not give them one cent’s worth of food, 
and left them to care for themselves, salting them occasionally. Early in the 
spring they commenced lambing, and I raised thirteen lambs, and sold $12 50 
worth of wool. The lambs were considered the best in our section, and the 
sheep were in fine condition. I mention these facts to show that with proper 
attention sheep husbandry can be made profitable in middle Georgia.” 
SILK-WORMS. 
Mr. H. C. Hermann, of Lenni, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, writes as 
follows in reference to the ailanthus silk crop : 
«1 made a splendid crop in the spring, but lost in the fall what I had gained 
in the spring, saving only 150 cocoons out of 200,000 worms. A very early 
frost, in September, killed the leaves and worms. When I first got the ailan- 
thus worms I had no experience with the native silk-worms, but now I think 
them superior to any foreign silk-producing insect, both for the quantity of silk 
they produce, and the durability and strength of the material. I shall turn my 
attention to the native silk-worm next year, and report my success. I find as 
many wild cocoons as I want.” 
GRASSHOPPERS AND LOCUSTS. 
Lampasas county, Texas —Grasshoppers made their appearance here in im- 
mense numbers about the first of October, and completely destroyed the fall 
and winter gardens, and injured the stock range materially. They continued 
with as until the 20th, when they. moved on their journey in a southeasterly 
direction. Fortunately little or no wheat had been sown. Farmers are now 
sowing small grain, but the acreage will probably fall short of last year, many 
being deterred from sowing by apprehension of the reappearance of the destroyer 
in the spring. 
Dallas county, Texas.—The grasshoppers made their appearance here on the 
17th of October, the air being filled with them. ‘They appeared to be coming 
from the west, and travelling east. They have literally eaten every green thing, 
and in places where they got to the wheat that was being sown they devoured 
the grain. About two-thirds of the grasshoppers have disappeared, and I think 
all will leave in a few days. 
Burleson county, Texas—We have the locusts or grasshoppers with us, and 
they now cover the ground and are depositing their eggs. 
Bell county, Texas—We have had grasshoppers in considerable numbers 
