DIGEST OF STATE REPORTS. 411 



Mr. John B. Brooks presented a paper on the subject of the cultiva- 

 tion of small fruits, iu the course of which he gives the following direc- 

 tions for the prevention of depredations by the curculio on the plum 

 crop : 



In the cultivation of plums, of which I have au orchard of about thirty trees of eight 

 different kinds, I experienced disappointment every year from the ravages of the cur- 

 culio, although the trees were loaded with plums. I did not get a ripe plum until 

 three years jjrevious to last summer, but since then I have had an abundance every 

 year. The remedy is salt scattered under the trees as far as the limbs extend. I Kcat- 

 ter the salt about the time the bloom is falling, and the plums are about the size of 

 peas; for the curculio begins his work as soon as he can find a plum large enough to 

 bite. I also throw salt up among the branches, as a little will lodge there. I think 

 one taste of salt is enough for the most ravenous of these pests. About half a bushel la 

 enough for twenty trees. 



In the course of his annual report, Prof. C. Y. Eile^' states that the 

 gTa\)e phylloxera has made its appearance iu California and some of the 

 Southern States, where it is already doing considerable damage. In 

 the first-named State, in the neighborhood of Sonoma, many vineyards 

 have been seriously aflfected. Hundreds of vines have been taken up 

 the roots of which were found crowded with lice. Iu North and South 

 Carolina, Georgia, and one or two other Southern States, where they 

 are known to exist, they have not as yet seriously afl'ected the vines. 



NEW HAMPSHIRE. 



The third annual report of the State Board for 1873 constitutes a 

 volume of over 500 pages. Its general excellence is prefaced with a 

 prime defect, the lack of a table of contents, for which an index is by 

 no means a proper substitute ; both are needed. Besides a report of 

 transactions at the annual meeting, and at nearly thirty meetings held 

 in different sections of the State, in order to bring the influence of the 

 Board within reach of all farmers, the volume contains essays, addresses, 

 and discussions on a great variety of subjects pertaining to agricultural 

 industries and rural life. Among the topics are : food, physiology, and 

 force ; sheep, wool, and mutton ; manures and fertilizers, with the report 

 of commission to test special fertilizers ; the farmer's position, and 

 how to imi^rove it; farm-labor; agricultural knowledge; good farmers; 

 pay or no pay; the better culture; swine-breeding; grass-culture and 

 manures; culture of fruit; of the apple; of the potato; and of soil 

 and mind. Condensed reports of co operating organizations are also 

 given, including the New England Agricultural Society, the Milk-Pro- 

 ducers' Association, the State Agricultural and Mechanical Association, 

 and the State Poultry Society. An interesting report of the semi- 

 centennial of the Merrimack County Agricultural Society includes a 

 historical address by Joseph B. Walker, and a poem by George Kent, 

 who was one of the founders. 



In his annual review, the secretary, J. O. Adauis, states that the 

 record of the year has been one of " unusual freedom from disease for 

 both man and beast, a moderate loss of property by storm and tempest, 

 and an average harvest of the ordinary products of the soil." The 

 wdnter was one of frequent storms and excessive cold, snow falling to an 

 unprecedented depth, and remaining on the earth until many days later 

 than in recent years. Iu some portions of the State there were eighteen 

 weeks of uninterrupted sleighing. The season was therefore much later 

 than usual, not less than ten days on an average throughout the State. 

 Notwithstanding the severe weather and the lateness of the season, how- 

 ever, the crops were regarded as a full average. The secretary thinks that 



