PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 217 



have that niiraerous small class which almost cover the fields with 

 their wehs, aiul, of course, entangle numerous mosquitoes and 

 other insects. In the tropics there are spiders' webs largo and 

 strong enough to entangle birds. All attempts to utilize spiders, 

 I think, must be al)andoned. Some fal)rics have been made at 

 great expense from their webs, but these little creatures cannot ])e 

 domesticated, controlled, nor made useful otherwise than in the 

 wild condition, in that they should not be greatly interfered with, 

 certainly never destroyed. There is a tradition that a spider's 

 web is valuable as a styptic; that is an idle notion, for it possesses 

 uo medicinal propert}', and as a styptic is no better than a sponge 

 or other soft material. It is worthy the attention of all of us in 

 studying the history of insects, worms and reptiles, to learn which 

 are, and which are not injurious, and throughout all nature observe 

 how one animal prej^s upon another — man upon them all. 



Grape Soil in Oriio. 



Mr. F, R. Elliott, Cleveland, Ohio, gives it as his opinion "that 

 the best grape soil in this country is the calcareous clay which is 

 found in isolated patches along the shores of Lake Erie, in the 

 vicinity of Cleveland. He esteems this location better for vine- 

 yards than the much more celebrated Kelly Islands. He also gives 

 it as his opinion that Ohio wine made without any addition what- 

 ever to the grape juice from grapes grown upon calcareous soil, 

 is the purest and best of any wine made in America. There is, 

 also, a richness, color and bloom given I)}'- a certain class of clay 

 soils not attainable in any loam or sand, although this loam or 

 sand may present equally as fine, if not better branches and more 

 wood on the vine. 



Hen Lice. 



Mr. T. H. Morse, Plainfield, Union county, N. J,, says: 

 "I clear my premises of lice in the follov/ing way: I close the 

 hen-house as tightly as possible, and fumigate it with burnino- sul- 

 phur until I think everything is completely saturated with the 

 fumes. Then give the hens plenty of dry wood ashes to wallow- 

 in." 



. Mr. J. H. Parmelee, Duncan's Falls, Muskingum countj^ Ohio, 

 says: 



" First clear out the old nests and litter, in Avhich the lice Ijreed 

 and live, and burn them. Then pour a pound or two of sulphur 



