THE FARMER'S MONTHLY VISITOR. 



107 



Willie tlic farm ia a laboratorj' and a cabinet oflotruetion of builtlings, the fpncliiir and dividing of 



nature, where the luus and the products of seienc 

 are constantly and beautifully developed, every op- 

 erator must necessarily form some acquaintance 

 with those laws and products, and an acquaintance 

 too, more familiar and more thorough, because 

 more practical, than can be acquired by the mere 

 student of books. 



Tlie intercourse of farmers with other classes of 

 society gives them an opportunity for an acquaint- 

 ance with men and the reciprocal interests of men 

 of different pursuits which the mere student can 

 never form by reading, let it be ever so extensive 

 or various. On tlicse reciprocal interests are foun- 

 ded the principles of political economy, and the 

 necessity of governments and laws to promote and 

 protect those interests. Consequently a farm, and 

 the business of farming, furnishing as they do, the 

 very best school for a practical acquaintance with 

 men and things, are well calculated to produce 

 more enlightened and sounder statesmen, than can 

 be produced by a confinement within the walls of 

 a college or the shelves of a library, however long 

 that confinement may be,or however studiously de- 

 voted. 



The winter evenings of farmers are admirably 

 fitted for enlarging by reading, and for arranging 

 Tinder general laws, for bringing into the form of 

 science, the results of their summer operations up- 

 on their farms. For comparing their own views 

 and experiments with those of other farmers, as 

 given in various agricultural journals, one of which 

 certainly ought to be taken by every man who con- 

 ducts a farm. 



The benefit of farmers' winter evenings will be 

 creatly increased by social meetings of some doz- 

 en or twenty in the same neighborhood, once or 

 twice a week. These farmers' 'Social Lyceums' 

 have sometimes resulted, in the course of a winter, 

 in a volume or two of notes, taken from the remarks 

 and statements, made in the form of conversation 

 on subjects previously selected for the occasion. By 

 the aid of chemical " and philosophical apparatus, 

 and specimens of minerals, soils, vegetables, in- 

 sects, &c. which may be procured at slight expense 

 especially when the 'Farmers' Lyceum' is a de- 

 partment of a town or village society, a great I'a- 

 rietv of e.xperimtnts and observations may be made 

 which could not fail to benefit every individual who 

 sliould engage in them, both as a farmer and an 

 enlightened citizen. 



Besides the winter evenings and social Lyceums 

 of farmers, they may without dilliculty, during the 

 Kummer, even in their greatest pressure of busi- 

 ness, find time to read a weekly or monthly jour- 

 nal, like the 'Genesee Farmer' by Mr. Tucker, the 

 'Culfwator,' by Judge Buel, or the 'Farmers" 

 Monthly Visitor,' by' Governor Hill. They may 

 also try a great variety of experiments, without 

 cost or inconvenience , which have sometimes, at 

 their Social Lyceums, been distributed and as- 

 signed to their respective inombers, for tlieir spe- 

 cial attention, to bo reported upon the succeeding 

 winter. 



The business of the farmer presents fewer temp- 

 tations to dishonesty than any other profession. 

 They are consequently, as there is reason to believe, 

 more honest as a body, than any other class. They 

 are also favorably situated for devotional feelings 

 and exercises, and with them, for the study of the 

 bible, that inexhaustible fountain of knowledge and 

 wisdom. 



Farmers have peculiar facilities for acquiring ex- 

 tensive and sound knov/ledge, and for becoming 

 enlightened citizens and consistent Cliristians. 

 TheTr inducements for becoming truly scientific 

 and intelligent are certainly not inferior to their 

 facilities for sucli acquisitions. There is perhaps 

 no department of Natural Science, which the far- 

 mer has not frequent, and almost daily occasion to 

 apply in his business. Geology and mineralogy 

 teach him the nature of his soil, with the proper 

 materials and modes of improving it. Chemistry 

 teaches the best mfldes and applications of manure, 

 preparing soils, preserving his hay, roots and other 

 vegetables, and preparing food for man and beast. 

 Bolany teaches the laws of vegetation, the proper- 

 tics of plants, both for cultivation and to be eradi- 

 cated from his farm, changing and improving his 

 seed, the rotation of crops, &c. Entomology ac- 

 quaints the farmer with some of his most powerful 

 enemies, with the cut worm, the wheat fly, the can- 

 ker worm, the grass hopper, the rose bug, the moth, 

 the weavil and many other insects, whicli he has 

 frequent occasion to destroy, or to avoid their rav- 

 aires. Natural Philosophy teaclies the proper oon- 

 srructionand t!ie best application of the plough, the 

 scythe, the hoe, tlie waggon, llie harness for the 

 horse and ox, and of every agricultural implement 

 which can be named. Geometry teaches the con- 



liis farm, the measuring of wood, timber and stone, 

 the construction of drains, the diggingof wells and 

 cisterns, and many more less but important opera- 

 tions which he has occasion to perform. 



If I am not mistaken, no nun, or class of men, 

 have so many facilities, or so many ind'-.::emcnts, 

 for an extensive and familiar acquaintance with 

 science and various departments of useful knowl- 

 edge as farmers. JOSIAII HOLBROOK. 



For (he Farnicr'n Munlhly Visitor. 

 Hon. L Hill — Dear sir: — The following, though 

 not particularly appertaining to agricultural exper- 

 iments, relates to an old Vermont farmer, who left 

 his plough for the service of his country ; and after 

 contributing his share in obtaining the object she 

 contended for, returned to his former occupation, 

 to enjoy in common with his countrymen, the bles- 

 sings of that independence which had been partly 

 secured by his sword. If you think the anecdote 

 will aff'ord any amusement to your readers, you are 

 welcome to it. 



After the close of the revolutionary war. Col. B. 

 while on his way to New York to settle his army 

 accounts, stopped for the night at an inn near 

 King's Bridge. Soon after his arrival, a party of 

 jolly blades came out from New York to spend the 

 evening. The landlord informed them that he had 

 no apartment for their accommodation, unless they 

 could obtain the consent of the old gentleman (Col. 

 B.) who had just spoken for his only spare room. 

 They found no difficulty in treating v/itii the Col- 

 onel, and obtained leave to share his quarters, with 

 the hope of soon smoking him out, and obtaining 

 sole possescion. But the old soldier's fl^nk was 

 not so easily turned. He understood their game, 

 and very readily joined them, in a mulual agree- 

 ment, that if one of the party should propose auy 

 tiling which, the others should refuse to perform or 

 submit to, the recusant or recusants, should pay 

 the landlord's whole bill, and the damage of the 

 person proposing. 



After a good SiUpper, operations commenced. 

 One proposed burning his coat, which was immedi- 

 ately done by all without a murmur. Their hats, 

 canes, boots, and waistcoats, in succession, followed 

 suit, until Col. E's turn came. " Landlord," said 

 he, " call a surgeon." The surgeon was called, 

 and to the astonishment of the whole company, or- 

 dered by Col. B. to draw out nil his tcclh. He had 

 but one., whicli the surgeon drew out. This prop- 

 osition brought the young gentlemen to their sen- 

 ses. They paid the whole bill, and furnished the 

 old gentleman with means to equip himself hand- 

 somely, in reinrn for the o\d clothes he had burned. 



V. 



raised in full blood or to cross with ou r native breed. 

 It is an old saying that "experience is the best 

 school-master,'" and as I have had some experience 

 during the year past, and have found these small 

 improvements to be much for my interest, I have 

 written the above with a view to encouragi- others 

 to make the attempt. If you deem the f"acts here 

 stated to be such as will interest the public and aid 

 in improving a spirit of improvement in these bran- 

 ches of husbandry, you may give them a place in 

 the Montlily Visitor. Yours, &,c. 



WILLIAM CONN. 



ForlliR Farmer's Monthly Visitor. 



Duihara Cattle and Berkshire Pigs. 



Hillsborough, June 17, 1839. 

 Hon. Isaac Hill — Dear sir: — I am desirous of 

 adding my testimony to that of many others to en- 

 courage the farmers of this State to improve their 

 breed of stock. 



In the mouth of January 1837,. I obtained of Mr. 

 Orsamus Willard, of Harvard Mass. a bull calf of 

 the full blood Durham breed tiien eight Lionths old. 

 Mr. Francis Grimes, a neighbor of mine, became 

 joint owner with me, and last season we put nearly 

 all our cows to this bull ; and a neater lot of calves 

 I iiave never seen. Several gentlemen who have 

 called and examined them, have pronounced them 

 very much superior to the native breed. They are 

 of a large size, well proportioned and neatly built, 

 and every hair lays as sleek as a mouse. I am con- 

 fident that the improvement in my stock of calves 

 the present year will abundantly reply me for all 

 m}- trouble and expense. 



This bull is now two years old^is from a three 

 years old heif"er called Ladij Lily, imported by Mr. 

 O. Willard, in 1837, from a celebrated cow, called 

 Lady Blue, al^o imported by him at the same time; 

 and has for sire, .\polln, a very celebrated bull who 

 took the premium of £jO at a cattle show in Eng 

 laud, in 1834. Of the above facts I have written 

 evidence in my possesion sufficient to satisfy any 

 reasonable man who will take Ihe trouble to call 

 ond examine for himself. The bull is of a grisly 

 color, square built, broad and deep, slim head and 

 neck, and is considered by those who have examin- 

 ed him to bo in every way such as will be likely to 

 produce a valuable cross-breed. 



I also obtained of Mr. Willard the Berkshire 

 breed of hogs, and have this year raised a litter of 

 the full breed pigs. And from my acquaintance 

 with them Ihu:; far, I am prepared to recommend 

 this breed as superior to any other I have ever seen. 

 They are very thrifty, easily kept, and will, 1 have 

 no doubt, pro^'0 very profitable to the farmer to be 



Wurner, June .*>, 183D. 

 Mr. Hill : — A friend at Montreal .sent me the 

 "Morning Courier" of April ]'1, containing a com- 

 nication on the "Wheat Fly." The reasonings of the 

 writer, Mr. Marwood, I think arc fully sustained by 

 facts and observations in this vicinity. I forward 

 you the article : perhaps you may think it of sulH- 

 cicnt interest to republish it. 



Yours, &c. L. BARTLETT. 



To the Editor of the Morning Courier. 

 The Wheat Fly. 



Sin, — I have just seen, in your paper of the Ist 

 instant, a letter from Mr. Papi.nf.ai; on the subject 

 of the Wheat Fly; wherein he recommends the 

 application of a solution of blue vitriol to the seed 

 wheat, as certain in its efTects to protect the grain 

 from the ravages of the wheat fly. 



Lower Canada has, for several j'ears past, been 

 sadly afflicted by this fly, and the knowledge of any 

 means to destroy its destructive effects is very im- 

 portant. 



For my own part, I have no faith in the means 

 recommended in Mr. Papineau's letter. The in- 

 stance he-mentions of Mr. Cuillatd's succes!: was, I 

 think, purely accidental, as such instances are no 

 way uncommon, even in parts of the country where 

 the fly has been most destructive. 



Tlie wheat Hy, there can be no doubt, is propa- 

 gated by depositing its eggs on the young ear of 

 wheat ; which egg in a few days produces the gnat; 

 that, by feeding on the milk ofthe wheat, robs the 

 farmer of his crop ; this gnat, afterwards, is chang- 

 ed to a chrysalis, in whitlh state it remains until the 

 next mid-suinmcr heat, when it einere-es into the 

 fly state. 



If .this is true, it is evident that ihe remedy rec- 

 ommended by Mr. Papineau could have noefTectiH 

 preventing the appearance of the fly ; and that the 

 soaking of the seed grain can ntfect the future plant, 

 so as to make it distasteful to the fly, at so late a 

 period as when the new grain is formed, is scarce- 

 ly possible. 



Let any one observe the first ajjpearance of the 

 worm on the grain of wheat; a mere orange speck, 

 which, in a few days, arrives at its i\ill size ; it then 

 crawls about the kernel, and lives upon the milk. 

 In this state it is quite soft, and easily crushed ; 

 but in a few d,iys more it becomes hard, and will 

 roll between the fingers. It is then transformed to 

 the chrysalis, in which state it falls on the ground, 

 or remains in Ihe straw dormant, until the next 

 summer's heat. 



The Gad fly continues its species by depositing 

 its eggs on the knees and sides of the horse during 

 summer, much to its annoyance. The horse, in 

 licking itself, the lava adheres to the tongue, and 

 is passed down to the stomach with the horse's food, 

 which in a short time produce bots. These bots re- 

 main attached to the stomach during the winter, 

 and are afterwards passed from tlie horse, and lie 

 inactive in the physical state for a certain time, 

 when they suddenly assume the state of a fly ! 



Just so are the transformations of the wheat fly, 

 and the myriads of butterflies that a summer's day 

 issues into full sized existence. 



Instinct teaches the wheat fly to deposite its eggs 

 where the warm will find food for existence, and 

 thus propagate its species. Now, it is clear, that, 

 whatever we may do to the seed wheat, the fly will 

 make its appearance whenever the season is suffi- 

 ciently hot, and such wheat as is so far advanced 

 as to be fit to receive the deposite of its eggs is sure 

 to be attacked, and the grain destroyed. 



Now by sowing the wheat early, as is done on 

 old lands, particularly in the French settlements, 

 that wheat is sure to he in the ear when the fly 

 comes, and the farmer's labor is lost. 



From every information that I can obtain, I have 

 found that in those parts of Lower Canada, where 

 wheat has been the least injured, the farmers are in 

 the habit of sowing their grain much later than in 

 the French settlements, as in the eastern townships, 

 the new land in the rear of Bcauharnois, and up 

 the Ottawa. 



In my immediate neighborhood,! have not heard 

 ••Tsingle exe<'ption, where the farmer's first B»wn 



