Domestic J\''otices. 309 



Dahlias. — It is with much regret we learn that the dahlias, both in 

 the vicinity of Boston and Phiiadelphin, are coming forward so slowly 

 that it is somewhat doubtful if a larger part of the great number of 

 ])lants which have been set out bloom at all, unless the fall should be 

 extremely favorable and the frosts hold off longer than usual. Around 

 Boston the plants are much infested with insects of various kinds, the 

 most injurious of which aj)pears to be the brown or turtle-backed fly. 

 The red spider, thrips, &c. also attack them, but the fly seems to do the 

 most injury. They puncture the stem from the root to the top of the 

 plant, and it then assumes a hard knobby appearance; besides this, they 

 perforate the tops of the young and tender shoots, which seems to poi- 

 son the branch, as the centre shoot soon curls up, turns black, and direct- 

 1}'^ after becomes hard, and the growth wholly stoj)ped. We have ob- 

 served them on the plants for several seasons, but not in numbers suffi- 

 ciently abundant to do any injury. The present season, however, they 

 appear to abound everywhere, and the tops of evening primroses, zinnias, 

 China asters, niarygolds, &,c. have alike suffered from their ravages. 

 As yet we have found no method to get rid of them otherwise than to 

 ])ick them oft' by hand. But we hope some of our friends who are pes- 

 tered with them will find out a way to destroy them more speedily. 

 We have been promised a notice of this fly by that excellent entomolo- 

 gist. Dr. Harris. The extreme hot weather, together with the scarcity 

 of rain, has affected their vigor very sensibly. 



In Philadelphia the weather has been so dry and hot that the red 

 spider has attacked the plants in great numbers. And up to this time, 

 although manyplants were set out early, not a good bloom has yet opened. 

 We did not learn that the plants are troubled with the brown fly, but 

 presume they are to a degree. 



About New York the plants do not promise well, but appear to have 

 suffered from drought, heat and insects. 



Notwithstanding all these discouraging circumstances, we yet hope 

 that the ])lants will be resuscitated: longer and cooler nights, with 

 heavier dews, when the insects cannot work, are at hand, and they will 

 probably regain somewhat, if not all, their usual vigor. A few copious 

 showers, to saturate the soil, are also needed, to give the plants a sud- 

 den growth. Before our next we trust we may be enabled to give more 

 gratit'ying information. — Ed. 



The profession of the Agricullurist. — We have never met with any- 

 thing more in unison with our own views upon what should constitute 

 a real agriculturist, and the important station he holds in the communi- 

 ty, than the following, extracted from the remarks of Dr. Graham be- 

 fore the health convention recently held in Boston. For the doctor's 

 bran-bread theory we have not much respect; and this may be set down 

 as one good thing among his many absurd notions which he has been 

 so industrious in promulgating throughout the country. The remarks 

 were appended to a resolution offered, " that a correct understanding 

 of the science of physiology and of the laws of health would effectually 

 promote the agricultural and horticultural interests of the conmiunity." 

 We commend them to the perusal of every reader. 



" The tilling of the ground is the most natural and the most noble, 

 as well as the healthiest eniploymcnt of man, and the greatest source 

 of his subsistence and his comfort. Not onh', acccording to sacred his- 

 tory, was the first of our race tillers of the dust of the earth, but every 

 human being ever since, has been the offspring of the same mother 

 earth: for we are all made of the same dust; all derive our material 

 subsistence from the same bosom of nature. It is the dust of the earth, 

 iucorporated in the vegetable or the animal form, which constitutes our 



