68 



QUERIES AND ANSWERS. 



Wasbed 

 Lands. 



Inoculation 



of 



Soils. 



American. 

 Liocust. 



Insects. 



Pea Bug. 



Squash 

 Borer. 



ural, highly nitrogenous fertilizers. It is theorized that the number of 

 these galls can be increased by treating the soil with microbe water. If 

 this be correct a new system of intense and cheap soil fertilization will be 

 developed. 



383. Q. What is the best course in the recovery of washed soils or 

 eroded lands ? 



A. The first thing to do is to incorporate organic matter to the fullest 

 extent possible. A soil charged with humus has the ability to absorb 

 water and hold it till it percolates to depths below instead of running 

 away. The second thing to do is to plow and cultivate the land so as to 

 avert the rapid surface flow of rain water ; this can be done by terracing 

 and by side-hill ditches and contour cultivation. 



384. Q. What is meant by the inoculation of soils? 



A. It is a theory that a soil is rendered more fertile for a specific crop 

 by transferring to it a top-dressing of soil from a field on which the pre- 

 vious year had been grown a crop of the new crop contemplated. For 

 instance, if it is intended to put a field down in clover, it is theorized that 

 the plants will be more vigorous and the crop altogether larger if the field 

 be top-dressed or manured with soil from a field which was in clover the 

 previous year. 



385. Q. What kind of an insect is the American locust ? 



A. It may be described as a large grasshopper, common throughout the 

 Southern States and sometimes occurring in New York and New Jersey. 

 It hibernates as an adult and lays eggs in May and June, the young in- 

 sects appearing in July and August. It manifests a decided preference 

 for corn, but feeds ravenously on oats, clover, potatoes and foliage of fruit 

 trees. It seems to prefer elevated food, as watermelons, cucumbers and 

 other low-growing plants often escape. 



386. Q. How can insect depredations best be kept in check on the 

 farm ? 



A. By Autumn plowing, which exposes the soil to the killing effects of 

 frost. By rotation of crops and thorough cultivation. 



387. Q. How does the pea bug get into the pea ? 



A. The flying mother insect deposits her eggs upon the outside of the 

 pods when the pods are less than half grown. The eggs, under the heat 

 of sun, hatch, and the young grubs eat their way sometimes directly into 

 the young peas ; at other times they mine along the inside of the pod, 

 remaining there for days before they enter the pea. These weevil are 

 propelled by false or temporary legs which they drop with their false skin 

 when they enter the pea, not till it is nearly fully formed. After that 

 they assume the ordinary form of larva of the weevil and remain till 

 Autumn, when they eat their way out. 



398. Q. My Boston Marrow and Hubbard squash last August were 

 destroyed by the squash borer; what shall I do this year to protect my 

 vines ? 



A. Kill the adult red-legged insects, which can be done about sunrise 



