1839] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



493 



which are porous in their structure. Upon the 

 coastjthe sea ever beating the solid rocks and hurl- 

 inf the loose fragments with ihe force of batter- 

 ing ordnance against the shores, wears away the 

 ledges, the detritus being either spread out on tlie 

 bottom, or silted up at the mouths of harbors and 

 estuaries. 



Alluvial soils are produced by the transportation 

 of fine particles, by aqueous agency, from higher 

 sources, and are especially brought down and de- 

 posited during freshets, when a river bursts its 

 confines, and being diminished in its velocity, de- 

 posits its sedementary matter over the intervales. 

 The lorce of the wind is also constantly removing 

 fine particles of soil from one district to another, 

 and the dust of ages is of greater importance than 

 is commonly believed. Enough has been said on 

 this subject to excite inquiry, and to stimulate 

 others to look over the pages of nature, for their 

 own satisfaction, and this is all that can be ex- 

 pected from introductory remarks, such as I now 

 offer to the reflecting observer. 



It must not be expected that any one locality is to 

 furnish all the data for the elucidation of a gene- 

 ral theory; but a discriminating eye will quickly 

 select such as may bear upon the subject in ques- 

 tion. Books, relating the observations and expe- 

 rience of others, should also serve to guide those 

 who may engage in this study. 



THE TOMATO PLANT A PROTECTION FROM 

 CHINCH-BUG — AND BUCKWHEAT FROM THE 

 TURNIP FLY. 



To the Editor of tlie Farmers' Register, 



Indian Creek, Lancaster, Aug. 1th, 1839. 

 The chinch-bug has made its appearance in this 

 county, but too late I hope to injure very mate- 

 rially the growing crop of corn, which is now, by 

 far the most promising I have ever seen in this 

 region. If this little insect is as destructive as it 

 has been represented to be, to wheat, oats and 

 corn, should I live to the next seeding and plant- 

 ing season, I lor one shall seed and plant with se- 

 rious apprehension of reaping and gathering a 

 short crop. Perhaps I have done wrong to enter- 

 tain and express such apprehension, I write as if I 

 had llargotten there is an all-wise and omnipotent 

 being who never uses his chastening rod but for 

 the good of his intelligent creatures; and I am 

 convinced when the destructive insect has done 

 that "whereunto it was sent," it will disappear, and 

 not till then, and that there is a "thus far" for it 

 to go, and "no farther." But, sir, while I enter- 

 tain this opinion, I feel it to be my bounden duty 

 to use every means to repel this destructive inva- 

 der of our fields. So far as I am informed all ef- 

 forts heretofore made have had no good eflect. A 

 fact was a lew days part stated to me by a gentle- 

 man of this county, which I think ought to be 

 communicated to you as the editor of a valuable 

 agricultural paper, in order that the information 

 may be made general. The gentleman alluded to 

 last spring carried out and manured a piece of 

 ground with ashes and scrapings from around his 

 kitchen and yard, in which were a quantity of to- 

 mato seed that vegetated ; in working his corn he 

 left standing between the hills of corn plants on 

 about an acre of land ; now the fad intended 



to be communicated is, that in all this acre of land 

 not one stalk of corn has been touched by the 

 chinch-bug, while all around about has been fired 

 or rather sucked dry by this insect. About two 

 acres were manured with ashes and scrapings, 

 and the gentleman thinks the tomato plants alone 

 protected the corn among which they grew, there 

 being no difference in the land, or quality or quan- 

 tity of the manure applied. I mentioned this state- 

 ment to a gentleman in Northumberland, who 

 seemed to be at once convinced that the tomato 

 plants protected the corn, for said he, "I know that 

 the little bug which is so destructive to cucumber 

 vines will never show itself on them if tomato 

 plants aie growing among them." I have thus, 

 sir, made to you the above statement to use as you 

 please. But I do not stand sponsor for the tomato 

 plant. 



As the turnip sowing season is near at hand, I 

 will mention (as worthy of notice at least,) that a 

 gentleman residing not far from Baltimore told me 

 that to mix or sow a small portion of buck wheat 

 with turnip seed would certainly prevent the fly 

 (which is often so destructive to early sown tur- 

 nips) from injuring them. He said that the fly 

 greatly preferred feeding on the buck wheat, and 

 would not touch the turnip as long as there was 

 any wheat lor it to feed on. 



Respectfully yours, 



Ralph Edmonds. 



SAVING CLOVER SEED. 



From the Franlviin Farmer. 



The difficultiesofsaving the seed are imaginarj^; 

 the process is simple and easy. After the clover 

 field has been cut or grazed, let the second come 

 on. When about two-thirds of the heads have 

 turned brown, cut with a cradle, throwing the grass 

 into double swaths, and cure. When cured, rake 

 up in the morning while the dew is on, into con- 

 venient parcels lor loading with a pitchfork, and, 

 as soon as all danger from heating is obviated, get 

 it under shelter, either in the barn, or protected in 

 the field. Be careflil not to put it away while any 

 moisture remains in the plants; and on the other 

 hand, don't handle it rudely when very dry, where 

 you don't want the seeds to fall, for in that condi- 

 tion the heads spend freely. Having sheltered 

 it, you may vvait, if you choose, till winter aflbrds 

 leisure for thrashing or treading out. Sow in the 

 chaff, as it is more certain than the cleaned seed. A 

 bushel in the chaff' will abundantly seed an acre; 

 but we would advise the mixture of blue grass, ti- 

 mothy, and orchard garss with it. We shall say 

 more of sowing, however, at more seasonable date. 



The second crop produces more seed than the 

 first, and hence the economy of the first cutting or 

 grazing the field; though from that cut for hay, a 

 prudent, carefiil Imsbandman might easily save 

 enough seed for his own use. Tt is believed that 

 more seed may be saved by mowing when about 

 two-thirds of the heads have turned brown than at 

 any other period, because, if cut sooner, too many 

 seeds are unripe, and if later, too many shatter 

 out of the heads in cradling and handling. If 

 the heads break off' and fall through the fingers in 

 cradling, cover with cotton or linen cloth. Every 

 farmer may easily save his own seed. 



