30G 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



minable. In many places it is scarcely possible to 

 advance a step without breaking down their gal- 

 leries, by which the surface is thrown into ridges. 



The excavations, which are most continuous, 

 and appear to be most frequented, are placed a 

 short distance below the grass roots, on the banks 

 of small streams ; these are to be traced along the 

 margins, following every inflexion, and making 

 frequent circuits in order to pass large stones or 

 roots of trees, to regain their usual proximity to 

 the surface nearest the water. 



In a state of captivity, they feed readily on flesb, 

 either raw or cooked, and neither seem to show 

 any fondness for, nor willingness to eat, vegetable 

 matter. — Maine Farmer. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 INSECTS ON GRAPE VINES. 



Mr. Editor: — I have become a subscriber to 

 the New England Farmer, and should like to make 

 some inquiries through it, as they may be of some 

 importance to the public ; I have some beautiful 

 grape vines, one about four inches in diameter, and 

 has yielded fine fruit for several years past. Last 

 May, when the buds began to start, I discovered 

 that some insect was at work on them, and on 

 looking closely, found a small, blue bug; it takes 

 the bud as soon as it swells and eats out the cen- 

 tre and destroys it entirely. My vines now look 

 as they usually do in autumn. I am afraid that 

 it will entirely kill them ; the like was never known 

 in these parts before. If you can inform me wheth- 

 er it is common in any place, and what can be done 

 to prevent them, you will very much oblige me 

 and the public. A Westminster Farmer. 



West minster, Vt., June 14, 1852. 



Remarks. — The rose bug has been the only ene- 

 my to our grape vines. Perhaps some of our cor- 

 respondents can aid the "Westminster Farmer" 

 in his difficulty. 



WHITE WEED. 



This troublesome production is sometimes known 

 by the appellation of "Ox-eye," or "Ox-eye-daisy." 

 It is a lover of rich deep soil, but like all trouble- 

 some plants, possesses, in a remarkable degree, the 

 power of accommodating itself to almost every va- 

 riety of soil, from the low, viscid and tenacious 

 clays, to the lightest and most barren sands. 



The plant generally matures its seed in June, 

 and is ready to cast it before most of the grasses 

 are in a condition to bo cut for hay. As the seeds 

 are very numerous and minute, the soil of course 

 is pretty well replenished annually, and in conse- 

 quence of this, the preponderance of the white 

 weed over all other products soon secures it an 

 hereditary and unalienable monopoly, which can 

 be set aside and avoided only by force of arms, or 

 "open revolution." 



AVhen it becomes necessary to extirpate it, the 

 proper course is to turn it down with a deep and 

 even furrow when in fall bloom. Every head must 

 be covered, and the land after being closely rolled, 

 sowed with some rapidly growing crop that will 

 stiQe the pest, and prevent its again gaining a foot- 



hold. Buckwheat, which has a close habit of 

 growth, is a good article for this purpose, so also 

 is red clover. Both of these require to be sowed 

 thick, as it is of vital importance to occupy all the 

 soil, and prevent the reappearance of a single 

 plant. If the soil is rich, or if manure can be af- 

 forded to make it so, herds-grass and clover, or 

 indeed any other kind of grass, may be cultivated; 

 but unless there is a liberal supply of soluble hu- 

 mus in the soil, the buckwheat crop is preferable, 

 as it will do better on poor soil than any other 

 cultivated crop. 



On this subject an early writer in the New Eng- 

 land Farmer says : — "Wc find no difficulty where 

 the plow can run without interruption. In rocky 

 grounds it is quite troublesome, and occupies space 

 without yielding any harvest of value. In Cam- 

 bridge large fields are covered with this weed — 

 fields that are as easily plowed as any lands in the 

 State. They are owned by wealthy proprietors 

 who lease them from year to year for what they 

 can obtain in cash, and make no provision for im- 

 provement." 



Ox-eye makes a good hay when cut before it 

 becomes fully ripe ; but the great objection to it 

 with most people, is that it makes but a light crop, 

 and on poorish lands occupies the soil without any 

 profitable return. On many affluent soils, and 

 where the proprietor is able to keep them in good 

 condition by annual application of manure, there 

 is little difficulty in securing a good, if not a remu- 

 nerating crop, especially in wet seasons. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 PRACTICAL FARMING— NO. 3. 



CARROTS. 



Mr. Editor : — Considerable has been said of late 

 in the Farmer about the value of carrots to feed to 

 milch cows, and quite a difference of opinion seems 

 to exist ; and I will only say that I consider that 

 they pay as well as any other crop, all things con- 

 sidered. Last year I sowed a small piece that 

 produced at the rate of G50 bushels to the acre. 

 I manured at the rate of 20 cords to the acre. I 

 sowed in drills 18 inches asunder, part of them one 

 foot apart in the drill and part 6 inches. Those 

 that were one foot apart grew a little the largest, 

 while those that were 6 inches, produced a little 

 the most. 



Some of them were four inches in diameter. 

 Cost of cultivation (including manures) 1G 2-3 cents 

 per bushel. Such, sir, was the result of my experi- 

 ment with caiTots last year. S. Tenney. 



N. Raymond, Me., June, 1852. 



To Keep Bugs from Vines. — Eds. Cultivator: — 

 I have tried ashes, plaster, lime, road dust and to- 

 bacco juice, with some success, but a spoiled clam, 

 the cleanings of a wool-carding machine, or a 

 lock of wool soaked in fresh oil, placed near the 

 root of the vine, I never knew fail — those also pro- 

 mote the growth of the vine. The bugs are at- 

 tracted by the smell of the vine, but do not like 

 tainted fish. — Albany Cultivator. 



