228 



THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



I had apparently foar times as many as I had 

 ever had before. I did not observe the depreda- 

 tions until late, having been so much engafred 

 elsewhere as not to be able to visit the 2iirden but 

 for a moment, and at lonj? intervals. When I did 

 notice them, the mischief had been done, and 

 they were in such myriads that [ despaired of get- 

 ting rid of them, and yielded up the possession of 

 the carden. 



Tnis year I (ear they will be as numerous, and, 

 of course, as destructive as ever, iff may judge 

 from the numbers which have already made their 

 appearance in the garden. I have looked over 

 my books, and find that it is recommended to de- 

 stroy them by sprinkling lime over the beds, 

 (which has an unsightly appearance,) or to wa- 

 ter the beds late in the evenings with lime water. 

 I have not tried either of these remedies as yet, 

 but I have watered the beds with soap-suds, which 

 is highly destructive to insects. What number 

 there may have been, of killed and wounded, I 

 know not, but certainly on those beds they are 

 as numerous now as on those which were not so 

 treated. Another method which is recommended 

 and which I have tried with success, is to scatter 

 cabbage or turnip leaves, or slices of potatoes or 

 turnips over the beds. The snails, attracted by 

 these, of which they are exceedingly fond, (and 

 apparently more so when they become wiltered,) 

 congregate thexe in great numbers, and in the 

 mornings they will be found in quantities, which 

 will surprise those who have not made the experi- 

 ment, sheltered under the leaves, or covered with 

 a little earth, so that they may be raked up with 

 the hand like marbles, and what will add mate- 

 rially to the pleasure of the discovery, the adjacent 

 plants will be found untouched by them. During 

 the few warm days we had a short time since, 

 they have come out in immense numbers, and my 

 anemonies, ranunculuses and other bulbs being 

 just up, I llsared for them. As soon therefore as 

 I discovered that the plants were breaking the 

 ground, 1 scattered a f"evv cabbage leaves over 

 the beds, and I will mention for the satisfaction of 

 all florists, that up to this time, I have not disco- 

 vered a single plant cut by them on those beds 

 where the leaves have been spread. Of the 

 quantities which I have had to contend with, some 

 opinion may be formed, when I mention the fact 

 that one morning 1" gathered a five inch fiovver 

 pot heaped up, from under five moderate sized 

 leaves, in fact some were not more than half 

 leaves. I had not time to go over the whole 

 garden, but left it to the gardeiier whose business 

 I have made it to gather them every morning, 

 from under these vegetable traps. I have been 

 so delighted with my success that I could not 

 refrain from communicating it for publication in 

 your journal, especially as I know several fine 

 gardens were ruined the last season by these 

 insects. I hope my friends and your readers gene- 

 rally may profit by the few remarks I have made, 

 and by following the plan, (or any better one, il 

 there be such, and of which I will esteem it a 

 favor to be informed,) preserve their plants to 

 beautify and adorn their gardens. 



Before I conclude 1 will mention a remedy I 

 have made use of against the common red ants. 

 During the past winter my hot bed, and espe- 

 cially the pots containing plants, were infested with 

 them, and I do believe there were near a dozen 



nests, in as many pots. The injury they did the 

 plants was very great, uprooting the earth, and 

 raising mounds in them. Several I had to re-pot, 

 and found the bottom of the pots filled with anta 

 and their eggs. VVhen dislodged from one pot 

 they took to another. Alter trying several reme- 

 dies without effect, I watered them with soap suds, 

 taken fiom the wash tub. A single watering 

 entirely destroyed them and relieved me from this 

 intolerable nuisance. An Amateuk. 



■. Charlestmi, February Idih, 1841, 



PORTRAITS AJVn PUFFS. 



From the Kentucky Farmer. 



We publish an article this week from the Farm- 

 er's Cabinet, under the.above title.* We do not 

 pretend to endorse the criticism of the article upon 

 the special cuts commented upon, for we have 

 no personal knowledge of the fidelity as represen- 

 tations of living animals. But, however this 

 may be, the spirit of the article is just and well 

 timed. It would seem that a rage for fine pictures 

 has seized the country; and, judging from the 

 extraordinary efforts, in various quarters, to gratify 

 it, the mania is likely to do the agricultural interest 

 more harm than that which prevailed for fine ani- 

 mals the substantial originals of the pretended 

 pictures. We appreciate, at a high rate, the value 

 and utiily of /rti7/i/uZ engravings; but they are a 

 positive injury and fraud, if not correct. We have 

 seen sundry portraits of animals which we hap- 

 pened to know, which were highly overdiawn — 

 repiesented with every possible good point and not 

 a solitary fault. From these pictures, it might 

 be supposed that the practical art of breeding had 

 been brought to the m plus ultra of perfection ; 

 and thai no" further improvement in the breeds of 

 domestic animals could be made. We are, how- 

 ever, despite these beautiful representations, of 

 quite a diflerent opinion. Perfection is not at- 

 tained at % single jump ; and years and years and 

 ages and ages more of severe practical experiment 

 will be necessary to effect the utmost attainable 

 degree of improvement, not only in the breeds 

 oflinimals but of many if not all the processes 

 connected with a perfect system of agriculture. 



There is a class of men in the country who 

 seem to think that the conductors of agricultural 

 papers have nothing to do but surrender their co- 

 lumns for the publication of the most extravagant 

 pictures and puffs of " this, that and t'other" 

 breed, animal and thing. Many of these pro- 

 ductions contain some good hints and facts ; but 

 more of them are scarcely disguised advertise- 

 ments o( animals, &c. for sale at great prices. The 

 spirit of these remarks will be understood by those 

 " whom it concerns ;" we hope we Shall have no 

 more to make. If we do, we shall choose some 

 bilious moment, when our usual good digestion 

 and good nature are disturbed, and "cut some 

 things into hash." 



* The piece referred to has been already published 

 in the Farmers' Register. — Ed. F. R. 



