372 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Aug. 



perceiving the breadth of the water, they return, as 

 if by common consent, into the neighboring forest, 

 each in quest of a piece of bark, which answers all 

 the purposes of boats for wafting them over. When 

 the whole company are fitted in this manner, they 

 boldly commit their little fleet to the waves, every 

 squirrel sitting on its own piece of bark, and fen- 

 ning the air with its tail, to drive the vessel to its 

 desired port. In this orderly manner they set for- 

 ward, and often cross lakes several miles broad. — 

 But it too often happens that the poor mariners are 

 not aware of the dangers of their navigation ; for 

 although at the edge of the water it is generally 

 calm, in the midst it is generally turbulent. There 

 the slightest additional gust of wind oversets the 

 little sailor and his vessel together. The whole na 

 vy that but a few minutes before rode proudly and 

 securely along is now overturned, and a shipwreck 

 of two or three thousand sail ensues. — Goldsmilh. 



Goldsmith is not regarded as very good author- 

 ity in matters of Natural History. His Animated 

 Mature has more than one pleasant fable. As to 

 the squirrel story, although rather marvellous, we 

 can say that it has had its counterpart in this coun- 

 try. Many years ago, when on the banks of the 

 Ohio, we were told that on a certain occasion a 

 woodman, who had split and piled on the shore 

 some thousand shingles, found that during the night 

 the pile had disappeared, and the shingles were 

 scattered on the opposite shore. On inquiry, he 

 discovered that a troop of emigrating squirrels had 

 borrowed his property to ferry themselves across 

 the river. So said an eye witness. We do not 

 vouch for the fact. — Eds. Pres. 



REMEDY FOR THE BORER. 



Mr. Tucker : — With your approval, the follow 

 ing prescription is most respectfully and with great 

 pleasure dedicated, through your valuable paper, to 

 the New York State Agricultural Society. 



Sure and total destruction to the Apple, (Quince 

 and Peach Borer ; and at the same time a decided 

 stimulant and safe fertilizer to the tree. 



Make a concave mound of mellow earth around 

 the tree, rising about six inches above the work of 

 the insects. Thoroughly saturate this mound with a 

 strong common salt brine, twice, at an interval of 

 four weeks, at any time of the year when the ground 

 is not frozen; stale beef or pork brine, in its full 

 strength, is just the thing. • The mound of earth 

 holds the liquid in suspension, round the tree, until 

 by capillary attraction it is carried into the holes 

 and burrows of the insect — where the salt is sure 

 destruction to every grade of this ravaging and 

 pestilent enemy. Vary the quantity of the dose 

 with the size of the tree. Be cautious with small 

 trees. Old, large trees, three feet round, ma\ 

 have a pailful at a time. 



I have revived trees by this application from ap- 

 parent death. Apple trees, 30 years old, with their 

 trunks perforated very badly, are now perfectly 

 healthy, and their wounds are healing over. Two 

 Golden Sweetings, 8 years old, last June withered 

 and showed signs of death. On examination I 

 found the trunks full of borers, and more than half 

 the surface eaten off. I made the application twice. 

 Both trees revived, and made new wood the same 

 season. This spring, I have treated every other 

 tree with the application. These trees are in bloom 



and the wounds made by the insect are rapidly heal- 

 ing* over. I would not now, without trial, recom- 

 mend the application to any other than the apple, 

 quince and peach. N. S. Smith. 



Buffalo, JV. Y. — Country Gentleman. 



For the New England Farmer. 



POPULAR ERRORS. 



Mr. Editor : — In this age of improvement and 

 innovation, when we behold the utmost rivalry dis- 

 played in the scientific and literary world, new in- 

 ventions of every kind being brought into existence 

 every where around us, new plans for the allevia- 

 tion of human misery continually developed, acad- 

 emies and colleges founded on new and imjiroved 

 principles, arising in every city and large village, 

 for the purpose of furnishing the means of instruc- 

 tion to the children and youth of our populous pla- 

 ces, — what systematic, thorough, well developed 

 efforts are being made to improve and amplify the 

 education of the laboring classes ? The question 

 has often been discussed at great length, what kind 

 of an education is most suitable for farmers, and 

 has never been decided. The term education in its 

 abstract and unlimited sense, implies an under- 

 standing of every branch of learning taught, but in 

 its common use means a proper instruction in all 

 the branches of learning and business which one is 

 called upon to ])erfbrm. It is an old and time- 

 honored error that farmers need but little learning, 

 and hence the expression which we often hear 

 used by even respectable farmers, "I have several 

 sons ; one I intend for a profession, he must go to 

 college ; another I intend shall learn a trade, I 

 shall send him a year or two to the academy ; but 

 the other is going to be a farmer ; the privilege of 

 the district school will be enough for him, he will 

 never have much use for learning." My dear 

 friend, you are making one of the greatest mistakes 

 possible. That son, whom you are intending shall 

 become a farmer, is entering upon a profession re- 

 quiring for its successful accomplishment the best 

 of learning, talent and judgment. It should be 

 your first care to give a thorough and perfect un- 

 derstanding of mathematical science, and its vari- 

 ous applications. In fact, the education of a far- 

 mer must be of the most comprehensive and 

 thorough nature. 



But perhaps we hear an old and respectable 

 farmer say, "For my part, I cannot see the use of 

 so much learning. I have hved to the age of sixty 

 years or more, without any more education than 

 what I obtained at the old district school-house, 

 and I feel as contented as though I had been 

 through college." Very well, my friend, but where 

 are those' healthy, active boys that I saw a few 

 years ago, playing about your door ? "Why, my 

 boys did not seem to like farming enough to choose 

 it for their business. One said it was not profita- 

 ble enough, another that it was too hard and dirty, 

 another that there was not opportunity for reading 

 and study. Therefore, one has gone to California, 

 the other, next older, is learning a trade, and I 

 could keep the youngest only by sending him to an 

 academy for two or three years. And since he has 

 come home from school, he has so many new-fangled 

 notions that I scarcely know what to do with him." 

 Thus we see how it is, although we will admit, that 

 many farmers live to a good old age, and die hap- 



