496 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Nov. 



as to throw the plow out of the ground. It was 

 found that in order to turn the swale over' hand 

 somely, we must have a plow large enough to go 

 entirely below the sod ; and which, with a long 

 and wide-winged mould-board, should be able to 

 carry a deep and wide furrow-slice, giving it that 

 powerful twist which should compel it to lay over, 

 grass side down. Such a plow was at once pro 

 cured. With the great plow, drawn by three yokes 

 of oxen, the swale v/as thoroughly and handsomely 

 turned over, to the depth of nine or ten inches. In 

 the winter following, over two hundred loads of 

 compost, made of upland loam and barn manure, 

 were carried by sledding on to the highest places 

 in the meadow, and deposited in large piles. In 

 June and July following, when the ground had be- 

 come dry enough to work kindly, the manure was 

 spread over the plowed land, at the rate of twenty 

 to twenty-five loads to the acre, and plowed in 

 lightly, say three to four inches deep. The land 

 was then harrowed fine, and stocked down with 

 one-half bushel of herds-grass, one bushel of red- 

 top, and twelve pounds of clover seeds to each 

 acre, and the surface was smoothed with a light 

 one-horse roller. The grass came up quicklj-, and 

 having full possession of the land, it got well root- 

 ed that season, covering the ground with a thick 

 mat, so that the winter and spring floods did not 

 kill it. This was the result sought for, and it was 

 found that the plans were well laid for securing 

 it. The following year ten or twelve acres more 

 of the bog were treated as above detailed ; and the 

 year after that, nearly all that remained of the un- 

 improved land was reclaimed in like manner. 



As the meadow is now fixed, it is never too wet, 

 except while overflowed by the river ; and the wa- 

 ter in such case recedes just as fast as the river 

 falls again. Indeed, the flooding of the land is 

 now highly salutary, the water not continuing on it 

 long enough at a time to kill the grass, but on the 

 contrary nourishing it by depositing a rich sedi- 

 ment and moistening the soil about right to pro- 

 duce a thick fine bottom, and a heavy crop. Be- 

 fore draining and reclaiming the land, an ox team 

 could only be driven over the higher portions, in a 

 dry time, miring considerably at that ; and a man 

 eould not mow the grass in the wettest places with- 

 out going over shoes in water. Now, the cartage 

 is good over any and all parts. The ditches will 

 need clearing out once in two or three years ; but 

 the sediment thrown out will prove Very fertilizing 

 to upland soil, and pay a great profit on the labor 

 of getting it. If the ditches are properly attend- 

 ed to, no reason is now seen why the meadow may 

 not be productive of good grass for an indefinite 

 period. The change wrought by reclaiming the 

 land is very striking, and the barns look after hay- 

 ing as though an additional farm had been added 

 to the estate. F. H. I 



Braltkboro', Mg. 25, 1856. 



For the New England Farmer. 



APPLES AND INSECTS. 



The apple crop will be very light in this region. 

 There was no lack of blossoms. Fruit, in great 

 abundance, formed and held on, until about the 

 middle of June, when it began to fell, and the first 

 of July, but little remained. The falling apples, 

 in addition to the usual perforations, many of them 

 had carious spots, which indicated that they had 

 been punctured with an instrument similar to that 

 used by the curculio. 



I wish some of your contributors, Mr. Editor, 

 would tell us whether this is the v.'ork of a new en- 

 emy, or an old one in new guise. The number of 

 these ruffians is already legion, and we may well 

 pray that it be not enlarged. 



I am sorry to announce that the borer has made 

 his appearance hereabouts. While committing his 

 ravages, in the eastern and central portions of this 

 State, we were exempt. But now the sneaking var- 

 mint has made his entree into the valley, and is 

 making his mark upon every orchard. 



Our farmers and gardeners have not yet made the 

 acquaintance of his ugliness, and probably will not, 

 till he has done more damage. Those who have 

 young orchards, and would preserve them, must 

 look after these chaps. There is no safety in de- 

 lay. The proper place to meet ruffians is on the 

 border, and dispute the entrance. Let them once 

 worm themselves into the territory, and nothing 

 short of hard fighting will expel the graceless vil- 

 lains. 



Precautionary measures should first be taken, the 

 grass and weeds should be removed and kept from 

 the body of the tree, the bark, from the roots to 

 the limbs should be thoroughly scraped and washed 

 frequently, say three times in course of the season, 

 with some liquid that will be offensive to the insect. 

 A solution of potash, not too strong, or a ley of 

 wood ashes, or whale-oil soap, dissolved in water, 

 with 2 oz. of sulphur to one gallon of water, makes 

 a good wash. Assafoetida, barn manure, and other 

 offensive matters may be added, and a little clay 

 mixed, to make it adhesive. This may be regard- 

 ed as a sectional movement, calculated to produce 

 agitation, and even endanger the Union. 



If let alone, the enemy will secretly sap the foun- 

 dations of the tree, and thus settling the extremes 

 of variance, when discordant winds arise, agita- 

 tion will follow, and the Union of vitality with the 

 physical constitution will be dissolved. 



Next, frequent examinations should be made for 

 the worms. They remain and work in the tree two 

 seasons ; if caught and killed during the first, the 

 injury will soon be repaired in a vigorous tree. If 

 suffered to remain during the second season, and 

 till full grown, the injury may, and in most cases 

 will be irreparable. 



I hope, Mr. Editor, none of your readers will 

 suspect me of political squinting, in my remarks. 

 The farthest possible from it. I have been writ- 

 ing about civilized i-uffians, and nothing more. 



Amherst, Aug. 25, 1856. 



Cramp. — Those who may be subject in the night 

 time to that excruciating pain called cramp, will 

 doubtless be glad to learn that by tying any kind of 

 a bandage very tight around the leg, immediately 

 above the knee^ this unpleasant sensation will be in- 

 stantaneously removed. 



