486 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Oct. 



rect. It was not until 1856 that \ first found the 

 eggs. They are found imbedded in the very 

 sprouts and in the skin near the eyes, but only 

 with a ))owerful microscope and by the light of 

 the unclouded sun can they be found. During 

 the period from 1851 to 1856 my experiments in 

 cultivation and otherwise were continued. Since 

 the latter date I have watched as before, (sealed 

 in glass jars end otherwise,) the development of 

 the tubers, and the embryo progress of the eggs 

 to the first animate motion of the tiny insects, 

 •ind their attack upon the tender sprouts ; the 

 effects of their ravages, and the progress of their 

 poison infused into the vines, causing the malady. 

 This insect is the Alpliis. 



The particulars of my discoveries and my opin- 

 ion on this subject were communicated to the 

 Governor and Council of Massachusetts in Au- 

 gust, 1851, answering a resolution of the Legis- 

 lature, passed that year, soliciting information 

 on this subject. And the fact is a matter of rec- 

 ord in the State Department. For reasons of 

 my own, my communication was to remain with 

 the seal unbroken, unless at my request, until 

 1856. 



I have thus placed before the reader the time, 

 original circumstances of discovery, as also the 

 final development showing the cause of the po- 

 tato disease. 



The facts and authenticated proofs attached 

 thereto, and a multiplicity of other similar evi- 

 dence, has been placed before the United States 

 Patent Officej there to remain. They are deemed 

 adequate to settle the question, positively, as to 

 the cause of the disease. I need say only a word 

 more. Let me briefly add, that, by repeated ex- 

 periments, I have discovered a practical remedy 

 for the disease. The tests of cultivation are 

 shown by the evidence of my immediate neigh- 

 bors, at Waltham, Mass., which proves the effi- 

 cacy of my remedy. 



After a thorough and most rigid investigation 

 oefore the United States Patent Office, I have 

 secured letters patent from the United States 

 Government for the right to apply the remedy. 

 I am prepared to dispose of rights to use the 

 remedy. Individuals wishing to possess the 

 same, for States or counties, will apply by letter, 

 or otherwise, to the undersigned. 



Baltimore, 1858. Lyman Reed. 



GRAPTIlSra THE ORANGE! PLANT. 



Sir : — In the May number of your excellent 

 journal I notice an inquiry by your North Bridge- 

 water correspondent, Austin C. Packard, on the 

 mode of grafting an orange plant, to which I per- 

 ceive no reply has been made. Permit me, there- 

 fore, to occupy a portion of j^our space, while, for 

 his information, I detail the modus operandi. 



Grafting is best performed in Spring, when the 

 plant begins to push forth vigorously. The scion 

 must be a strong shoot of the preceding year's 

 growth, about three eyes in length. The essen- 

 tial conditions to ensure success — a perfect union 

 of the lihcr or inner bark of the stock with the 

 liber of the scion — a slight bottom heat if con- 

 venient, though not absolutely necessary ; shade, 

 and a confined atmosphere, to secure moisture 

 until they are perfectly united, in order to pre- 

 vent evaporation from the surface of the scion. 



and to retain its absorbing powers in action. 

 Having thus premised, cut from the side of the- 

 stock at the height at which it is wanted to work 

 it, and in a longitudinal direction, a sloping ])iece 

 about an inch and a half long, and in width ecjual 

 to the diameter of the scion at its lower extremi- 

 ty, against which, the latter, somewhat thinned 

 down to about the same length, yet not so deep 

 as to reach the medulla or pith, and retaining its 

 two upper leaves, is to be applied, Avith the liber 

 of both in contact the entire length of the cut 

 on one side at least, and bound round firmly with 

 coarse woolen thread, or, what will answer as well, 

 a piece of lamp-wick, until the joint is entirely 

 covered. Pinch off the points of the branches on 

 the stock if any, and all young shoots as they 

 arise, in order that all the sap possible may be 

 impelled into the scion. After it has made shoots 

 an inch or two in length the tieing must be loos- 

 ened and the head of the stock cut off at the joint. 

 The proper time may always be known when the 

 cellular deposit is observed on the edge of the 

 scion, uniting both scion and stock. 

 Boston, Aug. 9, 1858. Thomas F. Walsh. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 LIGHTNING, AND BARNS WITH NEW 

 HAY. 



Mr. Editor : — In a late Farmer, "P." asks 

 whether barns filled with new hay are more lia- 

 ble to be fired by lightning than at any other 

 time, or than any other building ? If so, the rea- 

 son. That barns are struck at that season more 

 frequently than at any other time is true. Statis- 

 tics gathered from the most careful observations 

 show that about seven-tenths of the buildings 

 burnt by lightning are barns. And most of these 

 disasters occur during the curative state of the 

 hay, which time continues some three months 

 from the begining of haying. 



Why are barns more liable to be thus burnt by 

 lightning ? New hay contains much gas, especial- 

 ly carbon. All of the hay is highly charged 

 with electricity, so that the whole mass becomes 

 a most powerful electric battery. All being very 

 combustible is sure to fire if the lightning strikes 

 it. The all important inquiry is, can conductors 

 be placed on buildings so as to protect them ? 

 Electricity, though the most powerful and exten- 

 sive element in nature, is, like every other ele- 

 ment, regulated by law. If we understand the 

 laws by which it is governed, the lightning can 

 be managed and controlled as well as any other 

 element. This is a mighty, subtle, active agent ; 

 going, when it moves, at the speed of more than 

 two hundred thousand miles in a second, travel- 

 ling more than eighty miles faster than the rays 

 of light coming from the sun. Subtle as this fluid 

 is, and important as the laws which govern it are, 

 men are found engaged in erecting lightning rods 

 to protect our buildings, who do not understand 

 the first principles of this important science. Not 

 but that they, like the false prophets of old, 

 make high and loud pretensions, yet many now, 

 as then, are deceived by them. If we would not 

 be humbugged in so important a thing as the 

 protection of life and property, let us employ men 

 who are thoroughly acquainted with the business. 

 Yours truly, A. H, Heed. 



Mendoi^ August, 1858. 



