1869. 



NEW ENGLAND FARIVIER. 



329 



EXTBACTS AND BEPLIE8. 



FROTH HOPPERS. 



I have had it in reserve ever since last summer 

 to write you concerning the new insect or bug that 

 has done so much mischief in this and other por- 

 tions of Vermont, during the past two or three 

 years. It is believed by some that the quantity of 

 hay grown on some fields was one-third less, to say 

 nothing of the depreciation of quality, on account 

 of the sapping of this insect. I have seen no no- 

 tice of this new-comer either, in the columns of the 

 Farmer or any other agricultural journal. The 

 first appearance noticed is a little mass of white 

 froth or foam near the bottom or centre of the grass 

 stock. Imbedded in this foam will be found two 

 small bugs (probably male and female), which for 

 size and appearance have often been mistaken for 

 young grass-hoppers. 



The explanation of this phenomenon I believe to 

 be this— the insect taps the stock and the juice is 

 blown into these minute bubbles by the breath or 

 exhalation from its body. I have watched them 

 with some interest to determine if possible what 

 becomes of them — whether they take "to themselves 

 wings and fly away," or burrow in the ground, or 

 what not. But the mystery is yet unsolved. 



Although to us this proves to be "something new 

 under the sun," an Entomologist who reads this 

 may perhaps recognize an old and familiar ac- 

 quaintance, and be able at once to assign them 

 their proper name and place. E. K. Baxter, 



Sharon, Vt., 1869. 



Remarks. — There was something said in the 

 papers last season in relation to this insect. If it 

 is not the froth-hopper, or frog-hopper described in 

 Harris' book on insects — and this has been denied 

 by some — we do not know what it is. There are 

 several species of this insect in New England. 

 The annexed cut is of one of them. Like other in- 

 sects they are more abundant some sea- 

 sons than others. It is said that after 

 alighting upon the grass, they perfo- 

 rate the stem with their beaks and take 

 in such quantities of it that it oozes out 

 of their bodies in the form of little bubbles which 

 soon completely covers them up. Will Dr. Hart- 

 well of Wilkinsonville, Mass., or some one familiar 

 with natural history, reply more fully to the in- 

 quiries of Mr. Baxter. 



CULTIVATION OF TOBACCO. 



Will the editors or the correspondents of the 

 Farmer inform me of the best way of raising 

 tobacco ? D. 



Chittendon, Vt., May 10, 1869. 



Remarks. — The editors respond by saying that 

 in their opinion the best way of cultivating tobacco 

 is not to cultivate it at all. To raise tobacco in New 

 England three things are necessary, a warm loca- 

 tion, rich land and lots of th« best manure. Have 

 you all these in Chittenden ? The farmers in the 

 Connecticut Valley in the States of Massachusetts 

 and Connecticut, considerably south and on lower 

 land than yours, find the season barely sufficient 

 for the maturity of the plant. Perhaps few 

 branches of farming require more practical experi- 

 ence than this. In the first place the plants must 

 be started in a hot-house or highly manured seed 



I bed. These require much care and labor in weed- 

 ing, &c. The manure is generally spiead and 

 ploughed in two or three weeks previous to the 

 last ploughing, which is usually done just before 

 setting the plants. The land is then harrowed, — 

 some preferring flat culture, others hill up. The 

 hills are prepared with the hoe, and phosphate, 

 fish-guano, &c., applied in the hill, before setting 

 the plants. Then come the cut worms, and after 

 you have fought them to the death, and even be- 

 fore you have conquered them, the large green 

 tobacco worm is found boring holes into your 

 "Havana wrappers." The weeds and the worms 

 will keep you busy. All other work must give 

 place to this. Whatever other crop is neglected, 

 the tobacco patch never is by cultivators. Then, 

 two or three weeks before cutting, the "topping" 

 and "suckering" is attended to. There is said to 

 be a certain leaf which indicates where the top 

 should be severed, but it is also said that much 

 practice is required for its successful operation. 

 Then the curing is another particular and nice per- 

 formance, which requires skill and proper appara- 

 tus and shelter. But then all this comes after the 

 manure, of which the largest pile of the best quality 

 must always be secured. The Connecticut River 

 tobacco raisers buy western corn by the carload, 

 and cattle and sheep in the fall and feed them high 

 to make their tobacco manure. And this must be 

 done every year, as no beast will eat the tobacco ; 

 and if they did, what would the manure be worth ? 

 These farmers bought Maine oxen last fall in only 

 fair order at eight and a half cents per pound, live 

 weight, and last week some of the same oxen were 

 sold at the same price at Brighton, after hav- 

 ing been transported back and forth, and having 

 been fed on meal all winter. But, then, profit or 

 no profit on feeding, the spring crop of manure 

 must be had or the fall crop of tobacco will cer- 

 tainly be missing. 



JERSEYS IN RHODE ISLAND. 



I frequently notice among the correspondents of 

 your valuable paper mention of importers and 

 breeders of Alderney and Jersey breeds of cattle, 

 in Massachusetts and other States, but have never 

 seen any mention of this State. Now, Mr. Edi- 

 tor, there are gentlemen on this island who import 

 and breed some of the finest Alderneys and Jerseys 

 that I ever saw in this country. Among them are 

 Robert Maitland, Esq., who formerly owned Comet, 

 the king of Jerseys, as he is called by Mr. Crozier, 

 which name he certainly deserves. Daniel Fear- 

 ing, Esq., has some beautiful animals that he im- 

 ported last year. Col. George E. Waring has quite a 

 number of pure stock. George F. Wilbur has 

 some twelve or more pure bred, and Philip Cas- 

 well, Esq., some. Now, Mr. Editor, I certainly 

 think that these gentlemen are entitled to some 

 notice for the time and money expended by them 

 in improving our breed of cattle. And I sincerely 

 hope that some one who can write an article for 

 your valuable paper will encourage them in a con- 

 tinuance of their noble endeavors. 



A Constant Farmer Reader. 



Newport, R. I., May 11, 1869. 



Rem.\rks. — We are always glad to publish facts 

 in relation to improved stock and improved farm 



