370 



XEW ENGLAOT) FARMER. 



Aug. 



late spring, disturbs the harmony of nature some- 

 what also ; at any rate, we are sure that it disturbs 

 the economy of the farm. It is bad enough to 

 have to fight the cut worms, without fighting thg 

 crows. As to the crows helping us to get rid of 

 the cut worms, that is all "bosh." A little salt and 

 copperas made into a brine, to sttep the seed corn 

 in, will do much better. As a dose for the "black 

 ralcals" we recommend twenty grains of strychnine 

 in a gill of warm water, with a pint of corn soaked 

 in it over night. Scatter this on the field. It is 

 cheaper to feed crows in this way than on the 

 corn you have taken pains to plant. j. e. 



Concord, Mass., May 3, 1869,' 



POLLEN. — THE SEASON IN WINDSOR COUNTY, VT. 



The weather has been very dry here for some 

 ten days until yesterday, when we had a heavy 

 shower ; and after it was over, I noticed a peculiar 

 scum or what seemed like sulphur to appearance, 

 but void of smell. I first thought it might be 

 caused by a new shingled roof, but two of my 

 neighbors tell me they discovered the same thing. 

 I enclose a little parcel of this yellow matter, 

 which I took from the sides of a l)arrel of the 

 water at the side of the house, and if you think it 

 worthy of notice should like to have it analyzed 

 and a description of it published ia the New Eng- 

 land Fakmeb. It may be of no importance, but I 

 never saw or heard of the like before. Grass is 

 looking finely for this season of the year, and June 

 grass is heading out rapidlj'. The weather has 

 been quite hot of late, till since the shower it is 

 quite cold. The shower was nearly hail, and 

 accompanied with considerable wind, but little 

 thunder. Frank. 



Woodstock, Vt., June 6, 1869. 



Remarks. — "We have no hesitation in saying that 

 the yellow dust or powder which was received in 

 good order, is simply the pollen of pine, spruce 

 or other trees. It is often carried to a great dis- 

 tance by the wind, and its collection on water in 

 noticeable quantities, under favorable circum- 

 stances, is not very uncommon. The dry spell 

 preceding the shower you speak of, flivored its col- 

 lection on both old and new roofs. A few years 

 ago it was very abundant about our own residence, 

 and many at first sight called it sulphur. 



TO DESTROY WOODCHUCKS. 



Feeling indebted to the Farmer for much use- 

 ful knowledge, I think it but just to communicate 

 such valuable facts as come under my observation. 

 Having been much troubled by woodchucks, es- 

 pecially in my l)ean fields, for beans seem to be 

 their favorite food, I have tried many ways in 

 years past to thm them out. But this spring I 

 have bien more successful. I have adopted the 

 method recommended in the Farmer last year of 

 burning gun-powder in their holes, with this im- 

 provement: I add to the powder an equal part of 

 sulphur. A handful of this mixture is put into a 

 small bag, into which I insert the end of a fuse 

 and tie up the bag tightly. It is then put into the 

 hole as far as convenient, the other end of the 

 fuse being left out, when the hole is tilled up tight 

 around the fuse. If the burrow has other open- 

 ings, these must also be closed. Then ignite the 

 powder and sulphur by means of the fuse. This 

 fills the hole with gas, which is death to the wood- 

 chucks. In only two cases out of fifteen have 

 there been any signs of lifeafier burning the pow- 

 der. The cost need not exceed five cents to a hole, 

 and may save dollars. Elijah Myrick. 



Groton Junction, Mass., June, 1869. 



rustic seats. 

 The authorities at Washington have decreed that 

 ship carpenters and other mechanics and laborers 

 employed by government may count eight hours 

 as a full day's work. As it may take farmers who 

 work from twelve to sixteen hours a day for 

 much smaller wages than these men get, some 

 time to see the justice of this decision, we propose 

 that they take hold and build comfortable seats 

 for calm reflection. They, may not have much 

 time to occupy them, to be sure ; but perhaps after 

 the last cow is milked, they may sit down for a few 

 minutes and compare their life with that of those 

 employed in Uncle Sam's navy yards and arsenals. 

 We would not advise a costly lounge — an "accom- 

 plished sofa," — or anything of the kind. If you 

 have a good sized apple, maple, or any other tree 

 near the house, what say to a seat after this fash- 

 ion ? 



No mahogany or rosewood is needed in its con- 

 struction; no costly tools are required for its 

 manufacture. Crooked roots or gnarled limbs are 

 just the material for its frame work; the more 

 rough, the more rustic ; the more curves and ridges 

 it shows, the more fashionable and tasteful will it be 

 regarded by your city cousins, and by the sons 

 and daughters of the eight-hour men, should they 

 honor you by a call. 



But if you have no tree or stump against which to 

 build your superstructure, then try your hand at a 

 three-legged chair something after this pattern : — 



The half of a spruce, hemlock, pine, oak, elm or 

 other small tree, retaining the limbs, furnish not 

 only the back but much of the elegant lattice 

 work which adorns your pattern. For the other 

 legs and rounds select the most grotesque, ugly 

 looking sticks to be found in the wood pile or 

 forest ; no matter if they are so crooked that they 



