90 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



from the corn, covers them svith rugs, and they 

 will grow nearly as fast as in summer. If they 

 be laid where it is moist, the top rots, and then 

 the process ceases, lie says they should always 

 be gathered when the tops arc green, and lliat 

 they cease to grow when the tops are severed 

 from the bottoms, or the tops are rotted by 

 dampness. He informs me, that when they are 

 too thick, he cidls them out much earlier in the 

 season, and they will form in this way on the 

 bottom, but the top and bottom will not be so 

 large. Perhaps this may be no news lo the 

 onion raisers of the West ; but I presume it may 

 be to many in Maine. 



The Ruta Baga and Mangel Wurlzel promise 

 much. I hope accounts of weights and quantities 

 will be sent you. I find the leaves of the young 

 pear trees in this vicinity completely riddled, 

 nothing but the tibre being lei't. I regret that 

 the destroyer has not been noticed ; but it is 

 now too late, as he has absconded. There is an 

 insect, that seems to be a minor species of the 

 caterpillar, that clothes the limbs of the best 

 apple trees with his long, thin, line drapery, — 

 covering the fruit and leaves, — so that he can 

 live and eat in dignified retirement. 1 never 

 Saw them in so great abundance as in this place. 

 Some of the nests are nearly the size of a half 

 barrel at the top, gradually diminishing to the 

 trunk ; looking like an inverted cone, or rather 

 like a horn to suit the limb. 1 have found the 

 insect in active life during the late frosty morn- 

 ings. They conquer all the leaves williin the 

 nest, but I do not learn that they travel from 

 their home for food, like the larger caterpillar. 

 To learn something of their history would giat- 

 ify the writer, and I believe many others. It 

 would be likewise acceptable to gain some in- 

 formation about this invader of the pear. 



I find apples here of last year's growth, hard 

 and sound, yet in the cellar, and they look as 

 though they may remain so till another year. 



Potatoes in this quarter have sometimes been 

 more abundant in crop, but never better in qual- 

 ity. The orange potatoe is nearly equal to the 

 blue one of Nova Scotia. They cook very 

 quickly ; and the only difficulty 1 find in them 

 is, in tf unsporting one whole from the platter lo 

 the plate. 



The grazing hills are full dressed in green, 

 and appear to be well prepared for a blanket of 

 snow. Yours, truly, 



AvTHOR OF Touches on Agriculture 



Apple trees inoculated last summer, should 

 be repeatedly examined next year, for several 

 days after the buds begin to grow, in order to dis- 

 cover if they are attacked by a small brown 

 worm which destroys the bud, either when be- 

 ginning to grow, or more commonly after it has 

 shot a few inches. The presence of this worm 

 is usually discoverable by the curling of a leaf, 

 infolding the worm in its nest. Sometimes, 

 however, the worm is concealed in the scar 

 formed by inoculation. Perhaps a solution of 

 tobacco, or of soap, (not too strong) if applied 

 to the bud, a little before or after it begins to 

 expand, would destroy the worm in embryo, 

 without injury to the bud. 



I do not recollect that any of your corres- 

 pondents have informed us whether the timber 

 or powder-post worm is the same as that called 

 the borer. About a year ago, it occurred to me, 

 mat perhaps the depredations of the powder- 

 post worm might be prevented, by boring the 

 tree in a descending direction, at the bottom, 

 while the sap is flowing, and keeping sulphur, 

 diluted sulphuric acid, salt, brine, or some other 

 substance, in the holes, for a certain time before 

 the tree is filled ; that by this means, either the 

 worm might be destroyed in embryo, or (should 

 the dose continue in the tree) the food of the 

 worm might be rendered poisonous. 



Yours, respectfully, 



A-ewton, Oct. 13, 1824. E. B. KENRICK. 



* We have submitted these leaves, together with the 

 worms which adhered to them, to the inspection of 

 some of our agricultural fi lends, but could obtain no 

 information respecting their nature or habits ; neither 

 can we find it described in any books which we have 

 been able to consult. It is the opinion of a gentleman 

 who is eminent for his skill as an Orchardist and Hor- 

 ticulturist, that this insect does but little damage to the 

 fruit Kees to which it is attached. It does not appear 

 on the leaves till they have nearly fulfilled their offices, 

 and are beginning to decay by the process of ifature. 

 We should be glad, however, lo obtain further inform- 

 ation respecting this petty depredator, not only as a 

 matter of curiosity, but, because it may be more inju- 

 rious than is apprehended ; and it may be well to trace 

 its history, in order to guard against its ravages. — Ed. 

 N. E. Farmer. 



very nice imilationsof Leghorn boiiiir:- aiade of 

 straw, quite as fine as any imported. There was 

 also exhibited a JVatermelon, raised bv Mr Uriah 

 B. Stearns of Wjillham, which weighed forty- 

 eiglit pounds ; s.iid lo lie the largest evei raised 

 in this Commonwealth. About 300 members of 

 the Society look dinner at Wakefield's Hotel, 

 where the following toasts were drank: 



Our A'alton — lis capital, agriculture, manufactures 

 and commerce. Its income, litierty, equality and hap- 

 piness. 



The American Farmer — The uncontrolled proprie- 

 tor of the soil. His Government neither desires nor 

 dares oppress his inheritance, and no established church 

 spreads its dark shadow between him and heaven. 



La Fayellt — The Farmer of La Grange. He has 

 acted well his part on many JJelds, and is now reaping 

 a rich harvest from the only soil of freedom. 



Yankee Fairs — The fairest /are, with a /a?r yankec. 



The Presidential Plovghing Match — We hope that 

 the scolding and ill will of the contenders, will termin- 

 ate ill good fellowship when the premium is declared. 



The good old Bean Porridge days of our country, 

 when temperance starved the Doctor, fair dealing the 

 lawyer, and moral honesty killed the Parson'^s Vtvil. 



Our Country Maidens — Though they do not contend 

 at our ploughing matches, we have old batchelors en- 

 ough to engage them in matches they like much better, 



[After the regular toasts the following voluntetra 

 were given.] 



By the President — The sources of individual and na- 

 tional iceallh.f •Agriculture^ Manufactures and commerce^ 

 These three, may they be alike respected and protected. 



By Wra. Ward Esq. of Medford.— Thanks to that 

 imnui table decree, that the oil of gladness shall bright- 

 en the lace of labor. 



By !^lr Tileston of Boston — Thf Middlesex .Agricul- 

 tural Society, a proud example of the enterprize, skill 

 and industry of the Farmers aud Manufacturers of our 

 countr'. 



By Hr Winsh p, of Brighton — The Orator of the day. 

 He has done well, not only so 

 But shown experience at the shonr. 



Slflrt cultural annfijcrsarirs. 



[prepared for the new E»GLA.njD FARMER.] 



INSECTS ON FRUIT TREES, kc. 



TO THE EDITOR. OF THE NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Sir, — 1 do not know whether it has been re- 

 marked by others, that at this season of the year, 

 there are blisters on the leaves of the apple trees 

 h) this vicinity, and that each of these leaves 

 contains a worm. This I have observed for 

 several years. At this time the blister is com- 

 monly about the size of a fingernail. The worm 

 is green, and is now about a quarter of an inch 

 long. It works between the coats of the leaf 

 On some large apple trees, there is hardly a 

 leaf, which does not enclose from one to ten of 

 these worms. I have not discovered them in 

 the leaves of any tree, except the apple, A few 

 leaves 1 send you as a specimen.* 



The Middlesex Cuttle SImw was held at Con- 

 cord, Mass. on the 8th inst. The day was fair, 

 the concourse large, and included gentlemen of 

 the first respectability from all parts of the 

 country, as well as many gentlemen from Boston. 

 The animals exhibited — " gave proof that the 

 farmers in Middlesex have not been negligent 

 in the improvement of their breed of sto<;k. — 

 The great variety and excellence of the speci- 

 mens of manufactured articles deserve the high- 

 est praise. — The Address by Luke F'iske, Esq. of 

 Waltham, was well written, ingenious, k prac- 

 tical, and was received with uncommon appro- 

 bation and applause. It was a pleasant circum- 

 stance (says the Concord Gazette) that Mr Fiske 

 had attended the Ploughing Match in the morn- 

 ing, and had shown that he could practise -js well 

 as preach. The address is to be printed by the 

 Society." — Among the amaufactures were some 



The several Committees made their report at the 

 Court-IIouse, at 4 o'clock, aud awarded the following 

 premiums, towit : 



To Thomas Wheeler, for the best fatted ox, - $10 



To Maj. James Barrett, for second best, 7 

 To Luke Fisk, Esq. of Waltham for the best Milch 



Cow, 1» 



To do. for second best, ----- 6 



To Ephraim Wheeler, of Concord, for next best, 4 



To Joseph Barrett, Esq. for best Merino Buck, S 



To Nathan Barrett, Jr. for second best, 4 



To Geo. M. Barrett, for best Merino Ewes, S 

 To Geo. M. Barret, for Merino Wethers, - - ."> 



To John Billings, for Common Sheep, - - 5 



To Isaac Brooks, of Lincoln, for best sole Leather, 4 



To do. for best Calf-Skios, 4 



To Daniel McLenning, for best Barrels, 3 

 To .\bigail Saddler, of Hopkinton, for best Straw 



Bonnet, 4 



To Ann Dalrymple, of Marlboro' for next best, 2 

 To Sally Livermore, of Shirley, for a beautiful 



Bonnet made of grass in imitation of Leghorn, 4 



To Abel Moore, for best Boots, 4 



To do. for second best, 2 



To do. for best Men's Shoes, 2 



To Wm. Richardson, for best Women's Shoes, 1 

 To Emily Filch^ of Hopkinton, for sewing Silk, 



made from the silk-worm, 5 

 To II. Blodjjet, of Tyngsboro,' for 1 lb. of coloured 



an I white sewing silk, made from the silk-worm 5 

 To Lavinia Farwell, of Concord, for 3 Straw Work 



Baskets, S 

 To William Bowers, of Billerica, for a wrought silk 



Lace Veil, 1 



To D. Davenport, for 1 groce net-work Buttons, t 

 To Eliza Dalrymple, of Marlboro' for a Turkey 



down Boniielt, 2 

 To Tryphena Smith, of Liocoln, for another Tur- 

 key down Bonnett, 8 



