314 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



July 



one or two classes of operations performed by the 

 beetle, state that it deposits its eggs only at the 

 root of the tree. Tliis is a mistake. We have 

 dug them within the last few weeks, from all 

 parts of the trunk, from the ground to the branch- 

 es ; they seem to have a special liking for tliose 

 parts of the tree which are decayed. On the 

 south-west side of the trees where the sun has 

 scorched the bark or the wood beneath ; also 

 where the bark has been bruised by cattle, or in 

 any other way ; also where the tree is naturally 

 weak, and shows signs of early withering and 

 death — wherever any or all these inducements 

 are offered, the beetle seems quite ready to accept 

 the invitation, and make its investment. Let no 

 one imagine, therefore, that his trees are free 

 from the borer, because he finds none about the 

 roots; let him examine all parts of the trunk care- 

 fully, and especially the weak, wounded, or de- 

 cayed parts. He may find them in any of these 

 portions of the tree. 



Various remedies are prescribed for preventing 

 the moth depositing its eggs on the trees, such as 

 strong potash water, soft soap, and strong tobac- 

 co water, &c. ; but when it is remembered that 

 the bark of trees, like the human skin, has a very 

 important function to perform, we believe that 

 any thick adhesive substance, like whitewash or 

 clay, is always productive of far more harm than 

 good. 



As tke borer penetrates the tree, he throws out 

 the chips or borings which he has made — these 

 may be seen and his entrance found, when, with 

 a wire fitted for the purpose, he may, in most 

 cases, be destroyed. But a careful observer may 

 detect the spot where the egg is deposited, even 

 before a chip has fallen, and it is then an easy 

 matter to destroy the eggs. This watchfulness, 

 after all, must be the chief reliance of the far- 

 mer. 



The engraving above, illustrating the ravages 

 of the borer, is only one of a number we have 

 preserved. It shows how destructive they some- 

 times become. 



Every Family should have an Agricultural 

 Paper. — It is worth more than it costs simply for 

 educational purposes. Parents have hardly a 

 right to deprive their families of its advantages 

 in these times. Children will learn more, as they 

 go to and from school, or drive the cows to pas- 

 ture, or pick berries by the way, if their obser- 

 vation is quickened, by what they hear their pa- 

 rents read or talk over from the agricultural pa- 

 pers ; and when they form habits of reading for 

 themselves, such reading is botii safe and useful. 

 Reader, if your neighbor has no agricultural pa- 

 per, persuade him to take one. Even if he is 

 poor, he can better afford to take one than to do 

 without it ; for if he takes one, his chidren will 

 be likely to be better off — to make a good home 

 for themselves, and it may be for him in old age. 

 Not all will have farms ; but all will need to 

 know something of the garden and the orchard at 

 least ; and we advise no parent, who feels that ho 

 may sometime be dependent upon his children, to 



bring them up without the means of instruction 

 in rural economy. It should be regarded as es- 

 sential in the education of any child, male or fe- 

 male. 



THE BIRDS. 



To Hon. Charles L. Flint, 



SECRETARY OF THE MASSACHOSKTTS BOARD OF AGRICCLTCRE. 



Sir: — Wfiile fitting my corn-grounds to-day, and listening to 

 the song of the prophetic "Plantin>,'-bird," your issued circular 

 concerning birds came up to mind, and for which please to ac- 

 cept my grateful thanks. The accompanying verses followed my 

 thoughts, and I take the liberty to forward them to you, hoping 

 they will meet some answering chord in your breast. 



BT THE "peasant BARD." 



Dear Sir: — I read your proclamation 



With pleasurable admiration. 



Ye printers, speed it o'er the nation ! 



May ye who read it, 

 Feel under sacred obligation, 



When read, to heed it ! 



The birds ! the birds ! — what man may know 

 The vast amount of good they do ? 

 E'en the poor bann'd and bandit crow — 



(Writ calls him raven) — 

 Once fed a prophet, long ago, 



By will of Heaven. 



Now-days crows pull some corn, 'tis true ; 



They love it ; so do I and you ; 



But grubs and worms they likewise view 



With mouths that "water," 

 And wage upon the vermin crew 



Unflinching slaughter. 



Please keep before the people's eyes 

 This truth, of every bird that flies : — 

 Far more of good than evil lies 



To their account ; 

 The evil's small ; no money buys 



The good amount. 



How oft I've quit my toil, and ran 



To see what meant the "slaughtering gun ;" 



And if I found some valiant son 



Of blood and Mars 

 Shot birds, his shirt-tail flag was one 



Of "«Zr(/7es," not "stars." 



What songs with those of birds can vie .' 

 From the bright gold-finch that on high 

 Swings its wee hammock in the sky. 



To the dear thing 

 That nestles where the mosses lie. 



And grasses spring. 



How blessed 'tis to be awaking 



To the bird-choir, when day is breaking ! 



When Phcebus is the west forsaking. 



No fine-spun sermon 

 Like theirs, could o'er my soul be shaking 



The dews of Hermon ! 



This bright May morn, from shaking spray 

 Yon bird outpours his planting lay. 

 How sweetly, naively sociably. 



As late I heard 

 A dear-loved friend— God bless her ? — say. 



And save the bird ! 



Sir, count me ready to abet 



You, in the work to which you're set. 



I'm loth to speak or pen a threat. 



But loafing rowdy 

 Who kills birds on my farm, will get 



Especial "goudy." 



Yours most heartily for the birds, 



JosiAH D. Canning. 



