372 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Aug. 



EXTRACTS AND REPLIES. 



GRUB8 IN CORN. 



Mr. Editor : — Will you, or some of your nu- 

 merous correspondents, inform me through the 

 columns of the Fanner, whetlier there is any re- 

 medy for the (jruhs which are destroying whole 

 fields of corn, pumpkins and young hops, in this 

 vicinity. Verdant Farmer. 



Elmore, Vt., June 16, 1855. 



Remarks. — We know of no remedy but that of 

 the thumb and fingers ; and a careful application 

 of these will accomplish much. It is a tedious 

 and unpleasant process, we admit, but a necessa- 

 ry on3. There is seldom but one worm in a hill, 

 and an observing eye will soon detect his opera- 

 tions upon one of the plants, and a plunge or two 

 of the iSngers into the ground will bring him to 

 the light, when he may be despatched. Perhaps 

 some of our writers may suggest a different rem- 

 edy. _ 



THE RAPE PLANT. 



Dear Sir : — "J. R.," in the first June number 

 of the Farmer, recommends the raising of rape or 

 cole for various purposes. Having received a 

 parcel of seed from the patent office, through the 

 politeness of the Secretary of the Massachusetts 

 Board of Agriculture, the last year, perhaps 

 sooae of your readers would like to know of my 

 success. I was requested, if successful, to report 

 the result to this (the patent) office. 



I sowed a part of the seed as soon as received, 

 (in May, 1854,) on good corn land. The plants 

 came up well and flourished finely until Septem- 

 ber, when the leaves withered and fell off, leav- 

 ing the bare stem, without flowering, a dry mon- 

 ument to mark the spot where something of the 

 cabbage kind had grown. A neighbor, wishing 

 for cabbage plants, took some two hundred of the 

 plants and trans} lanted them for cabbage, and his 

 success was the same as mine. Farther experi- 

 ments may be more successful, but I fear rape in 

 our vicinity will prove an uncertain crop. 



SudburT/, Mass., 1855. a. b. 



YOUNG MEN CATTLE SHOWS. 



Mr. Editor : — Cattle-show day is a day of 

 great importance to us fiirmer boys — a kind of a 

 second fourth of July. But still, it is not a day 

 of as much importance as we wish it were, and 

 think it ought to be. A number of the "plow- 

 boy family" met a few evenings since, and were 

 talking — I will not say discussing, for fear you 

 may tliink we were reaching beyond our sphere — 

 about our cattle-shows, and the thought naturally 

 arose, why cannot we take an active part and 

 have direct interest in our fairs? We are now 

 limited to a certain extent, in a few particulars, 

 and in these are under the control of others, so 

 that, if there are any honors or satisfaction 

 gained, ihcy obtain them. In other words, while 

 we are beating the bush, they are catching the 

 bird. We wish for something we can exercise 

 our own abilities upon, free and independent of 

 others. Why cannot we have a declamatory or 

 oraturial exercise? There are many wealthy and 

 influential men, we have no doubt, that would be 



glad to promote such an object, if they under- 

 stood it rightly, and grant a few small prizes for 

 the competitors. It would be of no expense to 

 the society ; a rude stage upon a common would 

 answer all purposes ; and here the young farmer 

 might be preparing himself, in several ways, for 

 future usefulness. There are many Avays, per- 

 haps, better than this, in which the officers of our 

 societies, had they inclination, might help the 

 furgotten plow-boy and stimulate him to higher 

 examples. Will they not take note of this, and 

 remember us at future shows 1 Farmer Boy. 



Remarks. — ^Yes, Mr. "Plough Boy," we will 

 take note of what you siy, as your suggestions 

 are of a practical character, and in the right di- 

 rection. Our Middlesex Show is to be holden on 

 the 2Gth of September next, and we now offer one 

 premium of three dollars and another of two dol- 

 lars for the first and second best declamation 

 upon any agricultural subject, by any young man 

 between the ages of 14 and 20 years. The exer- 

 cise to take place at some convenient time on that 

 day, by the composer himself, and not to exceed 

 ten minutes in the delivery. Competitafe to be 

 eligible from any town in the State. 



PRESERVING FRUITS. 



My Dear Sir : — I send enclosed a notice of a 

 new kind of cans for preserving fresh fruits and 

 vegetables. Can you give your readers any in- 

 formation concerning them ? What their size, 

 price, &c., and whether they can be procured in 

 Boston ? It is very desirable to find something to 

 accomplish the object proposed, easily and eco* 

 nomically. If you can aid the public by advice 

 or information on this subject, you will do a good 

 work. Yours very respectfully, 



Bedford, June 7, 1855. W. Cushing. 



Remarks. — Arthur's patent air-tight, self-seal- 

 ing can, is manufactured and sold by Arthur, 

 Burnham & Co., at 60 South Tenth Street, Phil- 

 adelphia. The prices are for pints, $2 a dozen ; 

 quarts, $2,50 ; half gallon, $3,50 ; and gallons, 

 $5,00. It is said the can receives no injury what- 

 ever in being sealed or unsealed. Green currants 

 or gooseberries may be kept perfectly good for 

 many months by sealing them up with wax or 

 rosin in clean junk bottles. We have tomatoes 

 now (June 25) perfectly good put up in bottles 

 last October. They were stewed and salted a 

 little, and turned hot into hot bottles, and s^led 

 with common red sealing wax — the whole being a 

 perfectly simple and easy process. 



ABOUT POTATOES. 



]Mr. Editor : — Being a subscriber of your val- 

 uable paper, I have noticed for the last few weeks 

 a controversy upon the potato between "S. P." 

 and "B. W." Having myself had some experi- 

 ence in the business of raising potatoes, I wish to 

 relate an instance that came under my observa- 

 tion. In the spring of 1854 I planted an acre of 

 ground with potatoes. One-half I planted with 

 large and the other with small potatoes. The 



