Ko. 13. 



The Grain f^orm. 



207 



Farmers venerate the hoe, the scythe and 

 ?the sickle. If you exchange the implements 

 of husbandry tor means of livelihood, you 

 venture where there are several blanks to a 

 prize ! " Look over your knds, and see what 

 parts may be cultivated to more advantage — 

 how you can raise more grain and 13a x, keep 

 more cows and sheep ; fat more cattle — sell 

 more beef and pork, and other articles of pro- 

 duce. Study agriculture; carry it to the 

 greatest perfection. It is the basis of our 

 wealth, of manufactures and commerce. 



The Gram ^Vorm. 



THIRTY DOLLARS PREMIUM. 



" Wheat is, in many parts of the country 

 •subject to injury from an insect or worm, 

 whose appearance is comparatively recent, 

 aii.l whose habits are not well ascertained. 

 Kcis making dreadful havoc in the wheat re- 

 gions, producing in many cases, an entire 

 destruction of extensive tields of the most 

 promising appearance, and has advanced at 

 tlie rate°of about forty miles a year. The 

 same insect, it is believed, has attacked bar- 

 ley, rye, and oats, with alarming success. 

 The cultivation of barley has on this account 

 bet;n abandoned in some parts of this State, 

 (Massachusetts) and so has the cultivation of 

 i wheat in what have heretofore been deemed 

 j «ome of the most productive wheat regions in 

 I New York." 



! The above is from the Rev. Henry Colman. 

 : Other writers have spoken of the great rava- 

 ges of this insect, and thousands of farmers 

 i have sowed in hope and rejoicing in the pro- 

 I mise of their grain fields, but in harvest, in- 

 stead of a rich reward for their industry, they 

 have received nothing. Agricultural Societies 

 have solicited the best information on this 

 subject, and many experiments have been] 

 tried, and remedies recommended, but none I 

 have been made known, on which farmers 

 ■confidently rely. The insects have extended 

 their ravages far and wide, and whole dis- 

 tricts of many hundred thousand acres of the 

 most promising grain have been destroyed. 



This subject is of the highest importance, 

 not only to farmers, but to the whole commu- 

 nity, and further experiments are necessary, 

 in order, if possible, that a perfect preventa- 

 tive or security may be discovered, as it 

 would be of incalculable worth to the country, 

 and for the purpose of stimulating to fresh 

 inquiries, and calling forth the best informa- 

 tion that can possibly be obtained on this sub- 

 ject, we hereby offer a premium of THIRTY 

 DOLLARS to ANY PERSON who shall produce 

 in writing, for publication in the Yankee 

 Farmer, the most satislactory history of this 

 insect, describing minutely its habits, its 



mode of operation, and the surest remedy 

 against its depredations. 



The premium will be awarded by the de- 

 cision of three eminent and experienced ag- 

 riculturists. Communications on this sub- 

 ject may be addressed to CnAkLES P. Bosson, 

 Publisher, North Market Street, Boston, 

 Mass., or S. W. Cole, Publisher, Middle 

 Street, Portland, Me.— Yankee Farmer. 



Insectivoi'oiis Birds. 



These are to the farmer and the gardener 

 of great value. They were designed by the 

 Creator to check the too great increase of 

 insects, and no farmer ought to suffer them 

 to be Wantonly destroyed on his premises. 

 The number of insects destroyed by the robin, 

 swallow, sparrow, mock-bird, and other 

 small birds, is astonishing. One little fami- 

 ly will destroy several hundred in a single 

 day. Some little time since a pair of small 

 birds built a nest on a lilac, which grew close 

 to one of my windows. In the time of incu- 

 bation there was a long and severe storm, 

 and strong wind. The eggs were in danger 

 of being blown overboard by tlie writhing of 

 the bush. Conscious of this, the female kept 

 on the bush to prevent any accident which 

 might follow on her leaving it, to collect food. 

 Her mate, like a good provider, was busily 

 engaged during the day in collecting food, (in- 

 sects,) which he carried to his companion, and 

 which she received of him with apparent 

 affection. This circumstance excited partic- 

 ular attention, and of course this little society 

 was closely observed. In a short time the 

 eggs hatched, but the roughness of the 

 weather, or the tenderness of the brood, pre* 

 vented the female from leaving her young. 

 During this time, the male, with surprising 

 industry, brought small insects, in the larva 

 state, to the nest, hut was not allowed to feed 

 the nestlings. The female received the food 

 and divideJ'it among her little charge. When 

 the young gained sufficient strength, the male 

 was permitted to feed them, and from this 

 time both parents were mutually and inces- 

 santly employed in collecting small insects 

 from every quarter, and on a moderate calcu- 

 lation to the number of about 700 in a day. 



One cause of the increase of many insects 

 so destructive to vegetation, is the decrease 

 of these little friends to the agriculturist.— 

 Should a few of them innocently trespass on 

 the farmer, to the amount of a few cents, let 

 him remember that he is greatly indebted to 

 them for services rendered, and not to wage 

 a war of extermination. 



They are not merely useful in destroying 

 insects— for they call the farmer and the gar- 

 dener to his business, cause the groves to re- 

 sound with music, and usher in the morning 

 with melodious praise. 



