No. 13. 



Brocoli. — Hnnestif. 



22S 



ploughed stitF sod, have been injured by tlie 

 whole furrow being moved with tl)e cultiva- 

 tor, in the dressing of the corn. This reason- 

 ing appears sufficiently plausible, especially 

 if the ploughing is not of sufficient depth — 

 and argues also in favor of deep ploughing. 

 But the danger incurred, of havuig the crop 

 injured by the cut-worm, by leaving the 

 ploughing till so late a period, overbalances 

 all the advantages it presents. 



A writer in the last number of the Cabinet 

 says, " We also have a variety of means to 

 destroy depreflators and convert them into 

 food for vegetables, such as the frost of winter 

 on the embryo of the cut v/orm, as exemplifi- 

 ed by the benefit arising from autumn and 

 winter ploughing." In view of the above, 

 and other reasons, he draws the following 

 conclusion. 



'■ Land for Indian corn should be ploughed 

 in the autumn or winter preceding the plant- 

 ing." 



If he has actually discovered, that the frost 

 of winter destroys the embryo of the cut 

 worm, he has added one link to the great 

 chain of scientific fctcts, which has hitherto 

 evaded the research of some of the most 

 profound inquirers. My knowledge upon the 

 subject being entirely analagous, I shall ad- 

 vance my objections, by proposing a few in- 

 quiries. But in the first place let me observe, 

 that in the abstract, the eggs producing the 

 eut worm, must consequently be deposited in 

 or before autumn. 1. If the frosts of winter 

 destroy the embryo of the cut-worm, why has 

 not the insect long since become extinct! 

 2. Where does the phalsna deposit its eggs, 

 at the surface of the ground, or about furrow 

 depth below ! If the phaia?na deposits its eggs 

 at the surface of the ground, and the embryo 

 is destroyed by the frosts, then I should con- 

 clude, that the best method to get them des- 

 troyed, is to leave the grounil unploughed 

 during the winter, that their situation may 

 be the more exposed; as ploughing them 

 down would have but a tendency to preserve 

 them from the rigors of winter. But if the 

 eggs are deposited about furrow depth below 

 tlie surface, then early spring ploughing, I 

 presume, instead of destroying them as proved 

 by experinxent, would have a tendency to pro- 

 mote their advancement, by exposing them 

 to the genial influence of the sun. 



Now the idea of the cut-worm being des- 

 troyed by the frost of winter, appears to me, 

 to hold good, neither in theory nor in practice. 

 I presume^ that in autumn, winter,. or spring 

 ploughing, we must look for its destruction, 

 to some other source than the frost. As I am 

 not writing a philosophical dissertation on 

 the habits of the cut-worm ; Ltit inquiring, 

 when is the most advantageous time to plougli 

 sod for corn; for, what appears to rae, to be 



the most probable cause of its destruction, I 

 must refer to the quotation from "Observer." 

 If nothing else was to be taken into considera- 

 tion but the destruction of the cut worm, I 

 should agree that autumn ploughing, was 

 perhaps as advantageous as early spring 

 ploughing. But with regard to economy, and 

 exemption from labor, with the equal certain- 

 ty ['oi a full crop, experience and argument, 

 in my opinion, fully prove, that as rarly as 

 possible in the springy is the best time ta 

 plough sod for corn. 



A. 



Chester County, Feb. 3, 1S33. 



EROCOLI. 



This plant belongs to the cabbage family 

 but has not been cultivated in the U. iStates as 

 much as the common cabbage. It appears to 

 be a mixture between the cauliflower and 

 common variety, and perfects itself with more 

 certainty in this latitude than the cauliflower. 

 Like the latter it is cultivated for the congre- 

 gation of flower-buds, which is the part used; 

 these appear in a conical shape, and are very 

 tender. When used, they are boiled, and 

 s.?rved up with drawn butter. The plants 

 are to be sown and ti-.'ated in the same man- 

 ner as cabbage; and there is also early and 

 late varieties, both of white and purple color. 

 The pijrple cape brocoli, or fall brocoli, is one 

 of the best varieties for our climate, as the 

 head of the ftower-buds is largo and close, and 

 although the color, when growing, is a pale 

 purple, wlien boiletl, it is of a beautiful green. 

 In flavor, brocoli much resembles the cabbage, 

 but the part used is extremely tender and 

 delicate. 



We wonld recommend to every farmer, ta 

 set out a few of the plants with his cabbage. 



A RARE EXAMPLE OF HONESTY. A cir- 



cunistance recently occurred in our vicinity 

 which we think deserving of notice. Mr. D. 

 of the city, says the "Commercial Herald," 

 wished to purchase a horse of Mi-. B. of the 

 county. One hundred and ten dollars were 

 asked, and one hundred oifersd. Mr. B» 

 agree to take one hundred doUarSj provided 

 he could have the use of the horse for one 

 week. This was assented to, and themoney 

 paid> On the day that the horse was to be 

 delivered, he died. Mr. B. prom ptly offered 

 to refund the money. Mr. D. declined re- 

 ceiving it. Each insisted on being the loser. 

 Mr. B. was finally prevailed on to retain i^2d, 

 which was all he could be induced to keep. If 

 we were all to act thus nobljr, how rarely 

 would the peace of society be disturbed by 

 litigation. 



"• When -SELF th« wavering balanea shakes- 

 I 'Tis R.tRELY liiightadju.^tsd." 



