286 



Grub- Worm. 



Vol. III. 



The above enactment has, at lliis remote 

 period, become obsolete, and the practice of 

 instilling into children, at an early age, habits 

 of diligence and industry, has, it is feared, in 

 numerous instances, been too much neglect- 

 ed and disregarded, either for their good or 

 for the comfort and advantage of tlieir pa- 

 rents; and inasmuch as so important a law 

 has been expunged from the statute-book, I 

 take the liberty of reviving it, t-ti that heads 

 of families may re-enact it as a part of their 

 domestic code, for the benefit of their off- 

 spring, the advancement of agriculture, and 

 the promotion of useful industry generally. 



A. B. 



For the Farmers' Cabinel, 



GrMb-Worm. 



A procrastinating farmer paves the lives of millions 

 of grubs. 



It seems to be a law of nature that popula- 

 tion should keep pace with the means of sub- 

 sistence, and this law appears to be faithfully 

 maintained throughout the animal kingdom, 

 even down to the lowest grade of insects and 

 worms. The grub-worm, which is so destruc- 

 "tive to Indian corn in the early stages of its 

 growth, was much less numerous and injuri- 

 ous previous to the introduction of red clover. 

 At that period corn was generally planted 

 where there had not been a sufficient quan- 

 tity of tender, succulent food for it to subsist 

 upon in any considerable numbers, and con- 

 sequently its propagation and support was so 

 precarious, that its increase was so slow as 

 not to be observable. But when clover was 

 generally cultivated, and by the most skilful 

 arrangement of the rotation of crops, Indian 

 corn succeeded it when the clover began to 

 run o>it, the increase of the grub- worm keep- 

 ing pace with the means of subsistence, (for 

 it feeds with avidity on the green, succulent 

 stalks of clover,) propagated to a most alarm- 

 ing extent ; and the sod being ploughed down 

 in the spring for corn, and the pasture of the 

 worms being by that means destroyed, when 

 the young corn began to vegetate and show 

 itself above ground, the worms following out 

 the law of self-preservation, and from no mis- 

 chievous propensity, commenced feeding upon 

 it most ravenously, and for some years it was 

 almost doubted whether its cultivation would 

 not have to be abandoned in some neighbor- 

 hoods. 



During this state of suspense, some ob- 

 eerving, reflecting person, who no doubt had 

 taken the trouble to examine into the charac- 

 ter, habits, and instincts of the grub, disco- 

 vered that early in the autumn it sought a re- 

 treat some inches below the surface of the 

 earth, and there prepared itself a domicil 

 where it might repose in safety from storms 



and tempests till the vernal season arrived, 

 and with it its accustomed food. 



It was very rationally suggested, that if 

 the sod was ploughed down late in the fall, 

 and the habitations of the enemy turned top- 

 sy-turvy, that the walls might be broken in 

 pieces by the winter frosts, and that the in- 

 habitants being turned out of doors would 

 perish, and ihe young corn be preserved from 

 its greatest enemy. This was at first sug- 

 gested as a theory; it was soon put to the 

 test o^ practice ; and every farmer knows the 

 benefit tHat resulted from it. The grub soon 

 became a much less formidable enemy ; every 

 one knew how to vanquish it, provided a pretty 

 severe winter came to his aid. But farmers 

 sometimes liave treacherous memories as well 

 as other folks, and the enemy having been 

 supposed to have been completely routed, 

 there was a strong propensity felt to resume 

 old habits, and postpone ploughing corn 

 ground till spring again, in accordance with 

 ancient custom ; this has of>.en been done, 

 and generally with the same result; the ene- 

 my not being entirely exterminated, increases 

 his forces and proceeds again to the work of 

 destruction. 



A fev^ years since, from winter setting in 

 early, or some other cause, very little corn 

 ground was ploughed in the autumn ; the fol- 

 lowing spring the corn suffered severely from 

 the depredations of the grub; but where por- 

 tions of a field had been turned down in the 

 fall, it furnished the usual protection; this 

 was observable in numerous instances. The 

 succeeding autumn, many farmers having a 

 very short allowance of corn, and smarting 

 under the infliction, went to turning up the 

 ground in good earnest, and overturned the 

 quarters of the enemy without compunction. 

 The consequence was a general exemption 

 from injury; it was pretty well followed out 

 for a year or two afterwards, but last fall 

 many began to relax and to forget the things 

 that they had suffered, and much corn ground 

 was permitted to remain undisturbed till this 

 spring, and those thus circumstanced are now 

 going on in the old track, that did very well 

 before clover was brought into general culti- 

 vation and the sod ploughed down for corn. 



Now let us observe and see if the laws of 

 nature have been reversed to accommodate 

 those who neglect fall ploughing. 



Agricola. 



You may safely set it down as a fact, that 

 where there is no industry there will soon be 

 no virtue, and withal but little money in the 

 purse. 



The glory of a good man is the testimony 

 of a good conscience: have that and thou wilt 

 have inward peace in the midstof many trou- 

 bles, 



