364 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Aug. 



that the roots of an evergreen never ought to see 

 icy-light. It is true that they will live sometimes 

 when the roots Iiavo heen exposed to sun and air 

 But they sliould either be taken up with a good 

 ball of dirt alx)ut them or be immediately wi-apped 

 up in wet moea or something similar, and so kept 

 until planted again. — Maine Farmer. 



For the New England Fanner. 



HOUSE PAINTING. 



The item of painting, paper-hanging and glaz- 

 ing, is no small one in New England, where there 

 is, without question, a more general use of paint 

 than in any other section of the world. No- 

 where will you find le&s unpainted buildings, in 

 proportion to the number, than here. Everybody 

 uses paint, — we are sorry not to bo able to except 

 even some of the sweet heart confectionary people. 

 All are interested more or less in its cost and 

 preservation. The general subject, with sugges- 

 tions as to the harmony of colors and the appro- 

 priateness of the various hues for the difi'erent 

 purposes of use and ornament, will be the subject 

 of these articles. 



1 need not say to those who understand the sub- 

 ject, that it is one which is usually far too little 

 understood, coming as it does under every day ob- 

 servation , it would seem to be well for all to know 

 its most simple details. 



Since the recent extensive manufacture of zinc 

 white as a pigment, there has been great inquiry 

 as to its merits, in comparison with lead, llav- 

 i:5g given the subject personal attention for the 

 past two years, I am prepared to recommend zinc, 

 Because it is not so poisonous, an equal number of 

 pounds will cover more surface equally well, and 

 it is more beautiful. And besides, I know no rea- 

 son why it is not more durable. Tliere is a mis- 

 taken notion, which is very prevalent, that white 

 lead is the oxide of lead. It is the suhcarhonatc — 

 litharge is the oxide, and red lead the dcutoxide, 

 while white zinc, as it is called, is the oxide of 

 zinc ; and not a carbonate, like white lead. 



The drying process is not by evaporation like 

 varnish, but by the absorption of oxygen from tlie 

 atmosphere. Inexperienced jjainters frequently 

 eomplain that zinc does not cover so well as lead ; 

 tlie reason is they use it too thin; it has to be 

 mixed apparently thicker and spread on more 

 flowing than lead; so treated, it is more satisfac- 

 tory, and still not so expensive as lead. The idea 

 has been extensively promulgated, that painting- 

 done in the fall of the year, is far better than at 

 any other season. It is easy to see the origin of 

 this notion and the means of its continuance. 

 Painters always have a special rush of work in 

 the spring; all nature is then thawing out of win- 

 ter quarters. Man feels the renovating influen- 

 ces, and then, if ever, a desire to assist nature in 

 the beautifying processes going on around him, to 

 . make improvements and repairs. All want tlieir 

 work done "right off," but they can't all be ac- 

 commodated at once ; the painter must be idle 

 most of the year, or have his work distributed 

 through the season. Some shrewd one starts the 

 idea that it is actually better to wait — the econom- 

 ical ones do wait — and the idea is extensively dif- 

 fused ; everybody believes it, and tlie painter is 

 l)enefitod, and the story has poi'formed its mission. 

 Now the proper time to repaint is, when your 



buildings need it; when they begin to chalk, for 

 even if there is an advantage, the loss sust. lined, 

 will, beyond all doubt, more than counter! wlance 

 the benefit to be derived by wailing. The best 

 time to paint, is when it will be thoroughly dry, 

 before either very hot or very cold weather ; were 

 there no other considerations to be taken into ac- 

 count. 



As to color for outside painting, a house with 

 no architectural pretensions may, with propriety, 

 1)6 painted white, or almost any other lively color, 

 but a building, the moulding, cornices, carvings, 

 &c., which are alone ornamental, should not be 

 painted white, or any other brilliant color, be- 

 cause the amount of light reflected, would in a 

 great measure destroy the architectural effect. 



Skylight. 



COAL ASHES A UEMEDY FOR BUGS 

 ON VINES. 



Every discovery wdiich promises to assist the 

 farmer in economizing cash or labor is entitled to 

 regard; for, as Poor Richard says — "A penny 

 saved is as good as two pence earned." Some 

 have recommended the application of gypsum or 

 plaster of par is, soot, sulphur, snuff, &c., as a 

 protection for vines against the ravages of the 

 yellow bug ; but neither of these has been found 

 efficient in securing the plants from their depre- 

 dations, and many assert that they are of no ser- 

 vice, whatever. Nevertheless, it would seem from 

 the following communication which appeared orig- 

 inally in the columns of the Boston Cultivator, 

 over the responsi!)le signatui-eof S. H. Suurtleff, 

 that a remedy has at length been found in coal 

 ashes, and that when applied to cucumbers, 

 squashes, melons, etc., it affords an TEgis invul- 

 nerable to the "striped bug," as well as to the 

 "black bug," which attacks them generally at a 

 more advanced period of growth. We jjresent an 

 extract of Mr. Shurtleff's article, as it is always 

 more satisfactory to the reader, who reads for in- 

 struction, to have experimenters relate the results 

 of their experiments in their own words : — 



"Last week the 'striped bug' came in showers, 

 on my vines, and in less than two hours the 

 latter were covered with them. It appeared as 

 if they would be devoured. 1 put on plaster (gyp- 

 sum) but it did not remove them. I then put 

 on a quantity of coal ashes, about half a jjint to 

 a hill, by sifting it on, and in less than an hour 

 not a bug was to be seen. Then, to try the com- 

 parative effect of plaster and ashes, I put ashes 

 on one hill and plaster on the next, and so on al- 

 ternately, and I found in all cases where the ash- 

 es were put on, the bugs loft, while they remained 

 where the plaster was used. 



"I found my melons beset with the small black 

 bug that so often destroys melons and cucumbers. 

 I directed my man to put ashes on them, and I 

 was much pleased to find the insects immediately 

 left them, and they have not re-appeared. I feel 

 confident that the ashes of either hard or soft coal 

 will prove a sure remedy for keeping bugs from 

 the vines ; and as they are noAV considered almost 



