NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



275 



bore well, and the fruit was large and fine, and 

 kept much better than that raised on low lands. 



We have seen some fine cranberries of spontane- 

 ous growth on high land in Reading, about 12 

 miles from this city. The land was in a wild state, 

 very poor, hard and dry, but the cranberries large 

 and bearing well. In Cape Elizabeth, Me., we 

 saw a good crop of cranberries in a grass field by 

 the side of a fine piece of barley, which the owner 

 was then reaping. We dug down among the cran- 

 berries, and examined the soil, and found it mostly 

 a poor sand, and very dry. As this was on flat 

 land, it might be well watered in winter and early 

 spring. 



There are numerous instances, throughout the 

 country, of the spontaneous growth of cranberries 

 on high land, bearing abundantly, and in some cases 

 flourishing well, under, apparently, the greatest 

 disadvantages. This seems to be conclusive evi- 

 dence that they will do well on high land under 

 good management. — Ed. 



For the Neiv England Farmer. 

 REMEDY FOR THE POTATO ROT. 



Mr. Editor: — I beg leave to say with regard to 

 the potato rot, that I discovered the small black 

 bug that Mr. Flanders speaks of five years ago, and 

 that I expressed to a neighbor of mine that this 

 was probably the first cause of the decay in the 

 potato. If I mistake not, the leaves were intend- 

 ed as lungs to the plant, and after being so complete 

 ly perforated in such a manner as to destroy the 

 health of the vine, I think it is in vain to expect 

 sound potatoes. 



I would state that I have found common hard 

 wood ashes a complete remedy; my method is to 

 apply a small portion in each hill on planting the 

 seed, and after they come up dust the ashes thor- 

 oughly both upon the upper and under sides of the 

 vines during their growth. This bug is about the 

 size of a flea, and upon approaching the vines ai\d 

 disturbing them they will hop similar to one; they 

 are also furnished with wings and can fly swiftly. 

 Yours, respectfully, 



William F. White. 



Framingham, July 28, 1851. 



Remarks. — This black bug is no new thino-; 

 and in thousands of cases the potato rots exten- 

 sively, when this bug has not been seen. If insects 

 cause the potato rot, those who advocate this hy- 

 pothesis ought to prove it, for what they consider 

 the cause is something tangible, and admits of de- 

 monstration. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 WHITE BLACKBERRIES. 



Mr. Cole: — Having several times adverted to 

 the berries raised by Mr. J. S. Needham, called 

 the ivhite blac/cbcrry, I beg leave to state that my 

 attention was yesterday called to a box of these 

 berries, fully ripe, and in condition for use. They 

 are a fine fruit, equal to any berry of the field — un- 

 less the raspberry may be considered superior. 

 Its productive qualities surpass all others. I learn 



from Mr. N. that one bush has yielded the present 

 season eleven quarts. The plant is hardy and well 

 calculated to endure our climate. The original of 

 his plants came from the woods of Maine. Those 

 who would know more of this plant, had better call at 

 Mr. Needham's, where upon his grounds is to be 

 seen much that is instructive in cultivation. His 

 patch of highland cranberries are in very fine con- 

 dition, p. 

 Danvers, Aug. 5, 1851. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 A QUESTION FOR THE BELIEVERS IN 

 THE INSECT THEORY. 



Mr Cole: — If, for example, the aphides on the 

 tender shoots of the apple-tree, although large 

 enough to be seen, and closely covering the sur- 

 face of the shoots, are still unable during a single 

 season to destroy them, "z/ is required to know^' the 

 number and size of the potato insect which in the 

 same time destroys almost simultaneously an in- 

 finitely greater number of stocks of a more fibrous 

 and less succulent plant, digging also down into 

 the earth, "destroying them root and branch," to 

 the amount of some thousands of bushels in every 

 neighborhood 1 A general solution to this ques- 

 tion is solicited. 



W. Newbury. n. r. t. g. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 CULTIVATION OF THE SEBA BEAN. 



Mr. Editor: — The scrawl which I am about to 

 do, will be, I am well aware, rather out of season; 

 but as all the subscribers to the "N. E. Farmer" 

 preserve their papers from month to month, and 

 then, at the end of the year, have them bound in a 

 tasteful and durable manner, it will make but lit- 

 tle difference, as they can readily refer to it when 

 spring time shall again return. I say oil your sub- 

 scribers preserve their papers, but perhaps I speak 

 unadvisedly; there may be those who are so indif- 

 ferent to their lasting worth as to destroy them. 

 If there are any of this class among your patrons, 

 I would say to them, "Sin no more." 



The Seba bean yields very largely when rightly 

 managed, and generally commands a high price in 

 the market; and when these important facts are 

 taken into consideration, I think I shall be justi- 

 fied in saying that it is a profitable bean for our 

 farmers to cultivate. And if it is profitable, the 

 reader will pay some little attention to raising it, 

 of course; therefoie he must have all things ready 

 "in time." Take two cords of light, well-rotted 

 horse manure, and pitch it up so as to form a sort 

 of basin. Intothis basin run a load of good night- 

 soil, not very thick, and then cover it over by 

 throwing up the edges of the heap, just enough to 

 prevent the escape of its rich qualities. This be- 

 ing done, let it remain a few days, and then over- 

 haul it and mix the horse manure and night-soil 

 well together. Thus much shotild be done some 

 three or four weeks before the time for planting 

 the l)cans. Just before you want to use the man- 

 ure, overhaul it again; it will then be in excellent 

 order; and if the beans that grow out of it ain't 

 "some punipkin.s," why, then I'll guess again, 

 that's all ! U all tiie heap is not wanted for the 

 beans, the remainder will be first-rate for almost any 

 other crop. After preparing the manure (ov before 

 perhaps would be better) select a piece of ground 



