292 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



gardener, Mr. Crawford, and which I think will 

 establish fnlly and finally the cause of the potato 

 disease. The discovery is as follows: Mr. Craw- 

 ford discovered, in removing pig or hog weeds 

 this morning, that they were in a wilted condition: 

 not being able to discover the cause, he finally ex- 

 amined the roots, and found them covered with ap- 

 parently the same insect that I showed you when 

 at my place. I at once proceeded with him to ex- 

 amine some squash vines, which, if you remember, 

 were on the western avenue of the garden, and 

 which were much wilted. Much to our astonish- 

 ment, we found the roots covered with the same in- 

 sect, and which I find are also upon the potato 

 root as well as the leaf. I also on examining the 

 small nursery of apple trees, found upon the root 

 the same insect which I showed you upon the leaf. 

 I therefore am of opinion that the insects which 

 I described in my communication to you, feed both 

 upon the root and leaf, and will finally settle the 

 question of the potato disease. 

 Yours very respectfully, 



Oliver M. Whipple. 

 To J. M. Proctor, Esq., Danvers. 



For the New England Farmer. 



HORSE RAKES— HARROWS— SETTING 

 FRUIT TREES. 



Mr. Cole : — I see an inquiry of one of your sub- 

 scribers as to horse rakes, and in your answer you 

 say, "for rough land the Spring Tooth is the best, 

 but hard to manage." Now that depends on the 

 manner in which it is held, as also the dust you say 

 it gathers; they do not require to be held down hard 

 so as to gather dust, but should be run light; and 

 as to their being hard to manage, there are as ma- 

 ny in this section that have used both that say they 

 can hold the Spring Tooth the easiest. One of my 

 neighbors has taken his rake, and with a very tri 

 fling expense has rigged it on wheels, so that he 

 can ride and rake. It is done by making a long 

 axletree, so that the wheels will run outside the 

 rake. The thills are about 12 feet long, but run 

 back of the axletree a foot, and bolted on to the 

 top; then board over a space on the thills before 

 and behind the axletree sufficient to stand on; first 

 a cross-piece on the thills forward sufficiently far 

 to fasten the whiffletree to; he has then what are 

 called clip bands around the axle, and they pass 

 through a stick two and a half leet long, which is 

 on top of the axletree, and on to the hind end of 

 these sticks he bolts the head of his rake, and for- 

 ward there is a mortice and piece framed in that 

 should come up about breast high, and a cross-piece 

 from one to the other. When raking, he stands on 

 his platform and takes hold of the cross-piece, and 

 when it is necessary to raise the rake, pushes for- 

 ward, which lifts his rake. 



Your correspondent also asks what kind of har- 

 rows are best for smooth land. I made one for my- 

 self this season, that for cheapness and doing the 

 work well is preferable to any 1 have seen; it is 

 square, and drawn by the corner, made of three- 

 inch oak .scantling, with four cross-pieces one inch 

 by two, put through; the teeth are made of one- 

 inch rolled iron, and in sharpening should not be 

 made any larger ; bore your holes and drive the 

 teeth in, and you have a harrow. 



I wish to inquire of you what advantage there is 

 to be gained by setting out fruit trees in the spring 

 more than in the fall. I have more time to attend 



to such work in the fall than the spring, and pre- 

 sume most farmers have. I this season procured 

 some five or six hundred scions, and had them set 

 by a man who said he understood the business, but 

 do not think there are fifty live ones in all. Will 

 the same limbs answer to saw ofFnext spring and 

 graft again 1 



Yours, H. O. Walker. 



Swanlon Centre, Vt., Aug. 7, 1851. 



Remarks. — There is no advantage, in our opin- 

 ion, in setting trees in the spring instead of the fall. 

 We prefer setting in the fall decidedly, provided 

 they are set in season, and the work well done. — 

 Trees set in the fall are more likely to live the next 

 summer; and they make a much better growth than 

 those set in the spring. Every farmer who has 

 time to attend to it should learn to graft, which he 

 can do very readily, by having a little instruction 

 from one well skilled in the business. It will answer 

 to saw off the limbs again, and giaft next spring. 



For the New England Farmer. 



NEWLAND'S STRAWBERRIES. 



Right glad was I to see in your paper of this 

 date a just notice of the imposition practised on 

 the public, by those who have put forward this va- 

 riety as having extraordinary claims for cultiva- 

 tion. It is certainly, at best, not more than a 

 third-rate fruit. To be sure, it may yield in num- 

 bers, as many as most other kinds, but their size is 

 small, and their quality inferior. In no respect is 

 it to be compared with the Early Virginia, or with 

 Hovey's Seedling, both of which have succeeded 

 admirably, so far as our observation has extended. 

 As an illustration of the ease with which a sup- 

 ply of the strawberry may be obtained, I will state 

 a fact, within my observation, on the grounds of 

 an intelligent/flr/««-, not ^flTf/cncr, the present sea- 

 son. In the Spring of 1850, he appropriated a 

 patch of ground, about 30 by 50 feet, to the growth 

 of the strawberry, and set out rows of plants, three 

 of the V^irginia to one of the Hovey. Pie took 

 care to keep them clear of weeds and grass. The 

 present season, this place yielded 150 boxes of fruit, 

 which sold at an average of 25 cents a box, be- 

 sides affiirding a liberal supply for a family of ten 

 persons, and a numerous retinue of friends, — the 

 proprietor having taken home a ncio loife about the 

 time of maturing of the strawberry. To say noth- 

 ing of the profits of this cultivation (the produce 

 being worth more X\\^\\ five dollars the square rod) 

 who is there that has once enjoyed, for a fortnight, 

 the luxuries of strawberries and cream, under the 

 superintending care of a neat and agreeable house- 

 wife, that would willingly relinquish such a privi- 

 lege ? 



0, too happy farmers, did you but realize the 

 comforts at your command ! * 



Aug. 16, 1851. 



Making Candles. — Experience of Mrs. T , 



of Ohio. Prepare small wicks of the best wick 

 yarn, and, after being prepared, completely satu- 

 rate them in clear spirits of turpentine; then dry 

 them thoroughly, before the tallow is applied. 

 C'andles made in this way will burn much clearer 

 and last much longer, than without the spirits of 

 turpentine. 



