GENERAL REMARKS. 19 



also an excellent manure, and may be used to gicat advan- 

 tage when dissolved in the proportion of one pound to four 

 gallons of water. This liquid, applied to plants through the 

 rose of a watering-pot, will preserve health and vigour. 

 Soapsuds are equally beneficial, if used occasionally in the 

 same manner — say once a week. These remedies, applied 

 alternately, have been known to preserve Melon and Cucum- 

 ber vines from the ravages of the yellow fly, bugs, blight, 

 &c., and to keep the plants in a thriving condition. 



As liquid, however, cannot be conveniently used on a large 

 piece of land, it may be necessary, if insects are numerous, 

 to sow tobacco dust, mixed with road dust, soot, ashes, lime, 

 or the dust of charcoal, in the proportion of half a bushel per 

 acre, every morning, unt'il the plants are free or secure frooi 

 their attacks. Turnip seed will sometimes sprout in forty- 

 eight hours. Cabbage seed ought to come up within a week 

 after it is sown ; but it sometimes happens that the whole is 

 destroyed before a plant is seen above ground ; the seeds- 

 man, in this case, is often blamed, but without cause.* 



A correspondent has communicated the result of an exper- 

 iment he has tried for jireventing the attacks of flies or fleas 

 on Turnips. Pie says, " Steep your seed in a pint of warm 

 water for two hours, in which is infused one ounce of salt- 

 petre ; then dry the seed, and add currier's oil suflicient to 

 wet the whole ; after which mix it with plaster of Paris, so 

 as to separate and render it fit for sowing." Fish oil is 



* As the truth of the old adage, That one ounce of prevention is of more 

 value than a pound of cure, is very generally admitted, I would recom- 

 mend the following method of preparing a bed for the purpose of raising 

 Cabbage, Cauliflower, Broccoli, and such other plants as are subject to the 

 attacks of insects : After digging or ploughing the ground in the usual 

 way, collect any combustibles that are attainable, as dried weed:?, sedge, 

 turf, brushwood, leaves, stubble, corn-stalks, sawdust, or even litter from 

 the dung-heap, which should be placed in heaps on the seed-beds and 

 burned to ashes ; then rake the ground over and sow the seed, which will 

 not be attacked by insects while the effects of the fire remain. In the 

 event of extremely dry weather, water the beds every evening until the 

 plants arc in full leaf. This is an infallible remedy. 



