THE GENESEE FARMER. 



109 



The Hses and advantages of the roller are many 

 and important, and no good farmer should be 

 without oiae. It is almost superfluous for us to 

 point out the various uses to which it may be 

 •applied. To crops planted on a newly turned sod, 

 the rolkr is indispensable, as, by pressing down the 

 •sward, it promotes decomposition, and causes the 

 ■crop to feel, at an early period, the invigorating 

 'effect of the manure so produced. 



"We could adduce numberless instances where the 

 •superiority of rolled crops has been manifested 

 •over those not so treated; but we will be content 

 •with enumerating a few obvious advantages of the 

 implement. In spring, it smooths the meadows 

 and sinks the small stones out of the reach of doing 

 damage to the scythe or mower; presses the roots 

 of winter wheat and clover, that have been partially 

 heaved out by the winter frosts, into the ground 

 again; makes barley and spring wheat tOler out 

 more; and breaks the newly formed crust on the 

 surface, thus admitting air and moisture to the 

 roots. Even corn and potatoes are benefited by 

 being rolled immediately atler planting, especially 

 on loose, porous soils. On light lands, it is especially 

 (useful in compressing and rendering the soil more 

 icompact; and on heavy clays, it should follow 

 iseeding, to break the dods, and a harrow may be 

 •afterward run over the ground to loosen the surface 

 I again, should it appear to have become too compact. 

 jLastly, it may be employed on summer fallows, to 

 j:ru«h and kUl the weeds, and on country roads, to 

 pack and settle them after the performance of the 

 I isual annual repairs. 



I Under whatever circumstances or for whatever 



II Tops the roller is to be used, care must be taken 

 fi hat the soil is in the right condition to be benefited 

 ij ly its use ; neither too wet nor too dry — or, as an 

 :jild farmer we knew used to say, "it shouldn't 

 sjeave dirt pancakes as it travels along, nor be 

 ^ xessed in a green jacket." 



^ A box attached to the hind part of the frame 

 kill be found useful for coDecting loose stones in 

 ivhen rolling grass lands, or to add to the weight 

 -f the roller on very cloddy soils; although it will 

 t the same time require a greater amount of power 

 draw it in that case than if the weight had been 

 pplied in the roller itself, by reason of the extra 

 mount of friction thus thrown upon the axles. 



Oil Cake for Heifees. — It is said that if heifers 

 eceive a little oil-cake (say 2 lbs. per day) for two 

 T three months before calving, their milk vessels 

 vill acquire a larger development, and their milk- 

 3g qualities be much improved. 



BACON BEETLE. 



This insect, Dermest-e* lardarhts, is one of the 

 greatest pests in the kitchen and pantry of mtmy 

 farm houses. It does not confine itself to feeding 

 on bacon, but also devours haras, cheese, etc. Fig. 

 1 represents a piece of bacon eaten into holes by 

 this beetle. At 2 are seen its eggs in one of the 

 larger cavities; (3) is an egg greatly magnified. 

 The eggs hatch into little red, hairy larvso, which, 

 in a month, become full-grown (4) ; having moulted 

 several times, leaving their skins in the bacon upon 

 which they feed, they transform into pupa3 (5). 

 In August, the beetles (6, magnified; 7 natural 

 length) make their appearance, and remain at work 

 through the winter. This beetle is dull black, with 

 a pale, buff-colored band across the elytra, on 

 which is a line of black spots. The thorax is 

 speckled with Tvhite, and it has six legs and ample 

 wings, so that it can fly at night from one place to 

 another. 



In England, where these pests are a far greater 

 evil than here, it is common to tie bacon up in 

 brown paper bags, so made that there is not the 

 smallest aperture for the beetles to get through to 

 reach the bacon. It is said that where bacon is in- 

 fested by these beetles and their larva), if a dead: 

 mouse or small bird is hung up near the bacon aff 

 night, these pests will resort to them; and by 

 shaking the dead carcass over a basin of hot water 

 every morning, the whole brood will soon be de- 

 stroyed. "We have known bacon to be pack;e^ in 

 dry ashes, as a protection against these beetles;, but 

 the bacon absorbed potash and acquired a bad fla- 

 vor. In England, bacon is kept in diry Qaalt, but 

 this is a remedy not generally applioabl© in this 

 country. Haras are usually tied ap in canvass 

 bags, whitewashed on the outside, as a protection 

 against this and other insects. 



Care of Lambs. — The profit to be derived from 

 keeping sheep greatly depends on the care taken of 

 the lambs during the spring months. They should 

 be kept with their dams separate from other stock. 



