70 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



or may be, instituted, to advance the interests of the 

 fanner. Groat advanta;^cs have ah-eady accrued from 

 these interchanges of views and opinions ; but it is 

 evident that much yet remains to be accompUshcd ; 

 and the partial success which has resulted from the 

 efforts which have been put forth, of this character, 

 should stimulate every fi-icnd of industry to con- 

 tinued exertion in this direction. If the plan and 

 purpose of your paper be such as I have supposed, I 

 may, occasionally, offer communications having a 

 more direct relation to the interests of agriculture. 

 Your obedient servant, 



A. T. L. 



BiUDGEWATEll, Ft:b. 5. 



For the New Eiiffkind Farmer. 

 ENTOMOLOGY. 



The structure, habits, and transformations of 

 insects, is a subject, the knowledge of which is of 

 very limited diffusion ; and yet there is no branch 

 of natural history more deeply interesting, espe- 

 cially to the agricultural portion of the community. 

 The orchard, field, garden, and even the forest, 

 are subject to their ravages ; whole crops are fre- 

 quently destroyed, or so materially injured as 

 scarcely to be worth harvesting ; and the hopes of 

 the farmer are oftentimes disappointed by the sud- 

 den appearance of myriads of them, previous to 

 which, he indulged high anticipation of a bountiful 

 suj^ply for man and beast. "Were a knowledge of 

 insects more generally diffused, and the best means 

 of checking their depredations better understood, 

 a large amount of vegetable production might be 

 added to the enormous quantity now grown in 

 this region, and a great amount of information be 

 possessed in regard to this branch of natural science, 

 Avhich, to him who has a taste for the curious in na- 

 ture, is very interesting, as well as useful. 



Within a few years, insects of some kinds have 

 increased to an alarming extent. The rose-bug, for 

 instance, literally swarms, devouring every thing, 

 almost indiscriminately, and all means used to check 

 it seem to be ineffectual. Many others might be 

 named, which are more numerous than formerlj', 

 and which seem, from their immense numbers, to 

 threaten destruction to certain crops. 



The study of insects may appear like a trifling 

 occiipation, to many. But what can be of more 

 importance to the farmer than the history of the 

 multitude, whom no man can number, which are 

 laying waste his crops ? It is not expected that 

 every one will perfectly understand the science of 

 entomology ; but any one may obtain sufficient 

 knowledge of it to be of much benefit to him in 

 conducting the various branches of agriculture. 



The " Treatise on Insects injurious to Vegeta- 

 tion," by Dr. T. W. Harris, is a work which should 

 be in every farmer's library. It contains a vast 

 amount of information on the subject; embracing 

 their history, and the best means of destroying them, 

 and preventing their ravages. Agricultural papers 

 have done much, within the few past years, in 

 diffusing a knowledge of this subject, and the habits 

 of many insects are now generally understood, 

 which, but a short time since, were but imper- 

 fectly known ; still there is a wide field open for 

 study, and he who enters upon it cannot but bo 

 interested in its exploration. 



O. y. HILLS. 



GENERAL REMARKS ON MANURES, &,c. 



In the recent discussion on the subject of ma- 

 nures, at the State House, — a report of which may 



be found on page 55, — Hon. Mr. Leonard, of 

 Norton, expressed the following views, which he 

 has politely furnished for our columns : — 



"It has been said, Mr. President, that farmers are 

 the founders of human civilization ; and this I be- 

 lieve to be true. It is a fact that has been verified, 

 from time immemorial, that when the red man of the 

 forest commenced the use of the plough and be- 

 came a farmer, he then gave up the chase. It has also 

 been said, that if there is any one business, calling, 

 or profession more independent than others, it is 

 agriculture ; and this is probably true, as agricul- 

 ture is a great centre, about which all other occu- 

 pations in society seem to revolve. Trade, com- 

 merce, manufactures, and even the learned profes- 

 sions, in some good degree, owe their welfare to 

 this branch of industry. Therefore the farming 

 community are a part of a great whole, which 

 must bo preserved in complete harmony, or else 

 bring death, distress, and famine, upon the land. 

 And he who sets himself to work in good earnest, 

 with hand and mind, to explore the hidden treas- 

 ures of the earth, (and I do not here mean digging 

 California gold, but more valuable treasures — those 

 which sustain human life, and increase human 

 happiness, and bless the race,) — to him who sets 

 himself to work in earnest, with the aid of scientific 

 research, and practical experience in this business, 

 will be likely to turn every thing on his farm to good 

 account. And I know of no case where scientific 

 research and practical experience can be better 

 applied than in the matter of manures, which is the 

 subject now under discussion. Manures are the 

 great stimulants that cause the earth to increase 

 her productions ; and to consider the manner of 

 making and applying them to the ground, in the 

 cheapest and best way, is the object for which we 

 are here convened. Manures may be procured by 

 the wealthy (who do not, and need not, stop to count 

 the cost) in a manner that wUl not do for the man 

 of small means. "We, sir, must learn to make 

 manure from means Avithin our reach, and from 

 materials gathered from oiu* own farms. I believe, 

 sir, that the attention of the young has been called 

 to this subject (in part at least) by our meetings 

 here, for a few years past, and also by the agriciil- 

 tural papers and pamphlets now so widely circulated. 

 The farmers' boys begin to feel that they want more 

 education, and in this they are right ; let them have 

 it, their occupation requires it ; for is it not a fact 

 that the soil cannot be cultivated to the best possible 

 advantage without some knowledge of its constituent 

 parts, so as to understand what is lacking in some 

 soils and what superabounds in others, and thus be 

 able to apply such manures, or helps, as will make 

 each foot of ground more productive ? To do this, 

 it will be necessary for the farmer to bring to his aid 

 the all-powerful science of chemistry — a science 

 without a parallel in its extent and utility. Much has 

 been said about the use of charcoal as a manure ; and 

 although I have never tried experiments like those 

 which have been described by some who have 

 spoken here, yet I have used it as a manure for 

 more than forty years ; I mean charcoal dust, or the 

 fine, broken coal which is too small to be taken up 

 by the rake, and is left upon the bed or hearth, and 

 which is mixed with ashes in the process of charring. 

 This article will keep the rain off for about one year, 

 and, of course, will not freeze, as it remains entirely 

 dry ; so that it can be used in winter, to cover over the 

 manure heap from the stable, and prevent the escaj>e 

 of the ammonia and other gases ; and by this process 

 the heap is increased both in quantity and quality, 

 I have made some experiments with mud, or muck, 

 from swamps. This article, when pulverized, is worth 

 more than half as much as manure from the stable, 

 for raising potatoes in dry, sandy ground. I have 

 also used bone-dust, lime, ashes, and plaster, all of 



