322 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



May 2, 1825. 



method as above stated, may not always save old : feet apjirl, and to the dopth ot 3-4th3 of an inch, wiule it presents a inost interesting subjectfor the 

 swarms of bees, already infested by those mis- j and about the same thickness as carrots. They improveinfnt and enlarg-ement of the mind, wil! 

 chievous insects, (although I have not lost any ray- - vvill show themselves in about two weeks, when also develope and apply tlie resources of our coun- 



' try, so an to increase the business, the wealth, and 

 the prosperity of the nation. 



In whatever section of the country geology has 

 been introduced, it has seldom failed to lead to the 

 discovery of articles, which have been applied to 

 ad.ance the interests of the artist in his business, 

 as well as to enrich the cabinet of the amateur ot 

 the science. 



In one instance, a geological excursion lead to 

 the discovery thai the farmers of a section in New 

 England, had built walls for their common enclo- 

 sures for a hundred and fifty years with specimens 

 of the finest marble upon the earth. Another e.x- 

 cuision discovered the chroraatc of iron, which 

 was soon used for the manufacture of chrome yel- 

 low, and in a short time reduced the price of that 

 beautiful pigment, from sixteen dollars to fifty 

 cents a pound. From the same source copperas 

 is now made in such abundance and at so cheap a 



self secured in this way,) but it is sure to save ' they are to be carefully weeded, and tended thro' 

 new swarms. Perhaps some gentlemen may ob- the season. In July, or August, thin them out so 

 ject to this mode of managing bees, on account of much that they will not stand nearer than four 

 ants and some other insects that may creep into inches apart, when those that remain will wilt, and 

 the hive; but there is nothing to fear from them, lop down, but will soon rise up. Just previous to 

 The large black ants do sometimes destroy honey the ground's frerzing in the fall, they should be 

 in hollow trees, where the bees are situated high covered (on the rows only) with horse dung, just 

 from the ground. I have seen in some instances enough to turn off the water, for in covering too 

 considerable injury done by large black ants, in deep, mice will be very sure to work among them, 

 hollow trees in the woods, containing swarms of Early in the following spring, take off the manure 

 bees. Also the bee-moths are found in hollow carefully, and convey it to some other part of the 

 trees. I recollect one instance in particular, of field, for in laying it between the rows it will make 

 ants eating out honey in a tree. It appeared that the ground very dry, and injure the growth of the 

 the swarm of bees had occupied the hollow tree plants. After taking off the manure, take a spade, 

 for several years. The hollow was about 30 feet and take out the plants in such manner, as to leave 

 from the base of the tree, and eight or ten feet a plant standing once in 2^ feet, remembering not 

 in length, and at the upper part of the cavity there to injure the standing plants with the spade, and 

 were a great number of large ants, and they had also to fill up the vacancy with light earth. 



In transplanting those plants taken out, lecol- 



consumed a considerable quantity of honey 



Various metiiods have been suggested for the lect to put them the same distance from each other | rate, as wholly to prevent the importation of that 



protection of bees from the moth ; a trial has been as those not transplanted, by means of a common ' article. Several other useful articles, purely the 



made by placing small blocks of wood at each iron bar. By giving them good attention, and j fruits of geology and mineralogy, aided by chemi- 



corner of the hive so as to raise it about two hoeing frequently they will be ready to cut about! cal science, now fill our markets irom our own 



inches high, which leaves open sich vacancies at 

 the sides of the hive that the bees are much dis- 

 turbed by the wind and dust that enters the hive, 

 and in some instances the dust has injured the 

 honey, and vvithout having the desired effect of 

 saving the bees from the moth ; also sprinkling 

 fine salt under the hive does not answer any good 

 purpose. I have frequently known the honey to 

 melt down in a hive when in a warm place in a bee 

 house, but there is little or no danger of that kind 

 while the hive is on the ground, and the bees and 

 honey are kept cool. T have tried this roethod as 

 above stated and described, seven or eight years, 

 and it has been attended with complete success. 

 Some years ago I lost a considerable number of 

 swarms by the moth, but I have not lost any since 

 I adopted this plan of setting them on the ground ; 

 excepting one swarm that I let remain in my bee 

 house by way of experiment, that one was destroy- 

 ed by the bee-moths the first season. Some other 

 people have secured their bees in the same way, 

 as they would be ready now to testify. Late in 

 the fall of the year, those hives of bees that are 

 to be kept over winter must bo taken from the 



the middle of Augi st. They should be cut about ^ resources, 

 four inches below the burr, after they begin tO| So well aware are the English that their wealth 

 turn yellow, and then dried upon a temporary and prosperity are connected with their mineral 

 scaffold two feet high, in the sun about three days, treasures, that every county in the kingdom has 

 remembering to carry them in undercover nights, been subject to minute and careful surveys, in 

 In cutting, the person will need a pair of leather their geology a.^^ well as their agriculture. In a 

 liiittens, and when drying must use a rake in few instances their example has been followed in 

 spreading them on the scaffold. I communicate this country, and in no one without a rich reward 

 the above as uiy manner of procedure, and i can for the trouble. And from the success which has 

 say I have generally had good success, especially | uniformly attended the partial surveys already 

 in 1822, I raised, and sold from six rods square; made by the liberality and enterprise of individu- 

 cf ground, teazels for which 1 received at my gar- 1 als. it is hoped that ourlegislatures will soon deem 



den ,$134.-— Yours, &c. J. N. HINSDILL. 



Bennington, Ft. ^pril 2i, 1828. 



FOR THE HEW ENGLASD F.lEalER. 



t a subject worthy of their patronage. It is to be 

 regretted that on this subject Massachusetts is 

 behind most of her sister states. The legislatures 

 of several of the states have already effected sur- 



GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS. '"^' ^°' *"^ ^"J^"'' °/ '"^P^' ^'°'" '^'''. f;;- 



T-. , i>^iJvyvjiv^..Y . , ,, , . veys maps and gazetteers are already furnished. 



England has been "Teatly enriched by her mines. I . •^j ,,„ %, t? i j , . m . 



.. " , , ,. , \ I And among the New hngbnd states, Massachu- 



Her coal not only turnishes power to her nunie- ■ 



ous manufactories, and fuel for her more common 

 and domestic purposes, but is extensively used al- 

 most in the midst of the forests of Americn. Her 

 ores furnish employment to thousands of her citi- 

 I zens, and, when their value is thus increased many 

 ground and put into a bee house, or in some other [ j,^^^^^^j ^^^^^ ,,^ ^^^ ^ ^^^j and e.xtensive : *"'.'".' 

 place for safe keeping. If those persons who keep , ^^^^^^ .^^ ^.^^ ^.^^^ ^j. ^^^ ^^^^ ^.^^^ ^^^ ^^,^^^^ 1 hisj 

 bees will only be so good as to try the ^^V^^^] o^vcr ani msennitv. 



menl when their bees swarm the present season, I ^,^^.^ ^.^^^ ^^^.^- ^^^^ discovered not by the 

 or try it with some of the-r old swarms, I have no , ^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^1^^ ^^^^^^, ^^^^ 



doubt but. that all will be entirely convinced of the ^^^^.^^^ ^^^ associations which arc found to exist 

 truth and correctness of the above statement. ,^ ^,^^ productions of the minorHl kingdom. 



DAVID CHANDLER. 

 South Hartley. April 2~. 1828. 



FOR THE NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



CULTIVATION OF THE TEAZEL 



Mr. Fessf.nden,— In answer to a request of 

 I.. W. B. Vol. G. No. 38, relative to the cultiva 

 lion of the Teazel, or Fuller's Thistle (Dipsacus.) 

 I can inform him that for ten years past, I have 

 cultivated the teazel upon a deep black sandy 

 loam, manured as often as once in two years from 

 my horse stable. They require a deep loose soil, 

 as they root very deep like carrots. The ground 

 should be well prepared about the first of May, 

 and the seed sowed immediately in drills about two 



From these associations the presence of one inin 

 eral indicates, with a degree of certainty, that an- 

 other is near. In other cases the appearance of a 

 certain mineral gives information which may bo 

 depended upon, that a certain other would be 

 searched for in vain. They inform us not only 

 where to search, but .vhere not to search. They 

 not only promise a fortune to the explorer, but 

 caution him against the loss of one. 



That we possess, in our mineral treasures, vast 

 sources of industry and of wealth, not yet discov- 

 ered, is as certain as that fortunes have been spent 

 in fruitless searches after them. And it may fair- 

 ly be hoped that the modern science of Geology, 

 which is extending with unexampled rapidity, 



setts and Maine are the only ones in which these 

 two important articles, accurately executed, are 

 not to be had. In two or three slates measures 

 are now taking to effect survey.^ both of their ge- 

 ography and geology, in a more 'ninute and care- 

 ful manner than attended those formerly made, 

 is as it should be. For whether we consider 

 the geography and geology of our country as 

 branches of popular education, in their relations 

 to internal improvements, or in the;r application 

 to the business of the manufacturer and farmer, 

 they are equally wortliy of the patronatje not only 

 of individuals but of legislatures. AtiRlCOLA. 



for the new ENGLAND FARMER. 



Mr. Fesse.nden,— It is I believe not generally 

 understood in this city and in its vicinity, that Ad- 

 miral Sir Isaac Coffin is about to afford fresh proof 

 of his regard for his place of nativity, by sending 

 to Boston, for the benefit of the bre^d, two thor- 

 ough bred horses. Barefoot and Serab. I need 

 only mention these valur.ble animals, to have them 

 known in the sporting world, as they aro frequent- 

 ly named in the sporting magazines. But for the 

 information of those who have not the opportunity 

 of seeing these works, I roust beg you through 

 the medium of your respectable paper to give the 



