31G TiiAysACTioxs of the American Institute. 



that eat leaves was exhibited, and a bottle of it given to Dr. Isaac P. 

 Trimble for trial. 



Mr. J. Dixon, Canandaigua, !^^. Y. — The soot from anthracite or 

 bituminous coal, when, sprinkled on vine plants, will protect them 

 from yellow bugs, worms, flies and insects, and vermin of any kind. 

 The soot from wood ashes will answer a good purpose, but it is not 

 as efficacious. It should be sprinkled on the plant and hill M-hile 

 the dew is on, and before the fruit is formed. It will also protect 

 currant and gooseberry bushes, as well as fruit trees in general. It 

 may be well to renew it after a shower. All insects and vermin avoid 

 aromatic and pungent articles. 



The Secretary. — I keep my garden free of these pests every sea- 

 son by syringing the plants frequently with a decoction of quassia 

 bark. The druggists let me have it at ten cents a pound. I use 

 two or three pounds a year, making several gallons of the tea at a 

 time. It is intensely bitter, and the bugs do not seem to relish the 

 taste of it any better than a doctor's patients do. 



Mr. J. C. Thompson. — On cucumber and squash vines I can keep 

 away the bugs with fine bone flour. It is the best fertilizer, and I 

 sprinkle it when the leaves are wet with dew or rain. Almost any 

 fine powder will answer. Plaster of Paris I have found eft'ectual, 

 and even fine road dust. Probably the sure way would be to bedew 

 with the tea mentioned by Mr. Chambers and then sprinkle with the 

 powder. 



A member. — Throw half a peck of hen droppings into a pail of 

 water, and let it soak. The liquid manure thus produced will at 

 once fertilize the hill and drive awa}' bugs. 



Canning Cokn. 

 Mr. Zenia A. Lindley, Montrose, Pa. — In answer to the inquiry of 

 Lizzie Treat, about preserving corn, I would say that I have no 

 trouble. I boil the ears fifteen minutes, then cool and partly dry 

 in ,the sun. Remove from the cob, and salt as for table use. Put 

 in cans, adding a little water ; boil the cans in water, as in canning 

 fruit, about thirty or forty minutes, and seal with solder while boiling. 

 To be kept in a cool place. 



NoKTHERN Limit of Sweet Potato. 

 A gentleman living among the mountains in one of the nortliern 

 counties of Pennsylvania, asks whether he is precluded by climato 

 from raising the sweet potato. 



