374 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Aug. ' 



= 1 



FROTH-HOPPBKS, OS FROG-HOPPERS. 



It is curious and interesting to observe what 

 different plans insects have to protect themselves 

 and to propagate their kind. Some gather into 

 groups and enclose themselves with a thin, delicate 

 covering, yet one that seems to exclude rain and 

 wind ; others encase themselves in a tough, silky 

 covering, in short, barrel themselves up as tight as 

 a cooper could do it, and there Avait for a new 

 state of existence ! The little fellow whom we are 

 talking about, the Froth-Hopper, has 

 a way all his own, and quite likely 

 would laugh at any one Avho should 

 propose to build him a house better 

 than he can build one for himself. 

 Have you noticed on the grass, this summer, 

 or on twigs of the trees, an unusual quantity 

 of a whitish, frothy substance, clinging to the 

 twig or stem of the grass, and about an inch 

 or more long ? "Yes, and have often won- 

 dered what it could be." Well, this is the little 

 froth-hopper's house, where he remains until he 

 has completed certain transformations. And how 

 do you suppose he builds it ? It is said that af- 

 ter alighting upon the grass these insects perfor- 

 ate it "with their beaks and begin to imbibe the 

 sap, and they take in such quantities of it that it 

 oozes out of their bodies continually, in the form 

 of little bubbles, which soon completely cover up 

 the insects. We have several species of these 

 froth-hoppers in Massachusetts, and the spittle 

 with which they are sheltered from the sun and 

 air, may be seen in abundance during the sum- 

 mer on the stems of alders and willows, and on 

 the grass. 



The head of this insect is broad, and extended 

 forward in the form of a triangle, and the face 

 slopes downward towards the breast, so that we 

 do not see it unless by critical examination. They 

 also possess a surprising agility. But this facul- 

 ty does not result from an enlargement of the 

 hindermost shanks, as in the grasshopper, but to 

 the bristles and spines with which these parts are 

 clothed and tipped. These spines serve to fix the 

 hind legs securely to the surface, and when the 

 insect suddenly unbends its legs, its body is then 

 launched forward into the air, two or three hun- 

 dred times the length of its own body ! In the 

 same proportion, "a man of ordinary stature 

 should be able at once to vault through the air 

 to the distance of a quarter of a mile !" The col- 

 or of the species whose habitat is on the grass, is 

 a pea green ; those found upon trees are darker, 

 nearly black. A little observation will enable one 

 to recognize the insect. 



at the New Haven lectures, that by adding a ta- 

 blespoonful of fine salt to a quart of cream, as ! 

 the latter is skimmed from off the milk and placed 

 in the cream-pots until enough accumulates for 

 churning, the time required for churning is re- 

 duced to two or three minutes. In a trial made by 

 the writer, he found this to be true, and his theo- 

 ry is, that the salt acts upon the thin coating of 

 the globules of butter, and so dissolves it that a 

 slight agitation breaks it, and the butter comes 

 at once. The experiment can easily be tried by 

 any butter-maker. 



Salting Cream for Butter-Making. — A 

 writer in the Nomcstead reports a statement made 



EXTRACTS AND REPIilES. 



ketcuvm's mower — revolving rake. 



I have used the Ketcliuni's mowing machine and 

 the improved wooden spring revolving rulcc ihis week, 

 and find that they Avorlc to perfection. Some of tlio 

 old farmers will say they don't Avant to use them, for 

 they prefer the old style of doing things ; but they may, 

 for all mo. They may start for Boston and ride on old 

 Dobbin, and I AA'ill take the iron horse and sec Avhich 

 Avill get there first ! If an)^ former Avill give the Kctch- 

 um iiuiivoved niuwer and the improved revolving rake 

 a fair trial, and they are not satisfied that they Avork' 

 Aveli, they may call at Robertson's Hotel and take din- 

 ner at my expense. 



superphosphate op lime — moavino machines. 



From my experience and obsei-vation I think if far- 

 mers Avould use more superphosphate of lime, it Avonld 

 pay them avcII for their trouble and good interest for 

 the money laid out on it, if it Averc for nothing but to 

 keep tlie worms aAvay, Avhich I am sure it Avill. I have 

 used it in various Avays, and always find it doing avcIL 

 This year I have used some of Coe's. I mixed it Avith 

 equal parts of ground bone and ashes, and put it on 

 tlie hill at the rate of 300 lbs. to the acre; and uoav the 

 result is, that there is not one hill missing in four acres 

 of corn, Avhen on another piece joining, Avith not even 

 a fence l>etween, at least one-fourtli of four acres is ru- 

 ined l)y the cut and wire Avorms. The diftcrcnec be- 

 tween the cultivation is, that my ncighVior ploAved 

 his once, and I plowed mine three times ; it Avas brok- 

 en up this spring. I broke up Avith tiic double univer- 

 sal plow, and then ploAved it twice. I have tried it in 

 the garden and the result is as good as on the field. I 

 put it on some cabbages and left one roAV Avithout any. 

 The Avorms Avould cut off those Avithout it every nigiit 

 until I put on the lime. I am satisfied that if any fiirmer 

 begins to use it he will not Avilhngly do Avilhout it. 



Charlestoion, N. II., Juhj, 1860." J. p. G. 



BONE MEAL FOR COAVS. 



IMy father has two coavs that are disposed to chew 

 sticiis and bones Avhcn they can get liicm. Will bone 

 meal cure them? If so, please inform inc Avherc I 

 can obtain it pure, and Avhat quantity should ho, given 

 at a time. "W. I. Simonds. 



Iloxbunj, Vt., Juno 27. 



Remarks. — You can procure bone meal at Nourso 

 & Co.'s, 3-i Merchants' Row, Boston. Give each cow 

 a gill, and if she eats it, a gill more tAvo days after- 

 Avards. If she docs not eat it, mix the same quantity 

 Avith corn meal and feed it in that way. If you should 

 soAV five to ten pounds per acre upon your pasture it 

 Avould have an excellent effect. 



UOAV TO MAKE CORN BEER. 



Some time ago I noticed an inquiiy in the Farmer, 

 "HoAV to make good corn beer ?" 



To two gallons of AA'ater, add one qttart of dry corn, 

 one pint molasses, one tal)le-spoanful ginger. Let it 

 stand in a cask or demijohn, and in one Avcek it is fit 

 for use. .Tlie same corn will ansAvcr for several brcAV 

 ings, but Ihc cask should lie scalded each time. 



Eoxhimj, Vf., Jul,/, 1860. W. H. AV^vlbridge. 



