1861. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



527 



productive organs are dormant, while at the same 

 time the nutritive function is wholly engaged 

 in elaborating chyle and blood for the develop- 

 ment of bone, muscle and nerve, and that call- 

 ing into requisition the reproductive or genera- 

 tive organs, before the animal has attained full 

 growth, must necessarily divert the elements of 

 matter intended for nutrition from their legiti- 

 mate channel and direct them to the reproductive 

 organs. A too early use of the purely animal 

 function induces weakness and stunted growth. — 

 American Veterinary Surgeon. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 EDITORIAL COKIlESPONDEBrCE. 



To the visitor, New York appears as gay now, 

 as ever it did. In truth, it is gay ; although this 

 rebellion has made many rich men poor, and poor 

 men poorer. The actual suffering is much less 

 than is supposed ; because, firstly, many have 

 failed. Now it is a well known fact that not one 

 New Yorker out of twenty fails in business, and 

 suffers for the want of cash, for at least a year 

 thereafter. Business men generally have been 

 lenient towards each other. Banks have carried 

 along an enormous amount of paper for the ac- 

 commodation of their customers. Lastly, the 

 necessities of life have not been so abundant and 

 cheap for some years. No doubt many of the 

 fashionables of last year find great difficulty in 

 supplying the cash for their daily expenses, and 

 some of them would, no doubt, be glad to sell or 

 rent the extravagant houses they occupy, if they 

 could obtain anything near their value. As evi- 

 dence thereof, last week, one of the largest real 

 estate agents in this city, handed a customer a 

 long list of fashionably furnished houses, with 

 the rent asked against each, ranging from twelve 

 hundred to four thousand dollars, at the same 

 time remarking to the house-seeker, to select the 

 one he wanted, regardless of the figures, and 

 make an offer. This may not appear remarkable 

 to many of the readers of the Farmer, but it 

 would to any one who has ever been house-hunt- 

 ing in this city. In peace times the agent would 

 show his price list with no idea of making a re- 

 duction. 



This is the season for outdoor gaiety. Until 

 December, no city can claim a finer climate ; so 

 mild, pleasant, and at the same time so invigor- 

 ating. Broadway is crowded every day, and Cen- 

 tral Park, on a Saturday afternoon, presents as 

 gay a scene as can be found anywhere in Europe. 

 In fact, excepting Paris, there is no city of Europe 

 that can boast of as fine a park as ours ; when it 

 is finished, Paris will be outdone. The Bois de 

 Boulogne is not so large as our park, but it is pos- 

 sible we shall be obliged to concede something 

 in its favor as regards taste. The French under- 

 stand better how to produce a grand and an agree- 

 able effect, but their park is not so elaborate and 

 costly as ours will be. Dodsworth's band per- 

 forms regularly on Saturdays. Tens of thous- 

 ands of well dressed people, and hundreds of gay 

 equipages and equestrians are there, not attract- 

 ed so much by the music, as to see and be seen. 

 It serves as a sort of social change, where the 

 approaching season's parties and sociables are 



talked over, and where many new acquaintances 

 are made. 



It seems now, as though the coming season will 

 be as lively as the last, although it is pretty well 

 conceded that there will not be so many costly 

 parties given. Economy will be practiced even 

 by those who can afford to be extravagant. I 

 have heard of numbers of ladies who affirm that 

 they will wear last year's dresses, dispense with 

 champagne suppers, and have sociables instead 

 of parties. 



Forty-eight public evening schools were opened 

 here this week. It is supposed that the average 

 attendance will be about three hundred each. 

 These schools are to accommodate those who can- 

 not attend in the daytime, and are, of course, 

 great blessings to the city ; they would be great- 

 er if the teachers were appointed as to merit, and 

 not by favor. All the schools are managed by 

 the Board of Education. Many of the members 

 who appoint teachers ought to go to school them- 

 selves. There is much talk about abolishing the 

 present board. \v. "W. 



New York, Oct. 10, 1861. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 THE WHEAT TADPOLE. 



When I was reading your paper of Sept. 14, I 

 saw a piece from "K.," Sunderland, Vt., about 

 what he calls the wheat tadpole, and the pale red 

 bug, of which I have seen other statements. Near 

 the first of June the aphis attacked a piece of 

 winter rye, and almost spoiled it by sucking the 

 juices from it. After that they attacked my win- 

 ter wheat which was near by, or all our wheat, 

 winter and spring, but did not do so much dam- 

 age to it, for the "pale red bug v/ith black spots" 

 attacked the aphis, so that they did not gain as 

 fast as they did on the rye. This bug, or the La- 

 dy Bird, as it is called, you or "K." can find a 

 description of in the "Patent Office Report" for 

 1854, Plate 8, page 85. In regard to the parent 

 of the apple worm, he will find a description of 

 that on page 82, Plate 7, report for 1854 ; also in 

 "Cole's American Fruit Book," page 89. In the 

 "Patent Office Report" for 1854, page 62, Plate 

 3, there is a description of the cotton louse, which 

 in appearance seems to be the same as the aphis 

 that attacked our wheat. E. M. T. 



Auburn, N. E., Sept. 18, 1801. 



Essex County Snow. — This society is an old 

 and vigorous one, and full of good works. Hon. 

 Allen W. Dodge, of Hamilton, is its President, 

 and was its Secretary for seventeen years prior to 

 his promotion. The society has ample funds on 

 hand, and an experimental farm in Topsfield, be- 

 queathed by the late Dr. Treadwell. 



Over 80 head of cattle were entered ; about 50 

 horses, a few sheep, and a fine show of swine and 

 poultry. A fine display of fruit was made, and 

 flowers, vegetables and manufactured articles 

 were in profusion. Address by Hon. Alfred A. 

 Abbott. The dairy women of Essex sustained 

 their ancient reputation in the display they made. 



