182 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Aprii 



of seed is useful, is a popular one, and we should 

 be glad if some of our correspondents would set 

 forth the advantages to be gained from the prac- 

 tice. 



CALOMEL AND SULPHUR FOR FRUIT TREES. 



A Novel Method of Doctoring Fruit Trees. — A gen- 

 tleman, of Rochester, was lately in Saratoga county, 

 N. Y., and was there shown an apple tree in tine healthy 

 condition which had been ill, subjected to treatment 

 with calomel and thoroughly cured. This tree was 

 afllicted with insects, which were destroying it and ren- 

 dering it unproductive. A hole was bored in the body 

 of the tree nearly through the sap, and two grains of 

 calomel inserted. As soon as this calomel was taken up 

 by the sap, the vermm on the tree died, and it began to 

 bear fruit, and has done so for three years, to the entire 

 eatiefaction of the owner. Stilphur may be mixed with 

 the calomel and produce a good effect. This is a fact 

 worth knowing. 



The above extract I cut from a Boston daily 

 paper, some time ago. If you have not publitihed 

 it in the N. E. Farmer, will you do so in such a 

 manner as to call out from the author or some 

 other person who may be thoroughly posted in the 

 matter, answers to the following questions : What 

 time of the year was the "calomel" put in } What 

 kind of vermin ? Will it take a larger portion for 

 a larger tree ? How large in diameter was the 

 tree ? What effect woukl a larger portion have on 

 the tree ? Is the fruit affected by the calomel ? 

 Would the calomel have to be administered every 

 year ? If the calomel gave entire satisfaction, of 

 what use can the sulphur be ? 



Caterpillars will be rather scarce in these parts 

 next spring. They did not many of them go to seed, 

 and I cannot tind but few of their spawns on the 

 trees, neither last autumn nor the present winter, 

 — not one this year to twenty last year. a. c. 



Stoughton, Mass., Jan. 28, 1867. 



Remarks. — We presume that the above extract 

 has never been published in the Farmer, as, not 

 having any faith in its efficacy, we should not be 

 likely, of our own accord, to select it. We have 

 heard of sulphur and other materials being used 

 as above du-ccted, with no beneficial effect. The 

 failure may have been in consequence of the insol- 

 ubility of the materials inserted, and we are not 

 certain that calomel, being more soluble, may not 

 physic away the insects, but we must repeat that 

 we are incredulous as to its beneficial effects. 

 Still we wish to have it tried. Medicines are in- 

 jected into the circulating fluids of the animal sj's- 

 tem. We have heard it said that the mouth may 

 be made sore by rubbing blue pills upon one's leg 

 — and more scientific experiments may prove suc- 

 cessful in salivating insects on leaves, and fruit by 

 inserting a pill into the trunk of our fruit trees. 

 But then how is it about the sap cells or vessels ? 

 May not each bud have one of those little channels 

 which the microscope shows to exist in wood, for 

 its special and independent feeder — its exclusive 

 line of communicati(m and supply with that great 

 btorc-housc, the soil ? If so, how many pills 

 would a single tree require, to protect each leaf ? 



farmers' girls. 



We little maids, up here in the country, do not 

 like to I)C treated witli neglect, nor do we like tluit 

 sort of notice which may be illustrated by such ex- 

 pressions as "I should think it was tinae to have 



something to eat," if our meals are not ready at 

 the exact moment; even if the men folks have 

 been hard at work. Could they not think of how 

 much we have to do, and how willing we arc to 

 work to save hiring lielp, and reward our efforts 

 by an occasional thank, or at least a smile ? It is 

 true that farmers must work hard to provide for 

 their families, luit are not their wives, daughters, 

 and sisters willing to help them by every means in 

 their jioner ? Tlicn show us that our efforts are 

 apprcciat'^d, by those little acts of kindness which 

 are far dearer to us than the most costly gifts. 

 These remarks are not prompted by a spirit of dis- 

 satisfaction with my home or my position in life. 

 I am a farmer's daughter, and expect some time to 

 be a farmer's . But no matter, for, at present — 



I am a wild and laughing girl, just turned of sweet sev- 

 enteen, 

 As full of mischief and of fun as ever you have seen ; 

 And when I am a woman grown, no city beau for me, 

 If e'er I marry in my life, a farmer's wife I'll be. 



I love a country life ; I love the joyous lireeze ; 



1 love to hear the singing birds among the lofty trees. 



The lowing lierds, the bleating flocks make music sweet 



for me ; 

 If e'er I marry in my life, a farmer's wife I'll be. 



I love to see the chickens skip, I love to milk the cows, 

 I love to hear the farmer's boys a whistling at their 



ploughs ; 

 And fields of corn and waving grain are pleasant sights 



to me ; 

 If e'er I marry in my life, a farmer's wife I'll be. 



I love to see the orchards where the golden apples grow ; 

 I love to walk in meadows wliere so bright the streamlets 



flow; 

 And flowery banks and shady woods have many charms 



for me ; 

 If e'er I marry in my life, a farmer's wife I'll be. 



Let other girls, who love it best, enjoy the gloomy town, 

 'Mid dusky walls and dusty streets to ramble up and 



down ; 

 But flowery banks, and shady woods and sunny skies 



for mo ; 

 If e'er I marry in my life, a farmer's wife I'll be. 



— But at the same time I do often feel that my ef- 

 forts to please do not always secure those evi- 

 dences of Mndness which they deserve. 

 , Feb. 5, 1867. c. d. m. 



SOWING WHEAT. 



Can you, or the many readers of the Farmer, 

 inform me whether you have ever known a case of 

 sowing winter wheat in the spring, early enough 

 to have it freeze, and thaw, before it comes up ? I 

 intend to sow a small piece, in March, or the first 

 of April, to see what it will do. I think I shall 

 take part of the wheat, wet it and let it fieezc, then 

 let it dry, then sow it ; and sow a part of the wheat 

 on the land, and let it freeze and thaw there, and 

 grow at its leisure. Fifteen years ago, the middle 

 of March next, I sowed a piece of winter rye, part 

 of it on the snow bank, and when it was time to 

 sow spring rye, I dredged it in. I Inul a good 

 crop of winter rye. If the wheat does well, j'ou 

 may expect to hear from me next summer. 



Essex Junction, Vt., Feb. 7, 1867. II. Gkiffin. 



IIemakks. — The idea is new to us. We have 

 heard of sowing spring wheat very late in <he fall. 

 Keep us informed, whether the wheat does well or 

 ill. 



soil, manure, etc., for melons and sou ashes. 



Will "A. G. C," Lee, N. H., have the kindness 

 to state, in the New England Faumkh, the kind 

 of land necessary for raising watermelons and win- 

 ter squashes, the best kind of seed, and the parts 



