1867. 



NEW ENGLAOT) FARMER. 



349 



and furnished green com for the beginning of 

 October. That planted about the middle of 

 June, kept its growth the whole summer, and 

 became fit for eating in seventy-two days. 



In our own practice, we have found corn 

 that was planted during the first five days in 

 June, to do just as well as that planted on the 

 the 20th May. If planted early it has the 

 recommendation of being done and out of the 

 way. Corn that is planted too early, however, 

 comes up in a sickly condition, and has a feeble 

 habit which it takes a long time to recover from. 



For the New England Farmer, 

 VARIOUS MATTERS. 



Mr. Editor : — What has become of the cat- 

 erpillars this year? In our neighborhood we 

 have not a tenth part of the usual "crop." 

 They hatched well, about the 23d of April, 

 then came the cold and rainy week which 

 seemed to finish the young broods. Can your 

 readers in other localities make a similar re- 

 port ? Certain it is that, around our diggings, 

 there is a most extraordinary scarcity of these 

 annuals. 



One of your correspondents recently in- 

 quired how he could best preserve eggs. Let 

 him pack them ends upward, in a cask, or bar- 

 rel, with oats, rice shucks, or sawdust ; head 

 them up and place them in a cool place, tak- 

 ing care to ttun the barrel over, end for end, 

 every two or three days. Eggs thus packed 

 can be easily kept for many weeks, if not ex- 

 posed to extreme heat or cold. 



In regard to raising plums, I have been 

 quite successful, though living where the cur- 

 culio feels quite at home. I depended mostly 

 upon the trees when quite small. A plum tree 

 soon comes into bearing. I have gathered 

 heavy crops from trees of two or three inches in 

 diameter. Of course the curculio is the only 

 hindrance. I used to have a sheet tacked to 

 a couple of poles, spread it under each tree 

 morning and evening from the time fruit was 

 the size of a pea until the pits were formed, and 

 then jar the tree with my hand. The "little 

 turks" fell as though they were lifeless, as in- 

 deed they very soon became in consequence of 

 a smart pinch between my thumb and fingers. 

 On a white sheet the eye soon detects them, 

 lying curled up, shamming dead, and very much 

 resembling raisin seeds. It is not much trouble 

 to attend to a dozen trees for a month or so. 

 By the time my trees were too large to jar with 

 the hands, they were pretty well overrun with 

 the black knot, so I removed them altogether, 

 and put young trees in their places, which 

 came into bearing in about three years. 



As for the Black Knot, I know not what it 

 is, nor have I ever seen any satisfactory infor- 

 mation in regard to its cause. There is but 

 just one remedy for it, and that not effectual ; 



the KNIFE. Spare not. The moment the ex- 

 crescence pushes out in the bark, cut it off, and 

 cut deep. Regard not the scar left behind. If 

 a limb be badly affected, even though it be a 

 large one, cut it entirely away and burn it. If 

 the difficulty is in the main trunk, cut the 

 bark quite down to the wood, without fear. A 

 little spirits of turpentine applied to the wound 

 does no harm, and if there be insects, as some 

 contend there are, they will be surely killed. 

 In this way only can the plum tree be kept in 

 good condition. And as soon as the disease 

 has spread quite over the main stems and 

 branches, as it generally will in time, it is 

 much better to remove the old and plant a 

 young tree in its place. Although you cannot 

 expect so large crops, the fruit will be fairer 

 and better, while it will be much easier raised. 



Canker worms are now busy at their work 

 of destruction. They are not as plenty as 

 usual, many of them, as I think, having been 

 killed by the cold spell before mentioned. But 

 there are a plenty left. By and by, when the 

 green leaves have given place to the inevitable 

 "sere and yellow" which marks their track, I 

 want you to go with me some afternoon and I 

 will show you the result — not of speculation — 

 but of determination. I want you to look 

 upon an orchard of over six hundred trees, in 

 which you would become poor at hunting can- 

 ker worms at a shilling apiece, while upon 

 three sides adjacent, it is, as Captain Cuttle 

 would say, "quite the reverse." The trees 

 have been protected, in truth as well as in 

 theory. And, having used your eyes, I want 

 you to use your pen, and tell anybody and 

 everybody that whosoever will can escape the 

 periodical picture of desolation which we are 

 so accustomed to see around us. Idex. 



Newton, Mass., June 6, 1867. 



SHEEP DISEASES. 

 We copy the following report of a talk upon 

 this suljject at a late meeting of wool growers 

 in Michigan, from the Prairie Farmer. 



Mr. C. E. Stewart being called upon, stated 

 that he had lost quite a number of sheep for 

 two years past, mostly ram lambs. Last year 

 paid but little attention to it ; this spring had 

 paid much attenlion to examining the cases, 

 and practicing upon them. Last year his sheep 

 commenced dying after they had ber n on grass 

 about four weeks. Thought at the time the 

 trouble was with their kidneys. The symptoms 

 observed, were falling out of the fiock, stop- 

 ping by a fence in a drooping weak condition ; 

 would revive and then be worse. They were 

 inclined to drink heartily just before death 

 took place. Examinations showed the vital 

 organs healthy ; but found in the small intes- 

 tines innumerable small worms, resembling 

 hair in plastering mortar. Found linseed oil 

 and turpentine in doses of two ounces recom- 

 mended for worms ; gave it to four sheep, and 



