1870. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



465 



tndinal lines of black and yellow, black prickles 

 on the back, hinder extremity generally elevated 

 for an extra head, wearing black stockings, social 

 and orderly in their habits, we have always looked 

 upon them as fine specimens of a caterpillar 

 dandy. 



Mr. Harris says diflFerent broods make their ap- 

 pearance at various times during August and Sep- 

 tember. The eggs from which they proceed are 

 laid in July, in clusters, on the underside of a leaf, 

 generally near the end of a branch. When first 

 hatched they eat only the substance of the under 

 side of the leaf, but as they grow larger and 

 stronger they devour the whole leaf, from the 

 point to the stalk, and go from leaf to leaf down 

 the branches. The young caterpillars are lighter 

 colored than the old ones. When full grown they 

 measure an inch and a quarter, or rather more, in 

 length. All the caterpillars of the same brood 

 descend at one time, and disappear in the night. 

 They conceal themselves under leaves, or just be- 

 neath the surface of the soil, and make their 

 cocoons, and are transformed to moths towards 

 the end of June or the beginning of July of the 

 following year. The moth is of a light brown 

 color. The wings expand from one inch to one 

 inch and three-eighths. 



We know of no other way of destroying the 

 caterpillar than that of removing the leaves or 

 branches on which they cluster, sometimes so 

 closely as to cover leaves, small twigs and ends of 

 branches. 



CANKER WORMS. 



I would like to ask a few questions in regard to 

 the location ot the canker worm. Where did they 

 cause the most trouble this year ? Are they as 

 numerous in other States, as they are in Massa- 

 chusetts ? If so, which ones are they ? Have 

 they got into the Western States to any extent 

 yet ? One Interested. 



Marlboro', Mass., Aug, 8, 1870. 



Remarks. — So far as we are informed, the can- 

 ker-worm first appeared in the eastern part of 

 New England, more than one hundred years ago, 

 and for a long time was confined to a narrow ter- 

 ritory. They have several times mysteriously dis- 

 appeared, or nearly so, from certain localities. The 

 cause of their disappearance is not known. Some 

 have supposed that the frost or ice or cold rains 

 occurring soon after hatching, destroyed them. 

 Others have ascribed it to other causes. The can- 

 ker worm Is now more generally disseminated, 

 probably having been carried on trees from in- 

 fected districts. It is appearing in most of the 

 Western States and Canada; but in none of them 

 is it as universal as in the eastern part of Massa- 

 chusetts. We cannot give a correct list of the lo- 

 calities in which they have been most destructive 

 the past year. Three years ago they wholly dis- 

 appeared from some places near Boston ; in others, 

 their numbers were greatly diminished. In some 

 of these places they have since increased to nearly 

 their former numbers. 



A full reply to your questions would form an 

 interesting article, which we hope some one will 

 write. The canker worm is spreading over our 

 whole country. It threatens the destruction of 

 our fruit and shade trees. Were one-half the loss 

 occasioned by this ii^sect to be caused by fire or 

 flood, the whole population would turn out to save 

 property ; but as it is only a worm that does the 

 mischief, men tamely submit to its ravages with a 

 calm sigh of regret. 



PETITION OF THE ONION AND CARROT, 



As heard by an old gentleman of ninety-three Bum- 

 mers, while leaning over the fence of a weedy garden. 



The undersigned, with good intent. 



Their humble suit would now present, 



And ask your honor, much respected. 



Why is your garden thus neglected ? 



What his your little Onion done, 



That he should never see the sun ? 



And why your humble Carrot needs 



Be covered thus with giant weeds ? 



T'would by the calendar appear. 



Eclipses six there are this year; 



For them an hour's time is plenty, 



But ours outlasts the four and twenty. 



While things are thus, 'tis vain to hope 



To gather but a scanty crop. 



We'll tell a story, now in place, 



And suited to the present case, 



About a shoe, 'twas like to fail, 



And all it wanted was a nail ; 



The owner spared the triiiing cost. 



And shoe, and horse, and man were lost. 



So if your garden is not freed 



From every bad and noxious weed. 



Your labor proves of no avail, 



And seed and crop alike must fail, 



Thus, as in duty bound, we pray 



You'll grant relief without delay. 



Onion & Carhot, bv Mnason. 

 Strong, Me., Aug. 6, 1870. 



"going ON TO A FARM." 



Having received benefit from many valuable 

 hints in editorials and correspondence of the 

 "Farmer," I will try to reciprocate by giving an ac- 

 count of some of my experience and the results of 

 my observations among my neighbor farmers, for 

 the benefit of T. E. P. and others. 



Judging from the successes and failures in the 

 various cases under my observation, I am satisfied 

 that a young man and wife with tolerably good 

 constitutions, without children or with one or two 

 smart boys that they intend shall do a reasonable 

 amount of work suited to their strength, can suc- 

 ceed better at farming for a series of years than 

 the average of merchants and mechanics, provided 

 they commence under right conditions and re- 

 quisites. 



The husband and wife must pull together, with 

 the one single aim of Success ; must make up their 

 minds to some real and perhaps many imaginary 

 privations, and to meet discouragements, sometimes 

 thick and fast. They must leave behind all 

 thoughts of cigars, mint juleps, billiards, oyster 

 suppers, kid gloves, fifteen-dollar bonnets, &c. 

 And if they have had no practice either at farming 

 or gardening they must so govern themselves that 

 they can employ a part of their time for the first 

 year or two at some other occupation, and such as 



