394 



2^W ENGLAND FARjMER. 



Aug. 



sons not engaged in the cultivation of orchards, 

 Lave little idea of the damage annuall}' done by 

 these little insects, almost so minute as to be seen 

 with diliicultj- by the naked eye. Their name is 

 legion. While pruning last October, we found sev- 

 eral trees in our own orchards with scarcely a 

 branch upon them but was covered with the scales 

 of these insects. Carefully removing a scale from 

 the bark, and turning it upside down under the 

 microscope, we could see from one to a dozen little 

 white eggs. Harris says there are sometimes as 

 many as 100 under a scale. They must be exceed- 

 ingly minute to be so numerous in so small a space. 



When a tree is badly infested, it has the appear- 

 ance of decay all over it. If there are branches 

 entirely free from the insect or scales, they bear the 

 marks of disease. The limbs look dark and shriv- 

 elled, and are as expressive of illness as is the 

 countenance of a sick animal. 



Those creatures cannot live upon air alone. It 

 is probable that they puncture the bark and draw 

 away the juices of the tree, so that the branches 

 are deprived of their food, and they gradually die 

 of starvation. 



The remedy suggested by Dr. Shurtleff is a 

 simple and cheap one, and would be useful to a 

 healthy tree. We have a statement from a gentle- 

 man who made many careful experiments to pre- 

 vent or to destroy these plagues. He found how to 

 destroy them at last in the use of fish brine ; that is, 

 the brine in which mackerel are salted. This is 

 slightly oily, and when diluted with water, is 

 rubbed upon the branches with a cloth or with a 

 broom. He also sprinkled the tender foliage and 

 blossoms of apple trees, and found no injury re- 

 sulting from it. This also, is a cheap remedy, and 

 one easily applied. 



Persons will do well to regard the suggestions of 

 our correspondent, and not allow the month of 

 August to pass without a thorough routing of the 

 enemv. 



' THE DIFFEEENCE. 



Jones is a tirm believer— hence 



He maiiifet^ts his faith 

 By works— in good substantial fence; 



And this is what he saith : — 

 "1 fence to keep my cattle in 



And other folksV out ; 

 I find no breechy cattle where 



The fence is good and stout." 



Smithes fences are of every sort 



Found in the catalogue; 

 And all the shapes— the long, the short, 



The running lence— or dog. 

 His cattle know no stated bounds, 



But travel at their leisure, 

 In quest of food, the fields' wide rounds, 



Out and in at pleasure. J. w. z. 



Jlaiiie, July, 1871. 



GRASSHOrrERS IN MAINE. 



For some time past we have heard remarks about 

 the abundance of grasshoppers, and this week ap- 

 prehensions of fearl'ul damage are expressed. 

 Tlicir uumljers arc inlinitc, and though as yet only 

 about half au inch in length, Ijeans, peas, potato 

 tops and such like disappear as though some fell 

 destroyer had passed over them. I am not aware 



that they have been known to appear in anything 

 lilvc the present numbers at so early a day hi this 

 country. A farmer fifteen miles aljove this place, 

 on the river, gave me to-day a glowing descrii)tion 

 of their depredations, from which I conclude that 

 the}' arc full as numerous there as here; and I 

 learn by a lady that the same is the case about the 

 same distance south of here. 



With the severe dryness of the past season, and 

 earh' part of the present, crops arc not as promis- 

 ing as we would wish; l)ut lieing one that thinks it 

 better to look upon the bright side, and if possible 

 to discover the "silver lining" of tlie darkest cloud, 

 I do not expect that we all shall starve, even 

 though the grasshoppers are coming, or have come. 



O. W. True. 



Farmington, Mc, June 27, 1S71. 



tables' Separlmetit. 



From the Little Corporal. 

 BABY'S FIKST TOOTH. 



BY P R U D Y. 



Come, look at the dainty darling! 



As fresh as a new-blown rose, 

 From the top of his head so golden. 



To the dear little restless toes. 

 You can tell by the dancing dimples, 



By the smiles that come and go. 

 He Is keeping a wonderful secret 



You'd give half your kingdom to know. 



Now kiss him on cheek and forehead, 



And kisB him on lip and chin; 

 The little red mouth is hiding 



The rarest of pearls within. 

 Ah, see ! when the lips in smiling • 



Have parted their tender red, 

 Do you see the tiny white jewel. 



Set deep in its coral bed ? 



Now where are the sage reporters 



Who wait by hamlet and hill. 

 To tell the listening nation 



The news of its good or ill ? 

 Come weave with your idle gossip 



This golden blossom of truth — 

 Just half a year old this morning, 



And one little pearly tooth. 



SEASONABLE RECEIPTS. 



The following receipts are selected from 

 the Gcrmnntoum Telegraph. AYe should like 

 to hear from some of our lady readers, to 

 help keep this department interesting, as we 

 feel sure that our New England housekeepers 

 are quite as good cooks as can be found in 

 any part of the country. 



Raspberry Vixegar. — Put a pound of very 

 fine ripe raspberries in a bowl, bruise them 

 well, and pour upon them a quart of the best 

 white wine vinegar ; next day strain the liquor 

 on a pound of fresh ripe raspberries, bruise 

 them also, and the following day do the. same 

 but do not squeeze the fruit or it will make it 

 ferment, only drain the liquor as dry as you 

 can from it. The last time pass it through a 

 canvas bag previously wet with the vinegar, 

 to prevent waste. Put the juice into a stone 

 jar, with a pound of sugar to every pint of 



