340 Transactions of the American Institute. 



of tliat rather venerable tliougli mythical field hand, " Poor Old 



Ned," because it seems to bid the farmer 



Lay down the shovel and the hoe, 

 And take up the fiddle and the bow ! 



Seriously, we beg leave to report that we think the simplicity and 

 cheapness of its construction, and its easiness of repair, in addition 

 to the consideration of its capacity to do all that is claimed lor it, 



stamp it a success. 



J. E. SNODGRASS, 

 J. Y. C. SMITH, 

 JOSEPH B. LYMAN, 



Committee. 



IcHNETTMON Fl^Y. 



Dr. Isaac P. Trimble, Newark, N. J., brought several wonderful 

 specimens of the cocoons of the Ichneumon fly. This creature, he 

 says, is appointed by God as the scourge and destruction to many of 

 the leaf eating worms. The fly lays eggs in the body of the worm 

 and these eggs become little cocoons on the surface of the worm's 

 body, and turn to flies, which repeat this exercise on the bodies of 

 other worms. This is a Special arrangement in our favor and against 

 our insect enemies. He also showed the little seventeen year locusts 

 in the ground, sucking the little roots of grass and plants. 



Deep Plowing. 



Dr. J. F. Caldwell, Lewisburg, West Yirginia. — This is proper for 

 a deep soil. Tke soil of land cannot be plowed too deep, as when 

 loose tlie roots of vegetables penetrate it more easily than when it is 

 solid. The deeper it is moved, and tlie more it is brought up from 

 below to the top, tlie better, as the properties of that part wliicli is deepest 

 is most inert, from its not having been operated on by the sun, air, frost, 

 etc., as that on the top has been, and the soil which is turned under 

 obtains rest, and becomes renovated. But the clay should never be 

 brought up by the plow above the soil, for if this is done, it will become 

 hard, and prevent vegetation from growing. The tops of vegetables 

 cannot well penetrate a stratum of clay above them ; but their roots 

 will, to get to water, go through clay below them. Great advantage 

 can be derived from breaking up a clay foundation under the soil, of 

 several inches in depth, with a subsoil plow (say a common thin colter, 

 with a point about two inches in Avidth, not more), as it will enable 

 ,the clay ground to receive more water and retain it longer. This is 



