3G2 Transactions of the American Institute. 



Patent Corks for Horse Shoes, 

 Invented by Dr. Jlubbard, New York city. These are for the toes 

 and heels, are made separate, and can be put on or removed while 

 the shoe is fast. They are fastened M'ith screws, and can be made 

 for a few cents each. It is required that the shoe be made first, so 

 as to lit the corks. 



Mr. T. Cavanach. — It will be difficult to get blacksmiths to use 

 them, and besides they cost too much. 



Mr. A. S. Fuller. — The corks on common shoes last long enough, 

 and a ^hoe must be taken off every four or six weeks, because the 

 hoof grows over it. On city pavements the device might be of ser- 

 vice, but in j;he country I cannot see that it will be of much value. 



Mr. Allen, — I have traveled many thousand miles, and often 

 have seen times when I would have been glad to have such corks 

 that the team might get up hills. Those who have been obliged to 

 start a team on the run up a rocky or slippery hill \\\\\ imderstand 

 this. 



The Citrculio. 



At a regular meeting of the fruit growers of Alton, Illinois, the 

 proceedings of which are sent to us, Dr. Hull, one of the most care- 

 ful cultivators in this or any other country, made the following 

 remarks, which should be indelibly impressed upon the minds of all 

 who have orchards. There are other insect enemies, perhaps thou- 

 sands of them, which must be fought or we shall have no fruit : 



I say, and have often said, that as we cultivate fruit, we also culti- 

 vate insects. I have traveled considerably this season, and find the 

 peaches generally destroyed, also the apple, pear and plum. Tlie 

 curculio is sweeping everything before him ; unless we wake up, he 

 will consume our suljstance. Are we to sit idly by and let them 

 breed as lice breed on children, and not raise a finger to prevent 

 them? Nine-tenths of the horticulturists have not enero-y enouo;]i to 

 fight them; we must all Avake up, or they will consume us. If we 

 all go to wor'-, we can keep them under, but for one man to do it, 

 Burrounded by neighbors who will not fight them, is of no use. Wlien 

 tlie thermometer is at seventy they will fly in on him, and it is 

 impossible to catch them. I once caught sixty and painted them, 

 and carried them to a neighboi-'s. I caught many of them again on 

 my own place, showing that they will fly. We must look this matter 

 square in the face ; we can't dodge it if we would. It has resolved itself 



