AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 229 



that one flock of them was known to cover one hundred and 

 eighty square miles, over 115,000 acres, at one piegon a square 

 yard. Eacli pigeon eats fully a half pint of food per day; thus 

 one flock in one day, of our American wild piegon, consumes 

 eight millions, seven hundred and twelve thousand bushels. 



Prof Thaddeus Wm. Harris, of Cambridge, Mass., in his " In- 

 sects of New England," speaks of this insect as a Chrysomela 

 tribe called Halticadse. 



The Haltica cucumeris, or cucumber beetle, or flea beetle, is a 

 little downy or pubescent. They have been charged with the po- 

 tato rot in consequence of the holes they make in potato leaves, 

 &c. I do not believe the potato rot comes from any insect 

 whatever. 



Soapsuds is good sprinkled over plants; there ai-e several spe- 

 cies of these jumping beetles — Halticas which attack vaiious 

 plants. 



TRIAL OF AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS AT THE PARIS 

 EXHIBITION, JUNE 7, 1 855, AT THE FARM OF TRAPPES, 

 TWENTY-FIVE MILES FROM THE CITY; SEVEN HUN- 

 DRED AND SEVENTY ACRES. 



Forty plows were there. The JBentall Dynamometer was used 

 under the care of Messrs. Amos and Appold. Depth of furrow, 

 1. Seven inches, breadth ten inches from Baden. 

 No. 2. Busby English, depth 7, breadth, lU. 



3. Prague, do 7, do 10. 



4. Belgium, do 7, do 9. 



5. Bree plow, France, do 4^, do 11. 



6. Toronto, Canada, do 8, do 11; work beautiful. 



7. Grigrion, do 7^, do 9; lightest draught 



of all. 



8. Tixon, of Belgium, do Ih, do 10. 



9. Howard of Eng., do 7, do 9A; this w^as the 



lightest of all, and went around without being held 

 by the plowman, and the work was well done. 



10. Jasher, of Parage, do (ji? do 10. 



11. Ball, English, do 8," 



12. Thaer, Saxony, do 7i, 



13. Ransom &May, Eng. 7-^, 



14. OdiersofBelg'm, do 0^, 



15. Canada West; do 8, 



