PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS CLUB. 6Z6 



The Secretary, Mr. John W. Chambers, replied that silkworm eggs have 

 heretofore been furnished by Mr. John M. Summy, Manheim, Lancaster 

 county, Pa., and he presumed they can still be obtained of him. It must 

 be understood, however, that the eggs are not easily transported in warm 

 weather. They have to be kept in an ice house or very cool room during 

 spring, else they will hat.ch before the mulberry leaves are grown, and 

 perish for want of food. When sent by mail in warm weather, they are 

 very likely to hatch on the way. 



A Carrot Weeder. 



Mr. R. W. Arnold, W(!stport, Essex county, N. J., says: " Will you tell me 

 whether there is any kind of tool known to you that will weed carrots or 

 beets by horse or hand, and do it well? I wish to plant 30 inches apart, 

 and if there is any kind of labor-saving implement that will work between 

 the rows and close up to them, I would like to get one." 



Mr. Eobinson. — I wonder if this man has read the previous reports of 

 these meetings, or has ever looked over the tools of one of our agricultural 

 warehouses, or has ever been to a great exhibition of farming tools at any 

 State Fair, or has ever visited any of the market garden farms near this 

 city with a view to learn useful lessons ? If he had, he must have learned 

 that there are just such tools as he is in want of, which do the work " w^ell." 



Prof. Mapes. — The tool long known as Langdon's Cultivator has been im- 

 proved upon since first brought out, till almost all the work that is necessary 

 in weeding any crop can be done by horse power. I have a carrot weeder 

 that cuts up and combs out the weeds, and which a boy twelve years old 

 with a trained mule can work between rows sixteen inches apart, and do 

 more work than a hundred men. These weeding tools are made to expand 

 to suit any width of rows, and cut any depth from one to three inches. 



White Willows. 



Mr. Thomas P. Boyd writes from Greigsville, Livingston county, New 

 York, inquiring about " white willows, and whether cuttings for propa- 

 gating could be obtained for reasonable compensation, and how much ?" 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — As this is the common large willow of the coun- 

 try, the cuttings can be had for a mere nominal price. I should be willing 

 to sell all that any one could cut from one very large tree upon my farm 

 for one dollar a thousand. 



Mr. Prince. — This is the salix alba, common all over this country. 

 There are two upright-growing willows, the golden and green. The lat- 

 ter is the salix alba. It is extensively planted in Sweden and Norway 

 along the public roads, to cut for its wood. It is sometimes called the 

 swallow-tailed willow in Europe. It roots deep and is very hardy and 

 will grow upon dry or wet land, and I believe where the tide sometimes 

 overflows the land. 



Mr. Bergen. — This must be a mistake, and people should be cautious not 

 to plant where the tide overflows. The best way to propagate this or any 

 other willow is by cuttings instead of rooted plants. You may set poles 

 four inches in diameter two feet in the earth, and they will make trees 



