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THE COUNTRY GENTLEMAN. 



monthly markets being generally hold on different 

 weeks— 1»3 the first M >n.Iay io one, the soooad Tuea- 

 diiy in another, the third Monday in a third— ia con- 

 tiguous CUUIlttOS. 



Such a system of periodical meetings, while being 

 free from the spiismodio Hccessories, exciting scenes, 

 and peroioious consequences of tumultuous and in-fre- 

 quent fairs^ produces most satisfactory results by 

 affording timely opportunity for doliberute discussions 

 and comparison and sale of stock and other farm pro- 

 ducts, and at the same timo allowing f.inners to kill not 

 only "two" but a score of birds with "one stone," to at- 

 tend many other purchHsos and matters of business and 

 inquiry without special journeys and the \om of time 

 inoidfsntal thereto. Markets are held weekly for the 

 fialu of grivin, meat, butter, poultry, pigs, Ac, Ao , and 

 in the large towns twice a week in Bngland. Perhaps 

 monthly is often enough for cattle in the rural dts- 

 trictSf but a regularly and frequently recurring market 

 day will bo found very advantugoous in preventing 

 forestalmont, in affording choice of place, timo and 

 purchase, and above all in preventing or moJifying the 

 extreme fliictuaiion in prices, which frequently result 

 in great losses to those ill able to bear them from their 

 resources sot iifloat by greed, and only re.-'ulting in 

 nggrandizing the unworthy. At another timo I inuy at- 

 tempt a brief description of the arrungemouts and 

 method.^ of marketing produce, Ao , in England, ac- 

 cording to the best means of infonnatioQ at commund, 

 and also endoiivor to show wherein the adoption of such 

 or a similar system— modified as difference of circum- 

 stances and necessities dictate — would bo visily pre- 

 ferable to the bore of runners, tho soramhling no sys- 

 tem of the street, or the timo-wtwting and precarious 

 resort of " hunting up " a market whore yi.u can find 

 it, perhaps when needt'ul— perhaps a day, a week or a 

 mouth thereafter. Marketekk. 



Advantages of Irrigation. 



Messrs. Editors — The following is translated from 

 Br. OiRARDtN and Du Bueuil, on irrigation : 



Vegetation oannot put forth a rapid and vigoroue 

 growth unless constantly supplied with a certain 

 amount of moisture from the soil, for this favors the 

 procet-s of germination, hastens the decomposition of 

 manure, and servos to convey the elements which 

 nourish the plant, to its roots ; and finally, renders the 

 soil so porous that the air and young roots can easily 

 penetrate it. 

 _ _ Tho P-^Hatept drought occurs durinpr th e ^^^ 

 this time is the most dangonms, because then the plant 

 has tho greatest need of absorbing watery substances 

 through the roots, in order to replace and supply the 

 loss occasioned by the evaporatioQ going on so rapidly 

 in its leaves. 



Wherever systematic irrigation has been for a long 

 time practiced, the beneficial effects produced in the 

 nature of the soil — indeed the appearance and produc- 

 tiveness of a whole region of country, is observed to 

 be changed. 



All waters, even the purest, deposit, especially 

 during heavy rains, a portion of costly manures, us 

 slime or mud, and retain certain soluble salts in solu- 

 tion, as magnesia, lime, gypsum, potash, &o , which, 

 during irrigation are transterred to the soil, whose 

 properties are by these means improved. In addition 

 to the substances already introduced, come the gases — 

 carbonic acid and ammonia, which, combining with 

 the former, reproreaent all the elements necessary for 

 a vigorous growth of vegetation ; and therefore it is 

 evident that all of the effects produced by manure may 

 be replaced by irrigation. 



Concerning its importance, Bousingault very correct- 

 ly said, particularly in reference to meadows — " if a 

 field is not of itself rich enough to reader a copious 

 supply of manure unnecessary, it can never bo profi- 

 tably cultivated for a groat length of time unless iu 

 connection with a moiidow." Or, in a worl, and on 

 the previous supposition that the soil does not possess 

 a sufficient quantity of inorganic substances to supply 

 directly, without tho use of manure, the alkaline and 

 earthy salts to the soil, which have become exhausted 

 through continued cultivation, something must be ex- 

 pended every year in replacing the elements carried 

 off by the previous crop. For this reason are lancis 

 flowed and enriched by streams, the only ones which 

 allow of a continual exportation of their products with- 

 out suffering deterioration. 



To such belong* tho valley of the Nile, and it 

 would bo difficult to form an idea of the Immense 

 quantity of phosphoric acid, magnesia and potash an- 

 nually carried out of Egypt in grain. 



Irrigation is without doubt the moat simple and eco- 

 nomical means of increasing the fertility of a field 

 conveniontly situated, because it aff.mis fodder in 

 abundance, and in consequence a good supply of ma- 

 nure. The mineral and orgmio substances which the 

 water often contains in such minute quantities iw to 

 escape entirely analysis, are discovered by the plant 

 and taken into its organism, ju.-it as they absorb those 

 gaseous elemenU which are diffused in the atmosphere 



in a quantity not exceeding a few ten thousandths, at 

 the same time transforming anil condensing them. 



Ill this manner the plant gathers to itself and gives 

 a new form to th'tse ."uhstaoces, which, being dissolved 

 in water, are diffmod through tho .«oil and air in order 

 to facilitate their reception and appropriation by ani- 



Nothing further is necessary to explain the advan- 

 tages of irrigation ; but to derive tho most profit from 

 it certain conditions must be fulfilled, which at some 

 future lime we will endeavor to illustrate. 



I send the above as an introduction to a few arti- 

 cles on irrigation. S. K Smith. Stockholm Depot. 



The Thousand-Legged Worm. 



Messrs. Luther Tuckkr A Sow— Enclosed please 

 find a sample of asmall worm that has taken possession 

 of my garden for tho last three years, almost totally 

 desbr(»ying everything of vegetable kind. In tho 

 winter season they disappear or go deep in the ground, 

 and early in the spring commence on the winter rootsi 

 &o., and devour them until the young vegetables com- 

 mence to grow, when thoy attack them and complete- 

 ly destroy all but some of tho most hardy, which seldom 

 get to perfection. Tho large strawberry, when nenr 

 ripe, will often contain ns much as fifty of them. They 

 will make a small hole to enter, and devcmr the heart 

 from the fruit, and so long as there is room for a worm 

 they will go in. The young cucumber, radish, beans, 

 onions, &c , all fall a prey to them. I call them wire 

 worm, but not knowing them, I am uncertain whether 

 correct or not ; nnd as there are no others in the vicini- 

 ty, I would like to know what they are, or if anything 

 can be got to destroy them. I have tried lime, aches, 

 Ac, but without success. The only way I can find to 

 destroy them is, when the weather is warm, liy hoards 

 round the walk^ in the evening, when early in the 

 morning they will be Under the boards by thousands 

 — then t apply Imiling water. 



Please say iu Thk Cultivator, if there is any known 

 name for them, and anything that will destroy them. 

 Jamks Adams. Armstrong Co^ Pa. 



Answer to the at^oye 1)j^ Dr. Fitch. 



MESS.RS. Tucker A. So.s — The worms from Mr. 

 Adams, are a centipede or "thousand-legged worm," 

 pertaining to the genus Julus, in the Apterous or 

 .■. • m\i « v'\U' *!ai tri' i u . TT . niikq t he qyeat jmgjga-tfLJBz.^ 

 sects, these undergo no transformations, but always 

 remain in the worm-like shape in which they hatch 

 from the eggs. And whether these specimens are the 

 young of one of our larger species, or a minute species 

 now in its mature state, I am unable to say, having 

 never yet carefully investigated the group. 



One of the latest and best nutborities re^tpecting 

 them says, ^^ ces sout des animaux ino^ensifs " — these 

 are harmless animals. They are most fondof dark, damp 

 situations ; hence Mr. Adams finds them congregated 

 under boards lying on the ground Scarcely a buck- 

 et of water has been drawn from my well, this present 

 season, that did not have one or two of these worms in 

 it. Crawling from their retreats in the crevices of tho 

 stones of the well, they lose their foothold and drop into 

 the water, the coldness of which renders them torpid 

 and unable to crawl out. I must procure a trout and 

 place it in my well U) keep the water cleansed of these 

 worm-s. Though should one of them chance to be 

 swallowed in drinking, I doubt not the gastric juice 

 would destroy and digest it This, however, is an ex- 

 periment in dietetics which I do not care about trying. 



As to the food of those worms, it is no doubt vege- 

 table substances which are in a diseased and decaying 

 state. It is in old rotten logs in the woods that we al- 

 ways meet with our largest species named Julus ame- 

 ricanus by Beauvois, and marginatus by Say, whioh 

 is three and a half inches long, and over a quarter of 

 an inch thick, of a lurid, grayish, olive color, with a 

 red ring to each segment of its body, and usually jilst 

 otto hundred pairs of feet. And these small centipedes 

 OCour gardens and yards appear to bo most numerous 

 where decaying vegetable substances abound. Where 

 a radish has been bore 1 by the larva of tho radish ^y, 

 where a cabbage root is clumpy or otherwise diseased, 

 I have noticed these worms crowded together upon the 

 affocted spot, evidently to feed on the particles of semi- 

 putrid matter they there find, and very probably pro- 

 moting and e.ictending the disease by removing this de- 

 caying matter, and thus exposing a fresh surface to the 

 action of the atmosphoro. And I presume the straw- 

 berries, cucumbers, ifcj., mentioned by Mr. Adams, 

 were in the first instance wounded by ants or other in- 

 sects, and were thereby rendered attractivo to those 

 centipgdes. Several years since, a physician of this 

 town, now deceased, from finding those worms very 

 numerous in decaying potatoes, and unaware that 

 they occurred abundantly on all other decaying roots, 

 at oQoe jumped to the conclusion that they were 



the veritable cause of the potato disease, and In the 

 excitement at that time prevailing, his oommunioations 

 to the press on this subject attracted a somewhat wide 

 notice. Buteverything known of these worms, impress- 

 es mo with the belief that they never atttick living, 

 healthy vegetation, and consequently do not cause dis- 

 eitPe, though they may aggravate and extend it where 

 it is already commenced. A^a I*'itch. Salem, Df. Y. 



Lime vs. Guano. 



Messrs. Tucker &> Son— Residing in a section of 

 country where lime does not enter into the composition 

 of the soil as one of its inorganic constituents, and 

 where there is becoming of late something of a com- 

 merce in guano, the facts very naturally elicit the 

 question whether the extra crops produceil in using it 

 ever pay for the iir(i(de ; nnd whether, if the same 

 amount of capital, being invei^ted in lime ami u.sed, 

 will not produ-e results lus good, and be more perma- 

 nent anii lasting in its effects upon the soil in subse- 

 quent years 7 



These questions I conceive to be of interest, nnd of 

 especial importance to young farmers, who, having but 

 little means with which to experiment, are anxious at 

 once to bring their lands into a higher condition at the 

 loiist [osnible expense. 



In soliciting through the medium of your papers, 

 the views of those who h'lve hud exp«rience in these 

 thing!*, [ am aware that it may be s lid (hat much will 

 depend upon tho prices of theae eommoilities here, the 

 facilities of tran'^p irtatlon, &c. ; and in order that 

 more correct opinions may bo formed, will briefly say 

 thtLt we arc situated at the western terminu.^ of the 

 Delawuro and Hudson CmHl. and 14 miles from tho 

 N.irronsburgh depot of tho New-York and Erie rail- 

 road. The nearest limestone quarry to this point is 

 50 miles distant, near tho canal, in Sullivan county, 

 N. Y , and from which pbice the lime is burned and 

 delivered here for ninety-five cents per barrel. Will 

 it remunerate us to piy this price for its use as a 

 stimulant t<) our soils, or at what price should our far- 

 mers obtain it for this purpose 7 C G. Reed. Bt' 

 thany. Pa. 



Proper Depth for Covering Seed. 



Eds. Country Gentleman — fn your issue of May 

 5, you have an article upon " Proper Depth for Cover- 

 ing Gross Seed.-*," upon which subject allow me to say 

 a few words, though a mere tyro in grass oulture, yet 

 Tuigft«st^Wi<wi5T'^wfr^™=^^*Ji^"i- ft^ ft flott^> n pitpter 



being more to kill than to make grass — too much eo in 

 deed and in truth. 



How are the seed of gross and weeds sown in the 

 mighty prairies of the great west, on the millions of 

 acres owned by Uncle Sam — plowed in, harrowed ioj 

 rolled in, land plowed, or left as nature made it, and 

 the seed sown by the hand of their Creator'? In por- 

 tions of the boundless west, where rain falls but seldom, 

 how do those grasses stand drought? 



The acorn, hickory nut, seeds of the forest? Take 

 a cane break, cut down, leave to dry, trim it off and 

 see the countless millions of coke, iron, h6.y weeds sown 

 by birds and wind. 



Why then labor to cover grass seed 1 Will not tho 

 first good storm, not to say rain, cover deepemough for 

 every mature seed to vegotntel I have faileii in se- 

 curing a catch of grass and clover, and from the light- 

 ness of soil. I would now prefer, after plowing and 

 perfect harrowing, to roll land first and compress the 

 surface, then sow my seed. 



I have sown oats and rye, even on land after corn, 

 nnd was laid by, and made good crops. Have dime so 

 by the 50 acres, and if land be laid level, prefer it. A 

 friend was induced to test this by plowing lUO acres 

 and sowing on surface another 100 acres ; the latter 

 W1L.S the bust crop. 



We are too prone to kick nature oat of our coun- 

 cils and " go it ulono," *' on our own hook." Why sirs, 

 sow grass seeds, plant corn or cotton (rom surface to 

 any depth it will grow out, and on some land root^ will 

 invariably grow to some depth. I defy you or any 

 man to mako corn send out roots four to six inches deep, 

 then grow and none to be sent out above. Place corn 

 four to six inches deep, and the roots that then spring 

 forth only grow until the bulk ia formed, say one inch 

 below the level, and new roots put forth. In reality 

 it is loss of power and lo:8of time, Corn is only a grais, 

 if so with it, why not with Herds or Blue gra^s ? 



Years ago I bought 100 bushels of oats, divided with 

 an old planter, he sowed and covered with a plow, I 

 sowed and run a light brush over ; both p iroels of land 

 were well plowed. I had a full and perfect stand, he 

 complained that I had sound oats, and his were more 

 than half spoiled. 



I said, *' you covered too deep," the oats were from 

 the same field, and impossible (here could be a differ- 

 ence. Ht) never plowed any more oat^ in I never 

 cover seed deeper than to exclude light and protect 

 from enemies, and save ^o dry a year aa this, I have 

 perfect success. M. Mississippi. 



