188 
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
thus des(5ribes a rural scene of this character, and the ex- 
citing cause, as translated by Kirby: 
“Through waving groves where Selo’s torrrent flows. 
And Alborno, thy green Ilex grows, 
Myriads of insects flatter in the gloom, 
(Oestrus in Greece, Asilus named at Rome) 
Fierce and of cruel hum. By the dire sound, 
Driven from the woods and shady glens around, 
The universal herds in terror fly ; 
Their lowing shakes the woods and shakes the sky. 
And Negro’s arid shore—” 
Stinging insects are more numerous, and, apparently, 
poisonous in some countries, even of the same genus; and 
Aristotle was true to Nature when he divided them into 
two classes — one which carries stings before (in its bite) 
and the other, like honey bees, which carries its sting 
behind. 
Keeping cattle from woods, is the best way to avoid 
injuries that result from this often troublesome insect. 
Sheep, however, suffer more than either cattle or horses, 
from the bot fly called oestrus ovis which oviposits in their 
nostrils. Kollar thus describes this species of the CEstredee. 
“The thorax in the winged insect is brownish black, and 
dotted with white, the abdomen white spotted with gray 
and black. The fore head looks ash gray, and is covered 
with small deep punctures, the wings are shining and dot- 
ted at the base. It lives in the vicinity of woods, in shel- 
tered, shady places, where it is found in great numbers in 
warm summer days. It anneys sheep very much ; and 
in order to escape its attack, they carry their heads low, 
and thrust them under the belly of the next sheep. The 
females lay their eggs in their nostrils, and larvoe creep up 
into the frontal sinuses, along the pituitous tunic, to which 
they attach themselves by means of two hooks; other- 
wise they would be easily ejected by the sneezing of the 
animal.” Sneezing, deflexions from the nose, and a stag- 
gering walk are the most prominent syptome of bots in 
sheep. They are so dangerous, and so near the brain 
tint instinct tells the parent fly not to lay any more than 
four or five eggs in the nose of any one sheep — a greater 
number would hardly fail to destroy the sheep before the 
maggot was half grown, and when, unlike the young of 
flesh flies, it had six months longer to live before it could 
possibly reach its pupa state. 
In addition to keeping sheep out of woods pastures, it 
is well to smear their noses with tar, which is offensive to 
the bot-fly, as a preventive. 
Speaking of the low regions of the torid zone, where 
the air is filled with millions of musquitoes which render 
uninhabitable a great and beautiful portion of the globe, 
Humboldt and Bonpland, observe that to these may be 
joined the (Estrus Ho7n.inus, which deposits itseggs in the 
skin of man causing painful tumors. Gruelin says it re- 
mains six months under the skin of the abdomen, penetra- 
ting deeper if distnrbed, and becoming so dangerous as 
sometimes to occasion death. The fly he described as be- 
ing of a brown color, and about the size of a common 
house fly; so that it is smaller than the rest of the genus. 
L. 
Water for Calves. — A ccident, says a correspondent ; 
of the Ohio Cidtivator, recently taught me what, till then, 
I did not know, viz : “That calves, while fed on milk, 
need f/ee access to water; I had supposed the milk (con- 
sisting of their entire food) was enough without wafer. 
But in changing my calves from one pasture to another, 
they passed a water trough and drank heartily. I acted 
on the hint, and have since supplied them, and find they 
need water as often as older cattle. No day passed with- 
their using more or less.” 
MI.SSISSIPPI STATE AGKICUETIJKAE 
Society. 
The Daily Mississiyyian has the following : — “Pursuant 
to the call made for a meeting of the friends of agricultur- 
al improvement in the city of Jackson, a meeting was 
held in the Senate Chamber on the night of the 21st, 
and organized by calling Hon. W. McWillie to the Chair, 
and appointing M. Vv^. Philips, Secretary. Whereupon, 
after a full and free consultation, it was deemed best and 
prudent to revive the Soviety as organized February 3, 
1854, and that the constitution and names of officers be 
published. It was ordered that this Society hold a Fair 
during the month of November next, and that a petition 
be presented to the honorable Legislature of the State ask- 
ing for such aid in the promotion of the cause as in their 
wisdom may be deemed proper, praying that twenty-five 
hundred dollars be donated to said Society for said object. 
Further, that the use of so much of the State lands lying 
east of the Capital as may be deemed necessary for Fair 
Grounds be granted to said Society. So soon as the ac- 
tion of the Legislature be known, the Secretary will call a 
meeting of the Executive Committee to determine upon a 
Premium List for the Fair and the time to be named for 
said Fair. 
BattirnltHral Sepailmtnt. 
MORAL INFLUENCE OF GAKDENINtt. 
To most minds, it is a sufficient argument for gardening 
that it furnishes a rational, pleasantand healthful occupation; 
that a well kept garden is an ornament to one’s home, and 
a comfort to his family. Has it not the additional attrac- 
tion of a moral influence'? That it has might be inferred 
from the fact that every employment gives a tone and 
bias, more or less marked, to the character of him who 
pursues it. The kindred pursuit ot farming, it is generally 
conceded, exerts a decided and happy influence on the 
character : why may not the same be true of horticul- 
ture '? 
It is obvious that this employment withdraws a man 
from many scenes of temptation. It does not send him 
into the haunts of vice in cities, nor into places of sharp 
traffic w'here every high and noble principle is sacrificed 
to the lust of gain. It does not often bring before him the 
dark side of human nature, and familial ize his mind with 
gross wickedness, and stimulate his passions to indul- 
gence. From his daily path, he seldom hears profane 
oaths, or licentious jests, or enticements to intemperance. 
His calling will not, indeed, ensure the preservation of a 
virtuous character, yet it is eminently conducive to that 
result. 
Gardening brings one under the favorable influences of 
home This is a positive advantage, and it accrues both to 
him who follows gardening for a livelihood and to him who 
makes it the recreation ol'his leisure. The working-man 
pursues hisdaily toil within sight of his own gables; his 
wife’s cheerful song is wafted out to him through the open 
casement; his children, some of them labor at his side, 
and others soothe him with their innocent prattle. He 
who pursues gardening from a love of it, is not apt to 
spend much of his leisure in other and questionalile 
amusements. The early morning finds him among his 
trees and plants, and when the day's business or study is 
ended, he hies to his garden as the most delightful refuge 
