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13 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Your seeds came all right and are growing as well 
as they can this cold weather. We were particular¬ 
ly pleased with the potatoes, they were so large and 
nice. 
Will you be so kind as to tell me how to get rid of 
the little red ants that eat up my balsams, or eat the 
buds off. They also destroy the small plants by 
hilling up around them at night; have tried salt, also 
hot water. Please tell me through Seed-Time and 
Harvest. Mrs. E. A. Case. 
We should try the Dalmatian Insect 
Powder. We think it will readily destroy 
them as it has nearly all insects on which 
we have tried it. Simply sprinkle it around 
their runways. 
Eds. Seed-Time and Harvest; 
I want to know, by 
return mail, how you use the Dalmatian Insect Pow¬ 
der on the cabbage worms. 
I see in the Farm and Fireside, of June 15. 1881, 
that Prof. Cook, of the Michigan Agricultural Col¬ 
lege, says he used it, one table-spoonful to two gal¬ 
lons of water, sprinkled it on and found it better 
than to use it dry. Have you ever tried it that way? 
Please let me hear froi® you. Yours Truly, 
Johnson Brownlee, 
Plymouth, Ind. 
We have only used the powder in a dry 
state, sprinkling, dusting or blowing the 
dust where^ the insects resort. We have 
found it very effective in that way. You 
can easily experiment with it and may find 
better methods of applying it. 
Gabon, O., Aug., 1882. 
I would ask you two questions. First: I have a 
watermelon hill, some vines are six or seven feet 
long. I pinched the ends off over a month ago and 
there is no sign of a watermelon on it. What is the 
fault ? 
Second: Have you cultivated the potato called 
Clarks No. 1. and what is yonr opinion of it? Have 
tried Bliss’s Triumph for several years, but do not 
intend growing them any more, as they do not yield 
of any account, the largest being about the size of a 
hen’s egg and but few in a hill. I planted 14 hills 
out of the one-half pound of the Belle that I received 
from you; will report when they are dug. I find two 
hills, however, that the foliage is altogether differ¬ 
ent from the rest. I will inclose two sample leaves, 
one of each kind. If they do well I shall order some 
for spring planting. What do you know of the Gen¬ 
esee Co. King and Peachblow? Hoping to hear from 
you, I remain, Respectfully Yours, C. F. Wernle. 
We will ‘“give up” the first question. 
Have seen vines act in that way but do not 
know the cause. 
We have "grown Clarks No, 1. Potato. 
It is an early variety, of good quality, but 
it does not yield heavily with us, Beau¬ 
ty of Hebron will beat it. 
See our answer to Mr. Tyler concerning 
your third question. Genesee County King 
and Peach Blow have had their day with 
us. Better sorts have taken their place. 
Beaver Centre, Pa., July 16. 1882. 
I would like to suggest the idea of every person 
who raises a patch of potatoes to commence as near 
the fourth of July, as possible on account of weath¬ 
er. and apply Paris Green to their crop of potatoes, 
and as of en after as they find it necessary for the 
complete extermination of the bugs, for one month. 
I believe the simultaneous action of all concerned 
would result in the extermination of the pests, while 
with one acting at one time and another at some 
other time, gives the bugs a chance to propagate in 
some place all the time. Yours &c., 
H. W. Hackett. 
This is a capital idea and if carried out 
would certainly conquer these pests in short 
order and at a less expense than that at 
which they are now merely held at bay. 
But it will never be done unless by national 
legislation. People in this world have to 
be compelled to act in their own best in¬ 
terests. Strange but true. 
Neapolis, Ohio. 
Will you please let me know where there is a good 
market for cabbage and potatoes, and oblige, 
Yours, &c.. T. P. Meredith. 
We should send our surplus to the near¬ 
est city. We do not think there is enough 
difference in the prices in different mar¬ 
kets, to pay the additional freight which 
would be required to send them to distant 
points. Marketable cabbages are likely to 
be in good demand most any where for a 
year or two at least. 
Keokuk, Iowa, Sept., 11, 1882. 
Dear Sir: The sweet Corn received from you as 
the “Marblehead”, seems of two sorts that do not 
mix in the ear, One of a red cob and color, the 
other white and like the Minnesota. In your new 
“Monthly” perhaps something might be said about 
it. The Minnesota has improved greatly, with me, 
by careful selection of seed ears. 
Yours, G O. Hilton. 
This complaint has frequently been made 
before. This peculiarity is not confined to 
the Marblehead. The Amber Cream, Red 
River and some other kinds are similar in 
this respect. Some ears are nearly plire 
white, while others are of a dark amber col¬ 
or. These do not seem to mix in the ear 
