486 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[November, 
“Tumble Bugs.”— A subscriber asks if there is 
any animal that will destroy the common beetle,known as 
the “Tumble Bug.”—The detested skunk lives upon bee¬ 
tles and other insects, when he can set enough, and is a 
Most faithful seeker after,and destroyer of, them. Whether 
he delights in the peculiar, and, to us, unattractive flavor 
Of this beetle, or eschews the same, we cannot tell. 
English and American Implements.— 
The English manufacturer makes his implements heavy, 
Without much regard to the strength needed. Their 
forks, whether for spading, or hay, or manure forks, are 
Much too heavy, and are most unwieldy, as compared with 
the neatly shaped, lightly built, and easily handled 
American forks.—The English plow is usually three 
times as heavy as ours, twice as long, and much less easily 
handled. The cradles they use in cutting their grain 
Would not be used by one of our reapers, and so with 
Many other of their heavy farm implements. 
Hillside Garden. —“T. B. B.” writes: “I have a 
garden on a hillside, on a slope of about 15 to 20 degrees. 
It has been worked only this summer. How can I best 
place it in condition for next year’s gardening? It is a 
lot of about 4 by 8 rods. I thought of plowing it this 
fall, and manuring it heavily before plowing. Would it 
be best to manure this fall and plow under, or manure 
next spring; it is a rather hard, clayish soil ?"—It might 
do to spread the manure and then plow the ground in 
ridges running up and down the hill, but it would prob¬ 
ably be better to ridge the land with a plow or spade, 
and then sow on a pretty liberal dressing of lime, slaked 
With old brine, whitening the whole surface. This will 
act during the winter, and the manure may be applied in 
the spring after “splitting” the ridges, when the manure 
can be turned under with a sidehill plow. 
Plant Iilce or Aphides.— The number of Plant 
Lice possible to be produced from, a single individual 
during a season is very great. The following is a table 
prepared by M. Poujard to illustrate this point: 
Generation, or brood.—Produce. 
1st, 1 Aphis, 
2nd, 100 Aphides, 
3d, 10.000 Aphides, 
4th, 1,000,000 Aphides, 
5th, 100,000,000 Aphides, 
6th. 10,000,000.000 Aphides, 
7th, 1.000,000.000,000 Aphides, 
8th, 100,000,030,000,000 Aphides, 
9th, 10,000.000.000.000,000 Aphides, 
10th, 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 Aphides, 
TO one quintillion in a single season. Mr. Huxley cal¬ 
culates if a louse weighs one-thousanth of a grain “the 
tenth brood alone would, if all its members survive the 
perils to which they are exposed, contain more sub¬ 
stance than five hundred million stout men, to say the 
least, more than the population of China.” The fact that 
there is no such appalling production of the Aphides 
Is an illustration of the fact that there is a great struggle 
for existence which this vast productive power is de¬ 
signed to meet in the case of these small insects. 
Horseback Hiding.— Fifty or a hundred years 
ago the saddle was quite sure to be found in the farmer’s 
barn, as one of the necessary articles of the farm—but 
now it is too much put one side for the harness and bug¬ 
gy. At this season of the year, when the roads are bad, 
the saddle should be more generally used, on the ground 
of both economy and comfort. Boys, and girls too, 
ebould learn the art of horseback riding; as far as pos¬ 
sible every farmer should have a horse suited to the saddle. 
To Catch Red Ants.— "Mrs. F. E. M.,” Mon¬ 
mouth Co., N. J. A number of persons who have tried 
It, inform us that a plate covered with a thin coat of lard, 
or other grease, will attract and catch the ants, from 
Which they can be wiped with a cloth, and a new coating 
of lard put on, and the trap is set again for the pests. 
Pedigree In Seeds.—A thorough-bred animal- 
one that is registered in the herd book and has therefore 
A pedigree—is the result of a series of generations of 
careful breeding. Such an animal has had certain charac¬ 
teristics fixed by the process of selection, and possesses 
the power of transmitting those characteristics, just in 
proportion to the purity of the breeding and the time it 
has been carried on. An intelligent breeder of live stock 
looks as much to the history of an animal as to the animal 
Itself, and is satisfied only when both accord with his 
Ideas of good points, and those brought out in a way 
that makes them hereditary. When we come to plants, 
the same laws hold with equal force and importance, but 
a pedigree is rarely insisted upon in the selection and 
purchase of seeds. If the wheat is plump and the corn 
Is full and bright, that is sufficient, and questions are sel¬ 
dom asked as to the method by which the plumpness or 
brightness has been obtained. Consider what a host of 
Hew varieties of seeds are thrown upon the market every 
year, which are never heard of after their first sowing, 
because they are not the results of close breeding, and 
therefore have not the property of transmitting the qual¬ 
ities peculiai to them. Pure seed should mean that which 
has resulted from the in-breeding of a variety, for a 
sufficient length of time, so that the qualities have become 
fixed, and will be perpetuated. There is a wide field for 
seed breeding, and in it our grains and grasses maybe 
greatly improved. A “Herd Book of Blooded Corns ” 
sounds very strange, but may it not be that a pedigree of 
a “Dent,” or an “Evergreen,” can be established and the 
history of it stated by sires and dams , in much the same 
way as these terms are used in a herd book of Jerseys ? 
Fair Tests for Draft-Horses.— A horse should 
be at his best when in the harness; it is there that he 
does the greater part of his work, and it is of prime im¬ 
portance that trials in the harness be more frequently 
made at our fairs. Thousands of breeding stallions are 
never broken to harness, and if so, are never taught to 
handle themselves properly with a heavy load. A spirited 
horse out of the harness does not always mean one that 
will stand the test of hard work. Breeders of draft 
horses very generally make their selections entirely by 
sight, and not from results of trials of strength and en¬ 
durance. It is our belief, that much more stress should 
be put on the action of the animal when at work; and 
any system of testing the horse in the harness, with a 
heavy load, will lead to an improvement in draft horses. 
Tlie Union Stock Yards at Chicago are 
the most extensive of any in America, if not in the 
whole world. In a recent visit the writer found much to 
interest and instruct, and a little that was amusing. The 
ease, rapidity, neatness, and we may add humaneness, 
with which the work was done, made us quite in love 
with wholesale slaughter. The yards octupy 350 acres, 
and will accommodate 10,000 cattle, 120,000 hogs, and a 
larger number of sheep and horses. Fifteen hundred car 
loads of stock can be unloaded, put in pens, fed and 
cared for in a single day. Those who have not visited 
the Union Stock Yards, and have an opportunity, should 
not fail to improve it, and see the work done. 
Beecli and Chestnut Timber.- “A. P. P.,” 
of Long Island, is about to cut some 40 or'50 acres of 
timber, consisting of Chestnut and Beech, which have 
stood for 35 or 40 years, and wishes to devote the 
ground to the culture of the same kind of trees. Ho 
asks, “shall I wait for a spontaneous growth or plant 
seed ? Some of my neighbors say that soft woods only 
spring up, such as Birch and Pine. How far should the 
young trees be left apart.”—Beech and Chestnut trees 
are so dissimilar that they are usually not planted or 
suffered to grow together. The beech is best propagated 
from seed, the chestnuts spring up readily from the old 
stumps. The usual plan is to trust to this vitality of 
the old chestnut roots to establish the new stand, but 
with beech it is usual to wait for a fall mast, then to 
scarify the soil under the trees, so that the nuts shall 
find a soft seed bed—and when the new crop is fairly 
sprouted, to cut off most of the wood, leaving some trees 
standing for shade and protection. The young growth 
is supposed to grow at first very thick—then it should 
be thinned out for hoop poles, afterwards for charcoal, 
and finally for scaffolding poles, fencing stuff, or fire¬ 
wood, while the remainder stands for timber. 
Barrenness in Cow.— Mr. “T. H. C.,” Wilkes- 
barre, Mass.—The only advice we can give you in the case 
of your cow, is to convert her into beef as soon as possible: 
there is no known remedy for confirmed barrenness, and 
the best course in such cases is to get a cow that will be 
useful, and not try experiments that are most likely to 
fail. Of course, if the cow has been sold under false 
representations, you have a legal remedy. 
Tlie Queens Co. Sliow lost, much of its interest 
this year on account of the reported prevalence of Pleuro¬ 
pneumonia in the county. The farmers, from their long 
acquaintance with the disease, have a wholesome dread 
of it. It is only those who know nothing of it, and who 
in their selfishness and ignorance fortify themselves in a 
disbelief of its dangerous character, who brave it and 
repeal laws for its control like the farmers and legislature 
of New Jersey. Other departments of the show were of 
usual interest, and with fair weather there was good 
attendance. • 
Oyster Shells for Poultry.— “T. B.” Certainly, 
roast the shells before pounding them up. A little nu¬ 
tritive matter is doubtless lost, but the saving of time is 
of much greater value than the loss from burning. 
Seedling Black Walnuts.- Wm. Armstrong, 
of Wisconsin, writes:—“Last fall I procured three bush¬ 
els ot black walnuts from the neighboring forest, and 
after leaving them in a dry place until the shucks had be¬ 
come quite dry, I placed them in a couple of barrels; 
alternately a layer of nuts and then a layer of damp sand; 
the sand must be kept jnoderately damp during the win¬ 
ter. During the January thaw I planted them, some in 
a permanent place by the road side, and others in the 
nursery, and they have nearly all grown successfully, 
some of them to the bight of two feet. I would like to 
know if I could transplant those in the nursery success¬ 
fully this fall. They will make a splendid wind-brake in 
course of time, to say nothing of their great usefulness 
in cabinet work. As I go into the forest I admire those 
stately trees planted there by the hand of nature, and 
wish I could protect them from the ravaging hand of 
man. I return and look upon those that I have recently 
planted, and think what a little effort it cost me, and 
what a world of pleasure for those who may come after 
to enjoy theirshade and admire their stately form.”—For¬ 
est trees which send down long and strong tap roots, as 
do walnuts, hickories, oaks, etc., should have the tap 
root cut off, without lifting the plant, at the close of the 
first season. In the early spring it may be lifted and set 
out again at once after trimming the roots a little. The 
next autumn the plant may be moved with safety. 
“ Tlie Best.” —Letters are constantly coming in 
asking for the best kind of sheep, the best fastening for 
cows, the best churn, the best feed cutter, etc., etc. In 
many cases there is no ‘•'the best" thing, but generally a 
number equally good. It is much a matter of taste which 
is the best for a given individual. Shall we say that this or 
that reaper is the best when there are many all so near per¬ 
fection that the judges disagree? It will be a long time 
before the best in many cases will be settled beyond a 
doubt. While there is doubt, situated as we are, it is the 
best for us to keep still. To give an opinion is one thing, 
but to decide out and out is another. 
Tlie Siveet Potato.— But a few years ago it was 
thought that the sweet potato could not be grown north 
ofVirginia, but it is now a profitable crop in many North¬ 
ern and Western States, and instead of being a luxury, 
is within the reach of almost every family. The Jersey 
sweet potato is now much esteemed, but it is not as 
highly colored —not as yellow—or as rich in flavor as 
those which come to ns from further regions south. 
“ Fire-Fanging.”— “C. M. H.,” asks: “Howmay 
we know by its appearance when manure is over heating 
in fermentation—‘fire-fanging’ as it iscalled ?”—Watch it. 
Carriage Gate.— We have several inquiries for 
the best carriage gate that can be opened and shut with¬ 
out leaving the vehicle. Good ones in use ought i* 
be advertised; we do not know which is the best. 
American Beef in England.— The “Privy 
Council” of Great Britain, as we understand their pow¬ 
ers, are a body of gentlemen acting under the direct 
authority of the Queer, in regard to matters which are 
not provided for by law, and which require immediate 
action. Their decisions are usually liberal and just, and 
their action in regard to the slaughter of America* 
beasts 14 days after landing, though it is certainly arbi¬ 
trary, and damaging both to our interests and to those of 
many citizens of Great Britain, may yet be of great ser¬ 
vice to us. Judge Jones, of Ohio, in a letter to the Presi¬ 
dent, dated Liverpool, August 4th, after explaining the 
effects of this requirement, says : “The short argument 
of the advocates of compulsory slaughter is this— Pleure 
Pneumonia is known to exist in the United States, and 
the Government has adopted no measures for its extirpa¬ 
tion or even to determine the localities where it prevails.” 
Of course they must regard the whole country as infected. 
We cannot say a word. A good bill was introduced ii 
Congress last winter, nnd though strong efforts were 
made to carry it through, it failed. Now the Treasury 
Department contents itself with what it regards as retali¬ 
atory action in subjecting all neat cattle from Great 
Britain, though coming with a clean bill of health, to a 
quarantine of 90 days. This does not punish either the 
Privy Council or the English people, but our own im¬ 
porters of choice stock. It does no good, and importa¬ 
tions of neat cattle have almost entirely ceased. Judge 
Jones urges the appointment by the Treasury Depart¬ 
ment, of a gentleman of character, to prescribe regula¬ 
tions for the conveyance of healthy beef cattle through 
infected districts to the ports of shipment, and to send 
such with a clean bill of health. When this is done he 
thinks American beef will be permitted to be landed and 
fed a while before slaughtering. We need something 
like the Privy Council in this country, to act in cases of 
emergency, when Congress fails, and when the interest* 
of the country suffer from neglect. It would seem as if 
the President and Cabinet might be depended upon to 
act in exactly such cases as this, but. they do not, and one 
of the most important industries of the country lan¬ 
guishes. We are much obliged to the Hon. T. C. Jones 
for writing and to Mr. Hayes for publishing his letter, 
and sending the American Agriculturist a copy. 
