278 
LONG ISLAND FARMING. 
and what are the causes and remedies,” are ques¬ 
tions often and eagerly agitated by the planters. 
That the cotton caterpillar, like nearly every insect 
which at times brings such widespread devastation 
on such plants, fruits, or trees, as are the peculiar 
objects of its attack, is indigenous to the country, 
and has always existed with the crop to a greater 
or less extent, is now generally conceded by intelli¬ 
gent observers. Long cultivation of the same plant 
on the same fields, an unprecedented continuation 
of hot, moist weather, and perhaps an unusual ab¬ 
sence of the feathered tribe, or a superabundance 
of other and more tempting food, and other causes, 
may have combined to develope the insect last sea¬ 
son to an extent never before known ; and though 
we may look for their continuance hereafter much 
beyond their numbers generally observed heretofore, 
yet we have every reason to conclude from analogy 
or experience, that with a close attention to their 
habits and characteristics, and an intelligent and 
rigid system of culture designed to counteract their 
baneful effects, their ravages hereafter may be 
confined within comparatively narrow limits. 
Selection of the best, most vigorous, and hardy 
seed; a fine state of pulverization and good con¬ 
dition of the soil, by which its rapid growth is 
secured; thorough cultivation; encouraging the 
birds to visit the fields, are all means which should 
not be overlooked. A hardy, thrifty plant, may 
resist an attack that would be fatal under other cir¬ 
cumstances. Dr. P. adopts the system of thin sow¬ 
ing, using but 2 to 4 pecks of seed to the acre, in¬ 
stead of 3 to 5 bushels as is sometimes done. By 
this he secures a more rapid and natural (not an 
artificial hot-bed) growth, and the plant is thus 
more capable of resisting disease or attack of any 
kind. One gentleman in Mississippi informed me 
that by the improved cultivation he secured from 
the use of the subsoil plow, he averaged 4 bales to 
the hand, while his neighbors obtained only 
bales. Other causes might have contributed to this 
difference, but neither he nor they could detect any, 
except in the use of this implement. That birds 
should be able to extirpate the army of worms as 
they appeared last year is not to be supposed ; but 
they might perhaps, in a single day of the preceding 
season, have destroyed every ancestor of this horde. 
It was with much regret that from a want of time 
I was compelled to forego, for the present, my own 
inclinations and numerous urgent invitations to 
visit other sections of this highly favored agricul¬ 
tural State. R. L. Allen. 
Vicksburg, Miss., June 2d, 1847. 
TETHERING STOCK. 
For several years I have had the tether in suc¬ 
cessful operation, and consider that its value is 
equal, if not superior, to many cross fences. As 
early in the spring as the grass will afford a good 
bite, the animals are taken to the most desirable 
places, where they are safely confined, and if the 
grass is sufficiently abundant, once a day is often 
enough to remove them ; but if necessary, they may 
be removed oftener. As soon in the fall as the corn 
is sufficiently matured, I commence cutting and 
shocking as much as will serve the tethered stock 
for two or three days, and so continue to cut and 
shock, or if preferable, cart it to the crib. 
The advantages of this mode are very great, as 
the horses can luxuriate on the finest and the most 
nutritious crab-grass, which, if not otherwise con¬ 
sumed, would be destroyed by the frost, and which, 
in our cold, stiff lands, it is needless to turn under 
for manure without lime, or some other application 
to hasten its decay. I consider this grass an injury 
rather than a benefit when turned under in a dry 
state, as it serves as a nest for vermin, or worms, 
instead of manure. I find another great advan¬ 
tage resulting from this mode of feeding, is, that 
the stock nearly clear the field, which saves 
the almost endless task of weeding up the grass 
and vines before we begin to plow for putting in our 
grain, thereby enabling us to sow a month earlier 
at least. 
My experience has shown me that a chain, or 
rope, does not answer so well for a tether as two 
light poles; for at times, the animal is liable to get 
it entangled around the hind fetlock, and sometimes 
badly injures himself in that way. My mode of 
making a tether, is, to take two poles, say from two 
to two and a half inches in diameter, one twelve and 
the other about eight feet in length, which I couple 
together by means of a swivel. Through each of 
the extreme ends of the poles a hole is bored, and 
an open ring inserted in such a manner as will not 
allow them to become unloosed. The ring attach¬ 
ed to the end of the longest pole serves to confine 
the animal to a stake, or pin, driven into the ground, 
and the one at the end of the short pole admits a 
halter, rope, or chain, about three and a half feet 
long, for confining the animal by the neck or horns. 
If the halter or chain be longer than three and a half 
feet the horse is liable to get it around his hind legs 
and injure himself—if it be short, this is impossi¬ 
ble. In a day or two, the animal will learn to 
move the poles around the circle by pushing them 
with his nose, and if he get it between his legs he 
will soon learn to step over them and clear himself 
from harm; but should his jaws or nose become 
chafed, this may be prevented by putting a wide 
strap of soft leather over them. J. B. Marsh. 
Beaufort, N. C., June, 1847. 
LONG ISLAND FARMING. 
Supposing that it will be interesting to many of 
your readers to know what kind of farmers we 
are, and what system we pursue on Long Is¬ 
land, I will give you a description of some of 
our best managed farms, and the manner of cul¬ 
tivating them. I shall commence with Lloyd’s 
Neck, as that has long been celebrated for good 
land, and equally good farming. It contains about 
3000 acres, and is entirely detached from the main 
land, except by a narrow strip of sand-beach, 
which is sometimes covered at very high tides. 
It has Cold Spring Bay on the west, the Sound 
on the north, Huntington Bay on the east, and 
Lloyd’s Harbor on the south, which divides 
it from the main island. It is rolling and undulat¬ 
ing, and in some places hilly, and is from 30 to 
100 feet higher than the Sound. The scenery 
about the Neck at this season of the year is beauti¬ 
ful. Its geographical position gives it some splen¬ 
did water prospects, particularly from the high 
bluffs at the west end of the Neck, at the north and 
northeast. We there see the bold and rugged hills 
