Jlgriculture is the most healthy , the most useful , and the most noble employment of man .— Washington. 
VOL. VII. NEW YORK, JUNE, 1848. NO. VI* 
A. B. Allen, Editor. 
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST THE TURNIP AND 
CABBAGE FLY. 
At a period when a great deficiency of potatoes 
prevails, a partial substitute for that valuable 
root may be formed by the finer kinds of the turnip 
and the cabbage for human food, and of the coarser 
kinds for that of animals ; but one of the greatest 
drawbacks in the cultivation ol these vegetables, in 
times past, in this country, particularly that of the 
turnip, has been the losses sustained by the rava¬ 
ges of the fly. This difficulty, doubtless might be 
obviated by artificial means, among which, we 
would recommend for experiment the following :— 
1. It appears from a trial made at the suggestion 
of Sir Humphrey Davy, that lime slaked with urine, 
and mixed with three times the quantity of soot, 
by measure, and sprinkled in with the seed, at the 
time of sownng, protected them and the germs from 
the ravages of insects ; but this antidote cannot be 
conveniently applied unless the seed is sown in 
drills. 
2. A simpler remedy than the above, which has 
proved perfectly successful, is to steep the seeds, 
24 hours, in tepid (blood-warm), sulphur water, 
mixed in the proportion of one ounce of sulphur to 
a pint of water. This quantity is sufficient to soak 
3 lbs. of seed. 
3. Mixing equal parts of old seed with new, di¬ 
viding one half and steeping it in tepid water 24 
hours, and then mixing it again with the dry seed, 
has often been tried with good effect. By this 
means, four different times of vegetation are brought 
about, and consequently as many chances of es¬ 
caping the ravages of the fly. 
Radish seed has also frequently been mixed with 
that of the turnip, and as the fly prefers the former, 
the latter remains untouched. 
4. Dusting the plants, when in the seed leaf, 
with finely-powdered quicklime, has likewise beer 
C. M. Saxton, Publisher, 205 Broadway. 
tried with good effect. A bushel of quicklime is 
sufficient to dust an acre of turnips, sown in drills, 
the young seed leaves being powdered in tlid least 
degree is sufficient; but, should the lime be wash¬ 
ed off by rain, before the plants acquire their sec¬ 
ondary leaves, it may be necessary to repeat the 
dusting, should the fly again appear. 
5. In the heat of summer, it is of great impor¬ 
tance to sow just before, or in the time of rain ; for 
the fermentation, caused by heat and copious 
show ers, gives an extraordinary quickness of vege¬ 
tation to the seed, which, in a few days, will be in 
the rough, or secondary leaf, and out of all danger 
from the fly 
This insect is always weakened, or killed, by 
drenching showers, and never does injury to the 
crop, if it is attended with early and copious rains. 
NOTES ON LONG ISLAND.—No. 3. 
Centre Island .—This is a fine tract of 650 acres. 
It lies in the middle of Oyster Bay, and hence its 
name of Centre Island. It was originally pur¬ 
chased of the Indians, by a Mr. Ludlum, two of 
whose descendants still own 400 acres between 
them. The residue, 250 acres, belongs to Mr.. 
Jacob Smith. 
We had a delightful sail in an open boat across 
the bay, to this charming island, but landing rather 
late in the afternoon, we had time only to call on 
Mr. Smith, much regretting: we could not also see 
the Messrs. L. Mu. S: is an excellent and very 
enterprizing farmer, and has greatly increased the 
productiveness of his share of the island, since he 
became its possessor. He catches any quantity oU 
the bony fish in. the bay, and is liberal in hi a 
application of them to the land. He usually puts 
on 2,000 to 2,500 per. acre. He applies them in, 
various ways. Sometimes he spreads them broad¬ 
cast,. on pasture lands, in the month of June 1 which.; 
