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MOOSE'S E'OEiil 
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-'\. 'Ep.FTrb A ‘1 1 ; 
$ aims trial (topics. 
MANURES 
From mineral it ml Organic Sources. 
J. P., in the Rural of March 6th, enters 
the field as the champion of manures derived 
from native rock or mineral, ns compared 
with those derived from organic sources. 
We welcome him to this field, both from the 
dispassionate and courteous manner in which 
he discusses it, always so necessary to elicit 
truth; and because, as lie says, it is a subject 
of Interest to all farmers. A knowledge of 
the state or condition necessary for the ele¬ 
ments Of all plant nutrition to become avail¬ 
able, must be a subject of interest to every 
intelligent Ihrmer. Let us, therefore, exam¬ 
ine the position of J. P. upon Ids question. 
In referring to our article in reply to the 
Germantown Telegraph, he says: —“It is 
true, that in order to ho available by plants, 
manures must he soluble; hut we utterly 
deny that the source whence any substance 
lias been derived has, of itself, any effect on 
its value as a manure. Soluble phosphate of 
lime, potash or ammonia have the Batnc value 
whether they lie derived from apatite or 
animal excreta.” 
This proposition has the merit of going 
the whole figure. But what proof does fie 
bring to sustain it V This, and nothing 
more: “ Potash produced from feldspar and 
potash derived from trees produce the same 
effect in favoring the growth of the vine. 
Pkk/.oh, who experimented largely in this 
direction, eould discover no difference.” 
Now, before this is taken as evidence, we 
should like to know the character of the soil 
experimented upon, and whether potash 
from any source is there beneficial to the 
growth of the vine. For aught that appears 
the sod contained abundance of potash, in 
which case there would bo no difference be¬ 
tween potash from feldspar and that from 
wood ashes. Wo have yet to learn of a 
single accurately conducted experiment, 
which sustains J . P.’s proposition. If there 
are any such, w T e should like to know them; 
for wo regard facts more potent than theory. 
J. P. agrees with us that the elements of 
plant nutrition must he soluble, hut then tho 
inference is left, from what lie says after¬ 
wards, that lie regards plants ns possessing 
tho “ powt r of dissolving such bodies a9 are 
suitable to their wants,” and therefore he, 
probably, regards ground feldspar as valu¬ 
able'as wood ashes in proportion to the 
amount of potash it contains, and ground 
liable with hones when dissolved (which lias very beneficially on a particular class of dis- 
never been proved by experiment) they eases, and was purchased largely by the 
would not pay the expense, as it would East India Company for their Indian posses- 
require t wo or three times the quantity of sious. After the composition of this tnedi- 
sulohuric acid to render these mineral plies- cine was known, a very large quantity was 
phates equally soluble with bones. 
Let us take another high authority on tho 
question of the relative value of potash from 
ashes and feldspar. 1 iiaku 111 his Agricul¬ 
ture suvs: — “ Ashes must contain some 
fhmished this company on the contract of a 
new firm, w r ho underbid Jam us. This medi¬ 
cine being sent to India and used, was found 
to have an entirely different and bad effect, 
and the company refused to pay. On the 
(L’utomological. 
fQutKTiONfi to be answered in this Department, when accompanied 
l«y apectoieiM, ehould be emit directly to C. V. Rilky, 2130 Clark 
Ave., St. Louta, Mo.] 
peculiar hitherto undiscovered matter, which I trial it was shown that this medicine was, 
* . I I _ t _11.. a I ____ .... iLnt a/Im Ltf T A «fT90 
gives to them an action so much more effica¬ 
cious than that of an equal quantity of the 
s;U ne earths which they contain, taken in 
another state.” Here it appears TnAKlt had 
discovered the fact that, ashes were a much 
more powerful fertilizer than the same 
elements obtained from natural sources, but 
he was at a loss to account for it. It did not 
occur to him that “ like produces like;” that, 
having entered into organic life, perhaps, 
thousands of t imes, these elements are ready 
to bo assimilated anew into plant life, while 
the same elements in a crude, unorganized 
state are not capable of sustaining the higher 
plant life. Why, if J. P.’s theory were cor¬ 
rect, there would be few or no barren soils, 
lie probably remembers that a few years 
ago analyses were made of ft barren soil of 
Massachusetts, and another of the soil of the 
Miami Valley, and found strikingly similar; 
chemically, the same as that made by Jamkh, 
and thus filled the contract; but it, appeared 
that one of the ingredients was phosphate ol 
lime, and that Jamkh obtained this substance 
from burned bones, while the new firm hod 
made theirs from finely pulverized phos¬ 
phate: rock. ('hcinist ry could not detect I lie 
difference, but the stomach has a more subtle 
test,and rejected it as an enemy. We should 
like to illustrate in many wayH, hut space 
forbids. We cannot refrain, however, (loin 
asking J. P. whether he believes the elements 
ol’ plant nutrition to be in exactly the same 
condition as when the earliest vegetables 
grew from the earth? Whether the earliest 
plants were as highly organized as those 
that now feed the human race? Whether 
the lichen and the cauliflower can feed upon 
elements in the same condition? Whether 
there has been any progress in animal life 
that chemistry did not detect the difference since the early sauriaus sported in the prime- 
lie whole figure. But what proof does fie in fertility. 
.ring to sustain it? This, and nothing Nearly all soils possess abundant y he 
More: “ Potash produced from feldspar and natural elements of lcri.hty, and soils that 
jotMb derived from trees produce tho same once bore splendid crops ol wheat, but 
•fleet in favoring the growth of the vine, now refuse to remunerate the husbandman 
IV.UZOH, who experimented largely in this in that staff of hie, on analysis will be found 
Erection, could discover no difference.” to contain all the mineral elements fora 
Now, before this is taken as evidence, we hundred, and perhaps a thousand, ol the 
should like to know the character of the soil largest crops ol wheat. Why is this, d an 
experimented upon, and whether potash element from the mmeral never having en- 
Irom any source is there beneficial to the tered organic life, is as valuable as the same 
growth of the vine. For aught that appears element obtained from vegetable or nnhcral 
the soil contained abundance of potash, in life? Why is an alluvial sod fertile to W 
which case there would he no difference be- turics, perhaps, without manure, while the 
tween potash from feldspar and that from table-land near it requires heavy nKimirmg 
wood ashes. Wo have yet to katn of a to raise remunerative crops? These nb 
sin.de accurately conducted experiment analysed to a depth of fifteen inches would 
which sustains J . P.’s proposition. If there in many instances, show an equal supply o 
arc any such, we should like to know them; the same elements. Now ft these mineral 
for wo regard facts more potent than theory, elements arc as assmulablc to plants as the 
J P. agrees with us that tho elements of same elements derived from organic sources, 
plant nutrition must be soluble, but then the " by do we seek to increase the fertility of a 
inference is left, from what he says after- Hold by plowing m a green crop? It w not 
wards, that ho regards plants ns possessing evident that alluvial soils are I bus fern e am 
tho “ nowfer of dissolving such bodies as are almost inexhaustible, because the streams for 
suitable to their wants,” and therefore he, long periods have boon washing down from 
probably, regards ground feldspar as valu- the table-lands and depositing in the valleys 
able'as wood ashes in proportion to tho the remains ol vegetable and animal If©. 
amount of potash it contains, and ground J. P- ^ ,' vo * ,iV 1 ( **'* { " 
apatite, or pliosphfttio rock, as valuable as have originated this doctrine, that all mo - 
ground hones. This would leave each in its game manures, which are the most asmiml- 
natural state of solubility. Here c omes in able as food for crops, must he derived from 
the authority of the French Academy, which organic life; and thence proceeds to show 
we quoted in our former article, and which that Prof. M u*ks announced this discovery 
J P doubted our right to use. For his ben- years ago, and then says: - 1 Ids doctrine 
cut, and those who wish to examine this has never found favor with scientific orpme- 
tmostion we will quote from M. Pay BN’S deal men, for the simple reasoni thai the tacts 
report In the Academy in 1859. He is Per- are all against, it.” Now, we. nl not chum 
manent Secretary of the Gentral Society of to ho the. discoverer o| this law and an- 
Aglloulturo, Jle says:—“ Tho Academy has quit© willing, d it belongs to him, that J 
charged M. Boussikoault and me with the M apes should bo the father of it. W c only 
examination of a note of M. Mohiuk, con- stated it as an established Act, supposing it. 
taiuing observations and the results of many too well settled to l.c seriously disputed at 
experiments on the phosphates of lime em- this day. And when J. 1. Infiv examn > -9 
ployed as manure, and particularly on those into the present status of this doctrine, he 
of the compositions called minerals, masses will discover that, so far as d has been c\- 
of w hich are found buried in tlio soli. * * anlted by “ by scientific and pracfrcal men, 
“ Tim importations of mineral phosphates it. has their assent, 
from Estremadura Into Great Britain have Judge French, so long ago as 1859, m a 
not produced among the agriculturists all communication to the New England 1 armer, 
the favorable results which were expected indorsed it; and I .of \obloukr Whom J. 
of them. One of us, M. Lomas, had the P. refers to on mineral mauures, virtually m- 
opport unity, in 1850, of stating this fact dur- ‘lowed it before the Royal Agricultural go¬ 
ing a mission with which he was charged ctety of England in 1862 as reportedl by the 
by the Minister of Agriculture and Com- Mark Lane Express. It says: u ex *_ 
val ocean ? 
And if he admits the wonderful advance¬ 
ment. in vegetable and animal organization, 
whether lie believes this could occur with no 
advancement in the elements that build up 
and sustain these refined organizations ? 
E. W. S. 
erbsman. 
KEEPING STOCK. 
A Co n ii ml mm Coiuwrnlnp the Value of 
Sheep Ala ii are. 
In the Rural of February 20th, 1 read an 
article from your Toledo correspondent upon 
the true rule of estimating the expense of 
keeping horses, horned stock and sheep. 1 
am keeping about two hundred sheep, and 
for the last two years have not, found it a 
very lucrative business; and this is easily 
accounted for, if his estimates are Correct. 
He lays the rule down that if hay is ten dol 
lara per ton, it is worth ten shillings per week 
to keep a horse, and homed cattle one-third 
off, which would be eighty-three cents per 
week; and five sheep equal to a steer, would 
make a trifle over sixteen cents for each 
sheep per week. Now, taking twenty weeks 
for foddering in Western New York, and 
you have tho coat of wintering each sheep, 
three dollars and twenty cents. 
He nays the summer pasture is worth two- 
thirds as much per day as the wintering. 
Now, allowing thirty-two and a half weeks 
of pasturage, at ten and a half cents per 
sheep a week, you have for the pasturage 
three dollars and forty-one cents, which, 
added to the wintering, makes a total of six 
dollars and sixty-one cents for each sheep 
for hay alone, estimated at ten dollars per 
ton. Bo you see that the expense of keeping 
my flock (according to his rule) is one thou 
sand three hundred and twenty-two dollars. 
This expense looks terrific to me; and t 
think I should withdraw from the business 
had I not found a sunny side to it in an 
article in the Rural of January 30th, copied 
from tho Ohio Farmer. Tho article is head¬ 
ed “Sheep Beneficial to a Farm,” from 
which 1 will give an extract.: 
“We have heard men assert that they could 
make an ubauhtte profit greater from the manure 
I heir sheep would tumuli, by savin* both solid 
uii<t liquid cai.ivu 1 <nits, than from tljoii lluoron. 
INQUIRY ANSWERED. 
BY C. V. IULET, 
Erbtm of the Mantis, or Rear-horse. 
Editor Rural, Nkw-Yorker.— Dear Sir:— In¬ 
closed I hand you specimens of the eggs or de¬ 
posit of some kind of Insect which 1 ilnd in my 
orchard, which destroy the life of the limb to 
which they lire attached. I send you two sam¬ 
ple*. Plea m give description. mime and remedy 
through the firm At.. My uclghbore inform me 
Unit, they discover the same In their orchards, 
hut do not Know what to caJI them. The larger 
ones are found on peach as well as apple trees. 
Truly yours, T. 0. fijumJS, 
Clement, Clinton Co., 111. 
The larger deposit which your corres¬ 
pondent finds on his peach and apple trees, 
may also frequently bo found on a variety of 
other trees, and upon fences, etc. It is the 
egg-mass of the Rear-horse (Mantis Caro¬ 
lina, Linn,,) variously known as the Camel 
Cricket, Devil's Riding Ilorse, etc. Mr. 
BAim.E is evidently mistaken in supposing 
Utat these egg masses destroy the life of tho 
limbs to which tbey arc attached, and thus 
prove injurious. On the contrary, they are 
extremely beneficial, not necessarily to the 
twig on which they occur, but indirectly to 
the owner of such twigs; for the Rear-horse 
is a thorough cannibal, and, consequently, 
one of onr best friends. 
This insect docs not thrive to the north of 
latitude 39°; but for the benefit of your 
readers who live below this latitude, I ex¬ 
tract the following account of it from my 
Report: 
This peculiar and predatory Insect, which is 
variously known by either of the above names 
In different localities. In very fortunately quite 
common in tbu central and southern parts of 
Missouri, as vvoil as in most, of tho Southern 
States. Its food consists mainly of tiles, though 
it is a most voracious cannibal, and will devour 
Its own kind as well as any other living insect 
tli.it comes \vbbin lta«ram. l'have known it to 
attack various kinds of tun turfite*, Including the 
main Bug worm, frmsuttiopptm, and caterpillars 
..f various kinds, and in one Instance ft Slavic 
tomato devoured eleven living Colorado Potaio- 
beotles liurluv one night, leaving only the wine- 
eases and inu ts of the leva. It disdains all (Wild 
food, and never makes chase for the I i vine, but 
wtirllv. nationlly and motlooloaB, it wtitelics till 
Its victim is within reach or lb? fore-arms, and 
ilicii clutvimp it with a sudden and rapid motion. 
Its appearance >- really formidable, and its att i¬ 
tude w Itilo walohtnjf for its prey quite menacing, 
and nil lilts account It is held In very general 
and auporstltous dread. It. is, however, utterly 
incapable of Unnulng any one: and, ns one of 
them to increase very much 1u his home nursery 
in St. IJbuis, though lie linds some difficulty in 
protecting the egg* during the winter from the 
attacks of birds. Ho considers that os ion* as lie 
can keep ttie Mantes sufficiently numerous ho 
will never bo troubled with noxious injects. 
We know with what fear the hawk is regarded 
by the *roat majority of email 
birds, but that at the same time 
huf6ommon house martin defies 
,rid even tantalizes and driven it 
ill. In like martuur this Mantis, 
vhieh must be the dread of most 
lies, is yet defied by >t certain 
hiss of them, belonging to the 
Atchina family, tor I have found 
to less than nine maggots in tho 
tody of a living female Mantis, 
vhi&t must, have hatched from 
ggs that had been deposited on 
lerbody by one of these flies. 
of thn Oblong 
winded Katydid. 
Leaf- 
The other eggs which your 
correspondent sends, and which 
ire so neatly placed in double 
ows, are the eggs of the abovc- 
tamed insect. They are rop- 
•esented in tlio annexed cut, 
tnd as the parent, like thccom- 
non broad-winged Katydid 
I Platyphyllum concomtm) is a 
vegetable feeder, and as the eggs are quite 
numerous the present year, tbey should be 
destroyed wherever met with, 
■ ■ ♦ ♦ +• - — 
Canker Worm.—We have received a half dozen 
inquiries from different, parts of the country 
asking for an effectual mode of preventing tho 
ravuges of the canker worm in tho orchard. 
We shall be glad to receive and print practical 
experience answering these quest ions. 
arm (reonerwn. 
ract tue jouowmg account, ui n jioui MA p L g SUGAR MANUFACTURE, 
leport: _ 
This peculiar and predatory Insert, which is ^y jTAT llia k c .fi maple sugar dark colored 
urhatslv known by cither of the above names ‘ , , , ... 
l different localities, is very fortunately quite and waxy? Answer—Old buckets, winch 
IKSSBJi SMItolCSaSi not thoroughly cleansed from sour, and 
tatea. Its food eonsistfl mainly of uies though gpouts, if not neatly washed and made en- 
tlrely sweet, are very sure In give color and 
aarsaS'•««••• ***r- “7 
ialu Rug worm, gnisalioppera, and caterpillars mbs are a little Hour — Uut enough to IK: OD- 
mnaOTvnu^tevciii?KS. pSS nerved by the manufacturer; again, the sugar 
,colics during one nlgilt, leaving only the wing- may be a little BCOrcl.cd to give it color and 
SZllipiivrir! M make it waxy, not hitter. Another cause 
varilv, patiently and motlunloss. It watches till j H to he too long in sugaring it off. Boinc- 
r* victim Is w-ttliln reach of Rs lore-arms, mid n ® ° , .. 
lien eluteiicp It with a sudden and rapid motion, t imes the operator will make a good hi e, 
boil the sirup rapidly for a short time, then 
md on this account. It is hold In very general allow the lire to decline, and, finally, be a 
long timu in sugaring off. Tins should not 
mrlieM friends, should be cborislmd and pro- | l0) forithotii hurts tlio flavor and looks of 
tooted. ****** tho eugar, and Is very apt to make it waxy. 
The bC8t Way i3 ’ a,icr > 0U , 1,aV6 
luttn common. Tlai newly hutched larva is hi- your sirup, put under a good fire, and With 
i-enffl your ladles keep It from running over. Do 
L'iduats after the first moult. The green form no t usemucb grease, and you will find haste 
^EateWe lllostcammon t 'ooter K o°f Tins in tho manufacture will improve tho quality. 
SHiSu^ hx U,iB way ’ by 1,aving everything Clean and 
ivilli green leg-, mid partly green nodies an- to HWeet, I have made the vciy best ol sugar, 
t.e md with, tliougii^l^havojiovwis-cn anialc ^ l)Ucketa j believe to bo the very best; 
rA About thobogiiinlng of An- (],,, v arc not BO quick to get sour, and are 
rinfij Lf 11 st Uh*^<> MiOites acuuln* - , , * .. _ . . , u, 
* KfSa wings, an«i i»y tin* middle of very easy edruned and light to transport Horn 
SSSSSfSStress: «* p'“-« •« a " otber - lr ,u » *« 
Those egg* me all glued wood they should be neatly made, so as not 
uS mUfftnd aro Vi-oXi <<> driven at die most over one-fourth of 
in all wins of situations, but au Inch; that., generally, will not include 
IrwxJqy t'ri-cH b Tn fheannexed ti^ore more than tho bark; then bore in from one 
two of these cgg-iuiissc^ arc ai id a half to two inches for the first time, 
EJa-Wm ropresetin-il, natural Mae, the . , ... ... . . , _ 
Ky in wer moss iiiowing the most and after a little you w ill want to bore them 
J&V Ww S'llhistSung how it O.'n- over again once or twice, or more, as the 
M t ty forms to t in object on xvluoh case may ho. By so doing, a sugar orchard 
mM &<f*8y may last many years. William Luce. 
V persons in the winter,though Charlotte Center, N. Y. 
Tlio general rotor of the Mantis is pm> isk- 
l.rown though a pale green dimorphous Hu tu Is 
qulto'oommon. the newly hatched larva is in- 
vartuliiv, so fur as my observations extend, light, 
vellowish-brown, though 1 havo keon grccii in.il- 
vldualM ufter the fimt moult. The green form 
(s almost entirely confined to the leuituo sux, 
and seems to ho the most common color of this 
sex when full grown ; but It is found likewise, 
to Homo extent, amen* the mules, as specimens 
with green legs mid nai tly green bodies are to 
bo met with, though 1 have never seen a male 
that was entirely green. 
rA Bt m About ilie beginning of Ait- 
vV BfcSW (first llicM Mguten acquire 
• KKlS wings, and by the middle ol‘ 
UY IBU Ililiumvi v* - - turn lUlUIU I'AClYUftfiH", “ 
,11 erec relallvo to the agricultural improve- plained very Hilly that the practical vaiuc A farmer tn the Was. su.va that he hcltevci 
monte’SXS to,Umd llio mnnurv (speaking ol' i»hc»pliatflfl Bold to Ed SlS 
mentfl Introducett into jangiauu, ncmiauu 
and Ireland; and it does not appear that 
they have gince succeeded in obtaining iu 
Great Britain as good effects from the min¬ 
eral phosphates as from hones or the black 
residues of the refineries. M. Mob IDE, who 
with M. Bobibbrb, has rendered indisputa¬ 
ble services to agriculture, has proved by ! 
direct experiments tlm insolubility of many 
mineral phosphates in tho weak acids, in 
the state iu which they are now offered to 
agriculturists; and he has thought it his duty 
to caution t hese last, by pointing out to them 
the means of detecting the mineral phos¬ 
phates mixed, whether it he with organic 
matter, or with tho phosphate of bones, or 
with bone, black of the refineries.” 
His experiments show that hot acetic acid 
will dissolve fine hones, but has no effect 
upon the mineral phosphates. M. Haven 
closes his report by proposing the thanks ol 
the Academy to M. Moiunn, and recom¬ 
mends him to follow up his useft.il investi¬ 
gations; and the recommendations of this 
report are adopted. This looks as il the 
French Academy had formed as much of an 
opinion as it ever does on a subject. Thus 
jt would appear that J. F.’s firel requisite to 
render mineral phosphates assimilable as 
plant food cannot be complied with they 
are not soluble. But it may he said that the 
Btrongest acids will dissolve them; this is 
partially true, but if they were equally val- 
tho manure fspeaiung ui CvTu aux.imt to th.-. JoUurt pci h^tJ In value m 
farmers) depends not merely on tho elements am, every winter.” 
it contaios, but is very importantly affected Nmv, Mr. Rurai., this is cheering indeed, 
by the condition in which they are present t0 ft . 0 ujf ( , m y sheep yards and see the 
in the compound, and are thus made more predous stuff spread over the yards at the 
or less readily available to the growing 
plant.” He says mere analysis cannot tell 
what in the value, of an artificial manure, that 
il will not “show' how far they are available 
for vegetable nutrition.” 
Now, it is evident that he means some¬ 
thing more than chemical solubility when 
bespeaks of “conditionfor analysis will 
take note <d' this. This declaration oi Prof. 
Voelqkkr’b seemed to take tho manure 
mongers by surprise. lie said that many 
manures that “analysed well” were much 
less effective, when applied to crops, than 
others that appeared inferior by analysis, and 
that the latter cost more than the former; 
which renders it probable that the former 
were made of mineral phosphate, which is 
much cheaper than that from bones. 
The question naturally arises, why bones, 
if no better than mineral phosphate, should 
sell for more than double that of the mineral ? 
Let us take the human stomach as an arbiter 
in lids matter. If it. make no difference 
<■ whence any substance has been derived,” 
then it should operate the same on the 
Stomach as a medicine. 
A certain medicine in England, called 
“James’ powder,” was found to operate 
rate of five dollars per head I Duly think 
of it I One thousand dollars for the manure 
of two hundred sheep 1 Why this alone will 
pay for a whole year’s keeping, less three 
hundred and twenty-two dollars. Tlio wool 
will be worth four hundred dol lave, and 
increase one hundred more. The account 
will then stand Ibtis: 
200 sheep credit by manure,. $ 1 , 000.00 
By wool, at two dollars t>ei' head,. 400.00 
increase or surplus,. 100.00 
Total.. 
Keeping coo sheep one year, 
Profit,. 
*1,500.00 
1,834.00 
i, 17H.OO 
tightly together In a peou 
llur ui.net, and tire deposited 
rff'i in all (sons of Hlttiattuns, bui 
prioulpully on tuo nug-i oi 
IffXi'tJ i.rees-f In thoanue-xed figure 
two of these egg-masses are 
ffcffv 'NffB represented, natural size, t he 
|Bjr J?5si lower massshowing- the most 
A. pR .«vo common form, the upper 
mass illusMuitng how It eon- 
Li: > y forms to the ohjeerou which 
ly *» it. is placed. These ege- 
V-'3V. i musses me often found by 
vSmWhI per.so tie iu the winter, th« nigh 
very tew arc able to oonjeo- 
tnro wluit they really are. 
VJaSM On cutting them open the 
v V aWI t.ggs are found to bo very 
VfeSfSw n\ Stcniatle.illy arrange.I,and 
*" l '"" Ullu a ijiuollutflnous 
BubsUinee of the color of 
» Tho manner tn whtphthese 
kogSjsf-a liggs oio deposited life aover 
Iwvjis lie**u dtsscrlbed, and though 
tig'?®'! 1 have never myself wlt- 
i nofisod the operat ion, l have 
gjxwSfc 1 # found the muss while It was 
yet quid) soft and froBhly 
bdd, ami have <n-seatcd Lhe 
WfeQ' female Just before she was 
HBB ahuul to deposit; mid lu¬ 
ll me to beliovn that it la 
'‘cfl »r* gradually prot.iml. d in a 
faJTV soft muotlagluoua state, be¬ 
ing covered ill iln- time with 
a white, frothy, Hpltlle-llke substance, wliloh 
soon hardens a ml becomes brittle upon exposure 
to the air. Mr. Park rat KakLU lolorma me that 
ho has wltneesWl lhe operation, and ho Judges It 
to require about iui hour, the eggs being 
•• pumped out, and tbu entire mass elaborately 
shtipeo, with a lino Instinct of const ruction as 
the proooHH oonUniicA." 
Between the Jftili uud SOtli ol June these eggs 
hatch Into comical looking llttlo Mantes, In all 
reapcOM reaemhUng their parent, with the ©X- 
.*optloo that they have no wings; for, with the 
grasshoppers, crickets, katydids, walking-sticks 
and roaonos, eto,, eto., which belong to the same 
order, (O rlhoptemj they do not undergo any 
sudden transit Ion* from the masked laroa to the 
(iiilesix tit pupa, and theooo to the winged imago 
state, a* do most other Itoscots. 
When tho young llrst Issue from the egg-mass. 
Measuring Hay.—J. It. Shbli.ey 8ays that flv a 
cable yards of well settled hay will not make a 
ton—that it requires nearer fifteen. J. Hiiai.y 
says it requli-ea abont nineteen eublo yards to 
make a ton. Ills rule, which bethinks as near 
correct as any, requires five hundred and twelve 
cubic feet, or a cube eight feet square for a ton. 
Auotiier authority before us tsays eight or nine 
eublo yards of inouJow hay, from old, sciited 
stacks, make atom and eleven to twelve cubic 
yards of clover hay. Another authority says 
four hundred to five hundred uublo feet of 
fine, well settled lmy will weigh a ton; but as 
ordinarily stored of mixed grasses, It will re¬ 
quire six hundred eublo feet. Our advice to 
thoso who desire t*» sell a quantity on a nick 
without weighing, Is to measure and weigh a 
single loud as ordinarily packed ou a wagon, und 
I hey will have a rule for estimating the weight 
of t.hu other loads. There la no infallible rule. . 
-•*-*-*- 
Plustcr on I>ry, 8oudy Loam. — G. It. Cran- 
nu,r„ 8t. Lawrence Co., N. Y., writes that in 
twenty years’ exporlenoe he has never derived 
benefit from plaster on dry, sandy loam, unless 
there was u turf or a good application of barn¬ 
yard man lire; or if planted wl Lb corn, hog ma¬ 
nure Is better. From ashes ho has derived 
benefit, and Is a good application when the land 
is cropped with el Dior bprlng wheatbr clover, or 
both. No danger of using too muoh ashes or 
I am iu the dark about one branch of tills 
business, as 1 presum# many other sheep 
growers are, viz.: what application to make 
of tho great fertilizer. Should 1 put on my 
e,orn ground the manure of two or three 
sheep per acre, 1 could not go beyond, as 
that would be fifteen dollars per acre; and 
so with clover and other grasses. 'I'o my 
mind this subject wants ventilating. Will 
and how much to the acre, and then givo us 
the estimated extra result, to be expected 
therefrom?— J. h. h. ’ 
they are yet, as with Mm vouug of most other piaster, but the latter should he applied to it in 
GririiHitiniux liirti.-ts, enveloped in a fine eton or after having been well manured, 
which oontlncH iholr members and prevents fi ve •'**** 
motion. Iu this eonditioa they look not unlike - 
Homo of our leal hopi>* rs, (TcIlujunkB,) but ms p (BWI Material.—In au article by LmviB P. 
noon os they erlrleate theniHolVi -* t hey begin t»* «* ni u ,,Hnir Enrest Ti ees" be wivs 
show Mn<lr unfoelliitf .uul voracious uHmaltron Al.r KN on learning loioHt, iiees no hujs, 
by attacking and devour'big «u*h otlier. Indeed, •• And as for feuolug, a cheaper and more dura- 
loitlu 1 pul ou my ifiuse sentimentalists who believe that the worm ^ mtl t*,rial than wooden posts with boards, or 
• of two or three crushed muter f*x.t suffers >w stone walla,hasalready been dl»oovort*d.“ Now, 
not go bej'oml, us study lhe luiblls of these M** i'i*s. They are so in \iew of the enormous expense of fencing 
I-OM nar «.-n* • mid Void of'all fe\Mug ttwl, the female being the fai . HlS Ju thlfl country, 1 hope Mr. Ai.i.kn will 
' 1 strongest and u\»»t vomeloiM. th© niata In mak- ma ke knoxvn through tho RuiuiL tho discovery 
■ K r«8^. 1 u .ny g « i* <»«•*»«"» lb “ l b C* ‘T“ 
vcntllatfiug. >\ ill j slyly and suddenly Hur[>rlHlng her; and even ux>on to favor the farmers ou a subject of so 
ii, Tnnti In The Fast fhoulie froq net illy gate romoraekissly devoured. mll0 | V importanoo.—O. Bakuh, Whitney's Point, 
l havo seen a female, decapitated, and with her , r y 
body partly eateu, slip away from another that --**-*-• 
was'devouring her, and l'OT over au hour after- 
w , lr( j 6 ujfm, as u uuelouslv uud Avltb lis much Applying Ituleachcd Ashes to Grass Land.— 
nomlialanec aa though notniug had happeu*d. ^ Subscriber, Erie Co., N. Y„ Is Informed that 
Tliomono mh<JS CRn be safely and profitably aj.plied to 
lyoolonized. Mr. Jordon In this way has caused grass lands before the frost Is out of the ground 
