JULY 2 
444 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
towards seedlessnese. It reminds ns much of 
Mr. Darwin’s style of accumulating facts and 
deducing conclusions therefrom. 
has found an excellent plan for ridding h s 
cucumber and melon vines of the striped bug. 
It is simply the free use of the hoe around the 
hills and among the vines. As soon as the 
pests are discovered the earth should be finely 
pulverized a< d drawn up close around the 
vines, the leaves of which should be sprinkled 
with the fresh fine dirt. A couple of workings 
in this way will drive off all the little nuisances, 
and their return can be prevented by frequently 
stirring up the soil. He has found this plan 
entirely effective for several years. 
BUBAL BRIEFLET8 
THIS FARM FOB SALEj(T) 
The following comes to us from a friend 
near Memphis, Tenn. We have examined the 
flower spikes but do not find any seed : “In¬ 
closed please find some Bermuda grass seed 
plucked in my yard. I see the matter discussed 
in your paper, whether or not it bears seed. 
Cattle like it better for pasture than anything 
else—they will even quit the clover field and 
go to the Bermuda. There is no way of ki’iing 
it except to plow it up in Winter. It will de¬ 
stroy anything in the way of crops, as it runs 
over anything, and I have seen it destroy small 
shrubs or rose bushes when it was permitted 
to grow near them.”. 
Mr. Charles Downing says of the Bidwell 
that it is the most productive of all—he was 
examining Mr. Roe’s 100 varieties—of very 
fine flavor, very uniform in shape, averaging 
large to the Ia6t, of a bright glossy crimson 
color often with a glazed neck, and in shape 
much like an inverted bell-shaped pear; as early 
as the Duchess ; flesh solid and meaty. This 
is high praise from a high source. 
Mr Roe kindly sent us a fine plant of the 
Bidwell strawberry In a pot. The whole num¬ 
ber of berries on this plant was 110. Twelve 
were fully ripe, seven turning and 91 green. 
Five were large, seven an average size, and the 
rest smaller,... . 
Rose bugs are best exterminated by hand¬ 
picking. It is a good plan to carry in one 
hand a can of water and kerosene and throw 
the pests into it as fast as picked; or the can 
may be held under the Rose bugs where the 
branches admit of it. and a slight tap will cause 
them to fall. Our grape blossoms usually escape 
the ravage of this insect for the reason that 
there are so many plants blooming at about the 
same time, which they much prefer—Spiraeas 
sorbifolia and opulifolia, and also some of the 
herbaceous spincas... 
A friend writing from Stormvllle, Missis¬ 
sippi, says; “The seeds distributed by you last 
Spring—the Elephant Potato, Rural Branching 
Sorghum, etc.—I have taken personal care of, 
and they are all in fine growing condition ; but 
I cannot report on anything except the Sor¬ 
ghum, which is up to your representations and 
as pretty as a picture, three feet high and 
averaging about ten stalks to the seed. I 
had only about a dozen seeds to come up. 
The potatoes seem to be doing splendidly. I 
am nnable to say whether they are making 
well or not, not having tried them.”. 
The general opinion is that in breeding, es¬ 
pecially in the case of horses, the male gives 
the locomotive system and the female the vital 
one..... 
In 1770 a hornless bull was produced spon¬ 
taneously in Paraguay, South America, and 
this has become the progenitor of a polled 
breed that has multiplied extensively in that 
country..... 
In caltle small bones indicate good feeding 
qualities, early maturitv and fine-grained flesh; 
while coarse, large bones, with prominent 
joints'and angular projections, indicate poor 
feeding quality, late maturity, and coarse 
flesh, together with a large proportion of offal 
and cheap pieces in the carcass. An excess¬ 
ive refinement of bones, however, indicates a 
delicacy and over-reflLenient of the whole 
system. The parts of the body not deeply 
covered with flesh, such as the head, legs, tail, 
horns, and hoofs, furuish the best indications of 
the size, texture and proportions of the bones 
on the rest of the body... 
The tendency to lay on fat rapidly and to 
mature early Is inherited not only in a gen¬ 
eral way by such breeds as the Short-horn, 
Hereford, Polled Angus and Devon, but also 
in a special way by certain families iu each 
of these breeds; and the predisposition to 
obesity is observed to be so strong in some 
cases as to be developed under privation and 
hard labor. 
EDOERTON. 
“ I'M sick and tired o’ farming;, Jane 
Since everything g-oes wrong, 
And if I had a chance to-day 
I’d sell out for a song: 
We work and toil from day to day, 
As hard aa we can drive, 
But Bomehow every thing’s a wry 
And nothing seems to thrive. 
“ The chinch hug's taking all the wheat, 
I noticed it this morn, 
The oats is struck with rust to-day, 
The green squirrel 'b in the corn 
The beetle's in the tutor patch 
A mowing down the vines— 
It does seem Jaue, that we are held 
By hard and cruel lines. 
“ Our neighbor’s crops are doing well 
So far as I can see, 
I can't see why this adverse luck 
Should fall alone on me; 
It must be luck, it can't be else. 
Although I've often said 
That luck is only what we make it, 
Whether good or bad. 
“ I labor Just as faithfully 
And do my work as well 
As any man in ail these parts. 
And yet, 'tis strange to tell, 
That I alone, of all the rest, 
Am singled out to bear 
This blight upon the growing crop, 
As, witness everywhere. 
“ I’ve treated no man yet amiss. 
Have kept my conscience free. 
And done to others as I’d wish 
That they should do to me; 
It must be luck, it can't he else. 
Or why should alt the test 
Have crops as fine, and prospects fair. 
As ever mau was blessed. 
“ Yes, Jane, wn’U Bell the farm 
And move ourselves to town, 
Siuee fortune never smiles on us 
But only seems to frown; 
I’il stick a notice up out here, 
‘ This farm lor sale or to let!’ 
And should it bring a customer 
We’ll take what we can get.” 
“ Why David, man, how you do talk ! 
What could you do at town? 
Buy property, and then turn round 
And have it all burn down; 
How would you feel all hemmed in there 
And crowded up by men. 
With Darely ground enough on which 
To fix a sitting hen ? 
You’re growling now for elbow-room 
On our mile BQuare'of land. 
While there, the houses stand jammed in 
As thick as they can stand; 
You'll never want for company, 
You’ll have it all the while— 
Good Lord deliver me from neighbors 
Nearer than a mile 1 
“ To town, indeed! that would be fine ! 
We’d cut a figure there, 
With all our stock turned in the streets 
And scattered everywhere! 
Why surely man. you’re going daft. 
What can you think about ? 
Take my advice and go right off 
And buy old Tanner out. 
“ They say he's got too smart to work 
And wants to sail his farm— 
It's not for me to prophecy 
Or wish the old foil) harm. 
But when men get too awful smart 
Their dutios to discharge, 
It’s ten to one they come to naught 
And die a county charge. 
* ‘As for that song about the crops. 
We hear it every year. 
We'll raise enough to bread us all. 
Of that you need not fear; 
And when you want to sell the farm 
We’ll draw a little lino, 
You sell your half and go to town 
And I’ll stay here on mine." 
This farm for sale I" was not put up, 
Nor did the crops all fail, 
But David bought the Tanner place 
Next year at" Sheriff's Sale.” 
June says that when you know you’re hurt 
It’s time enough hi cry. 
And David thinks that his ill luck 
Was mostly in his eye. 
THE MELON WORM 
The Melon Worm (Phakellura hyalinatalis) 
is about an inch and a quarter in length when 
mature, of a light yellowish-green color, and 
nearly translucent. The moth is remarkable 
for its beauty, its wings being pearly-white 
bordered with a narrow band of black, its legs 
and body white and the abdomen terminated 
with a feather-like tnft tipped with white and 
black. In the accompanying illustration, Fig. 
320, the chrysalis, worm and moth are shown. 
This worm belongs to the Bumc genus as the 
Pickle Worm (Phakellura nitidalis), the moth 
of the latter differing from that of the former 
in having ihe ground-work of the wings a 
bronze-yellow and the black border a little 
broader. 
CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURAL EXPERT 
MENT STATION. 
BULLETIN NO. 62, JUNE 3, 1881. 
598. Mapes Complete Manure for heavy 
soils, manufactured and sold by The Mapes F. 
& P. G. Go., New York and Hartford, sent by 
C. E. Bunce, South Manchester, Gt, 
601 Superphosphate, made by the Quinni- 
piac Fertilizer Co., New London. 
602. Fish and Potash, made by the Quinni- 
piac Fertilizer Co. 
604. Peruvian Guano, imported by Hobson, 
Furtado & Co., New York. 
Nos. 601. 602 and 604 were taken by the Sta¬ 
tion from the stock of R. B. Bradley & Co., 
New Haven. 
616. Muriate of Potash, imported and sold 
by the Mapes F. & P. G. Co., sent by T. N. 
Bishop, Plainville, Ct. 
Nitrogen of organic matters 
“ '* Ammonia salts . 
Phos, acid,soluble. 
reverted. 
_ insoluble.. 
Potash... 
Chlorine.. 
Equiv. muriate potash. 
Cost of rotund per 100 tba_ 
Estimated value per ton. 
Cost per ton. 
Nitrogen of organic matter 
“ “ Ammonia salts . 
Phos. acid, soluble. 
reverted_..... 
“ insoluble. 
Potash. 
Chlorine.. 
Equiv. Muriate ot Potash.... 
Cost of potash per 100 Iba .... 
Estimated value per ton. 
Cost per ton.... 
BULLETIN NO. 63, JUNE 9, 1881. 
61L Darling’s Animal Fertilizer, made by 
L. B. Darling & Co.. Pawtucket, R. I., sold by 
■L A. Lewis, Willimantic, Ct., sent by William 
H. Barrows, Willimantic, Ct. 
615. Superphosphate. [Export Brand] made 
and sold by the Mapes F. P. G. Co., New 
York and Hartford, sent by T. N. Bishop, 
Plainville, Ct. 
619. Matfield Fertilizer, No. 2, made and 
sold by the Matfield Fertilizer Co., Boston, 
Mass., sent by T. S. Gold, West Cornwall, Ct. 
018. Potato Fertilizer, made by the Matfield 
Fertilizer Co., and sent by T. S. Gold. 
621. Castor Pomace, made and sent by H. J. 
Baker & Bro., New York City. 
629. Cotton Seed Meal, sold by William F. 
Fuller, Sufflcld, Ct., sent by H. H. Austin, 
Sulfield, Ct. 
___ 611_616 619 
Nitrogen in Nitrates. 
Ammonia salts. 
’ Organic matter. 
Phos. acid solublo. 
“ reverted. 
" insoluble. 
Potash. 
Chlorine. 
Estimated value per ton. 
Costi>er ton. 
13 61 
6.47 
. 3.33 
838.74 ■ 
$42.00* 
Nitrogen in Nitrates. 
Ammonia salts. 
Organic matter 
Phos acid soluble. 
" reverted. 
insoluble. 
Potash. 
Chlorine. 
Estimated value per ton. 
Cost j er ton. 
Fighting Army Worms. 
These pests, so destructive to crops, are 
very hard to destroy. I have tried two plans 
which, with a little care, can be used with 
safety to the crops anywhete. The first and 
best is to dig a ditch six or eight inches deep, 
taking care that the ’■ straight" side is next to 
the field to be protected, and, if possible, mak¬ 
ing it incline a little over the ditch, so that the 
pests will not be able to climb it. When the 
worms get into this ditch, wuich should be the 
length of the field, or, if necessaiy, all around 
it, I ttirn in my hogs which quickly destroy 
them, preferring them to the growing crop. 
The other plan is to throw a ridge of dirt 
together ; this can be easily done with a plow; 
then with a rake make it as fine as possible. 
The worms find great difficulty in getting over 
this if the soli la very finely pulverized. A lit¬ 
tle care in going over the outer rows of corn 
and killiug the few that may have succeeded 
in getting up the wall of the ditch or over the 
ridge, will 60 on rid the field of the pest. I 
have tried both plans and prefer—where it is 
practicable—to dig the ditch as being the safest 
and surest. N. J. Shepherd. 
Miller Co., Mo. 
MARJORIE DAW, 
Continued from page 410. 
The clock struck ten; the Williams women arose 
In a bustle; thetr home and cart came round, and 
they drove off in the moonlight. 
But a great black cloud was creeping over the 
heavens; the day hud been still and sultry lor 
May; and presently the sudden storm was up. 
Thunder crashed amid the surrounding moun¬ 
tains ; lightning flashed like an army ot rebellious 
angels athwart the heavens, and then the rain fell 
In a deluge. 
*’ Leave the house-door open, lass,” said Mrs. 
Daw to Marjorie. “ I am so afraid 01 Che light¬ 
ning.” 
And Marjorie left the door open as she was bid. 
Fanner Daw was not atrald of the lightning, and 
he went to bed. 
Aunt Matilda, the mild Uttle woman In flat curls 
and spectacles, aat by the Are knitting. 
" I can’t sleep while the storm rages so,” said 
Aunt Matilda. I keep thinking or the chimneys 
falling, so i’ll sit up and get on with this quilt.” 
“ 1 will sit here with you, aunt," said Marjorie. 
The rest of the household wore asleep or In their 
rooms; but Marjorie and aunt Matilda sat before 
the bright wood-fire. The front door was wide 
open, and they could hear the rain splashing on 
the flags outside. There was a large screen pasted 
At retail 
BOOKS, CATALOGUES, ETC 
8. W. Johnson, Director. 
Pro?pectus of Amherst College 8ummbr 
School of Languages.— The next session be¬ 
gins July 12 and ends August 19, and is in 
charge of Profeesor 8auver. The so-called 
National method of teachiug the languages 
consists in teaching wholly through the med¬ 
ium of the lauguage itself. Though this may 
seem impossible with beginners it is a practi¬ 
cal fact aud worthy of the attention of all who 
teach the modern languages. Iu order to af¬ 
ford an opportunity to study by this method. 
Amherst College allows Professor Sanver the 
free use of its buildings for the Summer session 
of this school. Last Summer there were 300 
students in attendance, representing 21 differ¬ 
ent States. 
Seedless Fruits. By E. Lewis Sturtevant, 
M D., South Framingham, Mass. From the 
Transactions of the Mass. Hort. 8ocicty, part 
1, 1880. 
The object of this essay—29 pages—seems to 
be to show that the cultivation of plants tends 
An Electric Theory of the Elaboration 
of Sap in Plants.— W. K Bridgman argues in 
the Journal of Horticulture, that it is not any 
special organization or elaboration of the sap 
within the leaves, or any downward flow from 
them, which determines its conversion into the 
solid fibers and tissues of the plant’s structure, 
but that a process of electrc-chemical deposi¬ 
tion, like that of the plating of metals, alone 
explains the mystery. In the case of the plant 
it is carbon that is rendered soluble by com¬ 
bination with oxygen, and it is deposited when 
the oxygen Is withdrawn just as the metal 
was. But, the metal has a mold which gives 
it its form; and it is not easy to see what 
“ deflexion of force’guides the liquid sap so 
exactly everywhere Into such tndlcss varieties 
of form with neither scaffold to build from 
nor mold to give figure. Yet there is, no doubt, 
some sort of a connection between the elec¬ 
tric formation of the crystal and the structure 
of the plant. w. L. w. 
A Remedy for the “Striped bug.”—W. 
L. R. writes us from Upperville, Va., that he 
