JUNE 40 
conditions. Originally they shaded the ground 
with their thick foliage and their fallen twigs 
and leaves for generations had contributed 
heavy mulching to the surface. Their fallen re¬ 
mains were moldered into rich humus and a 
dense vegetation of herbs and bushes contribut¬ 
ed its full share to produce the same result, 
all which maintained a loose, porous layer well 
adapted to retuin abuudant moisture, while 
the trees themselves prevented the free access 
of the sun and wind to dry up the moisture, 
and so a more humid atmosphere was main¬ 
tained among the trees. All this is entirely 
changed when the woods are cleared up, the 
bushes, logs, leaves and coarse herbage are 
cleaned off and destroyed, while among the 
scattering trees that may have been preserved, 
their place is occasionally occupied by a thick 
sod of Blue Grass which closely covers the sur¬ 
face and acts as a roof, preventing, in great 
degree, the absorption of tbo rains, which 
accumulate in all the depressions and quickly 
escape, by every outlet, to lower levels, and 
are lost to the laud. 
With such changed conditions the trees must 
suffer,and though some of the most hardy may 
survive or even recuperate, the majority of 
the adults will inevitably suffer and many 
must succumb. Young trees, especially such 
as have not been drawn up spindling in 
the shade, will often do better, and may 
frequently grow into broad, umbrageous trees 
to delight the eye of the aesthetic admirer of 
lovely park scenery, as well as to shade and 
shelter the cat le, but even thsse will need to 
be protected from the tramping of the ground 
by stock, if we would have tbem succeed as 
trees—and at best they are only shade trees and 
comparatively useless for timber production. 
No! let us have open fields with full air and 
light for the production of rich, succulent and 
nutritious forage plants, with the pastures 
suitably shaded and sheltered by hedge-row 
trees and shelter belts, when required, but for 
the production of timber as such, let us appro¬ 
priate portions of our lands especially and 
solely to the purpose of producing true forests. 
It often happens, too, on many a farm, that 
the worst parts of the land are especially 
adapted to forest growths. Be it distinctly 
understood, however, that wherever the woods 
be located the land should be devoted exclu¬ 
sively to the use of the trees, and no hoof or 
horn should be allowed access So the sacred 
grove. 
A new light in our new science of forestry 
has recently appeared above the horizon to 
enlighten our ignoxance. Without pretending 
to quote from th ? learned students of Europe, 
however, from those who for centuries have 
l*orue the searching lampsof science and obser¬ 
vation into the deep recesses of the mountains 
and forests, our new teacher strikes into the 
enlightened pathway of the Red Man of the 
primeval forests of our land, where he occupies 
the same position in forest-relations, that 
formerly was held by our remote ancestors 
who hunted fores (outside) the farm lands of 
their times. Shall we now learn useful lessons 
of such? 
Bret Herte, in theN. Y, Observer, refers, as 
many others have done,to the beautiful clean, 
open forests of pines on the Sierras of Califor¬ 
nia, and in some parts they are not merely 
beautiful but valuable for present use as 
timber. He explaius their tondition by 
reciting that the Indians have always care¬ 
fully burned them over for the sake of preserv¬ 
ing easy access to their hunting grounds. All 
well enough for the convenience of the savage 
forestal hunter, and well' enough now also 
for the pastoral occupation of those lands by 
the Californians who pasture them so closely 
that no natural reproduction of trees is pos¬ 
sible, and as the original growth is rapidly 
disappearing, the whole land is likely soon to 
be reduced to the desert condition of Spain, 
whose tiuihered regions, once scrupulously 
preserved by the wisdom of the Moors, have 
dwindled away since the forests have been 
turned into sheep walks. Professor Sargent 
clearly points out how the destruction of the 
woods on the Sierras must result in disastrous 
floods at one season, and at another, in more 
disastrous droughts and the absence of water 
from the irrigating ditches so necessary to the 
agriculture of the valleys of tbe Sacramento 
and San Joachim. Without water the mines 
and the fields must be deserted. 
Californiaus must learn the important les 
son, which was of no use to the Indian forester, 
that the tree is not only the father to the rain 
as said Mahomet, but also that well managed 
and especially unpastu red woods, with a rich 
mass of undergrowth, are the foster-mothers 
of the springs and streams, the sources of the 
rivers, and that these should bo most carefully 
preserved. Woods-pastures are there the 
most destructive agencies that can threaten 
the future of the Golden State. 
-♦-*--♦- 
VARIEGATED LEAF OF SUGAR MAPLE 
Of this curiosity President T. T. Lyon 
writes us: “1 inclose herewith a curiosity in 
the way of a variegated leaf of the Rock or 
Sugar Maple, (Acer-saecharinum) which is sent 
to me, with the tree producing it, from the ex¬ 
treme northern portion of the lower penin¬ 
sula of Michigan. The tree is clearly a seed¬ 
ling of three to five years’ growth. It is a 
wild forest production. There were a dozen 
or more of these seedlings, all said to possess 
this peculiarity. 
It will be observed that the leaf is of the 
usual form, and that the midrib, with its 
branches, together with their branchlets, are 
all bordered with a narrow margin of green, 
about three-sixteentbs of an inch wide at tbe 
base, diminishing very regularly in width as 
the veins become smaller, and wholly disap¬ 
pearing before reaching the margin of the 
leaf. The whole leaf is conspicuously but 
irregularly spotted with dark, reddish-brown 
spots of considerable size, always appearing 
in the distinct yellowish-white which sur¬ 
rounds the green filament above described, 
and constitutes the body of the leaf. These 
spots, I suspect, may very probably prove to 
be fugitive. The whole constitutes a very 
striking and beautiful variegation; and, be¬ 
yond question, a tree with foliage of this 
character would prove an attractive and con¬ 
spicuous object. I am given to understand 
that the variegation is persistent, continuing 
throughout the season. The leaf sent was 
picked iu August last, and has very probably 
lost something of its character, in the process 
of drying. Nevertheless, it is even yet 
strikingly beautiful. 
I purpose to plant and care for the trees 
sent, as a means of determining whether or 
not the sport will prove permanent. I shall 
also endeavor to determine how far, if at all, 
its permanency may be modified by the pro¬ 
cess of propagation.” [See page 388 for illus¬ 
tration, 
-• ♦ » 
PLANT A LOCUST GROVE. 
The first question in tree planting is: what 
shall we plant? I would say plant fruit trees 
first, until there is a sufficiency, for your own 
use aud some for your neighbors, of all the 
different varieties that flourish in your situa¬ 
tion. After having planted plenty of fruit 
trees I would recommend tbe planting or 
sowiog of locusts, not that they will produce 
fruit, but they will furnish a protection for 
the fruit trees and also for the fruit. 1 have 
reference to that tall-growing kind of locust 
used in fencing. I will give a little experience 
for the benefit of Rural readers. To my 
knowledge for the last 40 years, a locust 
grove of about half an acre has furnished the 
posts and considerable other fencing material 
for a farm of about 300 aeres, and tbe grove is 
stilt as good as it was 40 years ago. Locust is 
a kind of timber that grows quite fast, is very 
durable for many uses and is valuable for 
other purposes besides fencing. There is a 
string of fence near me that I have known 
over 50 years, yet the posts are all sound, 
having been reboarded several times. From 
reliable informants I learn that those posts 
have been in use for over 80 years. 
To 6how the high value some people place 
upon locust, some of my acquaintances have 
paid S7$4 cents apiece for the young trees and 
drawn them 40 miles. A farm with a locust 
grove will have plenty of posts for more than 
a life-time. Some 25 years since I set half a 
dozen small sprouts, not more than two feet 
high; they are now 50 feet high and 14 inches 
in diameter at the base, and will make over 
30 posts each. As a matter of investment, I 
consider a nice locust grove for a term of 25 
years and more far preferable to most other 
securities for the capitalist, to say nothing of 
the beauties added to the landscape. One 
thousand trees can be grown to the acre. 
As every one knows who has had experience 
with locust, the roots are quite liable to sprout 
when trees are cut, thus keeping the grove 
replenished; where one dies three'will take its 
place. 
To the young farmer who wishes something 
that pays well aud is beautiful, I would recom¬ 
mend starting a locust grove forthwith. He 
can do himself no greater favor, and the rising 
generation will applaud his good judgment. 
Otsego Co., N. Y. W. B. Nearing. 
-- 
THE BASKET WILLOW. 
In several different papers I ham noticed 
inquiries and answers concerning the culture 
of the willow. The question is, is it a profit¬ 
able crop to raise? The answers usually imply 
that it is not. There answers are evidently 
given by persons that do not understand the 
subject. Quite recently 1 have seen two 
answers (in journals having a large circula¬ 
tion), which I understand were editorial, and 
which were exactly wrong. A few miles from 
Syracuse are large fields of willow, embracing 
probably hundreds of acres. This willow is 
on land very valuable for gardening and in 
the vicinity of one of the best markets for 
gardening products in the world, Several 
hundred dollars per acre are paid for lanus 
for plantiug t, willow, and it is the best pay¬ 
ing crop we have, taking everything into con¬ 
sideration. The willow is all worked into 
baskets here, and the value of the yearly sales 
at this place is about $100,000. Every year 
large additions are made to these plantations, 
and it is evident that this industry is only in 
its infancy. 
Some of our growers here are going West to 
get cheaper lands and to raise willow on a 
large scale. The demand for the article, 
whether worked or not, is much greater than 
the supply. As the timber for baskets is be¬ 
coming very scarce and the demand for baskets 
increasing, it is plain lhat willow culture must 
become more and more profitable. There is 
a feeling on the part of some of our cultiva¬ 
tors that they do not wish to have it known 
how profitable the crop is. It is one of the 
easiest crops in the world to raise, and in the 
West and probably iu the South it must be 
very profitable. It is raised on wet land and 
on dry. It will grow on almost any land, but 
it does best where the land is fitted as for a 
common farm crop, and then cultivated. I 
am told that at present there is much im¬ 
ported from Europe, as there is not enough 
raised here. We almost always find men to 
work it where there is a German settlement. 
Syracuse, N. Y. A. m. w. 
THE ARMY-WORM V3. THE CLOVER 
HAY WORM. 
Remedies for tbe Army-Worm. 
PROFESSOR C. V. RILEY. 
Alarming reports of damage by the Army- 
worm in early May from North Alabama and 
South Tennesee, notably from Huntsville in 
the former State, induced me to send an 
assistant—Mr. L. O. Howard—to the spot. 
Mr. Howard repoits the outlook to be much 
more favorable than we had any reason to 
expect. The worms, it is true, appeared in 
enormous numbers in Madison, Limestone and 
Jackson Counties in Alabama, and in Marion, 
Grundy, Hamilton, Williamson and adjoining 
counties in Tennessee; but tbe greatest damage 
in very limited localities, so far as can be 
learned, has not exceeded 50 per cent, while 
the injury to the crop of these States as a 
whole is hardly appreciable. The main reason 
for this is the extraordinary abundance of the 
natural enemies of the worms. After a most 
diligent search, Mr. Howard was unable to 
find a single worm which had been left un¬ 
molested long enough to transform to tbe 
pupa state, and no moohs were seen, although 
he remained in the field until late at night 
with a lantern. Foremost in this good work 
were the “ Red tailed 'Tachina (Nemonea 
Ieucaniie Rirk), a ground beetle known as 
Calosomaexternum, and the “Thick-thighed 
Metapodius (Metapodius femorata), the two 
latter being distinctively Southern insects. A 
new Braconia parasite was also found. 
Evidence was also obtained showing con¬ 
clusively what I have stated in a previous 
article, viz. that the moths oviposit in fodder 
stacks left iu fields of Winter grain, as well as 
in old grass stubble aud iu scattered bits of 
corn-stalk. In many instances thefl aeat 
fields ravaged this year were sown on last 
year's clover lands and the planters, noticing 
this fact, have formulated the theory that the 
worm is generated and breeds in the clover. 
To such an extent has this belief spread that 
it threatens to seriously limit the cultivation 
of clover in the vicinity of Huntsville. To 
one thoroughly acquainted with the life his¬ 
tory and habits of the Army-worm such a 
theory as this is, of course, absurd on the face 
of it, for clover is a very unusual food plant 
of the species which ordinarily eats it only 
when forced to by lack of other food. 
Upon finding this theory so generally 
accepted, Mr. Howard very justly concluded 
that the Clover Hay Worm was common in 
that part of the country, and was the cause of 
the mistake, as it, in a general way, resembles 
the half-grown Army-worm (see figure in the 
Rural of April 22d. last). The following letter 
just received b.v Mr. Howard confirms the 
correctness of this explanation. 
Sir;—While you were here a few days slue© lnvestl 
gating the phenomena of the worm In wheat I had 
the pleasure of an introduction and a brief conver¬ 
sation with you, nnd take therefore the liberty of 
stating to you a curious phase of the worm. Mr. J. 
G Raker, living here Iu 1SS1, produced clover hay— 
ab >ut two tons per aero—an rich land near the cor* 
porate limits of Huntsville. The hay was cut, cured 
and placed In the mow—about eight tons. He used 
dowu to about two tons, and a few days ago on 
taking out and delivering a load of hay, after taking 
it oil the wagon, discovered ou the floor of the wagon 
lnmumerable worms about one-half Inch long, dark 
or greenish brown In color. He then returned and 
fouii on examination of the hay mow countless 
numbers of these worms—also what scciuh to be a 
kind of web spun In the debris at bottom, which had 
multitudes of egg» half the size of a mustard seed 
and black In color. This was about the first, of May 
and the worms have now disappeared It seems to be 
a theory that these worms arc bred in clover ilelds 
and this llndlug them In clover hay would seem to 
establish tliolr habit of depositing ou the clover 
stalk In the Hold their eggs, iu this case carrying 
them over to the next year and hatching then. This, 
hay was cut about June 1st. 1881, and taken out about 
May 1st. 1SS2. This ’.heory struck me as possibly Incon¬ 
sequential, but of enough curiosity to write you. 
Very respectfully, L. W. Day. 
Remedies. 
To meet a general demand that will proba¬ 
bly soon be felt and made for the best means 
of coping with the Army-worm, I would here 
repeat in condensed form what I have in pre¬ 
vious years recommended. Experience has 
established the fact that burning over a mea¬ 
dow, or prairie, or field of stubble, either in 
Winter or Spring, usually prevents the worms 
from originating in such meadow or field. 
Such burning destroys the previous year’s 
stalks and blades, and, as a consqeuence of 
what I have already stated, the nidi which 
the female moth prefers. Burning as a pre¬ 
ventive, however, loses much of it practical 
importance unless it is pursued annually, be¬ 
cause of the irregularity in the appearance 
of the worm in injurious numbers, judicious 
ditching, i. c., a ditch with the side toward 
the field to be protected perpendicular or 
sloping under, will protect a field from inva¬ 
sions from some other infested region when 
the worms are marching. When they are 
collected in the ditch they may be destroyed 
either by covering them up with earth that 
is pressed upon them; by burning straw over 
them or by pouring a little coal oil in the 
ditch. A single plow furrow, six or eight 
inches deep and kept friable by dragging 
brush in it, has also been known to head them 
off. 
From experiments which I have made I am 
satisfied that where fence lumber can be 
easily obtained it may be used to advantage 
as a substitute for the ditch or trench, by be¬ 
ing secured on edge and then smeared with 
kerosene or coal tar (the latter being more 
particularly useful) along the upper edge. 
By means of laths aud a few nails the boards 
may be so secured that they will slightly 
slope away from the field to be protected. 
Such a barrier will prove effectual where 
the worms are not too persistent or numer¬ 
ous. When they are excessively abundant 
they will need to be watched and occasionally 
dosed with kerosene to prevent their piling 
up even with the top of the board and thus 
bridging the barrier. Tbe lumber is not in¬ 
jured for other purposes subsequently. 
The poisoning by spraying of London-pur¬ 
ple or Faris-green water (made according to 
the well known formula) of a few of the outer 
rows of a non-infesfced field that is threatened 
by invasions from an adjoining one, may, 
under some circumstances, be warranted as 
an expeditious and cheap mode of destruc¬ 
tion. Finally, Mr. J. W. Sparks, of Mur¬ 
freesboro, Tenn., has just sent me the follow¬ 
ing experience which I give for what it is 
worth. 
“ The Army-worm is making such inroads 
upon the wheat crop and other crops here in 
Middle Tennessee, I thought I would write 
you and give the process I have for ridding 
the wheat of these vagabonds. I take a rope 
about sixty feet long and cause two men to 
walk through the wheat field dragging the 
rope over the wheat. By this means you can 
f o over a large field of wheat in a few hours. 
he rope, dragging over the wheat, shakes the 
worms off on the ground and they curl up 
and lie there for half an hour or more—seem 
to be mad about it—and then begin to move 
about bunting something to eat; but the 
larger ones are unable to climb the wheat 
stalks with all the blades off, so that you get 
rid of the larger ones the first time going over, 
and the smaller ones can be shaken off so often 
that they cannot hurt the wheat. If you will 
make known this simple plan to the sections 
where the worm is at work the people can yet 
save thr-ir wheat. I am satisfied I will save 
mine. I am going over my whole crop twice 
a day. My wheat is looking splendid, and if 
I succeed in whipping the worms I will make 
a large yield. You shall have full reports at 
the proper time.” 
farm (Topics, 
THE TRUTH ABOUT IT. 
|Thk object of articles under this heading Is not so 
much to deal with humbugs " as with the many un- 
conscious errors that creep into the methods of dally 
country routine life.—E ds.1 
THE FOLLY OF BEING SWINDLED. 
W. I. CHAMBERLAIN. 
IN a former article I spoke of the “dishon¬ 
esty of being swindled,” of an entire class of 
confidence games that appeal directly to our 
dishonest desires, and in which we would 
never be swindled if we were not ourselves 
dishonest in intention—trying to cheat some 
one else. 
But there is another entire class of confi¬ 
dence games that appeals not exactly to our 
dishonesty but to our avarice; to our desire to 
make money faster than by the ordinary 
“ slow-coach ” ways—to make money by going 
a little out of our regular line of business, by 
agencies of some kind instead of farming. For 
