256 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
August. 
Inquiries and Answers. 
Insect Collections. —R. D. of May Flower, inquires 
for “ the most humane and speedy manner of killing 
butterflies and all kinds of delicate insects for preser¬ 
vation,” and wishes an answer through the columns of 
“ the best of Agricutural papers, viz., the Country 
Gentleman.” Dr. Fitch says that as much of the cy- 
anid of potash should be put into a small vial of water 
as will make a thoroughly saturated solution. This, if 
corked tight, will last for years. Butterflies, moths 
and other insects that would injure themselves by flut¬ 
tering after they are caught, may be killed by simply 
pricking them in the thorax under the wing with the 
point of a needle wetted with this solution. Larger 
insects will require three or four punctures, but for 
the smaller ones one or two will be quite sufficient. Dr. 
F. uses the above, and considers it altogether the best 
means there is of accomplishing the object. 
Lime —I wish to burn from 5,000 to 10,000 bushels 
of lime, to be applied to the soil. Any information as 
to the best mode of making and applying the lime 
would be gladly received. Should the lime be air- 
slacked before applied, and how much should be put 
per acre and the manner of applying, &c. How is 
lime measured,—by striking or heaping the half bushel, 
or is it weighed—if so, how many lbs. make a bushel ? 
W. H. Wetmore. [As lime, after being applied for ma¬ 
nure, must quickly become carbonate, and before it 
can exert any particular benefit on the crop, it may at 
once be slacked to powder, and thus fitted for even 
spreading If slacked into lumps, it cannot be pro¬ 
perly spread, and will consequently be of little value. 
It is usually allowed to slack in heaps in the field, 
which will do well if the water does not leave it in 
lumps. This may, however, be prevented by cover¬ 
ing the heaps with straw o*r sods. It is sown broadcast 
when reduced to powder. A broadcast sowing ma¬ 
chine will answer; or it may be done with a small 
scoop-shovel from the moving wagon which contains it. 
The quantity must vary with circumstances. If the 
lime is magnesian , thirty to fifty bushels is the largest 
quantity to be applied, and this to grass land the first 
year. Common lime may be applied at the rate of 
two or three hundred bushels per acre—but it is 
thought by many that half this amount would be 
equally efficacious. A rich soil, containing much vege¬ 
table matter, will receive more lime than a thin poor 
soil. There is mueh yet to learn in relation to its ap¬ 
plication. The heaped-bushel is used in measuring 
lime] 
Books. —1. Will you please inform me where I can 
get a book, (if there is any,) that would be a guide for 
a young farmer, in the sowing and planting of crops. 
2. Also, have you “ Thomas’ Farm Implements'?” If 
so what is the price by mail. A Beginer. Ballston. 
[Allen’s “ American Farm Book,” (price $1,) is the 
best cheap work that we know of, on the subject. 2. 
Price $1. We can send you both ] 
Bugs in Peas. —If a “ Subscriber” who asks for 
a remedy for bugs in peas, will pour just sufficient 
boiling water over the peas to cover them and no more, 
(for a larger quantity would destroy both peas and 
bugs,) and let them scald for one minute, his crop from 
that season’s yield will be free from the bugs. I have 
tried it repeatedly, and found it effectual. The bug 
does not injure the germinating powers of the pea, but 
renders them unfit to use as food when dried, unless for 
animals. A Jamaica Plain Farmer. 
Bees. —Could you not publish a cheap monthly pe¬ 
riodical on Bees, in which the natural history and cul¬ 
ture of bees could be discussed ? Perhaps Quinby, 
Langstroth, and others, will be willing to furnish you 
with matter. W. J. E. [Tt would, we imagine, be a 
difficult matter, to say nothing of the support it would 
receive, to fill a monthly sheet with valuable contri¬ 
butions on the management of bees. We shall be glad 
to publish all articles of interest, on the subject, which 
we may be favored with, in the pages of the Country 
Gentleman ] 
Protection from Dust in Threshing. —If your 
correspondent, “ A Subscriber,” will procure a thin 
broad piece of sponge, large enough to cover the nose 
and mouth, (which can be procured of most of the 
druggists for a trifle,) by slicing off from a large piece, 
and fasten this on over the nose and mouth, having first 
moistened the same with water, which imparts a very 
soothing influence to the nostrils, and at the same time 
collects all the small particles of dust that would oth¬ 
erwise settle on the lungs by inhaling the dusty at¬ 
mosphere. When this becomes filled with dirt and 
dust, all you have to do is just wash it out in water, 
and apply to the face as before. Try it; and should 
any one be benefitted by so doing, I shall feel fully 
compensated for penning this article, though the ther¬ 
mometer may stand at 100° in the shade while I am 
about it. P. B. Crowder. Amelia C. H ., Va. 
Another correspendent says—My practice is to tie a 
piece of slightly moistened sponge of good quality over 
my mouth and nostrils. This does not at all interfere 
with breathing, and but slightly with conversation, and 
is a most perfect respirator. The sponge should have 
no large holes, and need not be thick. S. P. N. 
Chloride of Lime. —Will you or some one who 
knows, inform me of the manner that chloride of lime 
acts upon the contents of privy vaults, in deodorizing or 
rendering them inodorous. Does it, by chemical action, 
fix all the obnoxious gasses, and if so, is it as readily 
available for plant food when applied to the soil in that 
state, as if no deodorizer had been used ? If any one 
knows by actual experiment, I would like to be inform¬ 
ed of the fact. It is (or ought to be) a subject of much 
importance to farmers. What will Prof. S. W. John¬ 
son say to it? J. M. Young. 
Striped Bug. —In respect to the striped bug on cu¬ 
cumbers, I find two or three onion setts in each hill a 
complete protection, although the bug is abundant. 
But a remedy for the villainous little cabbage flea bee¬ 
tle is sadly wanted. I tried flour of sulphur, but they 
took no notice thereof, scarcely taking the trouble to 
shake themselves clear of it. S. P. N. 
Warts. —Is there any way to remove effectually a 
wart from a horse’s foot, directly under the fetlock ? 
Manure for Buta Bagas. —I have one acre of 
light land, prepared for ruta bagas. I want five hun¬ 
dred bushels, and want rows not closer than two feet. 
I wish you would tell me what special manures to use 
to command success. My land will not bear more than 
two hundred pounds of guano, and this will not give 
me more than three hundred bushels. I have applied 
marl and ashes liberally, which greatly benefited my 
turnip crop last year. Will guano composted with 
plaster (100 lbs. guano 50 lbs. plaster,) deteriorate in 
