1872.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
257 
■well prepared, that the crop may push forward 
rapidly. A method of destroying them is by 
passing along the rows a bag of fine light cam¬ 
bric or paper-muslin, made as in figure 2, and 
fastened on to a forked frame. The beetles 
when disturbed jump into the bag, and a shake 
given to it occasionally gathers them to the bot¬ 
tom, where they may be destroyed. A dressing 
of lime in fine dry powder is effectual in pre¬ 
venting their ravages. The lime should be 
slaked dry, and if slaked with water in which 
carbolic acid has been dissolved is still more 
effectual. The lime-duster (fig. 1) is made 
jiiiiiW111I& > 1 i' |i!|l i ■ 
Fig. 1.— TOOLS FOR REPAIRING HARNESS. 
of tin, with holes punched in the end, and a 
wooden handle fitted into the neck, by 
which it may be carried along the rows and the 
plants dusted. This should be done while they 
are wet with dew. By these means, with sow¬ 
Fig. 2.—BENCH AND CLAMP FOR HARNESS. 
ing an extra quantity of seed, the crop may be 
carried safely beyond the period of danger, after 
which the little pests give nc trouble. 
Repairing Harness. 
Harness is a costly necessity, and as a matter 
of economy should be kept in good order, care¬ 
fully repaired as soon as the least damage or 
wear is noticed, and be thus very easily made to 
last double the time it would if neglected. 
The materials for repairing should be always 
on hand, and be kept in a tool-box specially 
appropriated to them. This box is best con¬ 
nected with a work-bench as a drawer placed 
beneath it, where 
it may be readily 
reached by the 
operator. Figure 2 
shows a harness 
work-bench, which 
is provided with a 
clamp for holding 
the work and a 
drawer for tools and 
materials. These 
consist of a ball of 
hemp, a piece of 
shoemakers’ wax, a 
few bristles for mak¬ 
ing waxed-ends, a 
punch ( A , in fig. 1) 
for making rivet- 
holes, some rivets and burrs ( B ) for splicing 
straps (as shown at (7), sewing awls of two 
kinds ( D , D), one with an eye to carry a thread 
in a similar manner to a needle, and having a 
strong curve, the other less curved and eyeless, 
a few very stout needles with large eyes, a pair 
of pincers with sharp jaws to cut off the ends 
of rivets (as shown at F), a light hammer to 
clinch the rivets, and a small block of iron, 
weighing a pound or two, to use when clinch¬ 
ing rivets, unless a flat-iron, which will answer 
admirably, can be borrowed on such occasions. 
Furnished with all these appliances, there is no 
reason why a harness should go unrepaired 
over one night, and as “ a stitch in time saves 
nine,” it will be found very profitable to be ready 
to put in that stitch just when and where it is 
wanted. Figure 3 shows a method of sewing a 
loop for a tug or strap, which is sometimes 
found a difficult job. It was sent by a corre¬ 
spondent who forgot to attach his name, so that 
we do not know to whom we are obliged for it. 
He says it has been found of great use to him. 
He first places the awl as at a, fig. 3, passing 
through both strap and loop, and then (as at b) 
passes the awl in a contrary direction, so that 
both holes unite in one at the top. This enables 
the thread to be sunk below the surface of the 
loop, saving it from wear. The complete stitch 
is shown at c. Another method which w T e have 
used is shown at d. The needle-awl is passed 
through the strap, and comes out at the side of 
the loop, the thread is put through the eye, and 
the awl is brought back and the stitch drawn 
tight. With the common awl and two waxed- 
ends with bristles, a double stitch may be made 
which is very strong. 
- 1 i — c — —• - 
Grow Turnips. 
July 10th—the earlier the better of course—and 
by doing so we may insure a good crop that it 
will be very convenient to hrtve for use late in 
the winter. Remember, that for this crop no 
other manure is more valuable than bone-dust— 
say 100 lbs. per acre in the drill at the time of 
planting, and the same amount or more broad¬ 
cast after the crop has been thinned out, to be 
immediately covered with the hoe or cultivator. 
From July 25th to August 10th (better at the 
earlier date) is the time to put in “round tur- 
Roots are always valuable as an adjunct to 
the winter supply of hay. This all farmers will 
confess. The extent to which they may be 
made useful as a substitute for hay few American 
farmers notice. Those who have already start¬ 
ed a good breadth of beets and of ruta-baga 
turnips are fortunate. Those who have not 
done so should at once set about increasing their 
supply. It will do to plant ruta-bagas until 
nips,” the best variety being the Strap-leafed 
red-top. These are not of much value after the 
first «f January, but before that time they are 
excellent food for all neat stock and for sheep 
and swine. For milch-cows they must be fed 
sparingly, and only immediately after milking, 
eke they will affect the taste of the milk and 
butter. However they may be used, they will 
help out the scanty winter’s supply of hay jm 
a most satisfactory manner. 
--»-«- —a-O-cw --- 
A Simple Hay-Press. 
We have received many inquiries about the 
hay-presses referred to in an article in the 
American Agriculturist of April, 1872. We 
now give a drawing of the one more particu- 
Fig. 1.— HAT-PRESS—SIDE VIEW. 
larly referred to as being of very moderate cost, 
and able to bale four tons of hay in a day with 
the labor of two men. It consists of a frame of 
oak or other hard wood, four feet wide (inside 
of the posts) on the side (shown in fig. 1) and 
three feet on the end (fig. 2). The hight is eight 
