100 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
1. The Caterpillar. —This was formerly the most 
formidable evil the apple had to Contend with in Wes¬ 
tern New-York, and in fact the only one of any impor¬ 
tance. There are several species; but the only one 
which proves seriously injurious, appears in the spring 
as soon as the leaf buds begin to open, at which time 
it is not the tenth of an inch long nor so large as a 
cambric needle; it increases constantly in size for a few 
weeks till it is two inches long and a quarter of an inch 
in diameter. It then spins a cocoon and passes to the 
pupa state. In the latter part of the summer, it changes 
to a brown miller, and deposits its eggs in cylindrical 
rings of several hundred each round the smaller branches. 
Every ring of eggs destroyed in fall or winter, which 
may be easily done by cutting off the small shoots which 
hold the eggs and burning them, will prevent a nest 
of caterpillars next season. If left till they hatch, 
they are easily killed when they first appear, by a caustic 
or poisonous solution, as of lime, ley, or of tobacco, ap¬ 
plied to them with a cylindrical brush on a pole. The 
later the operation is deferred, the more difficult the work 
becomes. They have much diminished of late years, but 
need watching to prevent increase. 
2. The Borer. —This is an insect which enters and 
perforates the wood of the tree at or a little below the 
surface of the earth. In Western New-York they rarely • 
prove destructive to the apple tree. They may be taken 
out by introducing into the hole they have made, a flexi¬ 
ble barbed wire, or punched to death in their holes by 
a flexible twig. 
3. The Canker. —This is sometimes termed bitter rot. 
It is ascribed to various causes. By some it is consider¬ 
ed as arising from neglected culture—poorness or wet¬ 
ness of soil, or exposed situation. But the most proba¬ 
ble, or the immediate cause, appears to be injudicious 
pruning and bruises. Decay generally commences at the 
wounds thus caused, and extends till the tree dies. To 
prevent it, never prune in spring while the sap is in ac¬ 
tive motion, and protect all wounds of much size from air 
and moisture by a coat of paint, or of tar and brick dust. 
The only way to cure trees already diseased, is to cut 
away all affected parts and apply a suitable covering to the 
wound. It x-arely proves a serious evil in this country. 
4. The American Blight, (so called,) is caused by 
the Aphis lanata, a small insect so thickly covered with 
fine white hair as to appear enveloped in fine cotton. It is 
furnished with a small bristle-like beak, with which it 
perforates the bark of the branches. Excrescences rise, 
the limb grows sickly, and perishes. Branch after 
branch is assailed in turn, and the whole tree ultimately 
dies. It is easily destroyed on young trees, and older 
ones if recently attacked, by brushing over the affected 
parts a mixture of equal parts of fish oil and rosin melted 
together and applied warm. The operation should be 
performed as early in the season as possible, or when the 
insect is first perceived.* In England, many trees have 
been greatly injured, and some destroyed by it. Although 
introduced into nurseries in this country, it has hitherto 
proved of little injury, and if carefully watched probably 
be kept from spreading. 
^5. The Canker Worm, where it has appeared, is 
perhaps the most destructive to apple trees of any insect 
in America, but it has hitherto been confined in its rava¬ 
ges to certain parts of the country, particularly of New- 
Englanff. Its habits are thus described by Kenrick: 
“The canker worm, after it has finished its work of 
destruction in spring, descends to the earth, which it en¬ 
ters to the depth of from one to five inches. After the 
first frosts of October, or from the loth or 20th, those 
nearest the surface usually begin to rise, transformed to 
grubs or millers. They usually rise in the night, and 
invariably direct their course to the tree, which they as¬ 
cend, and deposit their eggs on the branches, which are 
hatched in April or May. They frequently rise during 
moderate weather in winter, when the ground is not fro¬ 
zen, and in March, and till towards the end of May. 
When the ground in spring has been bound by a long 
continuance of frost, and a thaw suddenly takes place 
they are said sometimes to ascend in incredible numbers.'’ 
They destroy all the leaves of the tree and thus even- 
* If applied early, lime white-wash will destroy it effectually. 
tually cause its death. The only effectual remedy yet de¬ 
vised is to prevent their ascent, which is effected by 
means of circular lead troughs filled with fish oil, en¬ 
circling the tree. J. J. T. 
GARDEN VEGETABLES. 
While the attention of the farmer cannot be too strong¬ 
ly urged to the formation of a good vegetable garden, 
our object here is not so much to remind him of the 
garden generally, as of the cultivation of some three or 
four plants, which are very excellent, but which are fre¬ 
quently missing in the farmer's garden. The first of 
these is the Rhubarb, or pie plant. This no garden should 
be without, as it is easily cultivated, comes into use 
when fruits or other vegetables are scarce, and its acid, 
when cooked, is most grateful and healthy. A few 
shoots cut from the roots, and planted in rich ground, 
some four feet apart, will in a short time, furnish stem& 
(the part used,) enough for a family. We had a variety 
of this plant, the stems of Avhich were enormous, but un¬ 
less cut early, they become fibrous and coarse, compared 
with the other or common kind grown by us. To use it, 
take the stem of the leaf, strip it, cut it in thin slices 
transversely, and bake it in paste as you would apples. It 
requires more sugar than the apple, but in flavor is far 
superior. 
Another plant too much neglected is the Lima Bean. 
This bean is rather tender for our climate, and if planted 
too early, sometimes rots in the ground or is killed by 
the frost. The ground on which these beans are planted 
should be made rich and deep, the seeds covered about 
half an inch deep with fine mold, and the poles should 
be placed at the time of planting. They should be plant¬ 
ed as soon as the ground is warm enough to secure ger¬ 
mination, which, with us, is usually the middle or last of 
May. The vines usually grow until arrested by frost; 
consequently all the beans will not be matured. The 
Lima bean is far the best of the beans used as food, and 
is equally good used green or dry. Those who are fond 
of succatash, or green corn and beans, in the winter, will 
find this far better than any other for this purpose. They 
should be picked and dried for winter’s use, and when 
wanted, soaked in soft water over night; then put into the 
water for boiling, cold, and boiled till tender, with the 
prepared corn, and a piece of salted pork. 
The Horse Radish is a plant richly deserving a place in 
the farmer's garden, though too often, through careless¬ 
ness, it is allowed, when onoe introduced, to spread 
where it is not wanted, and in some instances to become 
a nuisance. There is no need of this, as the radish is as 
easily confined to its proper allotment in the garden, as 
the potato or artichoke. It is propagated by sets or by 
taking the crown of the plant, Avith a few inches of the 
root, and bulging it in deep rich soil to the depth of 
eight or ten inches. If the set is split into two or three 
parts, retaining a part of the croAvn on each, the plant 
may be increased more rapidly. Before planting, the 
ground should be dug and manured to the depth of 18 
inches or two feet. The plants may be set in the spring- 
or fall; but perhaps as good a Avay as any, is to put out 
the sets at the time of gathering the roots, and if desira¬ 
ble, in the same place. The leaves make one of the 
earliest and best of greens, and the roots grated and bot¬ 
tled Avith good vinegar, make, when used in moderation, 
one of the healthiest and best of condiments, with either 
boiled or baked meats. 
The Tomato, though uoav much more common than 
formerly, is still not to be found in many farmer’s^ gar¬ 
dens where it should be certainly, if the mandates ol im¬ 
perious fashion are in any degree to be heeded. The 
tomato, though found in its greatest perfection in south¬ 
ern latitudes, can, Avith a little attention, be gro Avn in most 
of our gardens, and furnish for months a wholesome, and 
to many a most agreeable article of food. IeAV like 
the tomato at first, but the taste soon becomes not only 
reconciled to it, but is much pleased with it. A rich, stiff 
loam is the best soil for the tomato. A good way is to 
sow the seed in a hot bed in April, and transplant when 
danger from frost is passed. The plants should be four 
feet apart in rich good ground, and the vines should be 
