210 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
AGRICULTURE IN SCHOOLS. 
We are nappy to perceive that the subject of introduc¬ 
ing agricultural books into the common schools and com¬ 
mon school libraries, is attracting much attention, and 
are pleased to give the following Report submitted to 
the State Convention of Superintendents of schools, lately 
assembled at Rochester. Heretofore, little or no infor¬ 
mation on this subject has been within the reach of the 
youth of our country generally, and they have grown 
up ignorant, in too many cases, of the most common ob¬ 
jects with which they are surrounded, and of the first 
principles of the art by which they are to obtain a live¬ 
lihood. We have, however, no doubt, that the interest 
now awakened will be the means of soon bringing for¬ 
ward some suitable works for our schools and school li¬ 
braries, which will be an important aid to a sound and 
useful education. 
Mr. Patchin presented the following report on the sub¬ 
ject of introducing the study of agriculture in common 
schools, recommending that it be frequently made the 
subject of school exercises, and that more agricultural 
works be placed in the libraries. 
The committee to whom was referred the considera¬ 
tion of the subject of introducing the study of agriculture 
as a branch of education in our schools, respectfully re¬ 
port, 
That, as agriculture is the art on which all other arts 
depend, and the profession in which the greater part of 
our population are engaged, its improvement and pros¬ 
perity is a subject of the highest importance; and the 
committee are of the opinion that the time has arrived 
when the elements and scientific principles of agricul¬ 
ture should be taught in all our schools, especially to the 
older class of pupils. 
The rapid progress which has of late years been made 
in those parts where the discoveries of science have been 
brought to bear on the improvement of agriculture, af¬ 
fords the strongest evidence of the importance of diffus¬ 
ing a knowledge of the principles upon which these im¬ 
provements are based, among those who are soon to be¬ 
come the owners and cultivators of our naturally fertile, 
though much abused soil. There can be no donbt but 
that such knowledge, if properly imparted, would have 
a direct tendency to improve the practice of agriculture, 
and elevate the profession to that high rank in public es¬ 
timation which it so justly deserves. 
Your committee have perceived, however, that there 
are numerous difficulties connected with the subject, and 
that it requires more deliberate consideration than they 
have bestowed upon it, to devise the best means for ac¬ 
complishing the object. Much can be done by the intro¬ 
duction of books on agriculture into the district school 
libraries. This object has received considerable atten¬ 
tion from the New-York State Agricultural Society, and 
premiums are now offered for the best essays for the 
purpose. There is still wanting a suitable text book on 
agriculture, for the use of schools. 
In view of this whole subject, therefore, the commit¬ 
tee beg leave to recommend this subject to the earnest 
consideration of this convention, and to submit the fol¬ 
lowing resolutions: 
Resolved, That this convention recommend to teachers, 
as far as is in their power, to impart instruction on agri¬ 
culture, by occasional dialogues or conversations, and 
the reading of agricultural books and periodicals, so as 
to explain the principles of this art, and show its respec¬ 
tability and importance to themselves and society. 
Resolved, That the convention deem it of the highest 
importance that our school libraries contain more works 
on the principles and practice of agriculture, suitable for 
the perusal of the young; and therefore we take pleasure 
in recommending to the trustees of school districts under 
our charge to purchase works of that character. 
Resolved, That we will, as county superintendents, 
take the subject into consideration, and be prepared, at 
our next annual convention, to express our opinions re¬ 
specting it, and to act decisively upon it, if deemed ad¬ 
visable. 
Resolved, That a committee of three be now appointed 
to take this matter under their special consideration, and 
report thereon at our next annual convention; and that 
the State Agricultural Society be requested also to appoint 
a committee to confer with them. 
A committee of three was appointed, to take the sub¬ 
ject into consideration, and report at the next convention. 
TURNEP FLY. 
The Brassica tribe of vegetables, (turnep, cabbage, ra¬ 
dish, &c.) is attacked by a little black, shining beetle, to 
which entomologists have given the name of Haltica, de¬ 
rived from a word signifying to leap. It is sometimes 
called the turnep flea, sand flea, See. The same or a very 
similar insect is sometimes quite destructive to cucum * 
bers and other vines, while they are in the first leaf. In 
England this beetle, or flea, is called “ the fly.” It is 
the most formidable enemy to the turnep culture, and 
great precautions are used to guard against its ravages. 
In this country it also not unfrequently destroys the tur¬ 
nep crop, almost as soon as it makes its appearance above 
ground. Various remedies have been devised against it; 
such as sprinkling the plant with plaster, air-slacked 
lime, ashes, watering the plants with alkaline or foetid 
solutions, &c. &c. 
The best applications are undoubtedly those which 
most promote the growth of the plants, because as soon 
as they are in rough leaf, they are safe. 
At a late meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society’s 
Council, various remedies for the attack of the fly were 
proposed and discussed. Mr. Beard, agent to the Duke 
of Buckingham, mentioned an experiment he had tried. 
He took an old sack, ripped it open, and nailed it to a 
pole the size of a pitch-fork handle, leaving the ends of 
the pole about eight inches longer at each end than the 
sacking. He then smeared one side with tar, after which 
two men drew the sacking, tarred side downwards, regu¬ 
larly over the field, letting it sweep the ground at an an¬ 
gle of about forty-five degrees, fresh tarring with a brush 
as often as required. He caught great numbers of the 
beetles or flies, and saved the crop. He has pursued the 
plan for several years, and has not had occasion to plow 
up a single acre from the effects of the fly. He prefers 
gas tar, in consequence of its having a stronger scent. It 
is sometimes necessary to go over a field more than once, 
but the work can be done with great expedition. 
Another gentleman spoke of his experience which had 
been very successful. A month before he begins to sow 
his turneps, he provides vessels for the reception of the 
seed, adding to every twenty pounds of seed, half a pint 
of linseed oil, taking care to have it well mixed, then 
adds a pound of flour of sulphur, and every morning has 
the whole rubbed between the hands to get the seed in a 
proper state for drilling. He has practiced this mode 
for twenty years without a single failure. 
There is also another insect which does considerable 
damage to turneps, radishes, &c., commonly called the 
maggot—(Anthomyia Brassiccv, of entomologists.) 
The parent fly deposits eggs near the crown of the 
plants—the larvse, as soon as hatched, make their way in¬ 
to the root, which they perforate in every direction, living 
there till full grown and ready to pass into their other 
stages. Whole fields of turneps and radishes are some ■ 
times rendered worthless by them. 
Kollar says —“ the only way of diminishing this de¬ 
structive fly is to pull up, and carry away betimes, the 
plants attacked by the larvse, which may be easily disco¬ 
vered by their dull lead color, and the withering of their 
leaves in ihe sunshine.” 
An apple without seed or core.— S. W. Jewett, 
Esq., in a letter to the Boston Cultivator, says he has this 
year received some “ slips,” (scions we suppose,) of a 
kind of apple that has neither “ core nor seeds .” The 
fruit, he says, is only propagated near Ticonderoga, N 
Y. The origin of the variety is given in the following 
words — e( The top of a young tree was bent over and co¬ 
vered with earth which took root; the tree was cut 
asunder which stopped all connexion with the natural 
roots of the tree, and by sprouts which sprung from the 
top portion of the body a regular top was formed, which 
produces this fine fruit, said to be a beautiful red, good 
size, very pleasant table apple to be used in the fall.” 
