45 
summer. He culls it Agrotis devastator. The bee moth, 
Dr. H. says, was brought from Europe with the bee—the 
old straw hive affording an excellent shelter to the grub 
or worm which feeds on the comb. The grub prefers 
the old to the new comb; and when it once makes a 
lodgment, always is most common in the upper part of 
the hive. Weak swarms suffer more than large ones, as 
the comb is more easily reached by the grub. The pre¬ 
sence of the worm may be known by the particles, of 
comb and black grains scattered over the bottom of the 
hive. The moths may be destroyed in great numbers 
when they appear, by setting shallow vessels containing 
a mixture of honey or sugar with vinegar and w r ater 
near the hives in the evening. Perhaps too, as is prac¬ 
ticed for the destruction of some other insects, a lamp 
suspended close to the surface of a bason of oil in the 
evening near the hive, would be the means of trapping 
multitudes. Dr. H. speaks rather doubtfully, though he 
inclines to the belief that the European grain moth, Tinea 
granella, is found in this country. We think there can 
be no doubt on the subject. We received last year an 
ear of wheat (the California,) from the South, and care¬ 
fully wrapped it in a paper. After a few weeks we opened 
it, and found several moths resembling the tinea granel¬ 
la, and on examination found quite a number of the 
kernels had been perforated, and in some the larva; was 
still existing, and afterwards in the same paper, produced 
more moths. 
The Aphis is another destructive family of insects of 
which Dr. Harris gives an instructive account. There 
is one of the species very desti'uctive to melons, cucum¬ 
bers, &c., and frequently escapes detection, from the 
fact that its ravages are committed below the surface, on 
the stems and roots. Some have supposed that the 
downy aphis, Aphis lanata, which produces in Europe 
the disease of apple trees, called the American blight , 
was not known in this country. Judge Bucl, however, 
found it on his apple trees, and Dr. Harris has observed 
it in a few instances, though they are still rare. The 
downy or cottony aphis is, in this country, more com¬ 
mon on some other trees and shrubs than on the apple. 
We have seen it on the bittersweet, ’(> Solanum dulcama¬ 
ra,) in a few instances on the sugar maple, but in the 
greatest abundance on the black alder of our swamps. 
In the year 1839, in passing the Tonawanda swamp, be¬ 
tween Lockport and Batavia, we observed in several 
places the clumps of alder loaded with white down 
which hung in waving masses, and which examination 
showed belonged to the aphis. Where a branch was 
touched, a tremulous motion, evidently voluntary on 
their part, was communicated to the downy matter. 
Examination with the microscope proved that this 
downy substance was alive with the young aphis, 
ready to float with the first wind to new habitations, 
and new depredations. In 1840 we observed in the air 
some downy particles floating in a strong south wind, 
and succeeded in arresting them. As we suspected, 
they proved to be the nidus of the cottony aphis, the 
young being easily detected. As we know of no place 
where they were to be found in that direction nearer 
than a swamp some three miles distant, their presence 
floating in the air proves the facility with which their 
migrations are performed. 
Perhaps there is no insect more vexatious to the lover 
of good fruit than the apple worm. The parent moth 
places the egg in the hollow at the blossom end ol the 
young fruit, where it hatches in a few days, and the 
young grub immediately makes for the heart of the ap¬ 
ple. In a few weeks it attains considerable size, works 
numerous galleries in the interior and around the core, 
opens a hole through the outside of the fruit to get rid 
of the rubbish it makes, and when the apple falls, which 
is hastened by the presence of the insect, it escapes to 
the earth, where it generally remains in the chrysalis state 
throughout the winter. The apple moth is distinguished 
by oval spots of brown, edged with copper color, on the 
hinder margin of each of the fore wings. In Roller’s 
work on injurious insects, page 230, it is figured and de¬ 
scribed as the Codling moth, (Carpocapsa pomonana.) To 
diminish this nuisance, let the apples that fall be daily 
gathered and fed to swine; or where this is practicable, 
let these animals run in the orchard at the period when 
the damaged apples are usually dropping. Serious losses 
occur annually in New-England from this source; and 
the insect is progressing westward, having within a few 
years made its appearance injuriously in central and 
western New-York. As the egg is deposited soon after 
blossoming, all preventive measures must be applied in 
season to meet the evil—say in June or July, when it is 
orobable the moth might be attracted and destroyed by 
lamps or fires in the evening. 
Dr. Harris has led us somewhat away from the object 
we had in view at the commencement of this paper, 
which was to notice the North American Review; and 
we return to it in order to say that it is published by 
James Munroe and Company, Boston. Price $5 per ann. 
CEREOGRAPHIC ATLAS OF THE U. STATES. 
Under this title we have received the first sheet of 
the Cereographic Atlas, now publishing by the proprie¬ 
tors of that valuable and widely circulated journal, the 
New-York Observer, one of the editors of which, S. E. 
Morse, is the inventer of the system of cereographic en¬ 
graving which promises such important results. This 
first sheet contains beautiful and very correct maps of 
nine of the states—Maine, Vermont, New-Hampshire, 
Connecticut, New-Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Virgi¬ 
nia, Ohio, and the territory of Iowa. This valuable At¬ 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
las is furnished gratis to such of the subscribers to that 
paper as are not in arrears, or shall pay for the paper 
two years in advance. Whether copies will be printed 
for sale, we are unable to say; but the introduction of 
such a map of the United States into every family in the 
country would be a most important acquisition, and do 
much to dispel that geographical ignorance of our own 
country which is unfortunately so prevalent. We hail 
with pleasure the appearance of this first sheet, as a 
proof that cereography has surmounted the obstacles at¬ 
tendant on the introduction of a new art, and can assure 
our readers that the Atlas, alone, will be worth far more 
than the advance subscription to the Observer. 
©omsponltence, Sttqitiriea, $ft. 
SANDY SOILS. 
Messrs. Editors —I am in possession of a farm, a 
large portion of which is a deep sand, and which has 
been so completely exhausted, that in some places the 
surface is nearly a drifting sand. Manure put upon it 
produces a good effect, but its influence is felt only a short 
time. It has occurred to me that the best method of im¬ 
proving this soil, would be to change its character, if 
possible. If you would give your opinion on this mat¬ 
ter, and add some remarks on the best method of culti¬ 
vating sandy soils, you would doubtless confer a favor on 
many subscribers. L. S. T. 
Hartford Co., Ct. 
All soils in their essential parts, are composed of sand, 
clay, lime and organic matter. If either of these sub¬ 
stances exist in too great proportions, the soil will not 
be good or fertile. Kirwan says that a good proportion 
is 56 of sand, 14 of clay, and 30 of calcareous matter. 
Morton says the proper proportions of these primitive 
earths is from 50 to 70 per cent of sand; from 20 to 40 
of clay; and from 10 to 20 calcareous matter or lime. 
We have found by analysis that some of the best wheat 
lands of west New-York, contained much less lime than 
the lovyest proportion stated above, while the proportion 
of clay was somewhat greater. A good soil should be fri¬ 
able and porous to permit the roots to penetrate freely; to 
allow the superfluous waters to readily pass through the 
subsoil, and at the same time sufficiently tenacious to retain 
moisture for the support of plants. This capability of re¬ 
taining moisture is ow r ing to the clay, and this fact indi¬ 
cates what is necessary to be done to change the character 
of a soil, when such as is described by our correspondent. 
When sandy soils are deficient in clay, they soon decom¬ 
pose the manure put upon them, which is speedily carried 
off by filtration and evaporation; the name of hungry 
soils, has hence been given to soils too deeply porous and 
sandy. 
L. S. T. if he had a sufficient supply of manures at 
command, might render his sands fertile, but if he wished 
to change their character, and render them permanently 
fertile, he must increase the quantity of clay. On sandy 
soils, a load of clay properly incorporated, will produce 
a greater, because more lasting benefit than a load of 
manure. Of this, the fine farm formerly owned by Judge 
Buel is an example. This was originally an hungry po¬ 
rous sand. To give it tenacity, and a proper retention 
of moisture, Judge Buel covered his fields with clay from 
the Albany clay banks, at the rate of from twenty to thirty 
loads per acre, and his experience convinced him that a 
load of such clay (it contained from 20 to 30 per cent of 
lime,) was of more benefit than a load of barn-yard ma¬ 
nure. He distributed his clay as fast as drawn, upon the 
sward or surface, where it was decomposed by the pains 
and frosts, when it was pulverized by the roller, and 
further distributed by the harrow. There are other in¬ 
stances equally illustrative of the good effects of clay in 
changing the character of such soils; but this was one 
of the first attempts at improvement in this country, and 
therefore the more deserving of honorable notice. For¬ 
tunately there are very few instances where the clay 
necessary for the amelioration of such soil cannot be 
obtained in the immediate vicinity. To dig, distribute, 
and incorporate the clay with the sand is the cheapest, 
and the only certain mode of rendering such soils capa¬ 
ble of permanent fertility. 
Owing to the ease with which water penetrates soils in 
which sand constitutes too large a proportion, they soon 
become exhausted of the alkali which is indispensable 
to the formation of plants, and the growth of sward being 
impossible, the surface becomes more impoverished and 
loose. Ashes distributed on such soils furnish the requir¬ 
ed alkalies, and hence the great advantage of their use, 
as fully demonstrated on the sands of Long Island and 
New Jersey, as well as those of Belgium and Holland. 
Soap boilers’ ashes, or the leached ashes of the asheries 
of the country, are invaluable for this purpose, as they 
still retain sufficient alkali, while the earths of lime and 
clay combined add to the necessary constituents of the 
soil, and partially restore the proper equilibrium of the 
original elements. Liebig, in his late valuable work on 
organic chemistry, explains most satisfactorily the action 
of the alkaline matters so contributed to the soil, and 
their absolute necessity where fertility is to be expected. 
The first effort in improving sandy soils should be to 
change its character, then to cover it with a sward, or a 
growth of clover; and when this can be effected, the 
great obstacle to rendering them fertile or capable of cul¬ 
tivation, is overcome. 
There is no soil on which gypsum produces so great, 
or such immediate effect, as on sandy ones; and from its 
effect on these has originated the impassion that gypsum 
is a great exhauster of soils. It is evident that where 
but a o-iven quantity of alkaline matter exists in a soil, the 
more vigorous the plants we produce on it by the use of 
substances that afford no alkali, the sooner it will be ex¬ 
hausted of that ingredient, and become incapable of 
growing* plants. Gypsum furnishes no. alkali; and as 
sandy soils, for the reasons stated above, contain but lit¬ 
tle, that manure by stimulatingthe rapid growth of vege¬ 
tation exhausts it rapidly. But other substances used as 
manures that contain no alkali, produce the same exhaust¬ 
ing effects, horn shavings for instance. These facts show* 
the proper course to be pursued in the treatment of sandy 
soils, or indeed all others where the alkalies, are defi¬ 
cient. Manures are to be applied which contain the ne¬ 
cessary alkalies, in connection with the gypsum. Ashes, 
green crops, clover fed off on the ground or turned un¬ 
der, animal manures, or indeed any substance in which 
alkali abounds will be found useful. Lime is valuable, 
but on sandy soils which are already too dry, the effect is 
not as perceptible as on heavier soils, which it assists in 
rendering more friable, as well as giving fresh supplies 
of alkali. By changing the character of a sandy soil, 
and giving it "the power of retaining the manures and al¬ 
kalies furnished it, we speedily convert it into a rich 
loam, easy to cultivate, and most abundant in its products. 
There is not, we are convinced, a farm such as our cor¬ 
respondent has indicated, in New England, that may not 
be “reclaimed” and restored to fertility, and in nine 
cases out of ten, the materials may be found on the farm 
where they are wanted. A swamp, a morass, a peat bog, 
will furnish the clay and the vegetable matter necessary 
to insqre productiveness; it is the business of the farmer 
to search for, and apply them. 
STEARIC CANDLES. 
“Messrs. Editors— I have observed in the New- 
York papers a notice of a new kind of candles sold under 
the above name. It is said the oil is expressed from the 
tallow, and then the substantial part made into candles, 
which are very hard—not oily—endure a higher tempe¬ 
rature than spermaceti candles, and burn as clear as can¬ 
dles made of spermaceti or wax. Can you tell us any¬ 
thing about these candles, their nature, or the prepara¬ 
tion of the tallow? • A Housekeeper.” 
It was first observed we believe by the chemist Chev- 
reul, that the expressed oils of plants, as well as animal 
oils, are composed of two substances, or oils of different 
degrees of fusibility; so that on exposing any oil to a 
low temperature, one part would become solid, while 
the other portion retained its fluidity. To the least fusi¬ 
ble oil he gave the name of stearine, and the most fusible 
he called elainc, which has been changed to oleine. Se¬ 
veral methods have been proposed for separating these 
two substances, which is at times very desirable. Thus 
in preparing almond or olive oil for clocks and watches, 
it is necessaay to separate the part which becomes white 
and hard from the more fluid part; and in France for 
some years the separation of stearine and oleine in tallow 
for candles has been practiced. Alcohol combines with 
oleine very readily; and when thus separated from the 
stearine, it is obtained pure by evaporating the alcohol. 
They may also be separated by pressing the substance 
between folds of blotting paper till it ceases to render it 
greasy. The oleine which the paper has absorbed is 
then separated by boiling it in water, on which the 
oleine floats and the paper sinks. From the stearine 
thus obtained, the candles to which our correspondent 
alludes are made, and named stearic candles. These pe¬ 
culiar qualities of oils, animal and vegetable, have a 
great influence in the manufacture of soap, which is a 
combination of margaric add and oleine. Of the particu¬ 
lar method adopted in the preparation of tallow for the 
New-York candles, we are ignorant, having seen no¬ 
thing more than the paragraph alluded to by our corres¬ 
pondent. 
BONE DUST, ASHES, &c. 
Our friend “Enquirer,” of New-London, (Ct.) 
gives so pleasant an account of his experiment with 
bone dust on corn, and its total failure, that did our 
limits permit, his paper should go upon our pages en¬ 
tire. Enquirer put twenty loads of long manure on an 
acre of good sward land in May, turned it under and 
harrowed well. He then mixed twenty bushels of bone 
dust with twenty bushels of loam, and when fermented 
well, put this compost in each hill, dropped his corn 
upon if, and covered in the usual manner. The experi¬ 
ment was a total failure, and our opinion is asked as to 
the cause. 
Failures with bone dust applied to crops are not un¬ 
common in this country or in Europe; and they have 
been attributed to various causes—such as the qualities 
of the soil, the state of the bones previous to grinding, 
or the method of application. Invaluable as this sub¬ 
stance is for some crops, and inmost instances where it 
is used, it at times appears perfectly inert and useless. 
Thus, at page 341 of Mr. Colman’s Report, may be 
found a paper from Mr. Haggerston, the able and intel¬ 
ligent superintendent of the Cushing farm at Watertown, 
Mass., in which some experiments with this manure are 
detailed, and which so far as potatoes and corn were 
concerned proved a complete failure. Two acres were 
planted with corn, the whole manured with compost, 
and on one-half of the field bone dust applied at the rate 
of 55 bushels to the acre. The yield was not at all im - 
proved by the bone dust. Of the potatoes, the rows ma¬ 
nured with compost gave 9£ bushels to the row those 
