How to Destroy the Wheat Midge, Fly and Weevil.

A few days since, while conversing with one of my friends on the subject of the common wheat weevil (curculio granarus,) he stated that he had a receipt for destroying the same. Having an eye to laying the same before the readers of the Telegraph, I requested a copy, and you can imagine my disappointment when I received the following, which I give as I received it:

"The most effectual process to prevent smut in wheat, the fly, weevil and midge, is, first, to wash the wheat clean, by stirring and skimming it in several waters, only pouring water from the spring or well, and stirring the wheat until the water runs off clean. Then take two quarts of caustic lime to a bushel of wheat, and stir it into the wet wheat in the tub until it is thoroughly mixed and let it remain in this condition for twelve hours. It now becomes thoroughly saturated with the caustic lye-all the eggs are killed, be they weevil, midge or fly."

To say the least, this is a strong receipt. Have any of the readers of the Telegraph tried it? Will the wheat grow after twelve hours' soaking in this "caustic lye?"

and shows cleverly, plow under the first sown; turn it under well. Your fly is headed, and the crop is safe."

I have never been troubled with the fly, and know not whether this receipt will do or not. The midge, although in some respects similar, is different in its habits from the fly. The perfect insect lays its eggs in the grain as soon as it enters its milky state; these eggs soon become larvæ, and live upon the milk of the young grain; this state of the larvæ does not last long, the insect falls to the ground and works into the ground to the depth of two or three inches; here it passes into its chrysalis state and remains till spring, when it comes forth a perfect insect, ready to lay eggs for another brood of destroyers.

In England where this insect is more destructive, various experiments have been made for the purpose of ridding the farmers of its depredations. An experiment has been tried there which gives a theoretical, if not a practical remedy. A portion of a wheat field, from which the remains of a crop had been taken, was covered with a large box or frame covered with gauze. Another portion of the same field was spaded to the depth of six or eight inches, the soil being carefully inverted; this portion was covered in the same way as the first. The following spring the box on the unbroken stubble was found to contain large quantities of the midge in the fly state, while the box over the spaded portion did not contain any at all. In the course of one month a few insects appeared in the box over the spaded ground, but the greater portion (compared with the other box) were unable to find their way above ground, and those which did reach the surface, were too late to do any mischief to the crop.

So much for the practical, now for the theoretical, or as it is called, the book-farming portion.

As far as smut or rust is concerned it might, (granting the wheat to grow,) be of some use; it may prevent the former, but as the latter disease depends more on the state of the air (with regard to moisture) than anything else, I do not think it will effect much. Will it in any way affect the fly? Some examinations into the habits of this pest will answer this question. The fly (generally called the Hessian fly,) lays its eggs on the leaves of the wheat in the fall and spring. The eggs are nicely placed upon the upper surface of the leaves of the wheat, and vary in number from fifteen to thirty on a place. They are placed between the ridges of the leaf, and are hatched in from two to four weeks. As soon as hatched the Thus, it would seem that if a field which was young insect crawls down the stem, between it injured by these insects, was plowed up careand the base of the leaf, until it reaches a joint.fully and deep, and re-seeded with wheat, the Here it attacks the stalk, and lives on the juices which would otherwise fill the grain.Those hatched in the spring may be found in the upper joints, and thereby appropriating the juices they prevent the proper deposit of silica. The stems for the want of this material are unable to bear the weight of the grain, and it "goes down." I have seen fields and parts of fields down in this way as flat as if a roller had passed over them. Sometimes it gives way at one joint and sometimes at another, thus if it gives way near the ear, it is the spring brood; but if near the but, the injury is caused by the fall brood.

I find among my papers the following plan for "heading" the Hessian fly: "About the middle of August sow a strip of wheat adjoining where you intend to put your crop-say one or two acres. About the middle of September sow your field. When this comes up

insects which did reach the surface would do so too late to do any harm. For one farmer to pursue this plan would not have much effect, but the English farmers propose that the neighborhood so infected, should all, by a mutual agreement, pursue the same course and thereby rid themselves of this pest.

I have thus disposed of the fly and midge; now, last though not least, let us consider the weevil. This, as many know to their cost, is a small red or black beetle, which deposits its eggs on the grain in the mow or after it is stored in the granary. The young insect, as soon as hatched, burrows in its grain, and devours the inside, often leaving nothing but the hull; the injury is often not discovered until it is shown by the loss in weight.

Now, I have shown, (according to my ideas, which I am not certain are correct,) that the fly does its mischief after the wheat is up and

does not exist in the seed; that the midge does its mischief after the wheat is in head, and does not exist in the seed; and last, that the weevil is neither in the seed or field, for a grain of wheat which has been hollowed out by a weevil, will not grow.

Then, how can caustic ley (or lie) destroy in the seed the eggs which do not exist there? Perhaps my ideas of the fly, midge and weevil may be wrong, for my ideas have only been obtained from the experience of others, not having had any of my own. If wrong, I shall be glad to be set right; and any one so doing will oblige your friend, SPIKE HARROW, in Germantown Telegraph.

English Agriculture.

is necessary to command a good farm. Thus, although even if we admit as to the profits, we find a capital necessary which is not at all suited to the poor man; while, on the other hand, we have cheap land and dear labor. Here a poor man can manage to get a farm, and, if of the right stamp, soon be independent. Although we of this country may carry out the English farmer's principle of getting the largest crops from the land at the least cost, our system would differ in nearly every respect.

Draining, deep plowing, and the feeding of stock, are attended to in a different way than with us. We have with us cases of as good farming as Great Britain can present. I do not mean as deep draining, plowing, or as heavy manuring, for these are merely the systems; but I look at the principle. With us it would not pay to adopt the same course as we find there, while with them the case is revers

England has been, and is at the present time, so situated from a crowded population as to be obliged to look upon her agricultural con-ed-it would not pay them to adopt our system. dition as of the greatest importance to her, individually and nationally. The yield of the ground measures her power, telling with foreknowledge that the increase of her population will be wholly measured by the productiveness of her soil. No wonder then she glances with anxious eye toward her agricultural condition as it is at present, and as the path seems for future prosperity.

If

Good agriculture does not necessarily call for deep four foot draining, twelve inches plowing, and raising of turnips. It calls for the use of those means around which you are situated. such and such a plan will pay, why not accept of it and reap the benefit; and if you do the best with these circumstances, you can receive the laurel as to the equality with any farmer, however his system may be in opposition to This explains why certain courses of treat-yours. He may even get better crops, and fatment are adopted by the British agriculturist. It is the object of the aristocracy to promote the thorough cultivation as conducive to their farmers and of the poorer classes for the gaining of a little of the "needy" for their expenses. All tend to call for the thorough cultiva

tion of the soil. If under these circumstances

the farmer of Great Britain did not adopt and carry into a more thorough system of agriculture, it would be something of a nature that has thus far shown itself but rarely in agricultural history.

These causes have worked about a system of agriculture wherein everything is used to increase the productiveness of the soil. All things tend toward improvement-that is to say, producing of the largest results from the smallest means-a large crop from a small piece of land, and at the least cost. Although we may carry this principle into England, then into America, we will find the practices of the two countries at variance. In England we have cheap labor; here we have dear. The land in one country is of great value when compared with the other. This results from the density of the population. Density of population and no place of egress causes a cheapness of labor not found under other circumstances.

The difficulty of obtaining farms in England, unless having a large capital at hand, presents another good reason for the cheapness of labor. All the farms are owned by the aristocracy or gentry, and let to the farmer. A large capital

ten better stock.

Of

Does it pay? The answer to this question decides the superiority. course I speak of permanent paying farms. beneath the surface. It pays with us after going down six inches; further down does not, in certain districts, pay. This, however, is decided by labor and the implements you use, their capability of going deep at a small cost comparatively.

The farmers of Great Britain seek for soil

In one locality labor is cheap and land dear. In this case down we go into the subsoil.When the reverse, labor dear and land cheap, we get surface land. Depth increases the crop, but after we get a certain depth it does not in proper proportion to the labor bestowed. If we go six inches, all things else favorable, we get a good crop. Now six inches more would give us a better crop, Does the increase warrant the increased expense? Price of labor decides the question. If land is cheap, put the other six inches upon another field, and the crop taken off will far exceed the surplus got off of the other field by the twelve inches of plowing. The question is, will the price of land, &c., allow a better profit than from the twelve inch lot. If so, why it is the better farming. If not, it is bad management to take such a course of proceedure.

All these questions are subject to local considerations. That which is preferable under circumstances which present themselves in England, are of an entirely different nature here, and require different treatment.

But

when a good education is absolutely necessary to make a good farmer. By a good education I do not mean that to make a good farmer one must needs go through college, but should have a better education than can commonly be obtained in our county common schools.

He should not only know that to produce a

neither practice destroys the principle of superiority, All then that is needed to claim equality with the agriculturist of Great Britain, is to know whether we do the best with the circumstances under which we are placed! I do not pretend to answer this question, but let each one answer the question as applicable to his situation and mode of doing things. It good crop he must apply some manure, but is plain that draining, deep plowing, plenty of manure, and good "blood" stock generally pay | where cities are numerous and of any size. Good stock pays at all times when feeding of stock becomes necessary. In this particular we say nothing of the "breed," but mean no animal that will not lay on flesh as the least possible cost. Some breeds are more adapted to do this than others. Individual cases are found in all breeds.

Draining, deep plowing and plenty of manure are more subject to local considerations. They produce corn. Will it pay by the increased yield? In nearly all cases it will. The farmers of Great Britain answer in the affirmative, also some of our Atlantic states. Let all be careful how they answer, by their acts, this important question-important to themselves as relative to their pocket, and important to their country.

We use, generally, more machinery than our friends over the water. This arises from the high price of labor; and I think plow as deep in some of our Atlantic States. Drainage, we are nowhere; but hope, as time rolls round, to find this introduced here more largely and thoroughly. Do not find fault. They must do it-why not? Labor cheap, land dear. When land approaches here near the price of land there, our farms will have the most thorough draining. This I say as being a characteristic of the Yankee people-to make a thing pay? In all other branches of trade America has disputed the palm with Great Britain, and when

the same circumstances under which she is now placed, fall to our lot, we will successfully strike for the Agricultural laurel as to practice. Our principle of making our farms pay, we work up tolerable well for a new country, although our practices, of necessity, differ greatly from the farmers of Great Britain.

Country Gentleman.

"Only a Farmer."

How often do we hear parents give an excuse equivalent to the above, for not giving their children a good education. "He is going to make nothing but a common farmer," and therefore (good reason) he does not need a good education. If practical farming does not afford ample scope for a well-educated mind, I know not where it will be found. If no education will make him a common farmer, then I say give him a good education and thereby make him an uncommon farmer. Believe me, farmers, the time is coming, yes, and now is,

should also understand why it should be applied and of what kind. He must not only know that certain crops grow, but should know why they grow and what supports this growth; and from this know what he must add to the soil to produce a certain kind of grain or crop.

The time is coming and in many sections has

already come, when farmers will not be con

tent to plod on in the same track as their fathtrodden, but will devise new plans, new rotaers, grandfathers and great grandfathers have tion, new machines for all the various operations of farm labor. The education of our farmers must keep pace with the improvement of their instruments, or it will be useless for a farmer to expend his income in the purchase of machines which he does not understand.

The operations of farming are more or less monotonous, and do not seem to require much exercise of the mind, but is this any reason why his mind should be idle?

to who are atheists?
How many practical farmers can you point
But few, I think-and
why? Because, of all the employments of
men, that of the practical, well-educated farmer
brings into closest contact with the many won-
ders of the All-Creating Hand. The uneduca-
ted farmer plants his grain, and as ordained
by Providence, it grows, but he knows not why
it grows. To the well-educated farmer this is
different, he plants his grain and knowing why
it must be buried under ground, he knows just
how deep it should be covered; in due season
it grows, but he knows why and wherefore it
does so. He knows that each crop removes
certain substances from the soil and deposits
others, and hence he is governed by this knowl-
edge in the rotation of his crops and the appli-
cation of his manures and stimulants.

It is a lamentable fact that as a general rule the farmers near the Atlantic coast are decreas

ing in the quantity of their crops, and this decrease must continue until the force of science is brought to bear upon practical agriculture. I know that on many farms the average crops are on the increase, but examine into such cases and you will find that scientific agriculture is being brought to bear upon the soil. Let us take England as an example. She has no West to run to, but her population is eonstantly increasing, and if we examine the agricultural statistics we will find that the increase in the yield of the different crops has kept pace with that of the population.

Farmers, give your children a good, solid education-it is all which you can give them which may not be taken away; it matters not

if their lot be cast in the far West or in the East near their native homes, their farming and their crops will be none the worse of it. Too many of our farmers complain that their children dislike farming and won't stay on the farm-in too many cases the fault is in yourselves, they see in farming nothing but a dull plodding life and are taught to suppose that they must follow a certain beaten path, and if they leave this path, it will only be going so far towards ruin. They are not furnished with the means of enabling their minds to keep pace with the growth of their bodies, they have no books and no papers to fill the void. It is not necessary that a child or youth should go to school all his youthful days in order to become an educated farmer, but he must be furnished with the means of expanding his mind. These means may be obtained from books, periodicals or papers.

Some will say they "can't afford it," but why do you work so hard all your life. Is it not to be able to leave your children the means to enjoy life, and in what way can you better enable them to enjoy life than by giving them a good education? Believe me, you can afford it if you will, and it is your duty to afford it. And it does not require the gift of prophecy to say that an uneducated farmer will stand but a poor chance in the next generation. And last but not least, by giving them a good education you will enable them to increase the knowledge of others through the columns of the Telegraph or other papers, and thereby oblige the editor and your friend AGRICOLA, in Germantown Telegraph.

Cutting Grasses and Curing Them.

of ground and cut and cure the grass just before the flower drops, and pursue the same course with an equal quantity of ground adjoining, after the seeds are formed, he will find the weight of the earlier cut exceeds that of the late cut. And if he will analyze them he will also find there is a larger amount of saccharine and other nutritious matter in it. I presume I need not tell any farmer that cattle will greatly prefer the early cut.

The same will hold good in regard to clover, and all other grasses, when the plant itself is the object sought for nutriment. So soon as the seeds begin to form, the stalk begins to become dry and woody, until finally, when the seed has come to perfection, the stalk has become almost worthless for food. The natural effort of the plant to perfect its seed, consumes the saccharine and all other valuable juices, and in its effort to accomplish this and prepare for renewed life, robs the parent stalk of all that it is valuable for except manure.

In this connection I will say a few words in regard to the proper mode of curing grasses. Many farmers do this in a careless, wasteful manner; and seem to think if, at last, it bethe barn or stack, all that is requisite is accomes sufficiently dry not to rot when put into complished. I pursue a different course. I never have more cut down than can be promptly and properly attended to with the force I

have on hand. Grass should be cured as with as little exposure as possible to either speedily as is practicable after being cut, and rain or dew. I am satisfied it will pay to put it in cocks at night, even if the weather is good, to protect it from the effect of dews; besides this process greatly helps the drying. It should be opened the next morning as soon as the dew is off, and unless the grass is very heavy two days of good sun will cure timothy and other small stock grasses sufficiently for stacking or putting in the barn. Clover may be put in small cocks, after the first day's sun, and left there to cure; but if the weather proves unfavorable, a cap of finer hay should be placed on top to protect it, as the stalks are so large and stubborn the rain will otherwise run through and greatly injure it.

A contributor, in the Feb. number of the Ohio Valley Farmer, in treating of grasses, has, I think, committed an error in regard to the proper time for cutting timothy. He says "The stem and leaves continue increasing in fertility after the flowering season. Hence it combines the nutrition of the seeds, which are numerous, with the undiminished value of the stem and leaves." Is this so? Or is it a theory unsustained by facts? Let us consider it. What is the object of producing hay? Is it to Hay cured in this manner will be much more obtain an article of subsistence for domestic valuable for feed, than when long exposed to animals, and to obtain the largest amount the action of the dews and sun; and if designpracticable from a given quantity of ground?ed for market, will bring a largely increased The valuable product of the grass field is different from that of plants when the seed or grain is the chief object. The grasses should be cut at such a time as the stalk itself will afford the greatest amount of nutrition for the animal. This point is when the plant is in its greatest perfection, as a plant, regardless of the seed, inasmuch as that, and not the seed, is sought for the animals' food. In timothy this point is before the grass is in full flower, and before it casts them.

If your correspondent will take a quantity

price.

I wish to say one word about orchard grass. I believe it may be cultivated to advantage on large farms, but care must be taken to cut it as soon as it comes into flower. If suffered to get ripe it becomes so hard and woody it is little better than sticks. It is an early grass, and consequently does pretty well to sow with clover, as it becomes fit to cut about the same time. But I warn those having nice lawns not to introduce it on their places, as it will spread over their grounds and greatly mar the