The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-09-03
farmer' S Column.
ABOUT BUGS, FLIES, MONKS AND
SNAKES.

SNAKES.
Prof Kirkland in the columns of the
| Ohio farmer, says:
The present prospects are ~discourag-
ing to the hort ~culturist, yet they should
not prevent his efforts at rearing fruit.
Destructive insects may often be destroy
ed or counteractcd in their progress by
means either natural or artificial.
It seems to be an established law in
nature, that when any species of the an
imal kingdom becomes inconveniently
or inordinately numerous, Providence
provides a check or balance, usually in
the form of a ~devouring enemy.
The Hesian fly threatened to exterm:-
nate the wheat plant fifty yea r%ssince, yet
it is not only kept in check by not less
than three or four minute parasites, but
they may ultimately extinguished the
whole race.
The bee moth has nearly ruined our
stocks of bees. Five years since, we
discovered the small house wren engas-
ed in picking put the larva of that insect
from a c~reYice in the beehive. From
that hint we proceeded to encourage the
visits and increase of this bird, by call
ing into requisition old oyster-cans and
empty boxes and placing them in
positions to invite the wrens. At this
time the injurious moth is evidently re-
duced in numbers while our grounds
are cheered by many of the inquisitive
and active birds. Man is prone to des-
troy most of the agents which superb
or wisdom has provided to counteract
the depredating insects. Birds and
reptiles are often among our best means
of defense. Yet the crow, black bird
and wood pecker are mercilessly destroy
ed. The harmless garter snake deyours
daily hundreds of insects. A large toad
has taken his position under a myrtle
border to my verbena bed, and each
evening ~sallies forth, and captures from
twelve to twenty of the sphynxes, or la
DIV bird millers, which at hat hour Wis
it the verbena flowers. The millers lay
the eggs from which the tomato or pota-
to worm is produced. This despised
reptile probably destroyed each evening
the rudiments of some thousands Of
worms that inure two important escu-
lent plants.
We should study the history of these
humble parts of creation, and learn to
protect, encourage and apply to use
such as were provided for that purpose.
An enemy to the curculio and the cod
ling moth may Jet be discovered among
them.
Encouragement is also to be taken
from the fact, that when any species of
the animal kingdom become thus nu
mcrous, they are apt to rapidly disap-
pear from the operation of causes rot
always discoverable or understood. A
few years since, a species of ~grasshopper
began to increase beyond its usual num-
Der. At the end of the third season, it
was so humorous, in many localities il
this county, that it first devoured every
kind of green Vegetation next it eat off
the down from the surface of old rails,
and at length each individual, kilkenny
like, attacked the legs and wings of its
neighbor. In this predieament they all
died, and at this day very limited num-
bers are to be found.
The rose bug, potato bug, and slug,
have each had it's periods of i%ncresc, ex-
cess and disappearance, in this vicinity,
during the last ten years. The wheat
weevil is now increasing and spreading
over this country, yet it is probable
some counteracting agent will sooner
OF later appeared to arrest its pro
gress.
With these facts before US, we say to
our horticulturists be not discouraged