Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-01-05
AGRICULTURAL.
THE PATENT OFFICE.-AGRICUL-
TIEE.

The operations of the Patent Office with ref
erence to agricultural improvements have be-
come within few years one Of its distinguish
ing features. The distribution of useful seeds,
collected with care from all parts of the world,
we have often had occasion to refer to, and we
have reason to believe that much good has come
from IT, and that more may be hoped But a
still more useful and interesting department in
these operations has been lately added in the
appointment of men Of science 10 explore the
growth OF the great staples of the country, aud
to hunt out the secret of all the diseases to which
they are subject ((or the most parl) from insect
enemies. OF course the diligcnt search after
remedy is one Of the duties Of these scientific
explorers.
In this office Mr.. Townsend Glover. an emf.
nent botanist and ontomoogsi has deserved to
be distinguished for the amount and value of
his labors during the past four years For some
time he has been engrossed in The study of the
oranqe tree aod caiion- nlani 10Th thair aaa.,is.
we have had the pleasure OF looking over the
volume Of his admirable color drawings of the
cotton plaut, in every stage Of lis developement
and every condition of disease, accompanied with
accurate drawings Of all the insects that nfest
the plant. One Of the most interesting plates,
as ii turned out, was that exhibiting the grass
worm in its various stages, from the larya to
the moth 1t was a curious surprise, and shows
how thoroughly one may be deceived by an i'm
perfect study of entomology. Some years since
the grass-wOrm ravaged, for several successive
seasons, some of the farms near the city. \
gentleman, who was not disposed to be deyour-
ed without knowing the reason why, took
number of the worms placed ,hem under glass
case, with bed of soft earth, and watched their
progress. They disappeared under the earth
at maturity, and in due time there came up
crop, not of moths, but of flies, differing not
much in appearance from the common house-fy.
We mentioned this to Mr.. Glover in proof that
his grass-worln could not be the same as ours
lie replied that the fly was not the development
OF the caterpillar, but of the egg that was laid
IN 1t by its enemy, the parasitic fly. Such are
the wonderful compensaiions of nature, and such
the means by which she curbs the excuses Of
all those elements of desolation that we often
see at work. At this explanation we recalled
the history of visitation of the army worm
some years ago in the Southwest The worm
had appeared unusually early tho first brood
passed, and the second, (it is the third that has
strength enough in its numbers to lay waste
the feds,) aud the planters were waiting with
despairing looks for the final visitation that was
to blast the hopes of the season. |, did not
come; the worm disappeared, But an observ-
ing naturalist, in Louisiana had collected num-
Der of the worms of the second brood and hatch
ed them under glass case, and the product was
a parasitic wasp, which afforded the explanation
OF the disappearance of the army worm. Ilhad
attracted horde of these parasites, who had
made the caterpillar at once the home and the
food of their offspring.
In conclusion, we do not say that Mr. Glover
has found a remedy for the various diseases of
the cotton plant; but IT is fair beginning to
have detected all the symptoms and hunted out
all the agencies by which the annual produce
Of this plant is endangered. He is not without
hopes 'hai he may yet point out remedy for
these evils.-Chariesfon Murcury.