Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-11-19
(Condenscd from the New York Tribune. ]
Huterestins 10 Farmers.

FooD OF CEDAR BIRDs.-S. II. DUNN, We
burn. Mass, thinks that cedsr.b!tts hav,
kept his fruit trees nearly clear OF worms fo
several years. They come in focks as soor
as the worms appear.
This letter aroused Doct. Trimble, tn,
entomologist of New Jersey, an enthusiast
upon the subject of protecting birds, and
particularly this one, called Cedar or Cher
ry bird because he considers it one of the
most valuable laborers upon the farm, orch.
ard or garden.
Rev. Mr.. Weaver asked the Doctor to de-
scribe the Cedar bird, as we now have many
in the city which resemble the Canary birds,
only larger. Some call them English Spar
rows.
Doct. Trimbe said that they were neither.
The Cedar bird had high tuit on its head,
and the ends of wing and tail-feathers APP
pear as though tippid with wax. They are
very beautiful rs well rs valuable.
Squash VINE BUGs-REMEpY.-A
Hammond, West Liberty, Iowa, says that
by planting few seeds of hemp in each hill
OF squash or cucumber vines, the striped bug
will be etfectually kept away. Let the hemp
| plant grow until the vines are out of the
way of the bugs, then pull them up like
other weeds This information will be
worth remembering until next season.
The WHEAT MIDGE.-D. Steck, Hughes
vile. Lycoming Co., Penn. gives the fol-
lowing full description of the white midge
and Its habits. He says:
Having seen the article in the Tribune,
under the question. Does the weevi levi
IDENTIFY midge) breed in the mullen here.
with give you the result of my observations
on the habits &c. of that great pest of the
wheat crop.
"The perfect insect is small gnat or fly.
as its name (midge) indicates; it is of an
orange color, in general form 1t somewhat
resembles musketo, but is little smaller
being only about one-tenth of an inch in
length. 1t has long, slender legs, and two
transparent wings. 1t antenna are of
5ackish color; those of the male are nearly
twice as long as those of the female. The
eyes are black and prominent. 1t makes its
appearance from the first of June to the end
OF July, according to latitude, later as we
proceed North.
The female deposits her eggs upon the
Kernels ot the wheat, by means of her egg
tube, which she inserts in the opening be-
tween the valves of the corollu or chatf
which enclose the developing kernel. AS
many as ter or fifteen are often found on
one kernel. liz 1. day or two the larva or
maggot Is hatched from the egg, and com
mcnees operation upon the immuture grain
from which it sucks the juice, of course pre-.
venting itS full development, and when
several are present, rendering it entirely
worthless. In about two weeks the larvae
attain their full size, and are prepared to
undergo next change in their eXistance.
lney cease feeding the body of the worm
contracts within the skin. and it remains
torplt. IN this state for few days. IL then
bursts this enveIop and emerges from one
end leaving its shell behind. Its appear
ahce Is shghtly altered. Soon after moulc-
my the insects fal! to the ground, where
they burrow five or six inches below the
surface. Here they lie ensconced until the
following Spring when they undergo their
next Change that is, from Larvae to pupae.
This change is completed without casting
the skin; the wings and limbs of the vet i'm.
perfect insect being unconfned, instead of
closely enveoped, rs is the usual condition
ofmost insects in the pupe state. 1t now
works its way to the surface, and emerges
IN The final complete state, ready again to
multiply its species for tl:her destruction.
u vi he:e mention an instance that &C.
Cured III the Spring OF 1856. Early in
Apni | pinwed piece of land on which
the midge mad destroyed crop of wheat
the previous season. Soon after the blow
ing was finished, there was heavy fall of
ram; the next day | Glanced to pass over
the field, and to my great astonishment
saw millions upon millions of the midg in
the low places where the water had carried
them, They were then apparently in the
same condition as when they first issued
from the wheat to enter the earth, As the
water subsidized, they gradually disappeared
by burrowiug in the earth again
According to the statements in the arti-
Gle referred to the beginning of my letter
the midge would necessarily become per
feet insect in the Fall, when they take re-
fuge in the mallen.' What nonsence!"
ECoNoMY I'm WHEAT GROWING d. Beck
with, Dnwagiac, Cass Co., Mich, wants 1.-The
Club to discuss the subject of grain raising
in all its various relations. | think we, as "a
people who raise grain, and particularly
wheat, do not sufficiently understand the
sabjeCt in scarcely any one particular" He
says 1T is admitted by all farmers who
nave used grain drills, that they connot af.
ford to SOW their grain broadcast, but should
use drill by all MEANS and he thinks
Cages Roller Drill superior to all Others. -
The advantages of drilling wheat are: saw
ing ot labor and seed, increase in yield. and
protection from Winterkilling and drouth
All the seed Is buried out of the way of
birds, and seeding Can be done in windy
weather.
Mrs. JAMES ADAMS, Wee law-ren, Wis.
consln, says that gapes are entirely prevent
ed among poultry by salting their food in
the same proportion as fnon for ourselves
SoLoN RoBINsON.--I advise those who are
disposed to try this remedy to use it in
homeopathic doses. If it is not so used, |
will warrant it to cure the gapes, for it will
kill every teathered biped as sure as buck
shot.
TRIPE-IIov TO CLEAN Ir.--Robert Ter
rett, Newton, Licking Co., Ohio, says in
these times Of scarcity and high prices of
meat, he thinks the Club would confer
great favor upon all who read its discussions
if it would give some directions how to
save and clean beefs tripe, which makes a
most excellent article of food, but which few
pcople in .he country know how to pre-
pare.
The answer to this is, cut as small an
opening into the paunca as pC ssioie through
which to empty the contents. DO .ulS Win
care, so as not to smear the OUTSIDE, ana
carefully wash off any substance that may
adhere. Then let one man thrust his am
! 4 r,;,, ~ l,t1