The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-01-28
HINTS ON AGRICULTURE.
LABoR-sAvING IMPLEMENTS.

LABOR-sANlNG
Labor-saving implements were once thought
to be destructive to the interest OF the work.
| ingman lust in proportion as they saved the
| drudeery of labor. This seems reasonable at
frat. but little thought will correct the error.
How, then, do the farm laborers thrown out OF
work by the introduction OF improved lmple-
ments ultimately find work? Plainly by the
increased amount of tillage which machinery
and tools make possible in the country. In a
section where all the soil is under cultivation
| of some kind it leads to more thorough sys-
| TENS of farming. In the case OF our Own coun-
try it leads to the faster extension OF clvliza-
ton Westward, the rapid subjugation OF wild
land. and the better cultivation of that already
under the plough. For instance, the Western
grain. grower who now devotes seventy-fye to
| one hundred and fifty acres to corn and othe:
crops, with the meagre facilities OF thirty years
ago, could not have managed one-fourtn part
that amount in q similar manner. This IN
crease of agriculture not only keeps good the
original number Of farm laborers, but creates
a new demand for ,aborers in every other field
of industry.
MecHANIolL INGENUITY OF FARMERS.
One of the component parts Of q good far
mer is mechanical ingenuity. Some lose half
days time for want of knowing how to repair
breakage which an ingenious person could
do in five minutes. A team and two or three
men are sometimes stopped whole dag at
critical season for want of little mechanical
skill. 1t is WILL for every farmer to have at
hand the facilities for repairing. In addition
to the more common tools, he should keep q
supply of nails of different sizes, screws, bolts,
and nuts. Common cut nails are too brittle
for repairing implements or for other similar
purposes. But only the very best, ana annea
them, and they will answer all the ordinary
purposes of thu best wrought nails. To an
neal them, oil that is necessary is to heat
them red-hoL in common fire and cool grad
uallv. Let them cool. for instance, by re-
naming in the fire whllo it burns down and
goes out. One such nail, well clinched, will
be worth half o dozen unannealed. Moth
visit the blacksmith's shop to get a bro:
ken or lost bolt OF rivet inserted, and
often q single nut on bolt. This must be
paid for. and much time is lost. BY pro-
viding supply of bolts, nuts, and rivets,
much time and trouble may be saved.
They may be purchased wholesale at low
rate. These should all be kept in shallow
boxes, with compartments made for the pur
poso, furnished with q bow-handle for conve-
niencc in carrying them. Que box with half
dozen divisions may be appropriated to nails
of different sizes, and another, with as many
compartments, to screws, bolts, rlycts, &:.
Every farmer should keep on hand supply OF
copper wire and small pieces OF sheet copper
or copper straps. Copper wire ID better than
annealed iron wire. Ii 10 almost as hexlble as
twine, and may be bent and twisted Cd desir-
ed; and It will not rust. Copper straps nailed
across or around a fracture or split in wood
en- article will strengthen it IN thorough
manner.
DEATH TO THE COTTON WORM.
meeting Of the planters was held at Ope-
lousas, Louisiana. to hear reports OF commit
further measures for the destruction of the
caterpillar fly. Tho plan reported was, that
fires should be made twice week, on every
Wednesday and Saturday. and ofterer il prac-
ticable, by everybody and everywhere. The
fires are to be small SO made as GssSI to create as
an elevated position, il practicable, and at
distance of two hundred and fifty yards. Old
shingles, branches, tallow and cotton, and
weeds were the cninbustible material recon-
mended.
The report also recommended, as the larvae
of insects are found in the fields, tho ground
should be ploughed as early as practicable, 80
as to submit i to the frosts OF winter, and
that corn and cotton stalks, and oil vegetation
capable of sheltering the laryG, Should DC
burnt.
DR.. Boagn delivered an address, in which he
said that planters had the policy OF securing
exemption from the rayages of the worm, IN
the simple fact that tho fly produces the cater,
pillar-that the fly is attracted by light, and
that fire destroys it. A more phosphoric sys-
tenn of illumination, he said, might be sug-
gestcd, with refectant lights and receptacles,
but the pecunary condition OF planters places
such system beyond their means. He recon-
mendcd that the fires be made an amusement
to inc young folks, aud that they should not
be continued too late ut night
Commencing at dark, they might be kept up
until nine or ten o'clock. Also, that person
might usefully 20 about on horseback with
lighted torch, to start the flies towards the
fres. AS lougas the cotton fly does not ap-
pear in force, tlieH6res should be lighted twice
a week otherwise, it would be we'll to light
them every night. Failure will be almost GER
tain, it was thought, if the fires were too large.
In that case the flies will be started, but would
fail to reach the fire on account OF the surround
ing heated air.
A friend OF DR.. Boagin's, during the preva-
lcnce of fevers last fall, lighted numerous fires.
He had planted csne and TOBACCO. All sorts OF
insects were burnt, and at this date, although
he has gathered Que crop Of tobacco, and tho
scconl is shoulder high, he has not seen
worm in it. Years ago, q Louisiana planter
tried fires to destroy the cotton fly, but he
made his fires too large, and they attracted
flies from all quarters, which failed to reach
the fires on account of the heated air; and they
took refuge in his field and generated cater
pillars in untold numbers, aud his crop was
most thoroughly destroyed.
The importance Of destroying the fly is thus
calculated: One fly of to-day will be repro
duced by $50, 600 on the 18th OF August; then
bv 1aaj. .O9O. 600 on the 18th OF September; then
by G2 $40 OO0, 900 on the 18th OF October.
1t was believed by Intelligent pl nters that
the fire system OF destruction would succeed,
and that the orginators OF it would be regard
ed before long as the regenerators OF the for
tunes Of the South