The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-05-10
'M,rSkt 1Iaf.ls.
THE USE OF THE ROLLER.

Judge Watts at the head of the
Agricultural Bureau, speaks strongly
in favor of the roller as destroyer Of
insects.
"Of all the implements for use upon
the farm, there is no one which tells of
greater benefits than the roller. 1t pull
verizes the clods, smooths the surface
for the scythe or the reaper, and COM
pacts the earth about the seed and
roots of plants; but above al, and OF
more Importance than all, IT DESTROYS
vERMIN. That the earth SHOULD BE
MADE FINE is the object of blowing and
narrowing. The roller greatly conduces
to this. That small stones and rough
places should be driven out of the way
of the scythe or mower, is DEsIDERA-
ruM which every farmer will appreciate,
and when his seed is first sown, or when
the frosty winter and thawing of the
spring have loosened its growth upon
the surface, it may be imagined HOW IT
WOULD BE BENEFITED BY GIVING 1T A
BED IN THE EARTH AGAIN.
"But it's most useful purpose is less
satisfactorily explained, for its proof is
only found in the experience of its use.
All know that most of the vermin
which afflicts the farmers crop has its
resting and often it's breeding-place in
the earth; there, and upon the young
and tender plant, where it deposits its
eggs. The cut-worm destroys corn at
the surface; the. Hessian fly deposits
it's eggs upon the young wheat-blade,
which often falls to the ground. The
earth, in fine, is fully charged with the
eggs and the embryo of vermin of all
sorts, in all stages and in all periods of
their existence, and it may readily be
imagined what an amount Of destruc-
ton would follow the passage OF a
heavy roller over the surface.
at may be said, without the fear OF
ANYTHING but the doubt which inexper-
fence would suggest, that THE FARMER
WHO CONSTANTLY USES A ROLLER WILL
NEVER SUFFER FROM CUT-woRM, ARMY
WORM, HEssIAN FLY, MIDGE, OR ANY
PEST WHICH HAS ITS ORIGIN IN THE
EARTH"
The Commissioner recommends the
roller made in sections, as decidedly
more fit for the purpose recommended
than the one in common use; the latter
is generally made of a single log, 6 to
8 feet in length, fixed in frame by a
gudgeon in each end; it has the ad.
vantage. however, that any farmer can
make one on his own place, with the
aid of blacksmith to prepare the gud.
geons-those however who can afford
to purchase the pattern recommended
by Judge Watts, (Which will cost ftom
$40 to $500, according to size,) will
have a more perfect implement. 1t is
made of iron, of even number of sec
tions, so that, in turning, while one
half goes forward, the other half goes
backward, and thus rolls all the time
upon it's own ground The Judge adds
to the description the following recon-
mendation of it. a--...
"This roller may be properly used
upon corn-ground before it is scored
out, and soon after the plant shows
itself at the surface; upon oats-grouno
when it is sown; upon oats when foul
or five inches high upon young clover
in the spring, as soon as the ground is
sufficiently dry to allow the horses
feet upon it; upon wheat ground, to
prepare it for the drill, and upon wheat
in the spring 1t cannot be told with
any degree of certainty, when it is
that the vermin are destroyed, but it is
certainly at all times and periods wher
they are in the egg and embryo. Let
it not be said that this costs too much
labor; it is labor most proftably
spent"