The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-11-14

Every season is said to bring its work TO
the farmer for there is no leisure nour 10 the
man who truly seeks for something 10 DO.
After a farmer has worked all summer, ana
at last secured his crop, it may be adding the
last straw to his already tired back to sug-
gcst that "A little clearing up OF his grounds
would not be amss. Straw, hay, corn-stalks,
and other debris of gathered crops, besides
falling leaves, dead and decaying weeds in
fence corners, and uncultivated fleids, are
sure to be conspicuous objects during the In
dian summer now fairly begun. We are not
going to urge the clearing up of these places
on score OF looks, although with many it
would be a wcighty argument in its favor
but there is another of far greater Importance,
and that is the necessity of destroying nox.
iOus insects. In many localities in our
Western States the ChinCh bug is a serious
pest to the farmer, destroying annually hun
drcds and thousands of acres of wheat and
corn. This insect hibernatcs and lives through
the winter in or under any old rubbish, such
as leaves, weeds aid cornstalks. Hence the
Importance Of burning such materials in the
fall for the purpose OF destroying the bugs
which have taken refuge therein. There are
also many other insects alternating in SINH
places, the common squash bug (c0reus iris,
tis), and the little spotted hippodamia, SO in
luTlOuS W tuC IutlOu NluCs, WhlSA
away among rubbish, remains secure until
the time for commencing its depredations in
the spring. The moths of various species of
caterpilafs also hibernate in winter and
during thaws Of several days duration may
frequently be seen flying about, even in Jan
uary or February. A close examination ola
heap of leaves or other rubbish will reveal
their hiding places. The well-known and
destructive cotton worm OF the Southern
States also hibernates as moth; but we have
never heard of the planters in those regions
cleaning up their cotton and corn fields for
the purpose of destroying this insect, al
though it might be done with great profit TO
themselves.
To those who have never made this subject
of insect life special stndy it may seem pre-
posterons to assert that Il small, delicate moth
or butterfly could Withstand the severe cold
OF one OF our Northern winters; but we can
assure thcI that there are many species
which do so and come forth IN the spring
unframed. ..2large and beautiful Antiopa
butterfly, villa may be seen flying about all
through the autumn months, hides away in
barns and other Outbuildngs remaining in
semi-torpid state during the winter
From ''"5c few hints we think Ctr farmers
may readily understand the importance of
ClcalI liz up tHc luDulsil sCatlcIcu ABOUT tncI
farms if they would keep down the insect
hosts which prey upon Vegetation. 1t may,
1t is true, be urged that in burning up our in.
sect enemies we at the same time destroy our
friends, belonging to the same race, and this
is true to some extent; but in such cases it is
difficult to discriminate, and it is better that
all should go if We can gain something by a
wholesale slaughter, Let every farmer clean
up the waste places and burn the rubbish,
and we will venture the assertion that the re.
suits will be beneticlal-Neu York sur.