Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-04-26
FARM, GARDEN ANDIIOusEsSLD.

"A ISM VA fSREN n NED AOlSEEADLD.
BIRDS AND INSECTS Man will search for
final causes, and the grssshopper plague of the
West has set many inquirers On discovering
some reason for the gre increase lately found
in the insects which attack the crows of this
country both east and west Of the MissisSiuui.
The problem seems, to- to be at least pnrtly
sol Ied 10y the decrease OF the insect eating birds
Loo ,ing abroad Tor parallel instances, there is
question of the great value set on birds rs in
sect Xii els by the English frrmer; the French
people oLnd out their value, when after the
revolution, the right OF shooting became COM
on To all, and there followcdit period Of great
dirlinuton of bi. ds of all characters and q cor
respo ding increase OF insect pests, insomuch
that legislation has been ca'leI on To limit the
killing Ut birds, with benefit to crops univer-
snl.y seen and denied by none. In Australia
like Use well is this theory accepted that large
sums have been expended IT. the importation
from Eng md of insect eating birds to protect
! t. C veg table crops. In Germany the same g,n
eral facts arc acknowledged, and some Germans
| in the Mississippi Valley have now organized
bird clubs Tor the purpose Of importing and nat
| ura!iZlng German birds, and that not for their
songs but for their appettes. The English spar
row, again. in New York first, and then in tn:
Middle States, was brought here TO fight certain
| insects and has DESTROYED them. fulfilling his
! task.
70 return to the Western States, where for
ten or Llt,cn years past, following tho extension
| of tn" railroads t ere has been p.odlglou:
| slaughter OF birds, from turkeys and grouse 10
the smallest sparrow. HeLce comes the Increase
of grn>shorpcrS, argues the thoughtful, and Mt
CUES we'll. ct, 20 come nearer nome, We ali IN
general terms acih owedge the evil lately seen
IN all the RECONSTRUCTED States from the universal
killing Of the birds. Every freedmen has gua,
and every freednaIs children shoot all the
sparrows, blue birds, robins wrens and wood
| I.rk tbn;-n find N
sect life yearly grows upon Us, and we pay FOL
every dead bird the product Of our farmers
toll.-NorJotk Tirginian.
| WuITEwAsHISG.-Al the GU. hu;lding
should have q good Coating Of this purifying ap
plcation. Nothing contributes moro to th'
cleanliness and hca!th;unes$ of stables pig pens
sheep folds. and poultry houses than this wash
1t is made by Stacking peck o! lime in tub
and adding two ounces OF glue tnorouEh!y dis
solved in boiling water, and stirring botll IN as
much water reduces them u consistency
which viii admit OF applying them with brush
Here Is u recipe highly Recommended for ,
wash for inside work, but we have never used
it, and 90 no. kuow its origin. 1t is probably
worth IL trial
White chalk is the best substitute tor lime rs
o wash. \ very fine and brilliant whitewasl
preparation Of chalk Is called the Paris White. >
This we buy ~ the paint +t.'re for cts. pound
retail For each IT. pounds Of Paris White ",
procure half pound Of the white Transparent
! glue c,sting 30 cents. (aity cents pountj TIL,
sixteen pounds Of Paris White i: about as lnlcl
us q person will use IN Il day. 1t Is prepared a
follows The glue Is covered with cold water II
night, and III the morning Is carefully heated
without scurchiDg, unit! di solved. The Parl
White is stirred IN with hot w ter to give it th'
proper mix consistency for applying TO walls
and the dissolved glue is then added and tho
roughly mixed 1t is then applied with brusi
like the common lime whllewash. Except OF
very dark and smoky walls, single coat Is sut
hcent. 1t is nearly equal in briiancy to ''zH
white lar more expensive article
SEED POTATOES An old Maine farmer il
giving hi; idea Of seed potatoes Says that We US
too ripe seed when we propagate from tubcr
that have lain in the ground until dead ripe
He says that plants that are propagated by III
bcrs require different treatment from those pro
pagalcd by seeds Our corn and grains that w
use for seed we like u have stand little lungc
than the main crop, and become perfectly ma
turcd. On the same principle our corn is Sc
lccted from the ripest, best developed ears anC
kernels.
But potatoes for seed should be dug and place,
in Il cool, dark cellar. just Ms soon ne maJort,
OF them will slightly crack open in boiling
This Is most invariably while tho tops are ye
green and growing fast Tho tuberS are then In
u more vigorous state. DscunnccL then from
the parent stalk st that time and they retain
their vig"r.
Instead OF dctcrioratng as most of US kno"
the older sorts have, their vitality is increased
and they yield better, with less tendency To rot
a long n,,o rs lSl3 and subsequently, "bserva.
ton led him t. make som" experiments to t"s
the theory, and nc finds it the proper course t.
pursue.
Is it not often that the late planted potstnc
are better Tor seed than those planted early
The lutcn..ss OF their painting probably prevent:
| % above
would b. in force.