Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-09-22


fifth, or 500, ,0OO, 900, is lost, according
to the American Naturalist, from the at
tacks of injurious plants and animals.
A single campaign Of the army worm
cost the farmers of Eastern Massachu-
sets $3.50 900 worth of grass. Missouri
alone loses from fifteen to twenty mil
lion dollars annually from insect depre-
dations. The annual damage to the ap-
pie and pear crop from the codling moth
amounts to several million dollars, and
the work of the curculio is equally
costly. A partial remedy is to be found
in close study of insect habits, with a
view to ascertaining what insects there
are which hold the depredators in
check and destroy them. 1t is hardly
possible to estimate the havoc annually
wrought by the grasshopper and the
potato beetle, for example; and any
bird or insect which would reduce such
pests would be substantial benefactor
to the farmer. As to the ''injurious
plants,'' or in the common yernacular,
weeds, the only method that is feasible
is to kill them at their very termination
by means of proper agricultural ma
chimes. The Country Gentleman affirns
that the annual growth of weeds in this
dilOuHis tVh1s
or enough to load a compact train of
wagons long enough to span the globe.
Precisely how the Country Gentleman ar
rives at this very definite estimate we
are at loss to determine; but it would
certainly be better for the farmer if the
weeds were actually loaded into the
compact train Of wagons" referred to,
rather than to have them remain to
Il rrnuQl-
come legacy of literally sOwn seed for
future seasons. Farmers have only to
consult their own experience TO realize
The extent to which the depredations of
weeds and insects are carried, and any
measures which tend to even partial exc
tirpation of these pests are worth the
trying.
Ripeninq Pears.-Out OF more tnan a
thousand varieties of pears which 1T has
been nv fortune or misfortune to culti-
vate and handle in my time, have yet
to find one which was not better in
quality when ripened off the tree than
on it. The chemical changes which
take place i'm the fruit during what is
termed ripening appear to he more per-
feet if retarded than when fastened,
hence the benefits of gathering early
and placing where the process will pro-
ceed slowly. We have many varieties
which, if allowed TO ripen on the tree,
have a coarse, gritty flesh, but become
mellowed and sOftened, or as the pOmOl-
ogist would say, ''buttery," when
ripened i'm the house.
| For winter sorts, like the Vicar of
Wakefield, Laurence. and Duchesse, IT
Is an excellent plan to wrap each speci-
men i'm tissue paper when packed away
| for ones own use. By an occasional
examination OF the top layer, the con-
dition may readily be determined, and
when ripening is desired, or delay is
no longer safe, The specimens, or those
wanted for immediate use, should be
taken into "A warm roOm-for instance
the kitchen closet-but still kept in Il
tight drawer or box. Aweek in such
position will increase the sugar in al
most any variety, perhaps fifty per
cent. / know that some of our pomol-
Cgists would smile at the Vicar of
Wakefield pear being a good dessert
variety; but if they will start the we'll
grown specimens i'm the fall, keep them
in cool place until January, or even
later, then ripen them up in warm
room slowly, they might find occasion
to change their minds In regard to quail
ity. But if ripened hastily it is poor
enough and valuable only for cooking,
and the same may be said of many other
popular sOrts--Noore's Rarai Nee
| Yorker.
CaJJaaes as Market Cnp.-The profits
from cabbage often run from $500 TO
$500 per acre i'm the neighbOrhood of
large cities and manufacturing towns.
The New Albany. Ind, Ledger says that
the extent of cabbage culture near that
place is extending widely. and speaks
as follows of its culture: "fhe average
size of the cabbage field Of each is four
acres-few cultivating less-and many
cultivating as high as five acres. At
| 600 cabbages per acre, each man
would cultivate 1900 heads. On the
bottom between this city and Bridge
port there are about fifty-five cabbage
| fields of the size named, employing as
cultivatOrs. in one capacity or another,
400 persons. Upon each of these fifty
| five fields an average crop of ", 600 cab
bages is produced, making the total
crop upon the entire bottom between
New Albany and Bridgeport 1900, 900
head-an immense product for 200 acres
of land, about the amount cultivated i'm
the vegetable. This immense crop of
cabbages is nearly all shipped South.
Most of it goes directly to the city of
New Orleans. Shippers purchase cab
bages of the farmers by the barrel.
Each barrel contains from twelve 10
twenty-five heads, as to size. The
average price during the season has
been ~ per barrel. ."-Cinciandt Gazette.
Feed Dry Coi-s Corn .KSdi.-Iast sea-
son, 1872 the hay crop was short ia this
section. so much so that 1t was necessary
to reduce our stock. commenced in
November to feed each COW one pint of
meal per day. Some might think that was
too small quantity TO result in any
good, but my experience is otherwise.
When my cows became new milch
they all did finely. l had no trouble
with them. l was so pleased with the
results that said that if l had double
the hay my stock required, l should
feed meal every winter in small quanti-
ties.
1t is a good idea for farmer to look
over his stock. and if one or more is not
doing as well as the others, feed them
little better, and do not forgot to salt
them; they require salt, if it is winter,
to thrive and do well.-Ne,c York Times.
Keeping Winter APPles.-A member of
the Michigan Pathological Society
stated, at late Adrian meeting, that
he was very successful i'm keeping
winter apples, and had secured sound,
fresh fruit in May, by the following
treatment; He picks the fruit in OctO-
Der, and places it in heaps in the orch
ard and covers them with hay, These |
heaps remain untouched till December,
the slight moisture of the earth and the |
few inches of hay preventing any in
jury to the apples, even during sharp |
freezes. They are then assorted and |
packed i'm barrels, which after heading |
up, are placed in a cold cellar, which is
kept at temperature of about 32 |
degrees, and if it should happen to be a |
few degrees lower for short time, the
protection of the barrels will prevent |
any injury. They come out sound ih |