The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-11-15
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.


operations went awry, the force of which
many beginners will realize: "Thert
is nothing sure in farming but disap
pointmcnt." Although we have learned
much patience during our eight years o.
experiment and frequent failure, and We
have survived themany difficulties which
beset lis Mt the outset, We arc constantly
achieving some new surprise, and realiz
ing that the fund OF experimental know
lcgc that n farm supplies is not easily ex
hauStcd. Just as we had tlattered our
selves That We had gone through the
who'll list OF agricultural calamities, and
had nothing more to learn, we were
visited one tine day by cloud Of army
worms. Judging from the vigor and
the methodical industry with which they
have begun their operations, We shal
probably have OCCASION to remember
them MS long rs we live. Almost before
we knew Of their coming, five acres Of
oats which were in abonta week to have
been turned into hay (as soon MS the
kernel should develop its milk, was al
most black with them, and before We
cold get the moving machine through
the field, and the cropspread out to dry,
nearly every leaf had been eaten, and
only the heads anl stalks left. The next
morning another tribe were found nj
work Mt the edge Of patch of corn fod.
der, which was to have made us butter
in August and September, and was to
have given us good row Of stacks for
forage next winter. Oddly enough
(though perhaps this is the way with the
beast), they had confined their opera
tons to the first row Of corn, which was
rather well grown, but they had reduced
it to bare poles, ragged with the strings
OF the leaves, which had been too tough
for their use. Six hours Inter tho next
row had followed, and by the next morn.
ing the third was being assailed. We
then adopted the tactics of our neigh.
bors, learned during the previous i'll.
roads of this pest, before I came here to
live, and cut trench little way III
from the edge OF the sound corn, a good
spade deep, aud with steep sides. This
checked their advance. Our neighbors
Fay that this ditch, II watched, and kept
steep in the sides, will be eflectual that
the worms, in attempting to got out OF
it, divide their energies between pulling
themselves up and pulling their neigh.
bors down, and so keep themselves at
the bottom.
Potato BuRs md Grnsshoppcrs.
Mr.. F. D. Curtis, Of Saratoga county,
New York, in report to the American
farmers club, said TINT the potato bug
had ceased to trouble tho Western
farmers. The insect had started in the
Rocky mountains md travelled eastward
They were now very plentiful in New
Jersey, but he had encountered mono OF
them III his travels through Ohio, Iii.
nois, and the country beyond. In their
migrations in tho eastern direction they
had reached tho Atlantic ocean, and lie
thought that there WINS reason TO believe
that Eastern farmers would be soon rid
of them. Speaking Of grasshoppers, he
said that they were bred in the North.
west and along the Rocky mountains.
That country was well suited TO their
production, being dry. They could not
live III Il wet climate. In his visit 10 tho
West he first met grasshoppers in vast
quantities in Iowa. In the region Of
Omaha he found that they had been
there in the spring. A great portion OF
the corn crop had been eaten there in
the spring by grasshoppers Matched
from the eggs deposited in previous
SeAson. This crop OF corn had been
destroyed so early in the season, how.
ever, that the farmers wero enabled to
raise another. In Nebraska one-fiftll of
the crop had been destroyed, but the
crops would BIO large there this year on
account OF the increase Of acreage under
cultivation. In Colorado and New
Mexico he found that tho grasshoppers
had destroyed the greater part Of the
vegetables, and fifty miles south Of
Cheyenne md north of Greeley they
We're very plentiful. They visited the
latter place this spring. Tho course
Travelled by the grasshoppcrs was north
easterly. There was something to be
thankful for in The fact that there were
two parasites (worms) which preyed
upon the grasshoppersand might eventu-
ally exterminate them. Ono of the par
nsites grew under the insects wings, and
rendered it finally 20 weak and inert that
it dropped to the ground. The other
parasite grew in the grasshopper's body,
and in time destroyed it.
Medical Hints.
POPULAR REMEDY FOR SITTING OF
decentralization OF red roses, five
ounces and half syrup OF peoples,
half m ounce; diluted sulphuric acid,
twenty drops. Mix. One or two tea
spoonfuls four times q day.
SuSDuRS AND FKEcKLEs.-To remove
these use the following lotion: Mix two
ounces OF rcctitled spirits OF wine, add
two teaspoonfuls of muriatic acid, with
one pound and half of distilled water.
To STRENGTHEN THE HA1R.-Sweet
olive oil, three ounces; oil of lavender,
one dr0chm. Apply morning md even
ing TO those parts where tho hair is thin,
in consequence Of deficiency Of mois.
ture i'll the skin.
GoUT CoEDIAL.-Rhubarh, SIENNA and
corinnder seed, sweet fennel seed and
c0chncal, Of each, two ounces; liQuorice
root and saffron, Of each, one ounce ;
raisins. two pounds and half; rectiiied
spirits of wine, two gallons; digest for
fourteen dnys. A dose is one table
spoonful to half MI ounce.
A STIMULATING WASH FOR SLUGGISH
SoREs.-In half pint OF lime water put
.1fnu1,tSr nj snInYnnl. nN,1 L.,