The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-09-02


Academy of Science, that Professor Ri
ley exhibited specimens of worm that
was Just at this time devastating the
wheat fields of parts of Kansas, and
particularly of Dickinson county. It
does not eat the blades, but attacks the
heads. Specimens had been sent to him
last week by John w. Robson, of Cheev-
er, but in transit they had all eaten out
and escaped from the box in which they
were inclosed. On the way, however,
they had moulted, and from the heads
alone Professor Riley had determined
the species to be the LeMcania albiiinea,
though the insect had never before been
reported as injurious from the West.
Other specimens, just from Professor F.
H. Snow. of the State University at
Lawrence, and from Mr.. John Davis.
editor of the Tribune, at Junction City,
proved the correctness of the determine
ton. The species is generically allied to
the army worm, and may be pop
ularly called the wheat head caterpillar.
As it never till lately attracted unusual
attention, too little was yet known Of its
habits to warrant any suggestion as to
the best mode of destroying it.-Rm'al
Press.
DUST BATHS FOR PoULTRY.-Cleanli
ness is important in fowl houses, for
experience shows that poultry are unfa-
vorably effected by the emanation from
filthy quarters, and, besides working in
places where roosts and floors are COW
cred with the droppings, is decidedly
unpleasant. Dry earth in the form of
powder, scattered everywhere, will alb
sorb the bad odors, giving wholesome
atmosphere to the henhouse, and at the
same time preserve the manure in the
least offensive condition. Besides these
purposes, O box of dry earth should be
kept in q convenient corner of every fowl
house for the fowls to roll in. Dust
from the highways is the most conve-
nient. Replace the same by an equal
quantity of good gravel, and the public
will be the gamer.
WooD ASHES AS A Potash FRRTIL-
IzBR.-From an elaborate investigation
of the composition of wood ashes from
household fire, by Professor Storer, it
appears that these contain, unleached
and dry, about 81 per cent of potash,
somewhat more than the lowest grades
of German potash salts. Either leached
or unleached, the dry ashes contain 2
per cent of phosphorio acid, Of which
mono occurs in the German salts. In
Storer's field experiments, wood ashes
(unleached) applied in large quantities
brought larger yields of barley, beans
and rutabagas than farmyard manure,
city stable manure, or any single potash
salt, as sulphate, carbonate, or even nj
trate.
Nox1ous WERD.-A weed has been
discovered in Shasta valley and else
where, which is doing q great deal of
injury to alfalfa. It entwines itself
around the stalks and goes from ono
point to another rapidly, killing all the
plant above where it wraps itself. It
clings fast and tight to the plant wher-
ever it attaches itself, and is Of . para
site nature, and apparently hos no
roots. Its color is yellow. Whatever
it is, it is bound to cause q great deal of
trouble to farmers ynd others, if q rem
edy for it is not discovered.
SMALL FARMS. The Semi Tropical
says: "Small farms make near neigh
bors; they make good roads; they make
plenty of good schools and churches;
there is more money made in proportion
to the labor; everything is kept neat;
less wages have to be paid for help; less
time is wasted; more is raised to the
acre; besides it is titled better; there is
no watch of hired help; the mind is not
kept in a worry, stew and fret all the
time"
UNLESS great care is used, butter is
always of different colors before the first
working latter salting). Some portions
will have little or no salt, and be of
lighter color, and the dairy woman
should work so as to mix these portions
with that thoroughly sailed, or she will
have streaky rolls or tubs of butter. A
very little care when working the Sec
ond time will prevent this result.-Prac-
tica! Flumer.
THR following recipe for cement is
one of the best for the farm and house-
hold: Take four parts gum arabic, three
parts starch and one part sugar. Re-
duce to q fine powder and mix well.
The powder should be kept in we'll
corked bottle, and when required for
use mix O little of the powder with
water. to every ounce of which ten drops
of elycerine have been added.
IHAvR found out one thing about po-
tatoes that you perhaps don't know, that
is. potatoes need thinning to insure
good, early. marketable crop. At the
second hoeing you pull out all the tops
except from one to four, taking the small
and weakly ones, and you will see the
benefit of it.-Ma;ne Farmer.
The New England Farmer says there
are thirty species of insects which SUBJ
sist on garden vegetables. The grape
vine has about fifty insect enemies; the