The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-06-29
WHOLE NO 1I6I
Correspondence Of The True Northerner.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, June 26.

correspondence OF Ihe True Northernef.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, June 26.
Since my last we have had our vaca-
tion, during which time your establish
ment burned and | have since kept 81
lent.
The drought in the early part of the
season has been followed BY about two
weeks of remarkably good weather for
vegetable growth, and crops seem to
have taken advantage If it, and the
farmers, then exceedingly down in the
mouth, are feeling better with the pros
poets of good harvest.
The college believes that farmers usu-
ally let their grass stand too long, there
by ipjuring the quality Of the hay and
causing needless exhaustion of the
soll. The hay here is nearly all se-
cured, although, as l believe from close
observation TO. two years, the seasons
here are six days later than in Van Bu-
ren county Wheat will not be full
crop, though just how much Of failure
there will be mus: depend on the nature
of the weather from now until harvest.
Corn is nearly knee high 70 a man and
looks rather ashamed Of It's tardiness
There will be no crop Of apples on the
farm, but small fruit is exceedingly
abundant. Strawberries are bringing
only six cents, instead. Of twelve and-a.
half as last year.
The work on the new building is be
ing executed as fast as the builder thinks
safe, and allow j. time TO settle into
shape 1t IS expected to be ready TOR
occupancy in September.
Prof. Cook called the attention of the
class in entomology to the wheat midge
and Hessian fy-describing their struc-
ture, habits and destructiveDess. The
first, he says, lays its eggs in the berry
and destroys by absorbing the juices in
stead of eating the berry. The latter
lays its eggs on the stalk and absorbs
the juices from it, thereby rendering it
incapable Of producing the berry. He
is very much interested to know about
them, and which it IS that is doing 30
much damage in our part of the State
From what he knows of the insect at
work there he thinks it is the Hessian
fly, which was so destructive in 1862 in
this State. He accounts for tbeir peri
odical appearance by saying that with
them come their enemies, and they are
killed. Their enemies then having no
food, die, and soon the fly returns, but
it is probable that there are some every
year.
Prof. Ingersol had for his subject
last Wednesday afternoon, for his regu-
lar lecture, "a Plea for the Dairy"
Prof. Beal, who has been travelling
through the east for few days has
made large collection of the different
seed companies seeds, which he is Civ.
ing a trial as to their quality by sowing
fifty of each kind, from each of the diff
ferent houses by themselves, under the
same conditions as near as possible, that
he may Judge of the respective values OF
the seeds sent out by different compa-
nies and they will Tlso be- tried beside
some raised here that he knows to be
good. Great good may result from this
from the fact that nearly half the seeds
sent out il fancy labslsd packages are
good for nothing.
Prof Guield has retagael from SO.
Haven, where be attended the meeting
of the State Pomological Society. He
reports . very Instructive and interest
Ing meeting, aud is well pleased with
the, people, the place, and especially add
mires their excellent works in the raising
of fruits. He regrets that no paper in
the county had a reporter there.
President Abbott, who has been tor
the last few weeks at Clifton Springs,
N. Y, for his health, is reported much
worse, and serious results are apprehend-
ed. G. e. B.