Connecticut western news., 1878-06-20
FARM AND GARDEN.
THE TIME TO MAKE PORK.


 A writer on live stock reminds farmers that warm weather is the time to make pork. He aays " Remember this fact and begin feeding early. Hogs that are to be marketed this year ought now to be in fair condition, and should be fed unsparingly from this time on until they are ready for the market. The great mass of Western farmers rely entirely upon our great staple-oorn-for fat tening food; and certainly there is noth- ing that equals itsfor this purpose. Wlth a large majority of feeders the growing crop is depended upon to fit the hogs now on hand for the market, and when this is the case they should begin just as soon as the corn is hard enough to be of service. But when there is sufficient quantity of old corn on hand, 1t will be found more profitable to continue it's use until the new crop is thoroughly ripened. If the hogs tire of it in it's hard, dry form, it will be found profitable to shell it from the. cob, and then soak it, say about twelve hours, before feeding, for few days, and then return to the dry corn.
 r-v.y CANKER woRM.f7I -
 Canker worms, said Dr. Trimble, gre much more difficult to manage as they hybernate in the ground, undergoing transformation there. Nature has fur nished an enemy to them in an ichneu- mon fly, which during some seasons entirely destroys them. He knew of no better remedy for this pest than the birds, many of which feed on the canke1 worm. Among the. kinds mentioned as specially serviceable in iridding trees oi these worms, are the cedar bird. ibobo- link, pine tree warbler, yellow bird and red capped warbler. < The male has wingsobut the female is wingless. II crawls up the trunk of the tree and de- posits its eggs. 1 's A member of the American Farmers Club believed in watching trees affected with canker- worms, and tearing out and breaking up the nests as soon as they make their appearance. The preventivef of bits of canvas or cotton felting, and bands of hay or straw saturated with coal or other tar or oil, and tied around the tree, he approves of. Although they do not always prevent the entire 1nis' chef they certainly modify it.
 SHEEP KILLED BY DOGS.
 I Dr. R. Hadden, in a paper read o1 dogs said that the United States agricul tural reports are not SC favorableto thil animal as are those in relation to mortal ity from hydrophobia. He regards fig ures presented by the last as giving lit tie cause for the excitement that ire fquently prevails in whole communities It has been estimated that the loss sus tained in one year from sheep killing by dogs was about 500,O00 head, and th' value to the grower $2, GOO, 900. Tn, writer does not think that the $losse from this cause annually grow any less and calls attention to the following facts These raids on the sheep are alway) made by the male canines, never by tn female and they invariably go in com pany with at least @ companion dog also the raids are preceded by an associa tion of neighboring dogs. Out of thes' associations the writer believes thu mischief springs, and recommends thu castration of the animal as a means o breaking up the disposition to stra, from home. He states emphatically tha it does not detract from the general use fitness of the animal, but makes him far more desirable possession. He als, recommends 1t on the ground that tn breed would in few years be greatl, improved, and that hydrophobia woul, be less likely to develop.
 THE TENT CATERPILLAR.
 Dr. Trimble said in the Farmers Clul that when he discovers tent caterpillar on apple trees he knows without an, further proof that the orchard belong to an inefficient farmer, as this pest i readily exterminated. The eggs, whiol are laid in clusters, can be seen durin, the winter and early spring, and nee, only to be crushed or removed to sta. all further trouble. The eggs ar matched about the time the leaves begil to bud, the insects first food being tn soft buds.
 A men Der continued the subject b
 saying that the bestremedy is to cut ol the small twigs holding the eggs durin the winter or very early in the sprin
 and burn them. If this is neglected, O some should escape, the tree should b : watched and as soon as the nest is dis covered, rubbed out with the hands, c swab prepared for the purpose. destroyed when the insects are small, is a light task, but if they are allowed t
 become large it is both laborious an dirty one.
 MT, Hudson approved of removin the eggs by cutting of and burning th small branches on which they are to b found. He breaks up the nests wit swabs dipped in spirits of turpentln. These pests grow rapidly, and whe numerous will in few days strip Ire of its foliage, thus destroying the whol crop of fruit. ,afaT ri =u.r..-r...- -
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