The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-10-02
One Of u pastoral friends On. B.

One Of our pastoral friends IN. B.
Pastoral in this connection is a bad pun
which none but the clergy will understand
comes to the defence of DR.. Ledoux's Ex-
detrimental Station. We give it as an off
set to a critical letter in our last number.
What is wanted is to get at the real facts.
the entire truth. The Department of Agri-
culture is a costly institution, and unless it
can be demonstrated to return at least the
prime cost, say $4,000 a year, it ought to
be abolished, or amended. Remember,
this heavy outlay goes on year after year.
If the cost were only twenty thousand dollars
for one or two years, it might be dismissed
as a justifable experiment. But three years
have already nearly passed, and with scarce
ly pcrceptible results. Now, the $50, 600,
already spent, might have been of very great
benefit if giren to the public schools. The
farmers as a rule derive more benefit from
free public schools than any other class, be
cause they comprise two thirds of our popu-
lation; while in the towns the bulk of the
citizens send their children to subscription
schools. Hence, in an agricultural State
like North Carolina, (which as We showed
two weeks ago spends less for free schools,
per scholar, than any State. or eren buck
goods territory, in all the Union,) everything
ought to be made to give way to the end of
keeping open the public schools, with com
petent teachers, from New Years day to
Christmas following.
Rs~ How would it do, therefore, to urge
the Legislature to abolish the Agricultural
and Geological Bureaux, (which would save,
say, tUelre thousand dollars n yeur, and let
the Agricultural Fertilizer Station be run as
a branch of the University, under the gen
eral direction of the Governor, and Presi-
lopt Roftoac E.ch (NnrnpiCCIonar NNorth
could go on with his work or Col. Polk
might be assigned to that work, with a sal
airy of 81, 900. Numbers Of competent men
are working for that salary, or less, in all
parts of the State.
By this arrangement the farmers would
hare oil the udrnntoge Of the Fertilizer Sta
ton, and the Fish Httching. mitho"t erea
one hdT the present expense. And the
twelve thousand dollars thus saved, might
be devoted to keeping open the free schools
for the education of farmers ch'ldrea
What do our farmer friends think of 1t?
To DESTROY INsECTs-The Boston .Jomt-
nal of Chemistry says that hot alum water
is a recent suggestion as an insecticldc. 1t
will destroy red and black ants, cockroach-
es, spiders, chinch bugs, and all the crawl
ing pests which infest our houses. Take
two pounds Of alum and dissolve 1t In
three or four quarts OF boiling water; let it
stand on the fire until the alum disappears;
then apply it with a brush, while nearly
boiling hot, to every joint and crevlce IN
your closets, bedsteads. pantry shelves,
and the like. Brush the %crevices IN the
door of the skirting or mopboards, II you
suspect that they harbor vermin. II: IN
whitewashing a ceiling. plenty of alum is
added to the lime, it will also serve to keep
insects at a distance. Cockroaches VIII
flee the paint which has been washed In
cool alum water. Sugar barrels and boxes
car be freed from ants by drawing a vide
chalk mark just round the edge OF the top
of them. The mark must be unbroken or
they will creep over it; but a continuous
chalk mark, half an inch wide. will set
their depredations at naught. Powdered
alum or borax will keep the chinch bug at
a respectful distance, and travellers should
always carry a package of it in their hand
bags to scatter over and under the pillow
in places where they have reason 10 sus-
poet the presence of such bed-tellows.