Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-09-17
AGRICULTURE.

INJURIOUS INsECTs.-It is now the
season when the insects which prey on
fruit trees are most destructive, and re-
quire the closest attention. Eternal
vigilance" will be the ''price" of sue
cessful contention with these tiny foes.
The tent caterpillar and the canker
worm prey on the foliage OF apple and
cherry trees. The apple-worm moth
laws its eggs in the calyx of the young
fruit, and the grub, as soon as Ii is hatch
ed, cuts its way to the core, causing the
fruit to ripen prematurely. In some
instances the worm continues in the
fruit without causing any apparent dam
acc. and it is only when the apple Is be-
ing eaten or cut up that the tenant
makes its appearance. The Spitzenburs
seems to be particular favorite with
this destructive insect, for we lind Il
great deal of this fruit wormy. a
great many of the moths may be got rid
of by building fires in the orchard at
night. They will be attracted by the
light, fly into the blaze and be destroy
ed. Some persons plice lamp In
the centre of tub of water; the light
attracts the moths, they fly against the
lamp. fall into the water and are
drowned. The gooseberry and currant
caterpillars begin their work of destruc-
ton as soon as the leaves are fully de-
yeloped. The gooseberry caterpillar is
the larva of species of saw-fly which
lays its eggs on the ribs on the back OF
the leaves. and as soon as the young
worms are hatched they commenc prey
ing on the leaves, eating their way in
to them. Their presence may be de-
tected by the appearance of numerous
small holes, like pin-holes in the leaf,
and, as a whole brood are, in this early
stage, confined to one leaf. they can be
easily destroyed by picking OFF the
leaf and tramping on it. Bark lice are
very injurious to fruit trees, as they
find shelter under the bark, through
the crevices of which they prey on the
sap, and iniure the vigor of the trees.
They may be destroyed by wash of
whale-Oil soapsudS, or a solution of pot
ash. Common soapsuds have been
used against them with success. The
stems of all fruit trees cannot be too
frequently washed, is by this means
old dead bark, which affords hiding
place to many noXious insects, will be
removed. as well As moss and fungi
which absorb the juices and consequent
ly hasten the decay of the tree. The
flea-beetle, better known as the black
bug or turnip-fly, is very destructive to
the seed leaves of turnips, cab5ages,
cauliflower, radishes, melons. eucum-
bers, etc. Ii is identical, or nearly so,
with the turnip-fy, (Haltied memorm)
of Europe, which commits such depre-
dations on the tCrnip fields of Great
Britain and Ireland, France and Ger
many. These ilea-beetles lie torpid
during the winter in heaps of rubbish,
under stones, and clefts of the bark of
trees, and in chinks of walls. They
lay their eggs in the spring, on the
leaves of the plants on which they feed,
and as soon as they are hatched the
Young grubS burrow into the leaves,
feeding on them, and forming in them
little cells, in which they undergo |
their transformations. Several brOodS |
are produced during the summer, so |
there is a constant succession of these |
pests ali through the season. \ solution |
Of lime has been found very useful in |
the rayages of these insects, |
but better plan il the pulveriZation |
If the soil, in order to close up all chinks |
where they can hide, and the applica- |
ion of abundance of well rotted man |
are, 10 force the plants into the rough |
caves, as, when they reach this stage /
If growth, the bugs leave them to seek |
enderer food, Chickens are very efli-
'ient destroyers of these insects.
GARGET.-An inquirer asks attention
o the case of a Jersey heifer. which,
previously in excellent health, was
Ound one evening with udder badly
wollen and quite feverish; refused her
eed of meal, and gave only three or
our gills of milk instead of the usual
Ibera mess. Several days treatment
With salts, ointment, poultices, etc., re-
uccd swelling, but the milk in the
hree affected quarters of the udde-
ontinues thick and creamy, that from
he other teat Is as good as ever She
ad no water except morning and night
n the way TO and from pasture, which
vas good and shaded. Should she be
egularly milked from all teats, or dried
II, and what IS the prospect for her
after calving? This is
lear case of garget, and was induced
y the use of meal in connection with
.oing without water during the day.
lad he meal been omitted. or water
zee plentifully supplied, the garget
would probably not have occurred. 1t
vas the pain Occasioned by the conges-
ion and swelling which stopped the
low of milk, that occasIoned the loss
4 appetite. As each quarter of the /
idder is disconnected with the others
Is not strange that one or more quar-
ers should be affected and another not.
The treatment was well adapted to the
ase, the effects of which will not be
ikely to last beyond the next parturi-
ION, though such cases sometimes do. |,
There will be no advantage in milking
he three quarters any Oftener than re-
Iulred to prevent any increase OF swell
ing and Inflammation. which must be
autiously guarded against. The milk
ng of the sound teat had better be con-
inued It'll near the next time of COM
ng in. The meal had better be omitted
ma some laxative food like bran or
oots used in Its place. aud full supply
ii water will be of the first importance.
salt should also be supplied ad libitum.
10 four parts of salt add one of sulphur
md one of unleached wood ashes, if
hey are at hand. and if not, add little
saltpetre in their place. The
iiet and treatment should be such as
o counteract any tendency TO inflamma-
ion or swelling, otherwise suppuration
nay result, which, when it occurs in
uch cases, is often impossible to heal.
\ Nirginian writes in praise OF corn,
lot only as the best food tor laboring
men, but for domestic animals of all |,
,inds. He states that the usual rations
or negro laborer, for a week. is one
md half pecks of corn, three pounds of
Dacon AID a little molasses. They
hrive on it and are healthy and strong
southern horses and mules, as a rule,
ave only corn for grain, but they live
onger and do more work than North
rn horses that feed on oats. In this
,art of the country dogs are fed al
most exclusively on cOrnmeal, and they
lot unfrequently eat corn in the ear,
Ia q. "a. /