The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-05-01
AGRICULTURAL.


err.
The Cabbage Worn.
A correspondent of the Farmer and
Fruit Grocer thus disposes of the cabbage
worm: The cabbage worm, the scourge Of
northern and eastern kitchen gardeners
and truck-patch men, for the last four or
i've years, has been gradually moving over
the country, and his march westward has
Just reached this country. At any rate !
was FIRST made aware Of his presence by Its
depl edations on my cabbage patch, and
first saw the millers, or butterflies, which
lay the egg, producing the worm, early
the present week. The miller is an inno-
cent enough looking white butterfly, hav-
ing a spread of wings of ABOUT two inches,
and the worm Is q tender green thing. of
from third to full inch long according
to growth. When the millers are abund
ant, they flutter in swarms over cabbage
patches, and the worms are voracious
feeders. But the latter are easily killed,
hot water at temperature Of l25 degrees
doing the business effectually. For my
self 1 attacked with soap suds, made in
the following way: To one quart Of soap.
stir and mix thoroughly. Then to buck
ct Of water (cistern or soft water is prefer
able) add one-third of the soap. make a
suds and sprinkle 80 as TO wet each cab
bage thoroughly. Repeat the operation
every morning till the worms are de-
stroyed. Of these Pref. Lazcuby, of Cor
nell University, says: After numerous
experiments and very careful trials. we
can commend the following remedies.
knowing them to be safe, cheap and effec-
tive: First, solution of one pound OF
whale-oil soap in about six gallons Of wa
ter, applied two or three times during the
season; second, tar water-prepared by
placing few quarts into barrel of wa
ter, and applying this mixturetw or three
times during the season." Having no
whale-oil soap or tar at command. used
the suds, as prepared above. and so far
with good results. The worm must be de-
stroyed, because when the cabbages.
which have only been slightly eaten by it.
come to be dressed for cooking. they will
be found to be fouled past decency for
eating.
Tho Blackberry.
II is hoped that the few statements
which made in your columns concerning
the medicinal excellence and the table
luxury of the blackberry will awaken in
some an inquiry as to its culture. The
following is not assumed as all tina. might
be said on this subject, or as entirely new
to many, but as the essential things for
the cultivation Of this fruit.
l. Let the soil be good corn ground, SO
located as to be protected from the rough
est winds Of winter to prevent breaking
down of canes.
2. Plant the rows seven feet apart. an
the plants or roots should be placed three
feet apart in the row.
B. Take care Of them as you would any
thing else worth having. Do not put
them by the side of fence where they
would be encroached upon by grass and
weeds. Hoe them as corn, and they will
produce a crop three times the value Of
corn.
4. Top them in season. That is, when
the young canes have grown four feet
high, cut, or pinch the tender top off. Do
not wait until one or two feet must be
clipped, for all that is cut off Is so much
loss from the root. Save that for the lat
erals or lunches which will grow out OF
the cane as soon as topped, if done in sea
son.
). Cut away the old canes in the spring.
or in autumn; they fertilize the ground
with leaves and support the young canes
in winter winds. They need no stakes, /.
are kind too weakly wooded.
6. Let no more than three canes grow
In hill, and two canes are better than
three. After you have full supply of
canes producing. let no more grow. With
a sharp hoe cut them down as fast as they
come up, and thus you will throw all the
nourishnent from the roots into their
fruit canes.
Z. If you plant field. or a single row,
let the branches in the row meet each
other. The fruit needs the amount of
foliage thus obtained. In other words, do
not cultivate them in hills, for the sake of
cross cultivation. Use the cultivator
freely between the rows, seven feet apart.
6. Before planting 6eld Of blackber-
ries be sure Of near and ready market;
and of an ample supply Of ready pickers.
9. You can not buy blackberries 20 lux
urious and healthy in the market as you
can have them in your field or garden, for
fruit fully ripe is never marketable.
10. Search the columns Of agricultural
and fruit papers for the variety of black
berry that will suit you best, for that Is
the kind you will take the best care Of
Gas-far and Curculio Again.
In relation TO destroying curculio. will
say that have had good success with gas
tar. better than with sheets and jarring.
in preventing the depredations Of the cur