The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-07-01
Farm and Home.
AND USEFUL DEPORTATION.
The Farmers Pests.

The Farmers Pests.
The Cut Worm.-There is scarce
ly any land free from the wire-worm
or any crop that is not subject to
their voracity. They occur wher-
ever grass will grow. being particu
Iarly harbored among clover roots,
and are always prevalent in mead
ow and pasture lands, seeming to
thrive best in the vicinity of woods
and swamps Young oats, wheat,
rye and barley suffer much from
being partially or entirely cut off
below the surface; cabbages and
many root crops are also injured;
turnips, perhaps, more than any
other, as they are cut off when
young and have the roots badly
eaten into when larger. In gar
dens they are very destructive. 1t
appears that Indian corn is the
greatest sufferer, especially when it
is the first crop planted in new
land, or when the season is cold,
wet and late. Upward of thirty
have been planted IN a single hill.
and nearly the whole of the seed
planted is some times destroyed.
One of the most successful RENE
dies on a large scale is a mixture
consisting of two parts of quick
lime, three parts of SCOT and one
part Of coarse or refuse salt. This
is used as a top dressing, being ap-
piled Immediately after compound
ing, and should be well rolled in.
1t has the advantage of being per
fectly harmless to The crops; indeed,
it is a most excellent and powerful
fertilizer rs well as destroyer of
all kinds of insects and many weeds.
Refuse from gas works, nitrate of
soda, rape cake and chloride of
lime, mixed sud spread with man
ure, are highly recommended, and
the sowing of sods-ash or guiana
broadcast when planting. A previ
Gus crop of white mustard Is claim
ed to clear the land of them; pre-
sumably starving out, for the roots
of the mustard are extremely acid
and occupy the soil to the exclus-
ion of any more nutritious ones
A close grazing with sheep seems
beneficial when pastures are badly
infested. The same result is also
obtained by compacting the surface
with heavy rollers Exchange.
The Squash Maggot.-The fly
which lays the eggs for the above
mentioned maggot makes its ap
pearance and lays its eggs early in
the season. If the squashes are
planted rather late, from the first to
the middle of June, the maggot flies
will have laid their eggs in other
places before the squashes come
up. This is probably the surest
way to prevent injury from these
and squashes planted by
the middle OF June will be quite |
sure to mature a crop. Another
method is to put q shovelful of
coal ashes on and about the hill. |
This was tried with apparent sue
cess last year, and it is thought TO |
be a good preventive for these
Apple Tree Borer.-Mr. S. Miller
states in the Rural World that last |
spring ne wrapped thirty young APP
Die trees with common newspapers,
which extend from a few inches IN
lergrouDd to foot above. For
applying this wrapping the soil was
removed from about the base of
he stem, and cord passed around
The top of the paper and half way
Town. The replaced soil held the
paper at the bottom. At the end
IF the season the trees were exam
ned and not borer found in them.
A few rods from these trees were
others, not thus protected, all of
which were infested with borers,
md some nearly ruined by them.
The Cabbage Worm.-After sew
,ral years trial we find handpick-
ne, when the plants are young, and
lot water after the head is formed,
he easiest, safest and most effectu
Il remedy for the green cabbage
worm. Ii active children are paid
small sum per hundred, early in
he season they are glad to earn a
title money, and will usually make
thorough work, especially if the
)rice is doubled as the insects be-
come scarce. When the heads are
,ormed a little practice will enable
he operator to judge how sudden
lash of the hot water from the wa
ering pot is necessary to prevent
injury to the leaves. Sometimes
he edges of the leaves-are scorch-
ID but the head, being solid is
lot easily harmed.