Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-12-01
AGlsICUI.Tt'RAi..


From Llnd and Water
The tide appears to be turning in favor
OF the cultivators of tine soil in the great
battle which they increasingly wage
against the ravages of multitude OF de- !
structive insect enemies. Too long were
these scourges viewed in the light of all
pcrnatural punishments, or the infections
of unappeasable fate. Yet the doctrine
that every living thing comes from an egg
or germ is proved to he us perfectly APP
plicable in this as in any other region of
biology. And now he would be bold
man who would assert, in the face of
facts, that some knowledge OF entomolo-
gy was undesirable for farmer. Science
and practice should go hand in hand The
middle-aged farmer in many cases proba-
bly, regrets that his education in chemis-
try, entomology, and botany wus 80 lin
tied, seeing that many of the facts which
experience, dearly bought has taught
him all within one or the other of those
Sciences And if he is wise he will en-
courage his sons and all who study farm
ing to acquire ms much of the sciences
bearing on agriculture as they can in their
youth, while not neglocting or under
valuing the practical detail and drudgcry
which build up the true farmer as distin-
guished from the amateur There can be
no final satisfaction for farmers in con
nection with the insects which damage
their crops, until every phase in their
life-histories is comprehendcd Our
knowledge of these must be derived from
two sources-the farmers who in various
localities and under various aspects meet
with the grubs, chrysalids, and full
grown insects. and the scientific cntomol-
oSist who eau compare and sift the ma
terial and information supplied to him.
To get at the trutl. before all things, it is
necessary to have accurate observations
an entire research may be vitiatcd by
carelcssness i'll the record of the first fact.
Young farmers should make II point of
cultlvating accuracy, and they will find
that their crops are the better for it. \
good habit pays for the trouble it costs to
form 1t, III many an unseen as well as per-
ccptible way. The pocket MOTEL book,
well used, should he an inscparuble COM
panlon OF the farmer who would know
what lie has really seen and be able to
give trustworthy particulars 10 others.
Not only the lifc-hstories OF injurious in-
sects must be studied, and their habits
asccrtained, but their relations to wealth
er and all external conditions must be ex-
plored. 1t is by no means the case that
cold kills and heat favors all insect life.
1t cannot be too much insisted on that
each form has its own peculiartius, and
until a sufficient number of facts have
been accumulated about each we cannot
be said to be i'll n sound position. The
relative amounts of moisture accompany
ing the heat or cold ldhaveimportant effects
on insect life. Wet in the form of heavy
rain appears to wash off or destroy many
grubs exposed on leaves, while damp
ground and damp grass favor and en-
courage other forms. As to the remedies
applicable to prevent the recurrence OF
insect plaques, or to check them speedily
when they do occur, it cannot be said that
We have advanced very far. Yet is unde-
niable that good aSriculturists have found
benefit from the prompt application OF
lime, of diluted gas works liquor of dilu-
ted petroleum, of salt, and various mix
lures to the ground or to the plants III
Tested, In the case Of the turnip.nv or
tlca-beetle. whose numerous bruods have
worked such destruction in recent wears.
the Importance Of thick and .ucccssiunul
sowing OF seed, OF dressing The seed b
|
dew, etc, have been strongly urged. But
two points come ont prominently above
all III the matter OF dealing with Insects
namely, the value of good cultivation uI
the ground, especially in autumn, ana
the immense benefit OF giving plants (;
good start, and strengthening them il
every possible way before thcy are az,
tackled. Ground allowed to grow what
W. hpl 4,
and distributing multitIlcs OF seeds il
their neighborhood, soil unkempt an,
ragged during autumn and winter, ar,
signs of agricultural carclessness. They
remind us of human wastrels, now not 81
frequent as formerly in our great cities
unkempt, ragged, and uncarcd for, be
coming necessarily prolific i'll vice ant
evil. BY good autumn work n farmer
may expose to cold and insure the dealt
af many insect larva and chrysalils il
their winter retreats, which are very Otter
: beneath the surface of the soil. And ,
good start in life frequently makes all til,
= difference to plants ms tomen. Emphati
cally, it pays to have good seed rathe1
than cheap seed, which is too often in
fcrior seed, whose price is simply so mucl
dead loss. A weeks earlier maturity o
vigorous seed sometimes amounts to
gain Of Il whole crop. The same princi
pals which are applied to the most sue
cessful stock breeding must be cmpoye,
i'll the cultivation of crops. Crossing
selection, food and manure, the keeping
down of enemies as far as possible, arr
, the principal matters to be attended to
+ and it is by the steady adherence TO soun,
principles of agriculture, by enliBhtene,
care and perseverance, that success is t,
l be attained now, us ever, IN tine extraction
Of crops to the best advantage from th,
soil. In the admitted fact that farmer
have not yet learnt all that science has t.
teach them, will be found pithy lessor
and warning which should he taken t,
heart