Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-04-19
zancaster :9mtelligenrcr.
FAKM NOTES.
Enemies Of the Currant.

EAhm NoA A>Cs
Ensmies Of the Currant.
Telegraph.
There are two-the Worm and the
Borer. The first, which has latterly be-
come very prevalent and destructive in
the bushes of their leaves,
makes its attack soon after the leaves are
of full size. The insect begins it8 work
by laying the eggs soon after the leaves
appear. The best remedy, as we have
for two or three years recommended, is
tho white bellebore, in the powdered state
which should be dissolved in hot water,
teaspoonful of the powder to an ordinary
bucket of water and applied with sprink'
ler. Some sift the powder over the bushes
in the morning when the dew is upon
them but the dust is liable to be inhaled,
and if it is, it produces distressing sneez
ing. A second application may be neces
sary.
The borer is a different insect. and
works in the stem, passing through the
pith from bottom to top. The moths
appear early in June; the eggs soon hatch,
and the worm at once bores through the
wood to the centre, feeding as 1t pro-
crosses upon the pith. Its presence in
the stem may be known by the yellowish
appearance of the leaves. The best reme-
DIV is to sprinkle the bushes as soon as the
moth makes its advent, with whale oil
soap and water, about a pound of the soap
to four or five gallons of water, repeating
it once or twice.
The currant worm does its work rapidly
in consuming the leaves, and they must
be attacked the moment they show them
selves. A single days operations, un-
checked, will play havoc: A plentiful
supply Of coal ashes, sieved, may also dis
lodge them. They multiply rapidly, and
when not all disposed of, enough may re-
main to do much damage.
Diseases Among Livestock.
Like in the human race, ,epidemics among
livestock are frequent and destructive.
They come nobody knows how or whence;
aud pass away nobody can tell why. His
tory records so many of these, and we all
remember enough of them, that it is use-
less to dilate upon them. This being SO:
it is hardly to be expected that beasts will
escape similar yisitations. Yet some peO-
pie seem to expect this, for when an cpl
demic breaks out among the beasts of the
field it produces about as much cOmmO-
tiOn in community as the prevalence of
cholera among bipeds. Every sort of re-
source is had to counteract it. County
conventions arc held Legislatures ap-
point commissioners to investigate the
distemper aud find out remedy or a pre-
ventative impracticable laws are de-
manded, and the whole agricultural COM
munity efferyesces as to what is to be
done for their safety. Suddenly the cpl
demic vanishes the discussion as to the
causes which produced it, filling news
papers and periodicals with mass Of
speculation which not one person in a
hundred ever reads, as suddenly comes to
an end. All seem to be willing to let by
cones be bygones and drop, mem. con-, the
all absorbing question.
In the common course of things We
must expect to be visited by these epidem
ics Horses, cattle, sheep and. swine,
according to their nature, will get sick and
die, sntailiDg loss which all who own
beasts must submit to. And when an
epidemic assails them, it is useless to dis
cuss whether it came from abroad or is
indigenous, or where it originally ap-
peared. The first consideration should be
to study its diagnosis and apply remedy.
1t must be remembered that there are
losses aud Inisfortunes in every business.
Untoward circumstances can-ot ut all
times be avoided or controlled.
Field Mu!chIag,
Though this heading may look rather
formidable il is really as sim pie as possible
in carrying out. 1t is not new sugges
tion now made for the first time in these
columns, for it has been referred to re-
peatedly as q matter that is deserving Oi
more attention than it generally receives
Even when first mentioned by us it was
not an original idea, inasmuch as our at.
tentiOn was called to it while visiting one
of the best conducted farms in a neigh
boring county. 1t is this: In removing
the hay from the field, that portion known
as rakings should be allowed to remain foI
two reasons One is that it will not pay
for the labor in gathering up the other
that it does pay, and twice over, in being
scattered over the field, and acting as a
mulch to the exposed roots of the stubble.
These rakings keep the roots cool and
moist aud will add largely to mex. years
yield of timothy or orchard grass as the
case may be. Many first class farmers
pursue this method at all times, but there
are SO many who do not that We regard il
as worth while to remind them of the
advantages Of it, and ask them to give it a
trial.
Muck for Sandy Soils.
1t is encourage ing to see that in some
portions of the Southern states, where
they are tardy in adopting now methods
of culture or hints leading to experiments,
they are beginning to find out that muck
hauled upon sandy soils acts almost as
effectively as dressing of manure, while
it is far moro lasting, and greatly adds to
its productivness. This, however, is no
new discovery. We recommended it, as
did correspondents, as long as thirty years
ago, and poiuted out instances in which
muck was applied to sandy soils that had
been attended with marked success. Even
pure clay hauled upon very light soils and
intermingled Herewith by the simple
operation Df cultivation, has been followed
by excellent results, the land increasing its
crops fully one-half. Where clay or
muck is as convenient of transportation as
manure. there is no question that its
application as here suggested would prove
of the most decided advantage. Even in
gardens, where the soil has become ex.
hausted by long continued cultivation, q
dressing of clay is far better than a coat
of the best manure. Coal ashes, when
applied to very compact soil, acting in q
reverse order, will cause it to be more
friable, and in this way-which we believe
to be the only way-are these ashes of any
benefit.
SEVER CREEK, N. Y, Feb. 6, 1880.
GENTS have been very low and have tried
everything, to no advantage. / heard our