The National tribune., 1885-06-11
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.
THE CICADAs COMING.

THE ClCADAs cOM1N0.
There seems to be an impression throu ghout
the country that the locusts, which are just
beginning to put in an appearance, will do an
immense amount of damage to the crops and
trees. This idea is, fortunately, erroneous, and
arises through misconception of the species Of
insects whose acquaintance we shall be apt to
make in very large numbers this year. The
so-called 17-year locust is not locust. properly
speaking but the harvest fly, and its capacity
for doing harm is extremely limited. Unlike
the insect which has at times ruined the grow
ing crops in our Western States and Territories,
the cicada has no jaws, but merely bill or
sucker, through which it subsists while above
ground on the sap of leaves and twgs. These
peculiar insects cannot be said to have an espe
cially joyous life, as, after remaining for IL
years under ground, where roots of grass and
the fine fibers of tree roots form their food,
their existence in the sunlight of the world
above ground is restricted to about six weeks.
1t is very probable that the damage done to the
trees by the cicada is due to the fact that the
female makes small incisions in the twigs.
where she deposits her eggs, and as each lays
about 500, deposting but Is in one incision, it
will readily be seen that the smaller twigs on
the trees must be pretty badly lacerated by the
operation. Whatever may be the effect, how
ever on the tree, it is certainly most disastrous
on the industrious mother, who, after safely
depositing the eggs, drops to the ground and
dies from exhaustion Many of the twigs which
have thus been turned into hatcheries for the
young cicadas die and fall to the ground. in
which way many of the Larvae reach the ground,
but most are developed on the trees. As soon
as the patching process is complete the insect
at once burrows into the ground. where it stays
for II years, when resurrection takes place
and the performance detailed above is repeated.
UNHEALTHY FAEM-HoUsEs
The farm house should be of all dwellings in
the world the hcalthiest, and yet this is by no
means the case in very large number of in
stances Such diseases as fever and diphthcria
ought to be unknown in the farmers family,
and yet the country doctor invariably has
great many cases of these and kindred
diseases in his calling books. The pure air,
uncontamnated by smoke and other impure
ties ought of itself to be specific against these
attacks. and this in conjunction with the fresh
fruit and vegetables ought to render the farm
ers family the healthiest in the world. And SO
it would be were it not for local causes. which
little precautiOu and thought on the part of
those having the management of the home
would entirely obviate We may in this con-
nection mention fact which will carry its own
conclusions to every rejecting mind that a we'll
will absorb the seepage around it for an almost
incredible distance This fact will, without
further comment, illustrate the folly and dan
ger of throwing out Stops from the house-a
practice far too common in the country-and
having in the vicinity Of the wells outbuildings
of a character likely to contamiillle the ground
The practice, too, of storing vegetables in a
cellar is one which cannot be too strongly con-
demned. as the Odor e the decaying matter
of which there is always more or less-perme-
ates every part of the house.
Another hint is also we'll worth paying atten-
tion to: Don't have the house SO surrounded
by trees as to cut OFF the air and sunlight, which
| are as necessary to the healthy existence Of
human beings as they are to plants.
ATTENTION To CULTIVATED CROPS.
After the ground has been prepared, tho fer
tilizer applied and the seed sown or planted
with such crops as oats, rye, wheat, barley,
buckwheat, ETC., nothing further remains to be
done but watch the progress of growth until
the time of harvest, when the gathering in
must be performed; but not 80 with corn pota-
toes beans, sorghum and many other crops that
are usually denOminated cultivated crops. From
the nature of these, in order to secure satisfac-
tory returns, they must be planted at such dis
tances apart as will admit of the free passage
of heat and light in order to secure proper de-
veiopment: but this will not be accomplished
if the unoccupied space is allowed to be en-
croached upon by dense growth of weeds.
There is no special demand for any such growth,
and yet. without taking due precautions, in
those sections Of country that have been cult.
waited for some time, weeds spring up SO freely
that in q little time they will exert a serious
influence for evil The remedy for this is
found in proper attention to cultivation. The
frequent disturbance of the soil by means OF
the cultivatOr horse hoe or hand hoe prevents
the growth of weeds and not only that, it pro-
notes the growth of the crop. 1t has been
estimated that cultivation alone will add very
much to the amount of the crop which is prob
ably fact. At all events, VIC know of field
of corn that was hOed but once that gave but
meager returns, when there was no other reason
that could be given why the crop was not u
heavy one. DO not slight labor connected with
the cultivation of crops Germantown Telegraph.
SHADE TREES.
Tho setting Of shade trees along both sides
of the roads in the farming districts is often
advocated by the press as means OF inCreaS-
ing the value of farms. in consequence of the
pleasantness of such streets when the trees be-
come large There is no mistake in this 0pin
ion. and f.rmers would do well to club together
aud Get naples elms, etc, along their farms,
and then See that no cattle are allowed to run
| in the highway. Suppose that farm extends
Oh the road 100 rods; so trees would suffice for
that distance, and trees can be prOcu red in
many places for so cents each, about three
inches in diameter. and 10 or IL feet high.
None smaller should be set, as trees of the size
Of walking-canes, such as are often planted,
grow very slowly, and seldom flourish in the
highways. Set none but those that are OF good
size and straight, and trust no man to set them
by the 900, unless you want half to die and the
remainder to drag along sickly life The
trees should be set in the Spring. the roots we'll
preserved in digging them up. the tops cut
back, holes dug large, and good rich soil Glsi
in around the roots. If it has to DO brought from
another locality, as it DOESN'T pay to slight
such Work.-Er.
SPARE THE BIRDS.
It is the serious matter of insects and their
depredations which suggests this advice. When
our country was largely covered with forests,
these afforded the forage grounds of the insect
tribes; but birds were abundant to keep them
in check. Now the woods have given place
to cultivated fields, but the insects are here
still. and moro than that, are rapidly on the
increase owing largely to the short sighted
| judgment of killers of their natural enemies,
| the birds The time must come when the true
value of birds will be better appreciated than
| now. Something needs to be done to cope with
the destructive insect tribe, aud nothing is
more sensible in this direction than to spare
the birds. A crow may take some corn but
along with it he will also take grubs, each one
| of which that is now killed will save the pro-
duction Of hundreds or thousands later.
INOTELETs.
Plant fayu htllo If