Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-06-22
Farm AND ORCHARD.
HE BEST METHOD OF DESTROYING
LOCUsTS.
How to Make Good Butter A Model
Chicken Farm Potash for Or
chards-Potatoes.

". w. SOQulllette, IN MS report 10 the
Entomologist United States Department
of Agriculture, gives the following impor-
tant information on the destruction OF
locusts:
A remedy that has been very successful
in destroying locusts consists of a certain
proportion of bran, arsenic, sugar and
water; these have been used in different
proportions, but the one that appears to
give the best results consists Of one part by
weight of arsenic. one of sugar, and six of
bran, to which is added q sufficient guam
tity of water 10 make a yet mash. This
preparation is usually prepared in wash
tubs or half-barrels. One OF these is filed
about three fourths full of dry bran, and to
this is added about five pounds of arsenic,
which is thoroughly stirred through the
bran with q spade or shovel. Five pounds
of sugar is next thrown into pail which
is then filed with water and the sugar
stirred until it is dissolved, when this
sugar. water is added to the bran and
arsenic and the three well stirred more
water is added and the stirring continued
until every portion Of the mash becomes
thoroughly saturated.
About teaspoonful of this mash Is
placed at the root OF EACH tree, shrub or
plant infested with locusts, dropping 1t in
the shade when this can be done In the
case of low shrubs or plants nothing more
need be done, as the locusts will find their
way to the poison, but when large trees
are treated the locusts should be Jared
out Of them, or be driven out with long
poles
l have known locusts to be killed by
eating some of this mash that had been
put out over a week previously. The poison
works very slowly, and when put out early
in the morning viii show but little effect
upon the locusts until quite late in the
day. A devastating locust that ! saw eat
ing the mash at 9 o'clock in the forenoon
was still alive at in the evening but was
dead when next examined early the next
morning.
Allowing teaspoonful of this mash 10
each grapevine in the Yineyard-the vines
being seven or eight feet apart-this will
require about ten pounds of the Dig bran
land arsenic and sugar in proportion) to
each acre. The cost of the material will
vary, bnt should not exceed 80 cents for
each acre Of grapevines, including cost OF
labor for mixing and applying it. For
orchards the cost viii be much less than
this.
The addition of sugar to this mash is
merely for the purpose Of causing the
arsenic 10 adhere to the particles Of bran,
and not for the purpose Of increasing its
attractiyencss, since bran is more attractive
to the locusts than sugar. This ! have
demonstrated TO my own satisfaction, 4
quantity Of sugar was placed upon the
ground contiguous to an equal quantity of
bran mash; when locust came to the
sugar he would eat little Of it, move on
a short distance and again take few bites
Of the sugar, and continue in this manner
until he reached the mash, when he would
settle down, eat his fill, and then move
off. The locusts which came to the mash
before reaching the sugar would, almost
without exception, eat their fill of the
mash and then walk away, but occasion
ally one would leave the mash and take
few bites Of the sugar, only to return 10
the mash again None Of them ate their
fill Of The sugar, but always manifested an
evident preference for the mash.
This mash was used upon about 500
acres Of orchard and vineyard on the
Buhach plantation, and about two weeks
later scarcely living locust was to be seen
where they could have been counted by
the hundred or even thousands before the
poison had been applied, the ground in
many places being literally covered with
the dead bodies of the slain.
Several other parties also used this poi
sonous mash, and so far as ! was able 10
learn it gave entire satisfaction in every
instance.
By exercising only ordinary precautions
there need be no fear Of endaDgering the
lives OF either man or any Of the domestic
animals in using this poisonous prepare
ton II should he mixed in a close room,
to prevent the arsenic from being blown
about by the wind. There Is no need OF
touching the arsenic or the mixture with
the hands, as the mixing and distributing
Is accomplished bv means of spades, shov-
els, wooden paddles, etc.
OF course this mixture should not be put
out in places where poultry or any Of the
domestic animals can gain access to i,
Upon the Buhach plantation we're four
greyhounds and several cats that were
allowed to roam about the plantation
where this mixture had been put out for
the locusts; still ut the time that ! left the
plautation-gbout four weeks after the
poisonous mixture had been put out-not
one Of them had been killed either by eat
ing Of the mixture itself or Of the locusts
that had been poisoned by it.
TO MAKE GOOD BUTTER.
Having selected good animals and given
them COED feed and treatment the milk
comes to the dairy in right condition for
the making of gilt-edged butter. The
product may be such that it viii command
the highest price in the market, or it may
be mere grease, that some cheap and nasty
boarding house viii set before its custom
ers because it does nos cost much and viii
last a good while, aud the expense and
labor of making and marketing it win be
about the same in either instance.
The milk and cream must be kept from
becoming too hot or too cold, though there
NAV be wider range Of variation in their
temperature than many suppose without
in;urine the quality. But cleanliness
must be strictly observed The quality
viii be affected by the slightest ofiense in
this respect. Nothing viii absorb any
kind of a faint from the air or from con-
tact with filth more quickly nor more dis
astrously than milk, cream and butter.
A neglect to scald q pan or pail because
the operator guesses it viii do this time "
may cost many a dollar before the dairy
man can regain as good customer as g
single faulty churnng Of butter may lose
for him Eternal vigilance is nowhere
more essential to success than in the dairy.
No de aging vegetables, no filth Of any
kind, sholld be tolerated within smelling
distance Of dairy-house.
Many a good batch Of butter, too is
spoiled in the ehurning. The cream,
having been taken from sweet or but
slightly soured milk, should be churned
by gentle agitation. The oil Of the butter
is contained in minute sacs, which must
not be broken, or the butter, no matter
how sweet and pure, viii have disagree.
able oily favor and will become rancid