Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-07-10
CROP BULLETIN NO. q.
Increase in Cultivation Of Small Fruits and
in Gardening.


agriculture, is sending out the crop bulle-
tins for July. He compiled this bulletin
from the returns of 235 correspondents.
The mailing list increases with every issue.
1t must be gratifying to Secretary McKeen
to note this indication of the interest which
the farmers feel in this valuable feature of
his work. He will gladly place on the
mailing list the names of farmers which
may be furnished.
In his Introductory summary Of the bull
letin, Secretary McKeen says:
'After carefully reviewing the replies by
counties we are led to the conclusion that
the cultivation of small fruits is consider
ably on the increase in nearly all sections
Of the State. This is particularly true of
strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries and
blsckberries. Some report fine success
with their plum orchards. And we look
for quite an increase in their cultivation
before many years. When we consider
that some of the finest favored plums in
the world have been raised in Maine, it
should stimulate us to renewed efforts for
their production.
The replies to question two show a de-
cided change in sentiment ia favor of the
garden, over those received to a similar
question one year ago. Many speaking of
extending areas and more cultivation with
horses.
The pastures appear to be affording more
than the usual amount Of feed, and some
farmers are turning their attention to pas
ture improvement, by cutting bushes, fer
tlizing and reseedng. Flowing where
practicable. The pasture problem is best
reached where il is possible to do so, by u.s.
ing it as a part of the rotation, changing
from year to year as we do our grain,
grass, and hoed crops. Our home rotation
is pasture. corn or potatoes, grain, grass.
In this way bushes and weeds are kept
down and the stock gets an abundance of
fresh grass, the folders for soiling are con-
venient to the pasture and manifest saw
inc. of waste of plant food is affected.
In reply to the question relating to the hay
crop which indicates an increase over last
year, comes several complaints of the de-
yastations of the white grub, so called.
They come from many sections of the
State proving them to be m)re general than
we at first supposed they could be. We have,
therefore, looked carefully into their life
history and habits and some of the remedies,
which we give as follows:
From Harris Treatise on Insects we find
that the beetle which deposits the egg from
which this grub is Matched so nearly re-
sembles the common cockchafer of Europe
in general habits and transformations that
they will serve to exemplify them.
This insect deyours the leaves of trees
and shrubs It's duration in the perfect
state Is very short, each individual living
only about one week, and the species en-
tirely disappearing in the course of q month.
After the sexes have paired, the males
perish, and the females enter the earth, to
the depth of six inches or more, making
their way by means of the strong teeth
which arm their fore legs here they deposit
their eggs, amounting, according to some
writer's, to nearly one hundred, or,as others
assert to two hundred to each female,
which are abandoned by the parent, who
generally ascends again to the surface, and
perishes in short time.
From the eggs are Matched, in the space
of fourteen days, little whitish grubs, each
provided with six legs near the head, and a
mouth furnished with strong jaws.
When i'll state of rest these grubs usual
" curl themselves in the shape of cres-
cent They subsist on the tender roots of
various plants, committing ravages among
these vegetable substances, on some occa-
sions, of the most deplorable kind.
During the summer they live under the
thin vegetable mould near the surface, but,
as winter approaches they descend below
the reach of FROST and remain torpid until
the succeeding spring, at which time, they
change their skins, and reascend to the sur
face for food.
At the close Of their third summer (or as
some say, their fourth or fifth, they cease
eating, and penetrate about two feet deep
into the earth there by its motion from
side to side, each grub forms an oval cavity
which is lined by some glutenous substance
thrown from the mouth. In this cavity it
is changed to pupa by casting off its skin
Here it remains until the month of Febru-
airy, when the thin film which encloses the
body is rent, and three months afterwards,
the perfected beetle digs its way to the sur
face, from which it finally energies during
the night. In their winged state, these
beetles, with several other species, act as
conspicuous a part in injuring the
trees, as the grubs do in destroy
ing the heritage. During the latter
part Of May they come forth from the
ground, whence they have received the
name of May, and in some places, June
beetles. They pass the greater part of the
day upon trees, clinging TO the under sides
of the leaves, in state Of repose. As soon
as evening approaches they begin TO buzz
about among the branches, and continue on
the wing till towards midnight.
In their droning flight, they move very
nregularly, darting hitler and thither with
uncertain aim, hitting against objects in
their way. which often causes them to fall to
the ground.
They frequently enter houses in the
night. apparently attracted, as well as daz-
zled and bewildered, by the lights.
Tue ANIMALS and birds which are said to
eat these beetles and grubs and thus check
their ravages, are the badger, wease, mar
tin, bats, rats, skunks, common fowls, and
the goat sucker or night-hswk. To this
may be added the crow, which devours not
only the perfect insects, but the lsrve.
II is stated in "Anderson's Recreations"
that ia cautious observer, having found a
nest of five young jays, remarked that each
of these birds while still Young consumed
at least fifteen of these full sized grubs in
one day
We have vet many lessons TO learn about