The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-04-27

the Gulf of Mexico and as far west as
Nevada
These worms do most of their dam
age in May and June in New York,
and somewhat earlier in the South.
They then drop to the ground, burrow
down and pupate during the remainder
of the summer, coming out as moths in
September and October, and spend the
winter in this form in some sheltered
place and lay their eggs during the
first warm days of spring. These soon
hatch out the young worms, which feed
on buds and leaves till the fruit gets
large enough to furnish them more
tempting diet.
The red winged black bird and per.
haps other birds feed on these cater
pillars. A waspish looking insect in.
serts it's eggs into these caterpillars and
also the fall web, worm, and when these
hatch the young parasite feeds on the
caterpillar till it is devoured. This
valuable insect pupates in an egg
shaped cockoon which it hangs from
the twigs of the trees by a thread from
half an inch to an inch long. Be care
full not to destroy these suspended
cradles of your little friends, when you
find them swinging in the June breeRes.
These cateTpillars seem to be proof
against poisons. Sixty we're collected
and put on three limbs loaded with
young apples-20 worms on each limb.
Thes9 limbs were then thoroughly
sprayed, one with kerosene emulsion,
one with Rrsenate of lead, and one with
heIlebore. Two days afterwards the
worms were all alive and eating heart
lily of the poisoned fruit.
In Earring plum trees to catch curcu
Ito, it was found that these worms
doubled up and dropped upon the
sheets with the c~urculio, and this seems
to be the best means of fighting them.
| However, summer cultivation ought to
turn out the pupae and expose them to
birds, and directly killing many of
them.
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS
A German station has been expert.
menting 70 find q suitable fodder to
mix with molasses to prevent purging.
Low grade molasses is a by-product of
the beet-sugar factories, ard it is 80
cheap as to be available for fattening
cattle, except that it produces scours.
A satisfactory remedy has been found
in a dust, meal, or ''mull" made from
moss turf The mixture is called mo
lasses null fodder" and it is claimed
that it increases flesh, milk, and work
ing capacity, improves the flavor of
milk and meat, and gives the animals
coat a sleek, glossy appearance. 1t is
the cheapest fat producing ration to be
had in Germany.
At the Wisconsin Station there was
a rainfall of Is inches very evenly dis
tr'buted over the growing season Of
1895, yet artificial irrigation increase
the yield of l. ish potatoes from 291 to
1914 bushels per acre-a gain Of 1O3
bushels.
A Nebraska exparimenter tested 100
different varieties of Irish potatoes last
year. Though all we're planted the
same day, in the same way, in the
same kind of soil, and received the same
culture and treatment throughout, one
variety yielded but 81 bushels per acre,
while others yielded over 500, and
others were strung all along between
these extremes. His conclusion is that
the prOverb that "a scrub stands no
show in competition with the thorough
bred" applies to potatoes as we'll as to
live stock.
Since it has been demonstrated that
splenetic fever, often called acclimatiou
fever, or Texas cattle fever, is spread
by ticks and in no other way, the cattle
~raisers of Australia are importing the
Rhinoceros bird from South Africa to
rid their herds and ranges of ticks.
This bird has a tail OF horny feathers
and claws Of great length and strength,
and can both hold on and dig out the
ticks with ease. It is said to be no I'M
common sight in South Africa to see
an OK lie down and turn on his back to
expose his belly to these birds.
THAPpBLIc SCHOOL QUESTION.