them. No. 34.---THE BUFFALO TREE-HOPPER. devoted particular attention to this subject, and at length EDWARD MERRIT of Poughkeepsie last year sent to was so fortunate as to detect the culprit in the very act of piercing these holes, and specimens of it were therethe COUNTRY GENTLEMAN slips of Antwerp raspberry stalks, each slip showing a row of holes perforated in upon sent to me. It is thus to Mr. Howe that we are it, and desiring to know the insect which occasioned indebted for knowing what insect it is which causes this mischief. On receiving them I felt so confident these wounds, and the manner in which it makes that I had quite lately given a full account of this in- The insect is so common through the Northern sect and its operations in the COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, States and Canada, and has such a peculiar form that it that this communication was laid aside, and soon pass-has at sometime been noticed probably by every person ed from my recollection. Recently he sends us slips of the grapevine showing the same perforations, and renewing his previous request; and now, on coming to examine, I find that it was not to the COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, but the American Agriculturist that I communicated an article upon this subject, which was published in that periodical June, 1862. This will explain to Mr. M. why his first remittance came to be passed over unanswered. And in now writing again upon the same subject I shall be able to add but little to what is contained in my previous account. of observing habits. It begins to be seen soon after the middle of July, and remains until the end of the season. It is from three to four-tenths of an inch long, of a light grass green color, freckled rather faintly with whitish dots, and is shaped like a beech nut, with two short, sharp pointed processes, like horns, jutting outward in front, one on each side, giving its forward end some resemblance to that of a bull or buffalo. Hence An appearance so curiously artistic that it attracts it has received the name of the the particular notice of the person whose eye happens BUFFALO TREE-HOPPER, or Ceresa to perceive it, is frequently to be seen in the winter bubalus, as it was scientifically named originally by and early spring, upon some of the leafless stalks of Fabricius. It pertains to the Homopterous division of the raspberry, and more rarely upon the twigs of the the order Hemiptera, and to the family Membracidæ. apple, cherry, and other trees and shrubs. A row of This insect may frequently be seen standing on the small holes, of the size made in paper by puncturing small limbs of the apple tree, the locust, and other it with a coarse pin or needle, is observed to be bored trees in our orchards and yards, with its head towards at slight but regular distances from each other, in a the base of the limb. It remains perfectly motionless straight line. The row extends lengthwise of the and quiescent; but if the finger approaches it, with a twig, and is from one-half to three inches long, there sudden strong spring it darts away with such velocity being about twenty-six holes to an inch. It is usually that the eye is seldom able to follow it, or even perin twigs and stalks which are slightly less than a quar-ceive the direction in which it has thrown itself. ter of an inch in thickness that these rows of holes ocWe have in our country a few other insects of this cur, and frequently there are two or more rows upon same genus Ceresa, all of them similar to the above namthe same twig. While the holes are plained species in their size and shape, and no doubt wound and distinct in some kinds of trees, in others ed-like scar, they are obscure, making wounds which ing shrubs and trees in the same manner. And it cause the bark to swell into a rough canker- may be some of these by which the rows of holes have with a deep crack or fissure along been observed-for it is only upon the apple tree that the been made in some of the situations in which they have its middle, in which crack the holes are Buffalo tree-hopper has been actually seen in the act more or less perceptible. On splitting the twig, it is seen that these holes are bored, or of depositing its eggs. The rows of holes appear to be rather pierced, inward into and almost more common in the stalks of raspberries than in any through the soft central pith, in a slanting other shrub or tree. I find them particularly in the direction, and that each hole is somewhat wild black raspberry, or thimble berry, as it is somebent or curved, and is occupied by the egg times called, (Rubus occidentalis) and frequently also in of an insect. The eggs are shining, yellow- the red raspberry (R. strigosus,) and they will no ish white, cylindrical with rounded ends, doubt be noticed also in the high blackberry (R. viland four times as long as thick-their length losus.) Correspondents in different places have menbeing a little more than the tenth of an tioned to me their occurrence in the garden raspberry inch, and exactly filling the inner portion of (R. Idaus.) And where the elder (Sambucus Canathe holes for about two-thirds of their densis) is growing among raspberry briars in neglected length. And now what insect is it that fields, or by the side of old fences, I have frequently makes these wounds? Several years ago I noticed these rows of holes in its stalks also. This first noticed these wounds in some willow fact is the more worthy of remark, the notion having twigs, but the holes were empty, the in-been so widely prevalent that this shrub was peculiar. sects having hatched and left them. In the spring of ly obnoxious and repulsive to insects. And further, 1858 the twigs of apple trees at Akron, Ohio, were as has already been mentioned, these wounds have very much injured in some orchards by wounds of the same kind. The malady excited the attention of H. W. HOWE, Counsellor at Law, of that place, who sent me specimens of the wounded twigs, and a correspondence upon this subject thereupon took place between In an elder stalk I have seen a row of these holes us. On learning how much of a novelty these wounds 3 inches in length, a joint in the stalk then interwere, and the insect making them was unknown, he'rupting it for a distance of nearly a half inch to where also been observed in the apple, cherry and willow, and in grapevines, and are sometimes so numerous as to be injurious by killing, as they frequently do, the portion of the twig which is above them. another row, 14 inches long was placed in the same after raising it a few years the turnip itself would not line, the upper row containing eighty-one punctures, do well on the same farm on which it had been raised. the lower one thirty-two. The whole was probably Now in my own experience I have proved all these asthe work of one insect, and done at one continuous sertions, as well as many others, to be entirely without operation. It hence appears that each female deposits foundation, and I have no doubt that in most of the inabout 100 eggs. stances in which crops that succeeded a crop of turnipe have failed, the failure was to be attributed to other causes rather than the turnip. The piercer, lancet or ovipositor—the instrument with which the insect perforates these holes-closes into its sheath much as the blade of a pocket knife does into its handle. It is plainly to be seen thus closed into a groove, which is on the underside of the body at its hind part. To perforate a hole this piercer, as Mr. Howe informs me, is held obliquely downward and forward, or like a knife-blade a quarter opened. Being in this position, and with its point pressed against the bark, it is by a forward movement of its body that the insect draws or thrusts it downward through the bark and soft wood, and into the pith. An egg, no doubt, is then passed into the perforation, and the implement is then withdrawn. The wounds which are thus made are scarcely perceptible at first, but become more and more conspicuous with age. It was the last of September that Mr. Howe discovered the insect at this work, and some of the wounds then on the apple twigs, he judged from their appearance, had been made a month earlier. The eggs remain in the twigs through the winter and hatch the following season, probably in the month of June, as I meet with some of them in raspberry stalks, unhatched at the date of this writing, May 25th. They do not produce worms, but small active insects, which have some resemblance to the parents in their shape, though they are destitute of wings, and of the hard, glossy shell-like covering which they acquire when they become fully grown. They wander away from their birth-place as soon as they come out from the eggs. These tree-hoppers, both in their young and in their full grown states, nourish themselves by puncturing and sucking the juices of the leaves or of the tender new bark of the twigs. In this way they are pernicious to the vegetation on which they occur, as well as by wounding it to deposit their eggs. Therefore, in seasons when they are noticed as being so common in the orchard or garden as to excite fears of injury from them, it may be well to frequent ly shake or jar the trees or shrubs to which they resort, and strike upon the foliage here and there with a stick, to frighten off these insects-for I think few of them will remain in situations where they find they are liable to be thus disturbed, but will fly away to some of the wild vegetation of the fields and forests, which appears to accommodate them as perfectly as that which we cultivate. ASA FITCH. Effect of the Turnip Crop on the Soil. MESSRS. EDITORS-It is somewhat singular how many and different opinions prevail among farmers in relation to the effect of cultivating or raising different crops on the soil. Among the different crops that are raised there is perhaps as much diversity of opinion in relation to the effect of the turnip crop as any one. Since I commenced raising turnips I have frequently heard it said that the turnip would poison the land, that other crops would not do well after it, and that I believe that it is admitted at the present time that one of the fundamental principles of agriculture is, that those crops which have the smallest and fewest leaves, with the largest number of roots, draw the most of their nourishment from the soil, and but little from the atmosphere, and consequently they exhaust the soil on which they grow much more than the opposite class of plants which have many and large leaves, with but few and small roots, which are supposed to obtain a much larger proportion of their food from the atmosphere, and less from the soil. If this principle is a correct one, then the turnip must be one of the least exhaustive crops to the soil that is raised. Whether other cultivated crops will do as well after turnips as before I cannot say, as my turnip crop is the last cultivated crop I put on my land before seeding down to grass. I have raised turnips two years in succession on the same land with good success. After the turnip crop I sow spring grain and seed down to grass. I have sown rye, oats and barley, and all of these crops have succeeded well, and I have never failed of getting a good catch of grass, and good crops of it, for several successive years after it, as good as I have ever obtained after any other crop. Whether the turnip will fail to do well, or grow on the same farm after a series of years, my experience of more than twenty years has failed to prove. It rather goes to disprove it, as my last crop was equal in every respect to any crop I have ever raised. It seems to me that the increasing and successful cultivation which this crop is receiving in this country and in Canada, and the long and successful experience which it has had in England, are sufficient to set at rest all the objections which have been raised against this crop, and to commend it to the favorable consideration of the farmers of this country. effects of weather, which no farmer can avoid, I think Setting aside the depredations of insects, and the that most of the failures in raising this crop have arisen from the selection of unsuitable soil, the want of sufficient manure, and the lack of careful and thorough cultivation, and under these unfavorable circumstances no one need to expect to raise good crops of any kind. While, on the other hand, if the same judgment, care and skill is used in the cultivation of this crop that is used in the cultivation of other crops, there can be no reason why the same degree of success cannot be attained as with other crops. The turnip requires a dry mellow soil, an abundant supply of manure, with clean and careful cultivation, and with these requisites supplied, good crops can be relied on, and in proportion as these things are disregarded, so will the crop be likely to fail in quantity and quality. Wilmington, Vt. C. T. ALVORD. Devons.-JAMES Swartz, Esq., of Hoffman's Ferry, has just purchased from the herd of Capt. JOSEPH HILTON of New-Scotland, the fine yearling Devon bull Prince of Wales, out of Moss Rose, 904, by Empire, 424. 18T CLASS EWES, two years old and over: 2. do. 83 lbs. 68 lbs. ... 82 lbs. 2D CLASS EWES, LAMBS: 8 lbs. 9ozs. 10 lbs. 5 ozs. 10 lbs. 6 ozs. 7 lbs. 14 ozs. H. ALLEN, Secretary. and with symmetrical form; the hay should be pitch-1. H. Allen,. ed on from different sides to preserve upright and even settling; for when a stack settles to one side, it necessarily exposes the upper side to rain, and often to the loss of a large portion of the stack. Good stackers repeatedly and regularly pass around the structure, and place the hay in uniform forkfuls in regular and circular layers. The centre is always rounded the highest. In a well built stack, the fibres at the out-meadow that would yield annually a quantity of hay sufside falling downwards, prevent any rains from passing in but a few inches; one laid up badly may allow the water to enter a foot or more.-Tucker's Annual Register. How to Enrich Meadows.-At the meeting of the Little Falls Farmer's Club on the 27th of May, Mr. H. LEWIS of Frankfort, stated that "he had 25 acres of ficient for the winter keep of fifty head of cattle. Some of his grass had already lodged, and he thought would not come up again. He should commence his hay harvest in about three weeks. This extraordinary fertility of soil and growth of grass had been effected by underdraining and by top-dressing the soil with sawdust in which was absorbed the liquid manure from his stock. He regarded the liquid manure of more value than the solid excrements of the animal. The conclusion had been arrived at by experiments and from observation. Stakes had been set in pastures and meadows to note the effects of liquid and solid manures, and the growth of grass was in favor of those spots where the animals using sawdust for the absorption of liquid manures and left liquid manures. Some few years since he commenced spreading the compost on his grass lands, the soil re Sheep-Show and Shearing in Cayuga County. On the 8th June, the Cayuga County Sheep-Show and Shearing passed off at Scipio Center, on the premises of Isaac Akin, who had interested himself in making it convenient for the coming festival. The day being pleasant, it was held in his orchard, where the sheep presented, were well arranged. Our anticipations were fully realized in witnessing a large number of farmers interested in wool-growing and sheep husbandry, not only from our own, but adjoining coun-sponding in a most remarkable manner. Latterly he ties. At 12 o'clock the sheep were all entered, at which time a repast was served up by Mr. C. Smith at the Central Hotel, to about 200 persons after that commenced the operations of the different committees in weighing and examining the sheep presented. It being the first undertaking of this association, many were somewhat delicate in bringing in and presenting their sheep, owing not only to their being shorn at later dates last year, but the inclement winter, together with the hay crop secured last season, operated very much against this enterprise. Still there was a good number represented worthy of praise, and some, notwithstanding these circumstances, entered the ring for weighing and shearing. had been using the dust at the rate of 60 bushels per week. The manure is hauled upon the land and spread as evenly as possible with a shovel or fork; it is then brushed and completely broken up and distributed in fine particles. This division and fineness of the manure is regarded of peculiar advantage, since the plants are better able to appropriate their food, and it reaches a greater number. About half of the meadow is underdrained with horse-shoe tile, the drains being sunk 3% feet deep. On this portion of the meadow grows the largest grass.” Herkimer Co. Cheese.-On the 30th May about 2,000 boxes of cheese were brought into market at Little Falls. The Journal of that village says that "full twenty buyers were present, and the long processions of heavily laden wagons filled the streets near the depot Aside from those presented for shearing, were many from early dawn till late in the evening. The prices extra rams one year old and older. One ram, present-paid in the morning would average at least seventeen ed by G. S. Center, South Butler, Wayne Co., and en- cents; but in the afternoon telegrams were received tered in the two-year old class, attracted much atten- from the city which induced a slight decline." tion, and drew many singular expressions from the Vitality of Turnip Seed.-The London Agricultupeople—also some extra ewes and ewe lambs present-ral Gazette says:-"After extensive experiments, we ed by L. Colvin, E. Lyon, J. Niblo, P. L. Atwood, and can declare, as their result, that turnip seed of one year H. Allen. The whole number of entries for shearing old will only germinate about 50 per cent.; two years was sixteen. old, 30 per cent.; three years old, 15 per cent.; four We give below the figures of those shorn, and re- 'years old, 5 per cent.' [For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] ALDEN'S ORCHARD WHIFFLETREES. A great many expedients have been resorted to in ironing whiffletrees, in order to prevent the ends, when they come in contact with a tree, from galling it; but nothing as yet has been brought out which subserves the purpose so completely as the orchard whiffletrees manufactured-and I believe patented-by M. Alden & Son, Auburn, N. Y. The accompanying illustration represents a pair of them ready for a wagon, but quite too long for plowing among trees. The ends of the single ones are rounded off, as shown in the figure, and the cockeyes on the ends of the traces are put through a kind of clasp near each end | of the whiffletree and hooked on the hooks, which are driven into the backside of each whiffletree, some four or five inches from the ends. The loops or clasps near each end are just wide enough to allow the cockeyes on the ends of the traces to pass through, and they hold the traces on the ends of the whiffletrees. Consequently when the whiffletrees pass by a tree there is but little danger they will knock off any bark. The ends of the whiffletrees should be full as wide as the traces, and the clasps are made a little wider than the whiffletree, with a jog in the under side of them, so that the cockeyes will pass through easily. This is an excellent improvement of whiffletrees. S. EDWARDS TODD. Time of Cutting Grass for Hay, &c. situated contiguous to the meadow, the use of the hayEarly in its growth, grass is watery; as it approach-sweep in connection with the horse-fork, would probaes blossoming, the amount of sweet nourishing juice bly enable two or three men and two boys, with three increases; after blossoming, and as the seed ripens, horses, to draw and pack away thirty tons a day or the sugar diminishes, and the hard woody fibre in creases. The best time, therefore, generally is to cut within a few days after the principal portion of the crop has appeared in flower. For milch cows it should be cut a little earlier than for working oxen and horses. Hard stemmed grasses, as Orchard grass and Timothy, should be cut earlier than softer sorts. Expense of Making Hay.-When meadows were cut by scythes, and raked by hand-rakes, the cost of securing a crop was computed to be one-half its value. Now, by the use of mowing machines, horse-rakes, horse-forks, &c., it need not be one-fourth, as the following estimate for cutting fifty acres will show: Interest on $100, cost of Mowing Machine.. Wear and tear, annually, say.. Team and man, 8 days, 6 acres per day, (a low estimate,) Cost of cutting 50-acres.... Raking, horse and man, 20 acres a day. Contingencies, rain, &c., say. Cost of securing 100 tons.... $7.00 86.00 7.00 $78.00 more. Fig. 2-HAY SWEEP IN OPERATION. The hay-sweep is but little known. The ac20.00 companying figures (1 and 2) exhibit its construction $30.00 and use. It is essentially a large, stout, coarse rake, 5.00 with teeth projecting both ways, like those of a comImon revolver; a horse is attached to each end, and a boy rides each horse. A horse passes along each sideof the winrow, and they thus drag this rake after them, scooping up the hay as they go. When 500 pounds or so are collected, they draw it at once to the stack or barn, and the horses turning about at each end, causing the gates to make half a circle, draw the teeth backwards from the heap of hay, and go empty for another load-the teeth on opposite sides being thus used alternately. To pitch easily, the back of each load must be left so as to be pitched first. Or, 78 cents per ton. It will be observed, however, that the team of the farmer stands idle much of the time in harvest, and that the actual cost, as compared with the old way, would therefore be really less. Where the hay is secured in stacks or in hay barns The dimensions should be about as follows: Main Scantling below, 4 by five inches, 10 feet long; the one above it, same length, 3 by 4 inches; these are three feet apart, connected by 7 upright bars, 1 by 2inches, and 3 feet long. The teeth are flat, 14 by 4 inches, 5 feet long, or projecting 24 feet each waythey are made tapering to the ends, so as to run easily under the winrow. A gate, swinging half way round them, but I think in stirring the soil it will increase on very stout hinges, is attached to each end of this their growth more than enough to pay expenses. rake, and to these gates the horses are attached. They We consider the best time to plant usually from the consist each of two pieces of scantling, 3 inches square 1st to the 10th of June, although I have seen them and 3 feet long, united by two bars of wood 1 by 2 planted as late as the 25th, and yield a crop of 25 inches, and a third at the bottom 3 inches square, and bushels per acre. The time for pulling and the tapering upwards like a sled-runner-these runners mode of securing them, &c., I will speak of another project a few inches beyond the gate. The whiffle- time. trees are fastened a little above the middle of the gate, and should be raised or lowered so as to be exactly adjusted. It may be made for $5. In using this machine, not a moment is lost in loading or unloading. No person is needed in attendance, except the two small boys that ride the horses. If the horses walk three miles an hour, and travel a quarter of a mile for each load, they will draw 12 loads, or three tons an hour, or 30 tons in 10 hours, leaving the men wholly occupied in raising the hay from the ground when deposited, by means of another horse with the pitchfork. It will be obvious that this rapid mode of securing hay will enable the farmer to elude showers and storms, which might otherwise prove a great damage. -Tucker's Annual Register. FIELD CULTURE OF THE BEAN. In the Co. GENT. of April 7, page 224, an Indiana Farmer makes inquiries upon the above subject and is referred to the Co. GENT., page 203, and also to what the late Judge Buel has said of this crop. Now neither of these methods are regarded at all by bean growers of this section, and they have been raised extensively as a field crop in this township (Newfane, N. Y.) for many years, and for the past 3 or 4 years they have been one of our most profitable field crops, and with us as you travel along it is no uncommon sight to see large and beautiful fields of 20, and even 30 acres planted with beans. H. E. Olinger's method with us would meet with ridicule, as applicable only to the age of one handled plows with wooden mould-boards. His choice of soil and his manner of preparing it is well enough, but to furrow out with a shovel plow 3 feet each way, and to plant by hand six beans in a hill, and cover with a hoe is old fogy in the extreme, for every year increases the necessity of substituting horse for hand labor. We all live to learn much by our own experience, and by that of others, and as the growing of this crop is profitable, will not farmers communicate their practical experience, giving facts by which we may benefit each other. I well remember in our wheat growing days the idea of raising beans as a crop was not thought of, and none were grown except in the garden, but it is acknowledged that here they can be grown for less expense than wheat, acre for acre, and have given the raiser greater profits for the last five years than wheat. DUCKS---RURAL SCENES. The duck possesses many excellent qualities. They were great favorites with the ancients from the mildness and simplicity of their character, from their great fecundity, laying a great number of eggs, from the cheapness and ease with which they are provided for. The feathers of the white sort are nearly as good as those of the goose. They are the most isdustrious of all the fowl tribe, and we have often gazed on them with admiration to see them sputter in shallow and dive down in deep water. The inoffensive and harmless character, the social and conversational qualities of ducks, render them not only pleasant but profitable animals to keep, and the contrast between them and chickens, in their nature and habits, is much in their favor. Of the kind and social nature of the duck, the following is related by Mowbray: We had drawn off for the table the whole of a lot of ducks, one excepted. This duck immediately joined a cock and hens, and became so attached to them that it harsh usage, particularly from the cock. It would never quitted their company, notwithstanding some neither feed nor rest without them, and showed its uneasiness at their occasional absence by continued clamor. We once had an individual of the crested variety, which, after losing its mate, would keep with a few particular fowls during the day, and at night when the fowls went to roost, she would follow up the stairs on to the second floor, and sit as near the fowls as she could get. But after we had placed a few of the large African geese in the yard, she left the hens and contracted an intimacy with the geese, keeping constantly with them. A warm gravelly soil is the best, and if covered with a stiff sod, so much the easier to keep free from weeds; take pains in plowing it; see that every sod is turned over; roll with a heavy field roller; thoroughly harrow; then mark out your rows. For the medium The manners and actions of the duck, whether upon bean I make the rows 28 inches apart; for larger vari-land or water, are both curious and pleasant to contemeties 32 inches. I am particular to secure the best beans for seed, and all of the same variety, for it is very essential in securing the crop to have them ripen at one time, and they sell better if they have a uniform appearance as to size, &c. Plant in drills with a bean planter. I use one that plants two rows at a time, putting on usually about five pecks of seed per acre of the medium. Having finished planting, roll all down smoothly with a roller; it is of great benefit to the crop, especially if you have to cultivate to keep down the weeds. I use a common corn cultivator, one that is so constructed that you can shut it up close. Very often on ground that is free from weeds they never cultivate plate. Their regular afternoon parade and march in |