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THE KIRBY AS A MOWER.
FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THB
STATE BOARD
OP
AGRICULTURE,
MTITK AN
ABSTRACT OF THE PROCEEDINGS
OF THB
r
:ty agricultural societies
'f
'^^AR 1869.
^•■-IT-tTJ .: V
/ -<»
>• *■■ r^ '.
Hi
m
FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
OP TRB
STATE BOARD
OP
AGRICULTURE,
MriTH AN
ABSTRACT OF THE PROCEEDINGS
or THB
COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES
FOR THE YEAR 1869.
BDXTBD BY CHA8. 'W. MURTFBLDT,
Come«ponding 8«oV9Uirx.
JBFPBRSON'CITY:
WOcoic, PvMie FrtaMr.
1670.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD FOR 187a
QorwMMom JOSEPH W. McGLURiO.
Kz-oflcio
T. A. PABKXBy Statb BufwmunKnujn or Pubuo ScaooLi.
:}
HKNRT T. MUDD, Pbmobvt. Kirlnr«o4.
W. 8. DTBB» M. D., Vi(ai PsuiBBaT TintUiut
W. T. ESSEX, TBaASUBBB ^....^.•^••••..•. — .Klrkwood*
OlOBGB HU8MAEN ^ BIuIIm.
JOHN W. HAKRI8. EoclMpoii.
0. H. P. LBAR^......................^.^^...................^ HaanibaL
0. A. A. QABBNBR,..................^-............ ...............••.••.•.........•....•••Ooluibi*.
O. W. KUniBT. ^ •...•.•...•..••......•..^.....-..•..•.. SbowHUL
SABHABAS SIOTH^... ...............^^..^ ^ ^..•..... Oabft.
K. J. OOLMAN ^.,.8t Looli.
WM. STABX. . ..... .. LovidMia.
JiMi JAMBS IfOOBB..................... .M.^............ UaioB.
JOHN H. TICE, BaoaBDni«8BOBSTABT.........................t St. LonU.
C W. XUBTFELDTy Cobbupokdiio SaenvABT —........ Si. Lo^it^
7 •'^'"^rr.;7C>
NOTICE.
The present is the fifth Tolnme of the Agricaltorid Beports of
Miisoari, published under the direction of the State Board of Agri-
onltnre. Its centents mast speak for themselves. All that is claimed
for them and the report is, that it is throagbont emphatically a Mis^
90wri Report We by no means undervalue the attainments^ the skill
or the instruction that may be gained from abroad, especially from
omr neighboring States ; but a little of State pride, and the fact, that
a report to be ef the greatest interest, should emanate, in a
great measure at least, from those having experience iq our own
State, and should shadow forth agriculture and intelligence as it ex-
ists among us, have led the Corresponding Secretary to confine him-
self to papers and reports from active, earnest workers, citizens of
Missouri.
It will be noticed that every county report, with perhaps one sin-
gle exception, has been forwarded to the Corresponding Secretary
only upon personal application and request While he is thankful
that these repolrts have been sent in, he cannot forbear to call atten-
tion to the fact, that the law of the State makes it obligatory upon
the President or Secretary of each county or district society to fur-
nish this office with an annual report of their respective organizations.
Because of this faot and also for this other reason, that so few are fa-
miliar with the law creating and perpetuating the State Board of
Agriculture, the President of the Board has ordered the publication
of the entire Acts and By-Laws, relating to the Board, &c., for the in-
formation of all to whom these presents may come.
EvxBY Cooimr in tiie State is entitled, if it have a regularly or-
ganized Agricultural Society, to representation in the Board ajt the
annual meeting, which takes place the fint Wednesday in December
ot each year.
The law presumes that distinguished farmers, or those mo8tinte^
ested in the agricultural advancement of each county, will be chosen
▼I BOTIOB*
to meet with the Board, either as presidents or delegates from their
respectiye local societies. It presumes farther, that these men will
devise, debate and publish snoh facts as relate to ^ t\e wants^ pros-
p^aU and conditions of the agrieultural interests of the State^ and
to receive the reports of district or county agricultural soeietiesJ*^
Ifbtice^ if you please^ that these repfiftf are due at the annual meet-
ing.
The State of Missoari has no State Agricultural Society. The
duties that would appertain to such an institution, devolve upon the
Board of Agriculture.
The review of the season is chiefly valuable for reference ^ and
in order that the next volume may be more complete in this respect,*
the Oorresponding Secretary solicts frequent communications upon-
the conditions of the growing crops of 1870, from every county.
For obvious reasons, the Oorresponding Secretary has not in smf
way altered or interfered with' the reports from county societi^;
There are one or two that may be taken as a guide of what is rei^
desirable in such a report, and we doubt not, the reader will readily
discover which they are.
The report of the Reaper Trial at Se^Iia, and the Plow Trial at
St Louis, deserves to be carefttUy perused, because of the conspicu-
ous part which machinery now plays in all agricultural labors.
The apiarian will find valuable hints in the articles contributed by
T. R Allen, A. E. Trabue and W. O. Church, all practical men.
The articles on Farmers' Olubs cannot fail to interest every
reader, and are designed to stimulate the formation of such clubs in
every town. The social features introduced in many clubs are worthy
of special notice. Wherever practicable, their introduction is ad-
vised.
*• Choking Food for Stock^^^ by A. E. Trabue, will doubtless stinr-
ulate others to try elperiments, which, if undertaken at all, it is to
be hoped will be so carefully conducted as not to leave a doubt
Whether confirming or contradicting Mr. Trabue's conclusions, we
hope the results will be furnished to the Oorresponding Secretary of
the State Board.
Our correspondents will please accept hearty thanks fiir their
oontributions offered for this volume, and as we are certain that thek
Interest in their favorite labors as well as in the prosperity and a^
vancement of the State generally, are not abated, we hope to hear
from them again and again.
The Addreues of Frof. O. D. Wilber, iip<m IRning and Mining
^fiM<»an<repeated by request) and upon Iron and C)ba2, deliTered in
the Hall of Bepresentatives, at Jefferson Oity, February ITtli andlSth^
1870| are of sach high merit as scientific and literary productions, and
so flattering, yet truthful to Missouri, that the Secretary felt con*
strained to embody them in this report by special permit of Profl
Wilber, (who has reserved the copyright). Many of the Missouri
Agricultural Reports are annually sent to Europe and are widely circu-
lated in the United States, and aiqr Iflgitimate me^ns that will set our
beloved State and her resources in a fair light befcMre the world needs
«ia^i^ls^*
OHAS. W. MURTFELDT,
CovT€9ponding Secretary.
ACKNO"WLEDGMENTS OF
AGRICULTURAL REPORTS, PAMPHLETS AND
PAPERS FOR 1869.
lUporti of Agricaltaral BnrtMi, WMhlBftoa, D. C.
Afrlciiltiml B«porti in ezchanc* ^^ Maine.
Ain^cnltnral Beporti in ezchang* with MMfachof •tli« ^
Agricnltnral Beporti in exchani^ with Connocticnt*
Agrievltanl Beporta in ezcfauigo with Kew York.
Agricnltval Boporti in ezch»Bf» with Ohio.
Agricoltond Beporti in ezchnnfi with Indiana.
Agricnltoral Beporti in ezchanfi with Hichi|^.
Apicsltnral Beporti in ezchanc* ^^ Iowa. «
Agricnltiiral Beporti in ezohanfi with Nehraika.
Daily Miiioubi DbmoobjiTi St. Lonii.
JooniiAx. or nn Nbw Tonx Statb A«BiooiitinuL Bwumtt, AUway, Vtw Tofk#
Koon'i Bubal Nnw Yonxu, New York.
Ajcsucab AoBxouLTUBifT, Now York.
CuutTAtoB AMD Ck)imnT QsnLBXAVf Alhaaji Htw York.
HaAsra An Hon n. New York,
pBAnia FABHBBy Chicago.
Wonmia Fabmbb, New York.
HoBnovLTUBUT, New York* «
LAWS
RELATING TO
State Board of Agriculture.
AN ACT for the Encouragement of Agriculture.
Be it enacted by the General Aseemhly of the State of Missouri^
as follows :
Section 1. That George R. Buckner, of St. Charles county, Ben-
jamin P. Clifford, of Pike county, Lucius Salisbury, of Chariton, John
Dunn, of Shelby, T. J. Bailey, of Greene, Frederick Munch, of Warren^
Richard Gentry, of Pettis, L. D. Morse, of St. Louis, C.C. Man waring,
of Gasconade, and Henry Shaw, of St Louis, and their successors as
hereinafter provided, be and are hereby created a body corporate,
under the name and style of the Missouri State Board of Agriculture.
Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of said Board, five of whom shall con-
stitute a quorum, to meet in the city of St. Louis on the second Wed*
nesday of April afte.r the passage of this act, to organize by appoint*
ing a president, secretary and treasurer, and such other officers as the
said Board shall deem necessary ; and also to determine, by lot or
otherwise, the time that each member of said Board shall serve, so
that the term of service of one-half of the members shall expire an*
nually, on the day of the annual meeting in December, and the presi-
dent shall have power to call meetings of the Board whenever he
may deem it expedient.
Sec. 3. The Missouri State Board of Agriculture, and their suc-
cesssors, when organized as provided by this act, ^hall have power to
adopt such by-laws and make such rules and regulations for the gov-
ernment of said Board and the management of its affairs and businesi
as they may deem best calculated to promote the interests of agri-
culture, and as shall not be inconsistent with the constitution and
laws of the State of Missouri, and of the United States.
SfeC. 4. The president of each district or coanty agricnltural or
horticultural society organized in this State, or ia the absence of the
president, the duly authorized delegates of such society shall be m-
oXcio members of the State Board of Agriculture.
2— A B
2 MISSOURI AGRIOULTTTRK.
Sfic. 5. There shall be held in the city of St Louis on the first
Wednesday of December of each year, an annual meeting of the
State Board of Agriculture, for the purpose of deliberation and con-
sultation as to the wants, prospects and condition of the agricultural
interests of the State, to receive the reports of the district and county
societies, and to fill, by election, all vacancies in the State Board of
Agriculture.
Sec. 6. It shall be the duty of agricultural societies, established in
accordance with an act entitled ^^an act to authorize and encourage
the establishment of agricultural societies in the several counties of
the State, and regulate the same,'^ approved November 23,1855, to re-
port to the Missouri State Board of Agriculture at the annual meeting
in the same manner as required by said act to report to the Board of
Directors of the Missouri State Agricultural Society then existing.
Sec. 7. It shall be the duty of said Board to make an annual re-
port to the General Assembly of the State, embracing the proceed-
ings of the Board for the past year, and an abstract of the reports
and proceeding of the several agricultural societies, as well as a gen-
eral view of the condition of agriculture throughout the State, accom-
panied by such recommendations, including especially agricultural
education, as they may deem interesting and useful.
Sec. 8. That the sum of one hundred dollars be and is hereby ap-
propriated, out of any money not otherwise appropriated, for the use
of the Board, on an account of the expenditures of the Board shall
be included in the annual report to the Oeneral Assembly.
Sec 9. The Public Printer shall, annually, under the direction of
the president of the State Board of Agriculture and the president of
th^ State Horticultural Society, print and bind, in one volume, three
thousand copies of the annual report of the said Board of Agricul-
ture, and the proceedings of the State Horticultural Society; eight
hundred copies to be for the use of the Legislature, two hundred for
the State Library, one thousand copies for the State Board of Agri-
culture, and one thousand copies for the State Horticultural Society,
for the distribution through the agricultural, horticultural and me-
chanical associations throughout the State.
Sec. 10. This act to be in force from and alter its passage.
Approved December 1, 1863.
Of the Missouri State Board of Agriculture.
6bcti6n 1. A Board of Agriculture is hereby instituted and cre-
ated a body corporate, by the name and style of the ^^ Missouri State
Board of Agriculture," and by that name shall have perpetual suc-
eession, power to sue and be sued, complain and defend in all courts,
to make and use a common seal, and to alter the same at pleasure. ■
LAWS RKLATIXe THERETO. 3
I
Sec. 2. The persons named as corporators of the Missouri State
Board of Agriculture heretofore existing, and the duly elected officers
thereof, are hereby constituted the officers and members of the Board
of Agriculture hereby created, until their successors shall be duly
elected and qualified.
Sec. 3. The Missouri State Board of Agriculture shall, at their
next annual meeting, in addition to filling the vacancies then occur-
ring, elect two additional members, and the Governor of the State
and the Superintendent of Public Schools shall be ex-oMcio members
of the Board. Immediately after the State Board of Agriculture has
been increased to twelve elected members, as herein provided, said
twelve members shall, by themselves and by lot, be divided into three
classes of four each, numbered one, two and three. The term of
service of class number one shall expire at the annual meeting in
18H7; of class number two at the annual meeting in 1868, and of class
number three in 1869; and at the annual meeting in 1867 and each
annual meeting thereafter, there shall bo elected four members, for
the term of three years, to fill the vacancies occurring by expiration
of term of service ; and any vacancies occurring in unexpired terms
of service, shall be filled by election for the unexpired term. In
case of failure by the president or delegates of county agricultural
societies to fill vacancies at the annual meeting, the Board shall have
power to fill the same by election.
Sec. 4. The officers of said Board shall l&e a president, secretary
and treasurer, and such other officers as said Board shall deem nec-
cessary, who shall be elected at the annual meeting thereof, and shall
serve for one year, and until their successors are duly elected and
prepared to enter upon the duties of their respective offices.
Sec. 5. The Missouri State Board of Agriculture, and their succes-
sors shall have power to adopt such by-laws and make such rules and
regulations for the government of said Board and the management of
its affairs and business, as they may deem best calculated to promote
the interest of agriculture, and as shall not be inconsistent with the
constitution and laws of the State of Missouri and of the United
States.
Sec. 6. There shall be held, in the city of St. Louis, on the first
Wednesday of December of each year, an annual meeting of the
Board of Agriculture, together with the president of each county
tgricultural society, or other delegates therefrom, duly authorized,
who shall, for the time being, be ex-oMcio member of the State Board
of Agriculture, for the purpose of deliberation and consultation as to
the wants, prospects and conditions of the agricultural interests of
the State, to receive the reports of the district and county societies,
and to fill, by elections, all vacancies in the State Board of Agricul-
ture. The president, also, shall have power to call meetings of the
.Board whenever he may deem it expedients, and at any meeting of
4 MiSSaURI AGRfCCrLTURB.
said Board seven members thereof shall constitute a quoram for the
transaction of basiness.
8ec. 7. It shall Jbe the duty of all agricultural and horticultural
societies, organized and established in accordance with the laws of
this State, to make a full report of their transactions to the Missouri
State Board of Agriculture^ at each annual meeting thereof.
S£0. 8. It shall be the duty of the said Board to make an annual
report to the General Assembly of the State, embracing the proceed-
higs of the Board for the past year, and an abstract of the reports and
proceedings of the several agricultural and horticultural societies, as
well as a general view of the condition of the agriculture and horti-
cailture throughout the State, accompanied by such recommendations
itacluding especially such a system of public instruction upon those
rabjects as may be deemed interesting and useful.
S£G. 9. The sum of one hundred dollars is hereby appropriated
opt of any money nototherwise appropriated, for the use of the Board,
and an account of the expenditures of the Board shall be included in
the annual report to the General Assembly.
8ko. 10. The Public Printer shall, annually, under the direction of
the president of the State Board ot Agriculture, and the president of
tixe State Horticultural Society, print and bind, in one volume, six:
thousand copies of the annual report ot the said Board of Agriculture
and the proceedings of the State Horticultural Society, thirty eight
hundred copies to be for the use of the General Assembly, two hun-
dred for the State Library, one thousand copies for the State Board of
Agriculture, and one thousand copies for the State Horticultural
Society, for distribution to the agricultural, horticultural and mechan-
ical associations throughout the State.
Of County Agricultural and Mechanical Societies.
Section 8. At each annual meeting of the society the board of
directors shall report, in writing, the number of members and the
financial condition of their society ; the quantity and character of
property owned by it, and the quality and cost of improvement of
the same; the number and value of premiums awarded at their an*
nual fair; the number and character of animals and articles exhibited;
8^ statement of the probable quantity of the staple commodities of the
connty, and prices current thereof, and such other information in re-
lation to the agricultural and mechanical interests of the county as
they may deem worthy of general notice ; and a copy of the report
so made shall be transmitted to the Board of Directors of the Mis*
■o^ri State Agricultural Society (Missouri State Board of Agrioul-
LAWS RKLATIHe THERETO. J5
tore), to be disposed of as provided in the next succeeding section of
this chapter.
Sec. 9. The Board of Directors of the Missouri State Agricultural
Society (Missouri State Board of Agriculture) shall, at each session
of the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, report faithfully
all the facts, statistics and information contained in the reports trans-
mitted to them from the county agricultural and mechanical societies
organized and incorporated under the provisions of this chapter, and
such other facts, statistics and information as they may gather from
other counties in this State in regard to agricultural, mechanical and
domestic manufactures and productions, and to the raising of the
various breeds of stock.
BY-LAWS of Missouri State Board of Agriculture.
Section 1. The officers of the Missouri State Board of Agriculture
shall consist of a president, vice president, recording secretary, treas-
urer and corresponding secretary.
Sec. 2. It shall he the duty of the president to preside at the
meetings of the Board, to sign all warrants on the treasurer ordered
by the Board and to perform such other duties as are or may be re-
quired by law. He shall be ex-oMoio chairman of the executive com-
mittee. In his absence the vice president shall perform his duties.
Sbc. 3. It shall be the duty of the recording secretary to keep and
preserve the minutes and records of the Board and the proceedings
of the executive committee, to furnish a copy of the same for publi-
cation previous to the expiration of his term of service, and to coun-
tersign all warrants on the treasurer for money.
Sec. 4. The treasurer shall keep theiunds of the Board, and pay
all warrants drawn by the order of the Board, signed by the president
and countersigned by the secretary, and shall make his report at the
annual meeting in December of his receipts and expenditures, from
whence received and to whom paid, properly arranged for publica-
tion. He shall give bond in such penal sum as may be required by
the Board for the faithful performance of his duties and the payment
of all moneys in his hands.
i>EC. 5. It shall be the duty of the corresponding secretary to
conduct all correspondence with societies and individuals, to issue
such circulars for obtaining statistics or other information as the
Board may direct or as he may deem expedient or useiul, to collate
and arrange the correspondence, proceedings of the Board, and the
proceedings of county societies for reportand publication as required
by law, and to distribute to county societies and others entitled to
6 ^ MlSSOUfil AGRICDLTUKE.
them all seeds, plants, publications, etc., which may be acquired by the
Board for distribution. His term of office shall hereafter commence
on the first day of February, and continue one year and until his suc-
cessor is elected.
Sec. 6. The annual election for officers of the Board shall be held
as early as possible after the adjournment of the annual December
meeting. The officers then elected, except the corresponding secre-
tary^ shall hold office from the first of January following, and until
their successors are elected.
8ec. 7. The president, vice president and recording secretary shall
constitute an executive committee, whose duty it shall be to inspect
and audit all accounts, and to perform such other duties as may be
required of them in the intervals between the meetings of the Board.
Sec 8. The necessary expenses ot the officers and corporate mem-
bers in attending meetings of the Board shall be paid out of the
treasury.
Sec. 9. The president shall have authority to call special meet-
ings of the Board whenever he may deem it necessary or important
to do so.
Sec 10. Five of the corporate members shall be necessary to con-
stitute a quorum at all meetings except the annual meeting.
Sec. 11. These by-laws may be altered or amended at any time
by a majority of the members present and voting, provided that any
member proposing to amend the by-laws at any meeting of the Board
shall give two weeks' notice prior to said meeting to all the incorpo*
rated members, or their successors in office, of such intended motion
to amend.
Adopted March 28, 1865.
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
State Board of Agriculture.
Orncs Statb Boakd or Jl^bxcvltuke,
St. LooiSy Aag^it 10, I860.
Pursuant to a call of the President, the Missouri State Board of
Agriculture met at their rooms on Tuesday, the 10th day of August,
1869.
There were present as follows: Ool. N. J. Oolman, Wm. T.
Essex, and Henry T. Mudd, all of St. Louis county; Barnabas Smith,
of Crawford county, and Wm. Stark, of Pike county.
There not being a quorum of the members present, on motion, the
Board adjourned to meet again on Thursday, September 9, at 1ft
o'clock A. M.
JOHN H. TICE, Recording Secr^tmry.
Thanday, Scptemtm f , I8f 01
Pursuant to a4Journment, the Missouri State Board of AgricuN
tore met at their rooms in the city of St. Lonis.
There were present: Col. N. J. Colman, Wm. T. Essex, and Henry
T. Mudd, of St. Louis county ; O. A. A. Gardner, and J. W. Harris, or
Boone county; Barnabas Smith, of Crawford county; Wm. Stark, of'
Pike county, and his Excellency J. W. McClarg, Governor of the
State.
Absent — Dr. W.S.Dyer, of Jefferson county; Gert. Goebel, of
Franklin coanty; George Husmann, of Gasconade county; O. H. P.
Lear, of Marion county; and G. C. Swallow^ of Boone county.
The Corresponding Secretary, C. W. Murtfeldt, read a lengthy^
paper, recommending different subjects to the action of the Board
for the promotion of agriculture, after which Col. Colman presented
the following series of resolutions as enibracing the points recom-
mended by the Corresponding Secretary :
y
8 MISSOURI AGRICDLTURB.
1. Resolved^ That the Corresponding Secretary is hereby au-
thorized to order immediately a tield trial of ground stirring and
seeding implements duly classified, to be held in 8t. Louis county, as
near tlie Fair Grounds as possible, and be in the forenoon of each
day durins: the time of the St. Louis Fair, under the auspices of the
State Board of Agriculture; the members whereof, with such aid as
may be needed, to constitute the awarding committee.
Colonel Ooiman, called attention to the fact that there will be
present at the fair, people from all parts of this and the neighboring
States, and probably the inventors and manufacturers of the newest
and most approved agricultural implements frbm all parts of the
Union would also be present to extiibit their machinery. Now i* was
utterly impossible from the construction and appearance of a ma-
chine to tell how it would operate, and in what manner it iivould do
its work. The contemplated trial would enable them to see both,
and to judge of their relative merits, and enable them to form some
kind of an opinion at least, whether the machines were adapted to
their wants.
President Mudd inquired whether the necessary ground for trial
could be had.
The Corresponding Secretary said h6 had assurances that it
could.
The resolution was then adopted.
2. Resolved^ That the President appoint a committee to carry
this resolution into effect.
3. Resolved^ That the Corresponding Secretary be and is hereby
authorized to order a field trial of reapers and mowers and farm im-
plements germain to harvesting generally, to be held under the
auspices of the Board during the harvest of 1370.
3. Resolved^ That the Corresponding Secretary procure the privi-
lege of holding said trial convenient to the city of 8t. Louis, and
near a railroad, and make all other necessary arrangements for said
trial.
Colonel Colman said he presumed there would be no objection
to these resolutions, as the trial contemplated would cost nothing,
provided it was, as is expected, conducted on the Sedalia plan.
The resolutions were then adopted.
6. Resolved^ That the Board approve of the suggestions of the
Corresponding Secretary of holding ^' farmers* institutes,*' and the
members of this Board pledge themselves to aid every such effort by
general attendance and active participation whenever it shall be pos-
sible for them to be present
Mr. Smith : It was said of the last resolutions, that the object
contemplated by them could be carried into effect without costing
any thing. That is more than can be said of this. My experience has
taught me that the amount appropriated would soon be expended if
an attempt were made to carry out this resolution. Last winter some-
thing of the kind was attempted, not to hold Institutes, but to organ-
ixe agricultural societies in the southwestern parts of the State. He
endeavored to get a pass to the different points of meeting without
PROCEEDIKGS OF STATE BOAKD 9
ayail, and after attending meetings in four connties be gave it up, as
it took not only his time, but his money. We are working for the
promotion and prosperity of the agricultural interest of the State,
and prospectively for the commercial and railroad interest. But if
willing to devote our time, these grasping railroad monopolies revise
us the paltry favor of transporting us free over these roads while
engaged in this work. There is no State in the Union besides where
80 illiberal a policy is pursued by the railroads. The memhers and
officers of aJl other State Boards have not only free tickets for special,
bui for general occasions, so that they can go whenever and where-
ever they choose, to learn and improve their knowledge of what is
going on, or to impart their knowledge and experience toothers.
But here we have even to pay our own expenses to attend the meet-
ings of the Board. To be sure the Board refunds us the amount of
onr expenditures, but the money of the Board is wrung out of the
hard earnings of the tax-pnyers. If this resolution is to be carried
out, we must ask the Legislature for several thousand dollars more
appropriation.
Colonrel Colman -said he presented the resolution because the
Corresponding Secretary desired it, not that he had mu<*h faith in its
success under present circumstances. The illiberal policy com-
plained of by the member from Oriiwford no doubt had a retarding
and disastrous influence upon the agricultural and horticultural in-
terests of the State. He thought if proper representations were
made to the directors of the several railroads, they would inaugurate
a more liberal policy, and grant us every needed facility chee fully ;
in fact, return to the policy first adopted when this Board was organ-
ized, of giving a general free pass to all the members and oflScers.
He knew of several members, and also officers, who for three years
had free tickets on all the railroads of the State, yet never availed
themselves in a single instance of a free ride, simply because when
the organization was new there was no necessity for them of visiting
other parts of the State. But to carrv out this resolution, would
require their presence at given points, and to meet the expenditure
we must either have a larger appropriation or free passes over the
railroads.
These institutes would be an immense benefit to the agricultu-
rist*?. Let the farmers be called tosrether and lectures delivered to
them by men well learned in agricultural science, like tearhers' insti-
tutes, but at present he could not see how the Board could undertake
them, on account of the necessary expenditure involved.
Mr. Murtfeldt thought that as far as the railroad difficulty was
concerned, that the same might be overcome by proper efiorts and
representations.
Mr. Smith said he would vote for the resolution because it would
be a right step in the right direction, but impracticable under our
present railroad management. To be consistent, however, as soon as
10 HI3S0UBC AGRICULTUBB.
the question was disposed of, he would offer a resolution to clear th«
way of obstructions.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr. Smith then offered the following resolution, which was
adopted :
Resolved^ That a committee of three, of which Governor McClurg
shall be chairman, be appointed by the President, to represent to the
proper railroad officers the relations in which this Board stand towards
the industrial and commercial interests of the State ; and ask of them
a return to the liberal policy adopted by them at the time when this
Board was first organized.
The President appointed Messrs. Smith and Oolman the addi-
tional members.
Mr. J. W. Harris offered the following resolution :
Resolved^ That in the opinion of this Board, the great interests
of agriculture, mining and mechanic arts would be promoted by
organizing, by acts of the Legislature, district fairs throughout the
State.
Mr. Harris said the proposition was so plain and the results so
evident as to require no discussion. The only objection to it that
could be urged, was that the Legislature would hardly take that
favorable view of it as to make the necessary appropriation. He
presumed that it would involve some expense ; at least, as it probably
would be required of this Board, to carry the measure in(o effect.
For places to hold the fairs, he presumed nothing would be required,
as competition betw.een localities would avoid that As there were
other expenditures necessary to carry out the work intrusted to the
Board, which required a more liberal appropriation is necessary
at any rate. The present is a mere pittance, hardly sufficient to keep
up the organization of the Board. Only enough is given to remain
an organized Board, but never could we become a working Board.
Mr. Oolman thought the holding of district fairs had better be
left to private enterprise.
Mr. Harris said the object of the resolution was not for the State
to hold fairs, but having them held, under the patronage of official
authority. This would give such fairs more character than they pos-
sibly can have as mere county fairs. ^
The resolution was then adopted.
Mr. Stark offered the following resolution, with sum in blank,
which being filled with two hundred dollars, was adopted:-
Resolved^ That the Oorresponding Secretary procure illustrations
(cuts) for the next volume of the Agricultural report to the amount
of not exceeding two hundred dollars, if said illustrations are needed
for the better understanding of papers contained in the report, or
calculated greatly to embellish the same.
Mr. Stark also offered the following resolution :
Resolved^ That the Oorresponding Secretary be and is hereby
authorized to procure so many glass vials as shall be needed to form
PB00SEDIN68 OF STATE BOARD. 11
a museum of seeds of cereals, grasses, hemp« all manner of garden
seeds, &c.
Mr. Stark said he offered the resolution at the request of the Cor-
responding Secretary. As he understood it only to apply to rare
seeds, it would require but little expenditure annually.
Mr. Kiley said he should like that, if the Board could afford it, to
embrace in it enough for cases of entomological specimens. Thus an
entomological cabinet of all the insects in the State would soon
spring up, with but little cost.
Mr. Stark said no expenditure of money could be better applied
than for the purpose designated by Mr. Riley, and he hoped Mr. Kiley
would present the matter separately, with an estimate of the amount
of expenditure it would involve. •
The resolution was then adopted.
Mr. Harris said every step we take towards bringing the Board
into a working condition convinced him of the inadequacy of the
appropriation. He, therefore, would offer the following resolution:
Resolved^ That a committee of five be appointed to lay before the
next session of the Legislature the necessity of an increased appro-
priation for this Board, and urge a larger appropriation.
Resolution adopted, and Messrs. Harris, Colman, Essex, Mudd
and Husmann appointed said committee.
A bill for %22 50 for removal and fixtures in new office, was pre-
sented and ordered to be paid
The President laid before the Board two bills of R. P. Studley &
Co., one for $63 65 and the other for $275 25, for engravings in the last
annual report.
Mr. Mudd said that as the expenditure had not been authorized
by any resolution of the Board, the Executive Committee considered
they had no authority to audit it. Hence he laid it before the Board
for action thereon.
Dr. Morse, ex- Corresponding Secretary, explained the bill.
The subject was discussed by Messrs. Mudd, Colman, GovernCH*
McClurg and Gardner.
The ground taken was, principally, that though generally the
expenditures were proper, yet that the Board must insist upon retain-
ing all expenditures in its own hands ; and, secondly, that the cuts
were, to some extent at least, made for and used in the Journal of
Agriculture^ of which Dr. Morse is editor.
Mr. Colman asked if the matter could not be compromised ?
The President said he presumed it could by consent of parties.
Dr. Morse said he only represented Studley & Co. so far as t»
vouch for the correctness of the charges, and as made by his orders.
He himself individually would perhaps be held responsible for any
deduction made. However, the Board might make what deduction
they thought proper, and leave it to-Messrs. Studley & Co. to accept
or reject.
12 MISSOURI AORICULTUBB.
Mr. Oolman then offered the following resolution, which was
adopted :
Re8olvf*.d^ That seventy five dollarfl be deducted from the aggre-
gate amount of the>ill8 presented by R. P. StudleyA Co.. for engrav-
ings, etc.; provided they accept the same and give a receipt in full of
all demands.
Mr. Colman offered the following resolution, which was adopted:
Resolved. That the Corresponding Secretary be requested to obtain
and keep posnession of all the cuts paid tor and belonging to the
Board, and allow them to be used by other parties if he think proper;
but that hereafterall cuts ordered by the Secretarv, under the author-
ity of the Biard, shall not be used by other parti ^s until they shall
have 6r8t been used in the annual report of the Board.
• On motion, the Board then adjourned.
JOHN H. TICE, Recording Secretary.
Orrici MiSKouRi State Board of Aqricui.tubb,
St. Loins, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 1869.
This being the day fixed by the act of incorporation, for the annual
meeting of the Missouri State Board of Agriculture, there were pres-
ent Norman J. Colman, Wm. T. Essex and Henry T Mudd of St. Louis
county ; W. S. Dyer of Jefferson countv ; George LIusmann of Mont-
gomery county ; O. A. A. Gardner, and J. VV. H «rris of B )one county ;
O. H. P. Lear of Marion county; Wm. Stark of Pike county; and
Barnabas Smith of Crawford county, of the incorporated members,
and John F. Clarkson, President of the Agriitultural and Mechanical
Association of Boone county; and £. B Snoddy, President of the
Agricultural Society of Crawford county, ex-oMcio members.
Absent — Gov. J. W. M<*Clurg and T. A. Parker, ex-oMcio mem-
bers ; Qert. Goebel of Franklin county, and G 0. Swallow of Boone
county, incorporated members.
Messrs. G. W. Kinney and David G Jones of the Hickory Grove,
Warren County Farmers' Club were present, but under the statutt
could not be admitted as ex-oMcio members.
Reports from officers being in order, J. H. Tice, Recording Secre-
tary, reported the proceedings of the Executive Committee for the
fiscal year ending this day, showing that the Executive Committee
tinder the orders and rules and regulation of the Board, had audited
accounts and issued warrants on the TroHSurer for ft»ur thousand six
hnndred sixty-one and two one-hundredths,($4.t5t)l 02) dollars, which
was referred to Committee on Treasurer's Accounts. [For list see
Treasurer's Account.]
W. T. Essex, Treasurer, made the following Report, which was re-
ferred to O. A. A. Gardner, O. H. P. Lear, and Wm. Stark, as commit-
tee for examination.
PROCEBDINaS OP STATE BOARD.
13
WM. T. ESSBX, TREASURER, OP STATE BOARD OP AGRICULTURE, IN ACCOUNT WITH
STATE BOARD OP AQRICULTURB OF MISSOURI.
Doc. 2, 1868 To balance on hand ,
April 21, 1869 To amouiit received this day from Treasurer of State....
29.
31.
Peb.
26.
81
6.
26,
Marcb 6.
26.
3i.
April 6.
16
27,
M«7 1
6
25
fane 10
30
1869
<<
it
tt
tt
t«
n
Dec 2, 1868 By B. Smith's expenses ( $19 ^^
0. H. P. Lear's expenses I 7 00 No. 1
J. W. Harris' expenses ( 9 50
C. V. Riley, paid him
John H. Tice, "
L. D. Morse, "
Levering A Webffter, rent 5
C. V. Riley, paid him 6
J. H lice,
L. D. Morse,
C. V Riley,
J. H. Tice,
C. V. Kiley,
J. H. Tice,
Levering A Webster, rent 13
L. U. Morse, paiil him 14
C. V. Riley,
John H lice,
C. W. Murtfeldt, " (3 months) 17
18
9
10
11
12
4t
tl
tl
it
Jaly 26.
30.
Aur. 3.
^ 10.
30..
Sept 2..
3..
10..
14..
80.
Oct. 31.
Nor. 1.
5.
27.
Dec 1.
C. V. Rilej;.
John U. lice,
do.
C. V. Riley,
Levering A Webster, paid him 22
C. V. Riley, " 23
C. W Mortfeldt,
John H. Tice,
B. Smith's expenaof,
Mr. Stark,
C. V Ril y,
John H. Tice,
C. W. Martfeldt,
B. Smith's expenses,
R. P. Studley A Co.,
J. W Harris' expenses,
W. Stark,
0. A. A. Gardner,
W. A. Doyles,
N. J. Coleman,
C. V. Riley,
John U. Tice,
C. V Rilejr,
John H. Tice,
C. W. Martfeldt,
0. V. Riley, .
n
tl
«4
t€
U
t*
it
a
it
tt
tt
It
it
it
a
it
it
a
It
a
rent
19
2u
21
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
81
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
89
40
41
42
43
To balance on hand.
Fo balance on band this day.,
35 80
208 40
6 25
120 06
76 0!>
208 40
6 *
116 96
208 40
6 25
208 40
6 26
75 00
33 50
208 40
6 26
350 00
208 40
6 25
6 25
208 40
75 00
20b 40
408 60
6 25
11 70
10 00
208 40
6 25
116 67
11 80
263 9(»
11 00
10 00
■ 9 PO
22 60
75 00
208 40
6 25
208 40
6 26
259 98
208 40
4,661 02
2,230 58
$6,891 60
$1,791 66
6,100 00
$6,891 $$
$2,230 58
It will require the following amount to pay off, say salaries, rent,
&c., to the end of our fiscal year, (April Ist, 1870, the time when we
get our annual appropriation).
For Mr. C. V. Riley, 4 moiiths salary,
Mr. C. W. Murtfeldt, 5 months salary
Mr. J. H. Tice, 6 months salary ^
Office rent, two quarters
For expenses of members (traYeling expenses) estimata
Balance on band .«
■xpanses to April lit, 1870
LaaTJng % balanea then
$833 60
683 86
31 26
150 06
260 Of
$1,84820
$2,230 68
1,848 91
$ 382 88
14 MISSOUBI AGRICULTURE.
In connection with this, my annual report to the Honorable
Board, it has occurred to me to make a few brief statements, and oiFer
a few suggestions, which the Board may act upon as they may deem
proper.
In the first place, I would like the Board to ask of the Honorable,
the Legislature of the State of Missouri, an appropriation of $6,000,
for the coming- fiscal year, instead of the usual annual amount of
$5,100.
My reason for this is, that the salary of our State Entomologist
is not adequate for his support, traveling expenses, and for the better
illustration of his annual report to this Board. $2,500 will very well
do for his salary, and perhaps part ot his traveling expenses ; but we
should give him at least $500 for the engraving of the illustralions
necessary to make his report more full and better understood. This
would allow him then, $3,000 per annum in full, and I would suggest
that any engraved plates, either of wood or metal, shall belong ex-
clusively to this Board, and be first used in the report made to them.
If the gentlemen of the Board were as familiar as myself with
the exertions made by our Entomologist, and the time and money
spent in expenses in Jefferson City last winter, in getting the addi-
tional $3,000 appropriation, I think they would unanimously agree
with me in my first remark.
In the second place, I would suggest that the salary of our Hon-
orable Corresponding Secretary be raised to $2,000per annum, should
we get the additional appropriation. Our Secretary, to get the reports
from the interior county societies in full, and as they should be pub-
lished, must necessarily visit most of the county seats, either during
the time of their fairs or afterward, the traveling and incidental ex-
penses for which, cost him a good part of his salary. By raising his
salary to an adequate amount, would leave it as it now stands, say
$1,400 intact for the support of his family, which certainly is small
enough, when we^expect to get the services, time and talent of a man
of practical experience.
This would leave about $1,000 for the office expenses and travel-
ing expenses of the Members of the Board, which I think would be
ample enough, and not too much.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
WM. T. ESSEX,
Treasurer' of the Board of AgriGxcUure^ State of Missouri.
Mr. Murtfeldt, the Corresponding Secretary, read the following
report :
To the Honorable^ the State Board of Agriculture :
Gkiitlemen: In carefully looking over the records of the annual
meetings of the Board, I am unable to find a precedent that a report
of the Corresponding Secretary has been submitted at such meeting.
Your former Secretary, on one occasion, makes the remark that h«
PROCSKDINGS OF STATE BOARD. 15
has no report to offer, but that his annual report to the General
Assembly and to the Board is in process of construction. May I be
permitted to say the same at this time, and to remind the Board that
it will be impossible to get the annual report to press before Marcher
April, because the usual legislative proceedings will take prece-
dence. Life and health being spared me, I hope to be ready as soon
as the State Printer shall signify his willingness to receive copy for
the report, to place the same into his hands. Some valuable contri-
butions have already been received.
There are some very important matters for the consideration of
the honorable Board at this present time, and none more so in the
opinion of your Secretary than the pending agricultural college bill.
Just what is best to do in the premises the united wisdom ot the Board
will nojt fail to devise. It would have been a great gratification, I
judge, to have had Senator Kollins explain to the Board all the essen-
tial points of his bill, which has passed the Senate, and will come up
in the House at an early day. May I be permitted to suggest that, if
at all possible, a committee composed of members of the Board be
appointed this present session, whose duty it shall be to present such
resolutions, expressive of the deep interest this honorable Board feels
in the establishment of an institution of learning, that shall take
high rank among the agricultural colleges of the land, and to back
up these resolutions by their personal presence at the capital of the
State, by a diligent intercourse with the members of the standing
Committee on Agriculture, and in every proper way to aid and secure
the munificent grant made to the State by Congress for the establish-
ment of at least one agricultural college in the State.
IMMIGRATIOK.
Since the called meeting of the Board in September, your
Secretary has visited the Solithwest portion of the State, and begs
leave at this time to refer to only one feature which came under his
immediate observation.
In leaving the railroad at Lebanon, the present terminus of the
Southwest Branch, the balance of the journey to Jasper county was
performed by ptage. The more moderate speed of the living animal
(in comparison with the iron-horse), furnished better opportunity for
observation than one can get from the rear end window of a railroad
car. It was surprising to see so many camp fires during the night,
and to pass so great a number of emigrant trains during the day.
Very rarely'one of these was found headed to the east, and if one was
so observed it generally contained parties that had only come to
view 'the goodly land," who would return by and by to make a home
in Missouri. But if this was the case between Lebanon and Carthage
it was much more so between the latter point and Sedalia. Never,
since the great exodus to California, in '49 and '50, was there such im-
migration into any State as there has been (and is yet) into Missouri
in the ftutunm of 1869.
16 MtSSOOai AGBICULTURE.
As much as one can judge in a passing view, and in short
snatches of conv^ersation, of the character of these newcomers, for
thrift and general intelligence they will compare very favorably with
those of any portion of the West or East, for that matter. They hail
mostly from Illinois^ Minnesota and Iowa, though many come from
the Canadas and the East. They are, to a great extent, young men,
or men in the prime of life, and are not unfreqnently accompanied
by the grandsire of the family, whose counsel will be of great value
in establishing the ^^new home," and whose willing hands will still be
found active in many a garden or orchard, or doing the chorep, while
the more vigorous youth shall break up and fence in the laud and
build the house and barn.
Your Secretary reiers to this matter at the present time, only to
show the imperative necessity on the part of the State of fostering
the great agricultural interests which are paramount to and underlie
all others, and to advance by all legitimate means the great material
welfare of the farmers of Missouri. This can only be done by "fur-
nishing line upon line and precept upon precept." Here again
appears the necessity for the speedy establishment of agricultural
schools and of furnishing all the information at the disposal of this
office.
According to a resolution passed by the Board at the extra
session in September, the Secretary ordered a circular printed invit-
ing competition in a field trial of plows, harrows, cultivators, rollers,
and other soil stirring implements, to come off during the fair of the
St Louis Agricultural and Mechanical Association, and on and near
the fair grounds. Such a trial was held, and at the time appointed,
and the result, if not all tliat could have been desired, was highly
satisfactory. There were twenty-nine bona fide entries, taking all
the classes together, while a few entries made by letter, unaccom-
panied by the usual fee, were ignored by the principals. The current
expenses were all covered by the entry fee as per statement herewith
submitted, and it will only devolve upon the Board to order the pre-
paration of a certificate of awards, such as shall be creditable alike to
the State and to the Board. If the success of this field trial has been
such as shall warrant to order a similar one for reapers, mowers, and
other harvest machinery, the certificate ordered may be made such
as shall be suitable for both trials. To show the importance attached
to the trial held during the fair, I beg leave to read a letter from the
"Weir Plow Company," and also a formal protest to one of the awards
from H. A. Dickson, of Dixon, Illinois. Your Secretary ^has been
assured by other manufacturers (not participants) that had they
fairly understood the efforts of this Board, working in their behalf,
they would have made any reasonable sacrifice to h^ve been present
and contestants.
In requesting the Board at this early day to signify their approval
of the holding of a field trial of harvest machinery, it is to give mano-
, PROCEEDINGS OP BTATE BOARP. 17
facturers plenty of time to prepare for the contest, and also to secure
the most eligible grounds upon which such a trial, which shall be a
real criterion of the true merits of each separate machine, may be
held. I am well aware that I shall take upon myself much labor and
perhaps some blame, the first I regard as duty, and the latter, if unde-
served, cannot harm me. It will take some time to disabuse the
public outside of Missouri |[and some even in our own State), that the
8t. Louis Fair is not a State Fair, and that there is at least one State
Board of Agriculture that cannot be bribed, but is firmly determined
to act honorably in the best interest of the State.
Once more, to show that no prize won short of a field trial of
reapers, mowers, etc., is esteemed by the manufacturers themselves,
is evidenced by the fact that at their own request many of the State
and county fairs o£fer no premiums for these implements. They,
exhibit their machines and distribute their advertisements, and there
they rest satisfied. And this is wise. How, then, shall or can these
very valuable and almost untversally used labor-saving machines be
tested but in actual field trials.
It does not seem to be generally understood that the State law
quoted makes it obligatory, upon the officers of county and district
agricultural societies to make an annual report to this Board, to be
embodied in the annual report of its corresponding secretary. There
are present with us to-day ex-officio members, officers or delegates
from county societies. May I be allowed to call their attention to
this fact, and respectfully request an account — brief if it must be — of
their transactions. Besides, it must be evident to the residents of the
respective counties that, if they wish to attract immigration, and be
esteemed as intelligent and progressive communities, they must make
an exhibit of their productions, their industries, their natural advan-
tages, and their general intelligence. In no way can this be better
performed than in a faithful and truthful report.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
0. W. MURTFELDT.
On motion the report was referred to a committee consisting of
Messrs. Smith, Oolman and Harris to consider the same and report
thereon.
Reports from county agricultural associations were called for.
The secretary said he had but one such report as yet.
Mr. Snoddy said the feport of the Crawford County Agricultural
Association was not ready, but it would be handed in shortly.
On motion, it was resolved that county associations be requested
to report on or before the first of March, so as to be inserted in the
anniial report.
The Corresponding Secretary stated that his annual report had
been delayed by unforseen circumstances; and that therefore he had
to report that it would be ready as soon as the Public Printer would
*3— A B
38 laSSOUBI AGRICULTUIUB.
be able to commence on the work, which would be probably by the
let of March.
Mr. Golman offered the following resolution, which was adopted
and referred to a committee consisting of Messrs. Colman and
, after being so amended that the same committee be instructed
to attend the session of the Legislature, with the yiew of obtaining
legislation in conformity to such report of said committee as may be
submitted to, and adopted by this Board :
Resolved^ That a special committee of three be appointed by the
President, to take into consideration the subject of the location of
the Agricultural and Mechanical College, and make a report at as
early a day as practicable.
Mr. Colman said that, as the time for adjournment till after diin-
ner had arrived, he would like to have the time fixed for the ele^ction
of members to fill vacancies by expiration of time of service. He pre-
ferred it should be first in order at the afternoon session, and he would
therefore move a resolution to that effect.
The President stated that it had been the general custom to take
up the filling of vacancies as the last order of business of the annual
meeting; and unless the Board made an order to the contrary, he
would rule that it be last business in regular order.
On motion of Mr. Gardner, a recess was taken until half-past. one
.o'clock p. M. - r . .
AFTEBNOON SESSION.
Mr. Ccdman, from the committee appointed in the forenoon, made
the following report, which was accepted and the resolution adopted:
The special committee, to whom was referred the special report .
of the Corresponding Secretary, beg leave to report that they
have had the same under consideration, and so far as the protest of
Henry A. Dickson, to the award of the committee which tried the .
walking cultivators at the late field trial of plows and other soil-stirrilrig
implements, authorized by this Board, is concerned, your committee
would respectfully report that the protest, to .be valid, should hav^
been made at the time of the trial, and that the Board cannot now go
behind the action of the awarding committee.
The committee reported the following resolution :
Resolved^ That this meeting approve ol {he action of fbe Board
on September 9th, instructing the Corresponding Secretary of this
Board to take the necessary preliminary steps for holding afield trial
of reapers, mowers and other harvesting machinery during the har-^
vest of 1870; that said trial be held as near the city of Si. Louia >aA(
suitable ground and crops can be secured, and that be give publicity .
to the action of the Board authorizing such trial under the direction
of the State Board of Agriculture.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
B. RMTTTT.,/7A^irman..
PROCXSDIKOS OF STATK BOAKD. 19
Mr. Gardner, from the Committee on Treasurer's Account, made
the following report, which was accepted, and the accompanying res-
olution adopted :
The committee to whom the Treasurer's report was submitted,
beg leave to report : They find the account correct, so far as they can
tell, and that the accounts of warrants issued by the President and
paid by the Treasurer correspond. In regard to the suggestions made
by the Treasurer, we beg leave to oflFer the following resolution :
Resolved^ That the State Board of Agriculture instruct their com-
mittee in attendance on the Legislature during the next session to
ask an appropriation of the sum of $6,000 for the use of the State
Board of Agriculture.
O. A. A. GARDNER.
Mr. Colman : That the Board had better remain in session an-
other day. In order to test the sense of the Board, he wduld offer the
following resolution :
Resolved^ That when the Board adjourn it adjourn to meet at 10
o'clock to-morrow in the forenoon.
Mr. Oolman, continued : I think that the great interests confided
to this Board demand that we should devote more time to their dis-
cussion. Persons come here from different parts of the State, and we
merely transact ordinary business, and wind up the meeting in a
single day. We never could rouse the people and get them interested
in our proceedings, or benefit them much, unless we spend more time
in discussion. In other States the annual meetings of their State
Boards last several days in discussion. The best reports are those of
the State of Massachusetts. There the farmers meet and discuss the
agricultural matters connected with that State, and they are carefully
and fully reported. I would like to have the farmers of Missouri read
and see these reports. I would like to have the reports of our State
Board fully reported. The farmers of Missouri and the agricultural
interests of the State are under a cloud. Why is it that wheat is so
low ? Why is it that the products of the farmer are so low, and yet
all he uses are costly and expensive ? It is because the government
at Washington fosters a protective tariff. We must not only come
here and elect our officers, but we must discuss these great questions.
If we are not bold enough to discuss these great questions, let us ad«
journ and give place to bolder and abler men.
Mr. Smith : I am in favor of adjourning at the shortest period pos-
sible, and therefore only want time enough to transact our necessary
business. Mr. Oolman says we must have more time ; and I agree
with him, that we will want a great deal more time, if we follow out
his programme, and endeavor to run the government as he proposes.
I think we had better adjourn instantly and disperse, than undertake
such an unwise thing. We have enough to do of work that properly
belongs to us, without meddling with political questions. This 'is a
meeting for what ? To fill vacancies occasioned by the expiration of
the term of service of one-third of our members, to reorganize the
20 mSfiOUBI AaRIOlTLTUBJL
Board for the ensuing year^ and to take all the preliminary steps for
its efficient working next year. This, above all others, onght to be a
meeting for business, and not for general discussion. Every hour the-
members stay subjects them to additional expense ; and by our regu-
lations the personal expenses of members attending the meeting are
paid out of our appropriation. Staying here longer than o«r business
imperatively demands, is spending needlessly the pe(^le% money, for
which we'will be held responsible. If we cannot get through with
our business this afternoon, and I see we cannot, I will offer an
amendment, that when wq adjourn we adjourn to meet at 1 o'clock
p. M.
Dr. Dyer: Thought that we had better proceed to business than
spend our time in discussing questions of adjournment. When we are
through with business, adjournment will take care of itself.
Mr. Oolman said he brought the matter up because those residing
in this county could then send word to their families if they could not
go home. As far as he himself was concerned, he did not care
whether he spent the evening with his family or at the Board ; be-
cause he could go home after adjournment. But others were not so-
favorably situated. As for what Mr. Smith had said, he must disclaim
all such intentions as were imputed to him. He never would allow
this Board to be used as a political club.
Mr. Husmann said if the Board proceeded to business it conld get
through and adjourn before, night He therefore thought both the
resolution and amendment were out of place.
The President said the question was on the amendment of Mr-
Smith; which was submitted and declared adopted.
Mr. Lear said the Board had resolved to hold a field trial for har-
vesting implements. I suppose that it will be necessary to appoint
certain committees to carry that resolution into effect; first, a com-
mittee to make a scale of points, so that the public could know what
was decided at the trial. Now unless this is done the people will be
be just as much in the dark after as before the trial. We all want the ,
best machines, and those that are not yet supplied want to know how
the varied machines, candidates for public patronage, will stand the
ordeal of trial. Not only that, but they want to know in what points
thoy excel. In almost every neighborhood there are machines. These
may give satisfaction, yet they may not be all that is desired. In a
field trial these will come into competition with others. If they are
the best the people will then know what to get; if they are not the
best, they will not only know that there are better, but also why they
are better. Then again, there is a competent committee necessary to
superintend the field trial, and see that justice is done both to the in-
ventors and the public.
I agree with Mr. Colman that we should do something when we
meet. And I will further say that the something which we do, should
tend to promote the agricultural interests of the State. We car*
PROCEBBINGS OV STATE BOARD. 21
tainly are at the head of the agricultural interests of the State, and
if we are not, we ought to be in the front to introduce ideas of pro-
gress and improvement in the industrial interests of the State. If
we place ourselves in this position, we will not get the people to
talk about us. Many farmers are watching us, and think we are not
rendering an equivalent to the public for what it costs them. They
say if we cannot, or do not do better, the Board ought to be abolished.
Hundreds of farmers do not know there is such a Board. If a cirqus
comes into the neighborhood, they all know it, because the circus
men advertise and make a noise. Our good works will advertise usi
and if we can get the live farmers in each neighborhood to form
clubs, and put ourselves in communication with them, they will make
noise enough for us. In the Massachusetts reports I find discussions
held in various parts of the State, scientific lectures delivered and all
subjects interesting to the farmers discussed by experts, such as
manuring, rotation in crops, breeding, rearing and feeding stock,
methods and costs of making butter and cheese, etc. These are
proper subjects for farmers to consider. They inform them not only
how to do a thing, but why to do it. They also become informed of
the most economical method of doing things. If a farmer ventures
into any business to make it a specialty on his farm, if he studies the
facta elicited by these discussions, he can in advance tell the cost
and the probable results. I should like our Board, if it could afford
it, to adopt a similar course. If it lacks the means, and our acts are
such as to gain the confidence of the farmers in this State, they will
furnish us with all we may need. But if I go on ^n this way, I will
get lost, if I am not already, therefore for fear of straying too far from
my track, 1 move that two committees of five each be appointed, one
to make out a schedule of points of the machines, and the other to
soperintend their trial.
Mr. Smith : I second the motion, so as to get them before the
Board. But I am opposed to acting on them now. They are prema-
ture. This Board has met to fill vacancies, because the official term
of one-third of the members expires with this meeting. When the
vacancies are filled, I shall most cheerfully vote for the resolutions.
Mr. Lear : Then I withdraw them for the present.
Mr. Colman: I understand Maj. KoUins is in the city,* and as
some members wish to hear him explain his bill now pending in the
Legislature, I move t.hat he be invited to address this Board on its
provisions.
The motion was unanimously carried.
Maj. Rollins then appeared and addressed the meeting at great
leagth upo^i the bill and the subject of agricultural colleges generally.
Mr. Colman : I hold in my hand, and will now offer the resolu-
tions agreed upon by the majority of the Committee on Agricultural
College. I must say that I do not concur in the resolutions, as they
are too indefinite. But I will, nevertheless, submit them :
22 MISSOURI AGRICULTORB.
Resolved^ That the long dialay by the General Assembly to estab-
lish an Agricultural College in accordance with the design of the gen-
eral government, has become dangerous to the security of the grant
by the United States government.
Resolved^ That we recommend the early action of the General
Assembly on the bill or bills now before the Assembly, and that as
no other county or individual has offered any inducement, with the
exception of Boone county ; therefore,
Resolved^ That the State Board of Agriculture recommend that
Boone county and the State University at Columbia shall be entitled
to the first consideration.
Mr. Smith supported the resolutions onljj because they urged im-^
mediate action on the Legislature, as that was necessary. As to this
or any other bill that was pending before the Legislature, he should
not like to commit himself unless he kn^ew what each contained.
In Maj. RoUin's bill the leasing system did not strike him favorably.
The southwest, where these agricultural lands lay, was somewhat
iamous during the war for bushwhackers, who had learned many bad
habits. If the lands are leased to them, they would hold the land long
enough to steal all the valuable timber on it, and with many acres
this is the only intrinsic value they have.
Mr. Colman: The leases will be drawn as carefully as any
shrewd landlord would under the circumstances.
Mr. Smith : I don't think any shrewdness in wording a lease will
head off a bushwhacker.
Adjourned to half past seven D'clock p. m.
EVENING SESSION, 7^ o'clock.
The Board met pursuant to adjournment.
Present, same as in the afternoon, excepting Messrs. Essex and
Husmann, and Mr. Mudd temporarily.
During the temporary absence of the President, Vice President
Dyer, presided.
The President stated the question before the Board was the reso-
lutions on Agricultural College reported by the committee.
Mr. Lear: As no one seems disposed to open the discussion, I
will state the points that will influence my vote for the resolutions.
With the many diversities of opinions about organization and sec-
tionalrivalries for the location of the college, we are making no pro-
gress, and worse than that, we are in danger of losing Congressional
donation. By the provisions of the law, we must in order to avail
ourselves of the national grant, do certain specific things within a
specified time. On account of the disturbed condition of Missouri
and other States at the time of the passage of the law of July, 1S62,
the time for location and organization of a college has been extended,
and we are now approaching the limits of the extended term, and yet
we have done nothing. In 1864, the subject was brought up before
PROCBBBINGS OF STAXfi ISOAHb. S0
the Lefi^islature, and in 1865, by the annual report of this Boafd, it was
brought prominently before the farmers of the State. There you will
find the history of the legislation, the objects of the law, its limita-
tions and restrictions, and plans suggested for securing the object
contemplated. In fact, all the knowledge to act wisely, intelligently
and promptly in the matter that Was necessary. Four years have
elapsed and nothing has been done. There has been ample time
and ample opportunities for counties and individuals to come forward
and offer a suitable bonus for the location, yet no county, as far as
I know, has made any offer worth considering except Boone. All seem
anxious to secure it, yet Boone is the one that has been willing to pay
a liberal bonus for the location at Columbia. Upon individuals it
will not do to rely, as the past-has shown we have no Cornell amongst
us. Under the circumstances, he thought it inadvisable to delay the
matter longer, for it would defer matters a year at least, if not longer,
with no prospective benefit. Delay is dangerous to the whole scheme.
Our boys are growing up, and need the instruction that is to be
afforded in such an institution. This is my first point. The second
point that will influence my vote is, the leasing system proposed in
the bill. I think this is the best feature in the bill, though my' friend,
Mr. Smith, thinks it the worst. He says the lessees would waste and
steal the timber, and then abandon the lease. I would ask him
whether there is no stealing now ? If there is, would we not be more
secure under the leasing system than what we are now! If the les-
sees would steal the timber, we would get something, the rent of the
land, which is to be paid yearly in advance, while they remained,
now we get nothing and lose the timber besides. Moreover we would
have some one, the leasing commissioner, to look after our interest,
now we have nobody.
Mr. Mudd having appeared and taken the chair, inquired whether
there was anything further to be said on the subject, or whether a
vote should be taken on the resolutions.
Mr. Harris : I have only this to say, I think the subject has been
sufficiently ventilated, and the sooner we get clear of it the better.
Mr. Smith: Before the adjournment in the afternoon, Mr. Col-
man thrust himself forward as the special champion of the leasing
system. Now, Mr. Colman, knew little about the lands which lay
almost exclusively in Southwest Missouri, and less about the habits
and disposition of many of the people of that section, if he believed any
advantages would result to the pecuniary interests of the college by
that system. 1 have been over a great part of them. Last winter
there were from one to five hundred men committing trespasses on
these lands, cutting railroad ties, timber, cord wood, and so on. I
wrote to members of the Legislature, to Col. Colman, as well as to the
Rural Worlds stating what was going on, and asking them to take
measures to stop this spoliation. This vandalism is not confined to
the agricultural college lands, but extends to the school lands, pub^
24 MISBOURI AGRICtJLTUBiL ^
lie lands and railroad lands. I called the attention of United States
Marshals, railroad and other officials to it, but without effect. He
was in favor of memorializing the Legislature to make it felony to
trespass on these and other school lands. For this reason he would
vote for the resolutions, though not entirely satisfied with their
phraseology.
Mr.Colman: I will only detain the Board a few minutes. lam
glad that the Board unite in establishing an Agricultural College.
Eight years ago the Congress of the United States passed alaw dona-
ting public lands to the several States for establishing Agricultural
Colleges. Under the provision of this law, 330,000 acres accrued to
this State. Most of the States already enjoy the benefits of Agricul-
tural Colleges, established by the funds thus provided, but Missouri,
the most progressive of all, is lagging behind. We should no longer
delay to establish the College for the education of our sons who are
growing up. I will not speak of the advantages of education. In
this day it is mind that achieves all the results attained in any sphere
of life. The age of brute forqe is gone by; mind governs and con-
trols all. Knowledge and science have become necessities. And no
art requires as much knowledge and lays so many sciences under con-
tribution as agriculture. We must be up with the spirit of the age,
and cultivate our lands intelligently, and then we will attain the
largest and best results for the capital employed.
In reference to the Agricultural College, he had done all that he
could do personall}^ and as a legislator, when a ^lember of the IJouse,
He had children growing up, wliich he wanted to send to such a col^
lege. In reference to Mr Smith's charge, he would say that if that
gentleman had done one-tenth as much as I have done, he then with
propriety might call him a laggard. He had, as a member of the
Legislature three years ago, labored to pass a bill, which Mr. Smith
did all he could to oppose. He believed if that bill had passed, we
would now have no cause to complain of spoliation.
Mr. Mudd, President, said he wished to say a word about the
value of these Agricultural College lands. Mr. Sojatherland, whose
opinion as a real estate agent must have great weight, told him that
he had made inquiry into the condition and value of these lands, and
he had not the least doubt that he could lease, with the privilege of
the lessee buying at the fixed valuation within ten years, the whole
for five hundred thousand dollars. As to depredations on timber by
the lessees, he had no fear of that. As a general thing the absence
of timber in an agricultural district is rather a benefit than other-
wise. Farmers in a prairie country, as a general thing, are far more
prosperous than those residing in a timbered country.
Mr. Murtfeldt said he had lately been out in Southwest Missouri,
and he gave it as his opinion that the poorest agricultural land in
Jasper county was worth at least five dollars per acre.
The resolutions were then ado|>ted,
PROOBBDIKGB OF BTATE BOABD. 25
Mr. Smith then offered a resolution that a committee of three be
appointed to urge upon the Legislature immediate action on the Agri-
tural College question.
Some members stated that as this was the annual meeting for fill-
ing vacancies in the Board, it was improper for the meeting to appoint
a committee to represent the Board, while onethird of the seats of
the members are vacant. Such resolutions would be proper before
the Board after it had reorganized after the election to fill vacancies,
Mr. Smith thereupon withdrew his resolution for the present.
Mr. Colman offered the following resolution, which was adopted :
RcHolved^ That a committee of three be appointed to report
topics for discussion at the next annual meeting of this Board, per-
taining to the agricultural interests of the State, and that said com-
mittee publish such topics in ample time for the consideration of the
members before said meeting.
The President appointed Messrs. Colman, Smith and Kinney
said committee.
Mr. Colman offered the following resolution :
Resolved^ That in the opinion of this Board, the agricultural
interests of the State would be greatly advanced by the Legislature
passing a law enabling any county in this State, through the action
of its county court, or by a vote of the majority of its citizen^, to re-
quire owners of stock to keep them restrained on their own premises.
The law, Mr. Colman said, would not be unconstitutional ; it only
applied to counties that want the much-talked-of stock law. Only
one-twentieth part of the land cultivated would be required for stock
purposes. Under such a law only one-twentieth of the fencing would
be required that now is under the present system. Th6 question
then is narrowed down to shall we have a stock law, and only make
one-twentieth of fence as now required, or shall we have no stock law
and fence all the land we cultivate ?
Mr. Lear favored such a law. The most wasteful expenditure,
and one which kept the farmers poor, was that of fencing and the
annual repairs. It is a heavy part of the original investment to fence
an eighty acre lot, with two or three necessary cross fences. Kails
could not be put up for less than eight or ten dollars per hundred ; in
some localities as much as fifteen cents per rail is paid. After a few
years, rail fences had to be annually overhauled and repaired, so that
between the tax gatherer and the fence repairing, but little remained
to the farmer. Such a law would not only require less fencing, but
as a consequence less timber land. The interest alone on the land
necessary to be retained in timber, would go considerably to buying
rails, and the annual supply of fuel. He was certain if farmers could
loresee all the advantages, they would go for such a law at once.
Mr. Smith ; This fence question I have heard discussed for the
last twenty-five years. There is another side to it ; the improvement
of stock. Scrubs would not be propagated, especially scrubs in hogs.
There is no question about that. Every raiser of hogs knows how
26. laSSOUPI AQRIOULTURB.
•.-■ '
difficult it is to keep his stock from being contamii/ated by his neigh-
bors scrubs. This will do away with that nuisance. And I am not
sure that I might say the same of cattle also. People in the country
liave hogs, whether they own land or not. This is a very important
question, and every successful hog raiser knows there is nothing
iequal to clover to bring hogs to their full growth during the summer,
and none ought to be wintered except those kept for breeding.
The resolution was then adopted.
On motion of Mr. Harris, the meeting then adjourned to 9 o'clock
A, M., to-morrow.
MORNIKG SESSION.
Thubsdat, D«c«mber 2, 18ft9.
The Board met pursuant to adjournment.
Present same as yesterday, excepting Messrs. Harris and Hus-
mann.
Mr. Col man: I will offer for the candid consideration of the
Boa[M the following preamble and resolutions :
. Whereas, There is a just cause of complaint throughout the agri-
cultural sections of our country, on account of the decreasing price
of their products in contrast with the increasing cost of their produc-
tion and transportation to market; and,'-
Whereas, It is at all times fit that a people should examine the
economical laws which affect their well-being, and seek reasonable
remedies for the evils they suffer ; therefore.
Resolved^ 1. That in the opinion of this Board, agriculture, as the
foundation of all social prosperity, should especially receive the pro-
tecting care of the government.
Resolved^ 2. That the prosperity of agriculture is primarily con-
nected with freedom of access for its productions to the great markets
of the world.
Resolved^ 3. That the proper province of government is to opeii
such markets to our agriculturists by removing those restrictions
with which the protective system has environed our commerce with
foreign nations.
Resolved^ 4. That in view of the depressed state of agricultural
pursuits, which depression is rapidly pervading other branches of in-
dustry^ our government is imperatively called upon to reform the
present protective tariff by reducing it to a revenue standard and
relieving from the operation of the customs tax all those articles
which are found by experience to yield little or no revenue.
Mr. Oolman: I have been warned not to introduce these resolu-
tions, because they introduce political, and, therefore, party matters
in the Board. Now they may be political, but they are surely not
party matters. In the Great West no party organization exists of
which they are the distinctive measure. In fact, in the whole Mis-
sissippi Valley all parties, of every shade and color, are a unit in the
condemnation of a protective tariff. Look at Republican newspa-
pers in St. Louis, Ohicago, and Oincinnati. Not one of them sustains,
' «^-
pboceildings of state board. , 21
•• - * . '. •
but all oppose a protective tariff. In the Country towns it is the satae
as in the large cities. The Kepnblican newspapers are all on one
side, and that is against this abominable tariff^ which is grinding the
agricnltnrists to death. As for papers of the party to which I belppg,^
no one claims them as belonging anywhere else bqt as in opposition
to this great iniquity. I, therefore^ deny that these i^solutions cpii*
tain party matters. . But they are matters that affect immediately pur
pockets and the prosperity of the agricultural interest of the country..
Why is it that it is no longer profitable to raise wheat initbe West?
Because a protective tariff enhances the price of all the jmplejpeiits
thje farmer uses and of everything, he consumes. Secause tl pcptecr
tive tariff enhances the price of every article of use and necessity.
The laboring man has either to starve or demand an equivalent in
enhanced wages to offset thie enhanceid prices of all he, consumes.
The bounty that the farmer has to pay to the manufacturer of iron,
the bounty on cloth, on salt, all of which go not to the support of the^
government, but into the pockets of monopolists. These are the
causes why every branch of agriculture languishes. None is profit-
able, and some are ruinous. Agriculture is not alone affected; all
branches of business are stagnating, and commerce is paralyzed.
Our ships are rotting at the wharves because commerce is prostrated.
All this now is caused by measures cunningly devised to swindle the
laboring classes out of the proceeds of their honest toil, and fill the
purses of bloating monopolists. What is the price of wheat now with
your protective tariffs? What is the price of wool? Is not almost
every wool-grower in the land prostrate? How was it before 1861?
Wool is cheaper now than then. Why do the wool dealers hang to
this delusion ? Are they not killing sheep in Ohio to feed to the
hogs? How is it with the farmers who live on railroads? Owing to
the heavy duty on iron, our railroads cost too much to be built. We
have iron enough in Missouri to compete with the world on the free
trade system. See how it affects freights. The wheat growers on the
Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad say that when they ship their
wheat the freights are so great that they have na profits. We can
only have prosperity on removing the present tariff system. I have
endeavored to show that this tariff is got up to benefit the Eastern
manufacturing monopolist. No editor even of the opposite party dare
deny this in the Mississippi Valley. Should we not ask that this pro-
tective system be wiped out, in tones of thunder, and the cry go up :
"Down with the monopolists; down with those who fetter our com-
mercial relations.'^
Mr. Smith : I move to lay these resolutions on the table. Can I
get a second ?
Dr. Dyer: I second the motion.
Mr. Smith being about to proceed, the President reminded him
that a resolution to lay on the table was not debatable.
Mr. Smith : Then I withdraw the resolution, to enable me to give
28 MISSOURI AOBIOULTUBE.
my reasons for opposing these resolutions. I oppose them for the
reason that they are political. Disguise them as we may, if we enter-
tain them the public will hold us responsible for overstepping our
sphere and ignoring the object for which this Board was created, and
transforming ourselves into a political machine. Why and for what
purpose was this Board organized ? The answer is found in the name
of our organization : "The State Board of Agriculture." We were
organized to promote the interests of agriculture, to collect and dis-
seminate information relative to the improvement and progress of
agriculture everywhere; to improve our stock, to gain reliable infor-
mation respecting rare reported improved breeds of domestic ani-
mals; how to treat and handle them so as to make this branch pro-
fitable, and to give information where valuable breeds can be had:
to introduce new seeds and plants into the State, and disseminate
information as to use and culture; and moreover to examine minutely
all agricultural machines, and improvements claimed on the same,
*and embody the results of our investigations in our annual report
for the benefit of our farmers. This I contend was the sole and
exclusive object for which our Board was organized, and topics rela-
tive to these are the only ones proper to be considered by us. But
here comes Mr. Colman with a question that has for half a century
been the division line between political parties. True, there may
be some show of sectional unanimity upon it, but that does not take
the question out of the arena of politics. I say, let political clubs
debate and settle political questions, but keep them out of this
Board, and out of every other organizations except where they
properly belong. It may be true that a large majority may be found
against a protective tarifif, so that no distinctive party organization
will here be based on that question, yet everybody knows there is no
unanimity, but a great diversity of opinions on it Though those
holding adverse opinions to the majority may not be formidable to
parties, they may be formidable to us. We have no friends to spare,
and if we voluntarily go out and put ourselves in opposition to a
minority, they will seize upon our acts as weapons with which to
assail us. I believe that Mr. Colman is sincere in his declaration that
this shall not have a political bearing, but it nevertheless has, and
all the more so from the source these resolutions emanate. I must
tell some plain truths that I would not otherwise have told, to show
there is a hostile feeling against thi^ Board. This feeling I conceive
to be without any just ground, yet this move makes it proper that it
should be known. It has often been said to me, by people having a
great deal more political zeal than agricultural knowledge: " Smith,
your Board of Agriculture there in St. Louis is a mere political ma-
chine. You are letting Colman run it, and are advertising his paper
all you can as the best in the country. You are fostering a serpent
that will either sting or strangle you to death. * If this thing of run-
ning it for the benefit of one man and of one party is not stopped,
PROCEEDINGS OP STATE BOARD. 29
we will wipe ont your Board." Oor existence is thns threatened,
without cause. What will it be with cause such as these resolutions
furnish? My advice is, let such subjects alone. The Legislature is
jealous of us ; let us confine ourselves to agricultural subjects, and
let such subjects as those in the resolutions alone. Let there not
even be an appearance of evil.
Dr. Dyer: I hope our orator feels better after his delivery, and I
hope, since he has got rid of his burden, he ^ill withdraw the resolu-
tions, and not force them to a vote. Whether he knows it or not, he
is throwing a firebrand in this Board which will burst up the whole
concern. If his better judgment does not induce him to withdraw
them, I hope the members of the Board will let them slide out
quietly, and confine ourselves to proper questions, and let free trade
and all other political complications severely alone.
President Mudd said for the last thirty years he had heard much
about protective tarifls and free trade. The whole amounted to about
this, when the country was prosperous nobody thought of either, but
when all business became prostrated from overtrading, overproduc-
tion, or reckless speculation, then the whole cause was laid at the
door of the tariff. Take the last eight years, and our history does not
fnrnish a period of equal length of such general prosperity of the
farmer as they do. The lively picture of universal ruin and distress
painted by Colonel Colman had no existence anywhere excepting in
his heated imagination. The fact is undeniable, that the farmers
have been getting richer faster than ever before, whatever the cause
may have been. But while I differ with several of the gentlemen
who think we cannot discuss this question without jeopardizing our
existence, I agree with them that it is not proper for us to do so. I
for one do not feel competent to do so, because I am not well enough
versed in the science of political economy. The protective system
certainly had been an advantage to us during the war, and he would
not assail it until he was satisfied in his own mind that it was per-
nicious.
Mr. Colman : I thank Mr. Smith for conceding to me sincerity
and pure motives. I disclaim all such intentions, either openly or
covertly of running this Board, or of making it a political machine.
And as to the threat that we endanger ourselves of being wiped out
if we adopt these resolutions, I must say I have a higher and better
opinion of the Radical party than the gentlemen themselves have.
I do not think they would burst up our little machine. They are too
magnanimous for that. As to Mr. Mudd's statement of the present
prosperity of farmers, he must demur, for it did not and could not
agree with the facts, when labor, implements, and every thing neces-
sary for carrying on farming was fully fifty per cent, higher than ever,
and the price of wool, wheat, and corn less in currency than they
were m gold in I860.-
30 MISSOURI AGBIOULTURB.
The discussion was further continued by Messrs. Smith, Colman,
and Stark.
• Th0 vote wa« no w taken; which resulted as follows :
Ayes — Messrs. Clarkson, Colmah, Essex, Lear, and Stark— 5.
Nays — Messrs. Gardner, Smith, and Snoddy — 3.
Mr. Mudd did not vote. ^
Absent — Messrs. Dyer, Goebel, Husmann, Harris, and Swallow.
The resolutioi\s were declared adopted.
Mr. Oolman : The Board has immortalized itself.
Mr. Smith : Yes, but I do not believe in that kind of immortality.
All". Gardner offered the following resolution, which was adopted:
Resolved^ That in the opinion of this Board the presiding officers
of the horticultural and grape growers' societies, and regularly or-
ganized farmers' clubs of this State should be admitted as ex-oMcio
members of this Board, the same as the presidents of agricultural
and mechanical societies are now admitted, and we respectfully ask
the Legislature to change the law organizing the Board, so as to effect
this object.
Mr. Gardner introduced the following resolutions, which were
adopted: - • - ■ ■
1. ResolverL That in the death of Benjamin D. Walsh, late State
Entomologist of Illinois, and associate editor with Mr. 0. V.Riley, our
own State Entomologist, the State of Illinois has not only suffered an
irreparable loss, but the whole West mourns his death.
2^ . Resolved^ That we.fully appreciate the manly work and sci-
entitic attainments of ojir lamented friend ; and feel .that it will-be
difficult to fill the plac§ mMe vacant by his (demise.
3, Resolved, ihai th^ condolence and heartfelt sympathies of
this Board ar^Tt^ndered to the bereaved widow; and that the Corres-
ponding Secretary be instructed to forward a copy of cheBe resolutions
to Mrs., Walsh.
On motion, the Board then proceeded to fill the vacancies created
in- the Board by the expiration of the term of service of the following
gentlemen:
Gert. Goebel, of Franklin county ; George Husmann, of Mont-
- gomery county ; O. H. P. Lear, of Marion county, and Prof. G. 0. Swal-
low, of Boone county.
.Th0 President appointed Messrs. Oolman and Gardner as tellers.
- ^rbe-firstballQt was had to fiJl the vacancy of Gert. Goebel, of
Franklin county. .. : v •
., Mr. Smith ndminated Judge J^me^ Moorey-of' Union, Franklin
county;
There being no other nomination, the vote stood: for Moore ten
'^ votes, being all the votes ca«t,.and he was declared duly elected.
...The Bextballot:Was to fill the vacancy occasioned by the expir-
ation of. the tern^ of service of George Husmann.
My. Gardner said : As Mr. Husmann, who was not present to-day,
yesterday asked as a favor to be relieved of further service, and as
members living at a distance, like himself, found it often extremely
difficult to attend at a mere formal meeting of the Board, yet to secure
PROCKEDIKGS OF 6TATK BOi^KD. 31
a qnorum their attendance was necessary; he therefore would nomi-
nate Mr. J. M. Jordan, a sound, practical man from the city of St.
Loois.
Mr. Colman opposed the nomination of Mr. Jordan, on the ground
that it might create sectional jealousy against the Board. He thought
that North Missouri was entitled to the member. He therefore nomi-
nated George Husmann, of Montgomery county, for re-election.
Mr. Gardner said : As a representative of North Missouri, he could
not see the force of the objection. The Board of regular members
were merely a kind of executive committee. The true Board was the
annual meeting, in which every county could have one representa-
tive, if they so desired it, and mould the incorporated members as
to carry out their wishes. For the convenience of transacting the
necessary routine of business, it is necessary to have these members
80 situated that a quorum was always sure, without putting members
at a distance to both inconvenience and expense. Mr. Jordan every
one knew, not only as an active, intelligent horticulturist, but a live
man in every sense of the word, and would make a most useful and
influential member.
A ballot was had, which resulted as follows:
George Husmann 5 votes.
J. M. Jordan 4 votes.
George Husmann having received a majority of the votes cast,
was declared duly elected.
The next business in order was the filling of the vacancy occa-
iioned by the expiration of the tepm of service of O. H. P. Lear.
Mr. Lear was nominated for re-election.
A ballot was had, which resulted as follows : For O.^. P. Lear, 9
votes.
Mr. O. H. P. Lear, of Marion county, having received all the votes
cast, was declared duly elected.
The next business in order was to fill the vacancy occasioned by
the expiration of the time of service of Prof. G. 0. Swallow, of Boone
county."
Mr. Colman stated, as Prof, Swallow had removed from the State,
he would nominate agentlemanwho was present from Warren county,
Mr. Geo. W. Kinney.
Mr. Gardner: For reasons already stated, I re-nominate Mr. John
M. Jordan, of St. Louis.
^ A. ballot was had, which resulted as follows :
Fo£^George W. Kinney 5 votes.
For, John M. Jordan 4 votes.
4
Mr. George W. Kinney, of Warren county, having received a ma-
32 MISSOURI AQRICULTURB
jority of the votes cast, was declared duly elected a member of the
Board.
There being no other business, on motion, the annual meeting ad-
journed sme die.
JOHN H. TICE, Recording Secretary.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NEW BOARD,
Thubidav, December 2, 1869.
The Board met upon call of the President.
The following members were present and answered to their
names:
Messrs. N. J. Colman, Wm. T. Essex and Henry T. Mudd, of St.
Lonis county ; Dr. Wm. S. Dyer, of Jefferson county; O. A. A. Gard-
ner, of Boone county; Geo. W. Kinney, of Warren' county; O. H. P.
Lear, of Marion county ; Barnabas Smith, of Crawford county, and
Wm. Stark, of Pike county.
Absent — J. W. Harris, of Boone county ; George Husmann, of
Montgomery county, and Judge James Moore, of Franklin county.
On motion, O. H. P. Lear was appointed Fresident pro t€m.
The President stated the first thing in order was the election of
officers for the ensuing year.
On motion, the Board then proceeded to the election of officers,
Messrs. Stark and Gardner acting as tellers.
Ballots were cast successively for the following officers, who were
elected without opposition, namely :
President — Henry T. Mudd.
Vice President — Dr. W. S. Dyer.
Treasurer — Wm. T. Essex.
Kecording Secretary — John H. Tice.
Corresponding Secretary — C. W. Murtfeldt.
Mr. Smith stated that in consequence of some error on his own
part, and of the Corresponding Secretary, Mr. Snoddy, President of
the Crawford County Agricultural Society, had incurred expenses to
the amount of nine dollars, and he moved that the same be refunded
to him as an act of justice. Which motion was adopted.
Mr. Stark offered the following resolution^ which was adopted:
Resolved^ That the Corresponding Secretary is hereby authorized
to fix the entry fee for machines at the intended field trial as follows:
For ev^ry self raking reaper f 10 00
For every reaper as a dropper 10 00
For every handraking reaper 10 00
For every other harvester 10 00
For every combined reaper and mower 10 00
R
34 MISSOURI AGRICULTURE.
For every horse-rake $5 00
For every horse hay-fork 6 00
JFor every hay-stacker -. 5 00
And for any machine or implement, a rate which in his jadgment
.shall be in proportion to above.
Mr.jColman called attention to a basket of dried everlasting flow-
*ers, presented by M. O. Eern, of the Central Flora Garden.
On motion, the thanks of the Board were tendered to Mr. Kern
for the same.
On motion of Mr. Colman, the Oorresponding Secretary was re-
^aested to transmit the same to Gov. McClarg, at Jefferson City.
On motion, the Board then adjourned.
JOHN H. TICE, Recording Secretary.
\
Report of Corf;esponding Secretary.
Corresponding Secretary's Report.
BR!EF REVIEW OF THE YEAR 1869.
To the General Aseemhly of the State of Missouri :
At no time, since Missouri has been designated upon the mt^ of
the world as one of the United States of America, has her condition
been more favorable in point of general health, prosperity and pro-
gress than during the year just closed. This cannot be claimed as
the result of chance, but is due to a kind and beneficent Providence,
which rules in the affairs of nations and men, and which has so highly
favored the commonwealth of Missouri I Happy that people who
acknowledge God in all their ways I
The inquiry may be raised how and in what respect have the
people of Missouri been especially favored ? As already intimated
in point of general good health, no epidemic, either among men or
animals, has visited our borders ; more or less of sickness there has
been «nd always will be, but this has been of a mild type, yield-
ing readily to medical skill and treatment. This may be claimed,
and is due in a great measure at least, to a higher intelligence among
the masses of the people, and a better understanding of the laws of
hygiene, to diet, to the greater consumption of wholesome fruits and
vegetables, and the less of unwholesome meats. As farm after farm
is cleared up ' and put under cultivation, those diseases, which owe
their origin to miasmatic influences, will gradually disappear. Such
at least is an historic fact of all the Western States.
Again, we have been favored by weather, which enabled man to
labor during the entire season. The mechanic as well as the farmer,
have been busy except during a brief period in the month of August,
when the heat was very intense, as we shall notice below, and also
during a few days of excessive rains, which interrupted harvest op-
lerations.
Again, we have had almost uninterrupted navigation on our great
rivers. This has given employment to many, as well as affording
cheap transportation for produce, thus giving a great stimulus to com-
mercial enterprise.
38 MISSOURI AGRICUIiTURE*
Last, though not least, our leading railroads have been extended
or completed, while new ones are being pushed forward with great
vigor and zeal. Among these improvements, we notice the narrow-
ing of the guage on the PaciHc^ with such consummate skill and en-
ergy, that along its entire length, travel was scarcely interrupted at
all.
The completion of the Iron Mountain Bailroad to Belmont, below
the mouth of the Ohio river, places St. Louis in communication by rail
with all the Southern States.
The several branches of the Iforth Missouri Kailroad have been
extended, and the main line completed to the Iowa State line.
Lastly we notice the vigorous prosecution of the work on the
South PaoiHo Bailroad, with every assurance, that by April Ist, 1870,
Springfield will have been reached by the iron horse.
THE SEASON.
The season of 1869, considered from an agricultural standpoint,
has been a very peculiar one, and cannot but leach every close ob-
server some valuable lessons. The preceding winter of 1868 and '6J>
was not a severe one for this latitude, which may be deduced from
the fact, that there was no real necessitated suspension of navigation
from St. Louis southward ; even the regular trips of the Keokuk
packets in the Upper Mississippi were not suspended of necessity.
The greatest degree of cold occurred in December (12th) of 1868, the
mercury falling to zero.
We were favored by some very fine, bright sunny days during
February, which gave promise of an early Spring; these were in
turn followed by cold and raw weather in March, of which it may
with truth be said: "winter lingered in the lap of Spring."
Upon the whole, the Spring was very cool, moist, backward and
protracted. Just here is a point worthy of note for the farmer : just
such weather, is very favorable to the growth of all so-called small
grain. It gives the plant a chance to tiller, or stool out, there is a
more gradual maturing of the whole plant, so very desirable to the
perfecting of the full grain in the ear. Summer was also propitious
to the farmer, fulfilling the promise of Spring, in giving a plump berry
to the grain and an abundant harvest. Many sections of oar State
never had a richer yield. The ** hot terp" was brief, though exceed-
ing hot while it lasted, the greatest heat being between the 14th and
28th days of August.
Autumn was humid, and at times decidedly wet, especially dur-
ing the last two weeks of October. The early and damaging frosts
of the 26th and 27th of October will be long remembered. The cold
was severe, the thermometer falling ten degrees below the freezing
point. Much damage resulted to the apple crop, a good share of
which was still ungathered. Potatoes though under ground, were
greatly damaged, especially in quality, when not totally destroy ed.
COBRESPOKDIKe SEORETART'S REPORT. 39
This should also prove a lesson. It is not safe to leave potatoes nndug
later than the 18th or 20th of October, in St. Louis county, or north
of there.
WINTER WHEAT.
This crop was good' (in many sections superior) throughout th6
State. In certain small and circumscribed localities^ complain ter of
cbinch-bug and Hessian fly were heard, btlt the damage resulting from
their depredations, was small, comparatively, though perhaps severe
on individuals. Of varieties, the ^^ Early May" and '^ Tappahanoch"
have succeeded best, especially the latter, which is growing much in
favor wherever introduced. Notice ought here to be made of the
fact, that the aggregate yield of drill-sown wheat much exceeds that
sown by hand or broadcast. Such is the observation of the Corres-
ponding Secretary, and he has had occasion to visit many fields dur-
ing the season, and he assigns the following reasons for such a result:
A good drill can distribute the seed more evenly in the drills^ and
also in the rcws^ and it will further regulate and place at an even
depth in the soil, almost every kernel. Much of the soil of Missouri
is clayey, naturally well adapted to the production of wheat; but the
action of the frost upon such land will frequently cause it to spew or
heave^ thus throwing out .the roots of the wheat plant, when an un-
timely frost, (even a light one), will take the life of the plant. When
a systematic underdrainage shall prevail throughout our State, there
will be few complaints of wheat being killed by '* heaving." The
field roller, when used with sense as to the condition of the land, is
well calculated to counteract the heaving on surface drained lands,
but by its indiscriminate use, a fruitful field is often turned into a
brickyard. Top dressing, even after the plant is well set, with well
rotted manure, or a mixture of ashes and lime, or all combined, will
be found very beneficial to the wheat crop, and instances are not
wanting, where such a course has secured thd crops against the rava-
ges of the chinch-bugs.
SPRING WHEAT
is never extensively grown in sections where winter wheat is consid-
ered a tolerably sure crop, because of its inferior market value. Dur-
ing the season of 1869, but little was cultivated in this State.
In sections, where from some cause or other, winter wheat can-
not be sown, where the land is adapted to wheat and ready prepared
the preceding fall to receive the seed, spring wheat may be grown
with profit, especially in the three or four northern tiers of counties.
The past season was a favorable one for this variet}% for general
reasons already given, which favored the gradual maturing of the
plant, and did not force the ^' heading out" unduly.
WINTER RTE.
Not much of this cereal is produced in Missouri, while a great
deal of it is consumed. The Germans as a mass prefer bread made
40 lirSSOURI AGRICULtUilk.
from rye, and its nutrition is attested, not only fey 6ur feesl
analytic chemists, but also by thousands of sturdy men and women,
who consume and prefer it. It may be grown with profit upon lands
not naturally rich enough for wheat or barley. No crops of small
grain, to be sown year after year upon the same land, will do as well
as rye; nothwlthstanding, this practice is not recommended, but only
stated as a fact.
When flocks of sheep shall have so much increased in our State,
that large and succulent winter pasturage shall become a necessity,
.rye may be sown for this purpose, pastured all winter by the sheep,
a process which will much enrich the land, and finally turned under
the succeeding Spring in time to allow a crop of corn to follow. Any-
where south of the Missouri river, where snow, if it falls, covers the
ground but for a short time, rye would afford fine pasture ior colts and
young neat cattle as well as sheep.
WINTER BARLEY.
Missouri produces considerable winter barley. On rich, warm
rather sandy soil it is a very profitable crop to grow. Its price, for
now nearly two years, has been above that of wheat during nearly
the entire period. Its harvest comes very early in the season, con-
sequently, when grown in extensive fields it not unfrequently inter-
feres very much with the attention demanded by the growing crops
of corn. This last remark is equally true of spring sown barley also.
To any one at all acquainted with the immense consumption of beer
and ale, not only in our large cities, but throughout the entire West*
it\§ pon^t^nt demand for barley will cease to be a surprise.
OATS.
For years past there has not b^en harvested in Missouri an oat
crop equal in quality and quantity, to that of the year 1869. This is
also due to the general reason already assigned, vi^ : A cool, moist
and backward Spring. This still enforces the lesson, that lands de-
signed for small grain of every kind, should be well prepared th0
{)racedj[ng Fall. Such lands, if they need starring (which may be ne-
.cessitated by rain and frost) in the Springs should not be again in*
verted, but^simply mellowed and loosened by a cultivator. J^ands
plowed In the Spring favor the undue production of straw at the ex-
peus.e of tbe more valuable grain.
iOORN,
The most variable crop thromghout the entire West, but especially
in our State, for the season of 1869, was unquestionably corn. While
in some parts (as in the rich bottom lands of the Missouri river) corn
was growing luxuriantly, and shoulder high to a man at harvest time,
(July 1st), it was in others only a foot high. In one place, a good
stand with every hill filled, and in other places a very indifferent
stand, and many hills missing entirely. The crops, taking the State
CORBESFONDING SECRETARY'S KFPORT. 41
1t)getlier, is called an average one in Washington Reports, but could
the real statisiics be obtained, it would be found to be njuch below
the average. Such are the conclusions of the most observing, and
they are strengthened by the prevailing price of well fattened ani-
mals, and the market price of corn, which has been, and is at this
date, relatively higher than that of any of the cereals.
In naturally cold lands, the very best of seed-corn is required,
and it is feared that the partial failure in many fields, already re-
ferred to, is largely owing to the use of poor seed. Let it be remem-
bered that one bushel of good seed-corn, planted in the usual way,
viz : Three or four kernels to the hill, and the hills three feet ten
incheK apart in the rows, will plant eight acres. But suppose it only
plants six acres^ the cost of good seed purchased, even at two dollars
per bushel, is only 33^ cents per acre. No one, who reflects a moment,
will run the risk of obtaining only a poor stand, and consequently
a poor crop at best, by planti-ng doultful seed-corn. It requires ac-
tually less labor to cultivate a full than a partial crop. With a good
prospect the farmer feels encouraged ; otherwise, he is often so dis-
heartened, as to neglect to cultivate a partial crop at all.
HEMP.
The fields near Lexington, where much hemp is raised, were the
only ones the Secretary had the opportunity to observe. The stand
was very uneven, and in the opinion of experienced hemp growers,
did not promise well. Small fields in St. Louis county produced
better.
Those familiar with the facts assert that wheat, sown after a crop
of hemp or tobacco, yields well, and that wheat is encroaching more
and more every year upon the area formerly devoted to the first
named staple.
TOBACCO.
This crop is not now nearly as much grown as in former years.
Whether this is a reason for its high prices, we leave for others to
determine. The October frosts did much damage to the crop of 1869,
•locking the market with an inferior article and enhancing the price
of medium to good qualities.
■
COTTON.
That this fitaple can be grown in Missouri, there is no doubt. As
«n evidence of the fact^ we need only state that there were several
competitors for the premiums offered by the St. Louis Agricultural
and Mechanical Association for cotton raised in this State. That it
can be grown at a profit is yet somewhat problematical, perhaps
doubtful. When the cotton producing States shall again return to its
almost exclusive cultivation (and they are tending in that direction),
even if present prices should be reduced twenty-five per cent, it will
42 MISSOURI AGRICULTURE.
doubtless be more profitable for Missouri farmers to raise corn, pork
and mules for the southern market than cotton.
The picking season in Missouri was shortened u^ rather sudden
by the October frosts, which of course diminished the crop. As a
matter of experiment it may be well to continue the cultivation of
cotton. When manufacturers shall find it to their interest to build
cotton factories in Missouri, especially in the southern part of the
State, it may be profitable to raise the staple.
GRASS AND HAT.
There has not been a season for many years past that produced
a more abundant or less nutritious crop of grass, than that of 1869.
Asa consequence, no real fat, well-filled out, number one grass beeves
have graced our markets, or our butcher stalls, and complaints have
been loud and plenty both of butchers and consumers of meat. Hence
we reason, that the frequent rains and cool weather, while favorable
to the large development of the blade of grass, was in fact detrimen-
tal to its nutritive properties.
In the process of curing grass for hay, the saccharine matter
becomes more concentrated, and the grass being of itself riper than
would be relished by stock as pasture, improved the quality of the hay
to some extent. Nevertheless, if comparative tests could now be
made, we believe that even the quality of the hay would be found
below the average standard.
Again, the quality of the hay was much impaired by over ripeness
of the grass before cutting, as well as by the frequent showers during
the time of haying.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars could be saved to the farmers
of our State by a more economical mode of stacking and feeding hay.
The slovenly and lazy way of allowing all kinds of stock to run to the
stacks and help themselves, and thus generally wasting more than
they eat, cannot be brought to notice in sufficiently severe terms. It
is not unfrequent, that in a backward spring, the same stock suffers for
the want of that which their careless owner suffered them to destroy
during the previous winter.
SORGHUM.
It is the opinion of our best infoimed practical m«n that with
sugar at the prices obtaining of late, the production of sirup from the
Chinese and African cane is deserving of more attention. Saccharine
properties abound in almost every article of daily food, espeicially in
that which is most nutritious and wholesome, and any product which
will yield so large a percentage as sirup is certainly deserving of
attention.
If the common plantation ^ugar Were selling in our principal
markets at from 16 to 20 lbs. for the^ dollar, it might not be desirable
to cultivate sorghum, but when only from 5 to 7 lbs. are to be had for
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY'S REPORT. 43
the same ameunf, then it may become necessary to inquire how we
can aid in the production of the essential element of sugar, if not the
article itself.
Experience has demonstrated that a very good quality of sirup
can be produced from the Chinese cane (sorghum) and also irom
some of the varieties of African cane (imphee), at about 50 cents per
gallon, and in large quantities even for less. A gallon will weigh
from 10 to 12 lbs., and further, that for many culiaary purposes it is
quite as palatable as brown sugar.
Sanguine men have never lost sight of this matter; have steadily
kept on raising the cane, and during the past season have made good
sirup. Its value is understood.
The machinery for its manufacture has been bought, and brought
into the State at iome expense, and will continue to be used. The
writer knows, from experience, that to have a barrel of good sirup
always on hand is a very convenient thing. Let this valuable house-
hold aid not be neglected.
BROOM CORN.
This crop is being cultivated but to a limited extent in our State,
as far as the Secretary has had opportunity to observe. That it is
worthy of attention and that it may be grown with profit, is evident
from the fact, that in certain parts of the United States (the Mohawk
Valley, New York, for instance) it is grown to the almost entire ex-
clusion of other crops, grass excepted. The climate and soil of Mis-
souri are well adapted to its growth. The price is very high, ranging
from f 150 to $200 per ton, for a first-rate article of brush. Manufac-
tured brooms have sold at very high prices also, for the last twoyears.
Any good porn soil and the art to cultivate a crop of corn, will pro-
dace a good crop of broom corn. It may be made one of the most
profitable productions of our State. Certainly we should raise all that
is needed for home consumption.
METEOROLOGICAL MEMORANDA AND BRIEF NOTES.
JANUARY.
Was characterized by a temperature unusually warm and equable
for the season, with rain or snow on the 1st, 11th, 14th and 29th, in
most cases attended by high winds. The river remained open and
there was considerable activity in the produce market. There was
but little frost in the ground, and wheat and rye had a very promising
appearance.
44 ^nSSOUBI AGRICULTURE.
The following thermoraetrical tables are compiled from those
reported for ColmarCs Rural World by A. Fendler and Miss Maggie
Muir, of SL Louis county:
For the week ending January 8th:
Mean of the week, 47'' Sa
Maximum on 6th and 7th at 2 p. M-, 66**,
Minimum on 5th at 7 a. m., 2S^
llange, 38^
For the week ending January 15th:
Mean of the week, 34° 77.
Maximum on 13th at 2 p. m., 57^.
jyimimum on 10th and 12th at 7 a. m., 20^
Range, 37^
For the week ending January 22d:
Mean of the week, 35° 37.
Maximum on 22d at 2 p, m., 54°. ""
Minimum on 19th at 7 A. m., 22^
' Range, 32°.
For the week ending January 59Ui:
Mean of the week, 40° 23.
Maximum on 28th at 2 p. m., 64°.
Minimum on 26th at 7 A. M, 21°,
Range, 43°.
FBBRXJARY.
This month, from the Ist to the 19th, was unusnally warm and
spring like. ^Southerly winds, frequent showers and bright sanshino
4rew the frosts from the soil and started vegAtation. Grass was in
many situations as green and luxuriant as in April. The elm and
willow, with many fruit trees and early flowering shrubs, began to
put iorth their blossoms, plowing and planting began, and everything
betokened the advent of spring. But on the 18th, a considerable
hurricane from southwest inaugurated a sudden and severe change.
The wind shifted to the North, and a long-continued storm of haii
«nd snow succeeded, covering the ground to the depth of three or
four inches, and effectually checking all farming and gardening oper-
ations, and causing considerable apprehension in regard to the wheat
»nd some of the fruit crops. The weather continued «old and stormy
to the end of the month. The variations marked by the thermome*
tei* as follows:
For the week ending February 5thc
Mean for the week, 33.°85.
Maximum on Ist, at 2 p. m., 48^
Minimum on 5th at 7 a. m., 13°.
Range, 35°.
For the week ending February 12th:
Mean of the week,4€.°54.
coRRSSPOKDme skcbiitary'& report. 45
Maximum on 12th at 2 p. m., 74^.
Minimum on 7th at 7 a. m., 28^.
Range, 46^.
For the week ending February 19th :
Mean of the week, 44.^3i.
Maximum on 13th at 2 p. m., 65^.
Minimum on the 16th at 7 a. m., 22°.
Range, 43^
For the week ending February 26th :
Mean for the week, 26.^99.
Maximum on the 20th at 2 p. m., 43^.
Minimum on 23d at 7 a. m., 9^
Range, 84^
MARCH
t
Opened with storm and a greater degree of cold than had been
experienced since December. The ground was frozen and covered
with snow until past the middle of the month. Vegetation, which
had pushed in February, received a complete, and in some instances,
injurious check, and all farming and horticultural pursuits were nec-
essarily suspended. A long, cold equinoctial storm succeeded, in
which rain, snow and hail alternated with each other, and with a few
gleams of sunshine to the end of the month. Altogether the weather
was most unpropitious for the farmer and gardener, and the wheat
crop suffered more this month than during the entire winter; this
was also the case with many varieties of fruit. A correspondent from
Barry, Mo., writes on the lltb, regarding grapes and fruits :
" Catawba, badly killed; Clinton, unhurt; Hartford, about four
joints ot Jips killed ; Concord, about two joints of tips killed; N. C.
Seedling, about one joint of tips killed ; Mary Ann, barely tipped;
peaches, about all killed; late winter wheat, very badly frozen out —
early sown, in very fair condition. Have not examined apples, pears,
cherries and plums. Snow to the depth of three inches fell here last
night,*
We append thermometrical tables.
For the week ending March 5th : •
Mean of the week, 28.°04.
Maximum on the 1st, at 2 p. m., 55^
Minimum on the 5th, at 7 a. m., 4^
Range, 51^
For the week ending March 12th :
Mean of the week, 33.''61.
Maximum on the 12th, at 2 p. m., 60^.
Minimum on the 6th, at 7 a. m., 70^
Range, 53*^.
For the week ending March 19th :
Mean of the week, 85.''2S.
Maximum on the 19th, at 2 p. m*, 62^*
46 MISSOURI AaBL/ULTURB,
Minimum on the 15th, at 7 a. m., 14^
Range, 48°.
For the week ending March 27th:
Mean of the week, 48.°66,
Maximum on th« 27th, at 2 p. m., 82°.
Minimum on the 2*id, at 7 a. m., 31°.
Range, 51°.
Meteorological table, by A, Fendler, Esq., Allenton, Mo., March^
1869. :
Thermometer in open air, in the shade.
7 A. M. 2 p. M. 9 p. M. Mean of Month.
32.°3 48°.4 36°.5 39°.l
Maximum temperature, 84°.0,^on the 587th.
Minimum ** 4°.0, on the 6th and 6th.
Range, 80°.0 degrees.
' Wet-bulb thermometer :
7 A. M. 2 p. M. 9 p. M. Mean of Month.
30°. 5 40°.5 33°,6 34°.9
Barometer — ^height reduced to freezing point :
7 A. M. 2 p. M. 9 p. M. Mean of Month.
29.609 29.554 29.569 29.577
Maximum, 30.038, on the 6th, 7 a. m.
Minimum, 29.097, on the Slst, 9 p. m.
Range, 0.941 inches.
Rain on the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 18th, 19th, 25th, 28th, 3lBt.
Snow on the 3d, 11th, 14th, 2l8t and 22d.
Total amount of rain and melted snow, 4.21 inches.
Depth of snow, 1| inches.
Average temperature. Snow. Rain.
March, 1866, 40°.0 0 inches. 2.97 in^jhes.
March, 1867, 33°.4 4* " 2.76 ''
March, 1868, 50°.2 ^ « 8.87 "
March, 1869. • 39°.l 1| " 4.21 ^'
The mean temperature of January, 1869, was, by 3 degrees,
warmer than that of March, 1867, and only 2J degrees colder than
that of March, 1869.
APRIL.
The reputation for capriciousness which, from time out of mind,
has attached to the month of April, was unusually well justified this
year. There were storms of every variety — wintry snows and sultry
showers ; sharp frosts and warm, wooing sunshine ; keen winds from
the North and balmy zephyrs from the South ; but, in spite of this
equivocal treatment, buds swelled and grass blades stretched their
green tips upward, and spring asserted herself.
CORRKBPONriNG SECRKTARY's REPORT. 47
The wheat crop recovered rapidly from the check it had received
in March, and even the peaches were found, in many districts, to be
less injured than had be^n feared, while all kinds of small iruits
promised abundance.
From letters received we extract the following as appertaining
to this subject.
From Lincoln county, April 1st :
"High W. S. W. wind to day, which is drying up the roads very
fast. Wheat is now growing nicely. Early wheat looks well; late
not so good, being spewed up badly; the present prospect is favora-
ble for a large crop; this section of country will average from eight
to ten acres per man, and labor is scarce ; so that some wheat will
not be saved, if the crop makes itself good as present prospects.
Peaches are all killed here. Apples promise a large crop. Our
apple orchards in all this timbered country have been badly bored
by the locusts.''
From Sturgeon, Mo., April 3d :
"Farmers are complaining somewhat in this vicinity of the back-
wardness of the spring. A number have finished sowing oats, and
are about ready to begin preparing their ground for corn. On April
1st, ground froze to the depth of one or two inches. The sun rose
April 3d on the earth clad m snow."
The 19th of this month was memorable for the terrific hail storm
which swept over St. Louis county and those adjacent, of which we
take the following description from the Rural World :
"The week was ushered in with an excessively high temperature,
a great amount of swiftly moving clouds and stifling air. On the
evening of the 18th, much thunder sind lightning in the North. Rain
during the night, and quite a shower, with some small hail on the
morning of the 19th. The clouds continued increasing in intensity
and volume till about 3 p. m., when one of the most awful hail storms
began that we have known for years. The hail was small and round
at the commencement — then fell like eggs, quite a number averaging
Hxl| inches. Then came an immense shower of irregular masses,
mostly round, flattened, with numerous projecting points.
When the danger of injury from them was past, we had about a
peck gathered, and the largest was 2^x1^ and pointed all round the
edge. We have heard of masses as large as a hand falling. Much
loss in glass occurred, and the trees were much broken and bruised,
and large quantities of the blossoms cut off."
The tables below indicate the variations of the thermometer and
barometer.
For the week ending April 3d :
Mean of the week, 48^42.
Maximum on the 29th, at 2 p. m., 67^
Minimum on the 3d, at 9 p. m., 31^
Range, 36^
For the week ending April 10th :
Mean of the week, 52^82.
Maximum on the 8th, at 2 p. m., 78°.
Minimum on the 4tb, cit 7 a. m., 22°.
Range, 66°.
4S MISSOURI AQRiCULTUaB.
For the week ending April 17th :
Mean of the week, 49^.04. Jb^
Maximum on the 17th, 7:i°.
Minimum on the 11th and I3th. 32°.
Range, 40"^. /
For the week ending April 24 : ^^
Mean of the week, 6i°.33. '*"
Maximum on the 18th, 84°.
Minimum on the 218L, 45°.
Range 89°.
For the week ending May Ist:
Mean of the week, 58°.66.
Ma^mum on the 28th April, 79°.
Minimum on 1st May, 45°.
Range, 34.
Meteorological table, by A. Fendler, Esq., Allenton, Mo., April,
1869:
Thermometer in open air, in the shade.
7 A. M. 2 p. M. 9 P. M. Mean of month.
48°.0 64°.6 50°.4 54°.3
Maximum temperature 88°.0, on the 18th.
Minimum temperature, 20°.0, on the 4th.
Range, 6S°.0.
Wet bulb thermometer.
7 a.m. 2 p.m. 9 p.m. Mean of month.
44°.0 52°. I 45°.2 47°.l
Barometer — height reduced to freezing point:
7 A. M. 2 p. M. 9 p; M. Mean of month.
29.463 29.427 29.440 29.443
Maximum, 29.817, ou the 4th, 7 a. m.
Minimum, 28,807, on the 19th, 2 p. m.
Range, 1.010 inches.
Rain— 10th, 0.38; 12th, 0.03; 16th, 0.09 ; 18th, 1.80; 19th, 1.88; 20th,
0.28 ; 25th, 0.19 ; 26th, 0 0.); 30th, 1.28.
Snow on the 4th, 0.06.
Total amount of rain and melted snow, 6.08 inches.
Depth of snow i inch.
Average temperature. Snow. Rain.
April, 1866, 57°.l 0 inches. 3.6S inch.
. April, 1867, 56°.0 0 " 0.89 ''
April, 1868^ 51°.4 0 " 6.05 "
April, 1869, 54°.3 i « 6.08 "
MAY
Opened with bright, warm weather, and vegetation progressed rap-
CORRBBPONDINQ SEGBKTABT'S BEPORT. ' 49
idly, although it was still, by the 15th of the month, somewhat behind
former seasons that were considered favorable. The reports from dif-
ferent sections of the State in regard to the fruit and grain crops were,
on the whole, very encouraging. A cold rain, which began on tho
16th, and a succession of cold nights, were rather detrimental to com
and other late products, but doubtless gave a beneficial check to in-
sect development.
We append a few notes from correspondence :
St. Louis county, May 8th :
"Vineyard planting is going on very extensivelv: the promise of
all kinds of fruit, excepting peaches, passing **^good. • The wheat lookfr
magnificent; the prospect of the "chinch-bug" being very injurioua
greatly diminished within the last two montns."
From Cape Girardeau, May 18th :
"The army- worm has made its appearance in some localities, and
the cut-worm is cutting the young corn off as quick asr it comes up.
Corn is not all planted ; oats are quite small for this time of the year.
Peaches all killed; apples and other fruits promise a good crop.^
From Lafayette county; Mo., May 25th :
" We had frost about a week ago; have heard of no damage from
it. Chinch-bug made its appearance, but fails to create any sensation
or uneasiness. Wheat crop very promising, much larger than ever
before in this county. Prospect good for all kinds o'f fruit. My peach
trees are too lull, but a tremendous rain, accompanied by heavy hail
(heavy enough to break window glass), last night between sunset and
dark, has perhaps thinned them out to a healthy condition. Com
comes up badly — all the early planting, and some of the later, have to
be replanted." •
"We have a backward spring for putting in spring crops, though
the small grain and grass crops are far enough advanced. The most
of the farmers are through planting com, though there is some con-
siderable talk about its not coming up. The small §rain that was
sown last fall (wheat and rye) don't look very promising in this vi-
cinity; the winter and the chinch-bug have so much injured some
crops that the farmers have plowed up the ground. Oats look fine,
and so do the meadows. Peaches are killed. There will be some
apples and cherries."
■
From Audrain county, Mo., May 29th :
"The crops up here, taking all together, are on an average. There
is more bad wheat than good; oats and grass look very fine ; our corn
crops are late, with a bad stand, a great many have to plant over on
account of bad seed corn and plowing too wet We will have a tol-
erable crop of apples ; no peaches worth anything ; plenty of cher-
ries; small fruits are fine; grapes promising; of pears, plums and
damsons we shall have a fine crop.
Meteorological table, by A. Fendler, Esq., Allenton, Mo., May,
1869:
Thermometer in open air, in the shade.
7 A. M. 2 p. M. 9 p. M. Mean of month.
56^9 75°.l 68^3 63M
*6— A B
50 MISSOURI AGRIOULTURS.
Maximum temperature, 91^.0, on the 25th.
Minimum temperature, ST'.O, on the 8th.
Range, 54°.0.
Wet bulb thermometer :
7 A. M. 2 p. M. 9 p. K. Mean of month,
53^6 62^4 64^.7 66^9
Barometer—height reduced to freezing point :
7 A. M. 2 p. H. 9 p. M. Mean of month.
29.401 29.368 29.383 29.384
Maximum, 29.738, on the 8th, 5 a. m.
Minimum, 28,975, on the 12th, 2 p. m.
Range, 0.763 inches.
Rain— Ist, 0.10 ; Uth, 1.22 ; 12th, 0.45 ; 13th, 0.31 ; 18th, 0.03 ; 20th,
0.05 ; 2l8t, 0.14 ; 27th, 0.46 ; 29th and 30th, 0.95.
Total amount of rain, 3.71 inches.
Average temperature. Rain.
May, 1866, 59°.9 3.04 inches.
May, 1867, 59^5 7.86 *'
May, 1868, 65*^.1 5.71 "
May, 1869, 63^.1 3.71 "
JUNB
Was characterized by a great number of rain storms, many of them
attended by considerably thunder and lightnin/? ; the temperature
during the early portion of the month was rather low, and even to its
close there were but few really warm days. The weather was favor-
able to the growth of newly set trees, and vines, bat the unusual
amount of moisture in the atmosphere caused more mildew than had
been observed for years, and this, together with the ravages of in-
sects and the difficulties attending cultivation, seriously threatened
some of the fruit crops. The meteorologist of the Bural World made
the following notes on the 14th:
^^ 3reat quantities of fungi are to be found in the woods. The wil-
low and wild cherry present peculiar appearances in consequence of
the action of a fly on the leaves. The cut- worm, army- worm and other
caterpillars are doing considerable damage, and the Colorado potato-
beetle is very bad in many places. We have seen where the climb-
ing cut-worm was on trees twenty feet high, and there are indications
of its being at work on the grape. How the grape vine can remain
healthy amid so much wet is a mystery — the apple crop is being greatly
affected thereby."
As the month advanced, the anxiety of farmers and those of kin-
dred interests centered in the rapidly maturing grains and grasses.
The cool, damp weather developed an unprecedented growth of straw
in the winter wheat, while the heads filled but slowly. Many fields
were struck with red rust about the 14th, which it was feared would
hinder the perfecting of the berry. The army^worm also made its ap-
CORRSBPONDING 8ECBETABY^S REPORT. 51
pearanee in some localities, but came too late to inflict material in-
jury— ^in fact, by stripping off the rusty blades and leaving the stalk
clean, it hastened the ripening, and the effect was, in consequence,
rather beneficial than otherwise.
The harvest season., which commenced about the 20th, was very
nnpropitious. One rain followed another in discouraging succession,
and the grain, which was found to be well filled and heavy, was badly
tangled and beaten down, rendering the use of reaping and mowing
machines very difficult, and requiring much extra and laborieus
handling. As far as the wheat was harvested, the yield was better
than had been anticipated ; the same was true of rye and oats, in most
localities. Corn had been very much retarded in its growth by the
cool, wet weather, many fields having to be entirely re-planted after
the middle of the month. As a general rule it had a faded, sickly
look, and there was no expectation of its proving an average crop.
We subjoin a few extracts from correspondents in different parts
of the State :
June 10th:
'^ Wheat in Lafayette county is turning out far better than was
contemplated, and, if nothing happens the crop between now and
harvest, a fair crop will be cut, as more land has been planted than
on anyprevious occasion.'^
^ Wheat in Chariton county, especially the drilled, is looking
first-rate. A larger area was sown last fall than ever before, and had
the season been as propitious as a year ago, the yield would be im-
mense."
^* Wheat in Caldwell county is reported coming out much better
than had been expected ; an average crop of winter and a full crop
of spring wheat is expected."
From Jasper county, June 20th :
" Wheat crops in Jasper county are fair ; early sown, very fine.
Harvest has alreadv commenced ; the majority will be harvested the
incoming week. Showery the last lew days. Wheat shows some
sign of rust, though not iigured yet. Oats are doing only moderately
well, some heading too low. Com rather low for the time of the
vear, on account of so much cool weather. I think, if there is no
bad luck, it will make a good crop yet."
From Cass county, June 25th :
"We are now in the midst of the wheat harvest, and the early
sown will make a good crop. Spring wheat will be ri'pe in seven or
eight days, with a good yield. Oats generally good. Corn looks well
and promises a good crop. New potatoes plenty, and a large crop
planted."
From Cape Girardeau county, June 80th :
" The weather has been very warm and sultry for the past two or
three days. Harvest has been over for about a week, excepting some
late wheat. We have had verv cool weather to harvest in, excepting
one or two days. Wheat has been better than it has been for a great
many years."
Meteorological table, by A. Fendler, Esq., AUenton, Mo., June,
1869:
52 MISSOtrKI AQKiOVL'nSlUk
Thermometer in open air, in the shade.
7 A. M. 2 p. M. 9 p. M. Mean of month.
62^.8 78^.0 64*^.5 68^.4
Mazimum temp. Ol^'.O, on the 19th.
Minimum tem. 44°.0, on the 6th.
Kange, 47^.0 degrees.
Wet bulb thermometer.
7 A. M. 2 p. M. 9 p. u. Mean of month.
61^4 69^.3 63°.4 64°.7
Barometer — height reduced to freezing point.
7 A. H. 2 p. M. 9 p. M. Mean of month,
29.541 29.496 29.503 29.513
Maximum, 29.779, on the 7th, 7 a. m.
Minimum, 29.129, on the 13th, 7 a. m*
Kange, 0.650 inches.
Rain— 3d, 4th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 12th, 13th, 16th, 17th, 20th, 22d, 24tli^
27th, 29th and 30th.
Total amount of rain, 8.14 inches.
Av. temp. Rain.
June, 1866, 68^.7 3.32 inches*
June, 1867, 73°.0 5.14 inches.
June, 1868, 71°. 9 ^ 1.67 inches.
June, 1869, 68^4 ^ 8.14 inches.
The past month was an extraordinary wet one.
JULY
Began with a series of showers and with considerable increase in the
temperature. Harvesting progressed as best it might under the cir-
cumstances. The most interesting themes, not only in commercial
circles but with all thinking men and women, were the weather and
the crops — the heavy showers and devastating floods, the unusual
quantity and fine quality of the grain, and the difSculties attendant
npon securing.it. The situation throughout the State in relation to
the crops may be be^t gathered from- the records below.
From Pike county^ Mo., July 1st :.
"We have but fairly commenced harvesting, and we can say
truly, ^ the harvest is great, but the laborers are few.' It rains almost
every day, so that we have only been able to put in two days' time
out of four this week in harvesting,
"This is the first of July and it will yet take some eight or ten
days to get through with wheat harvest here, which is later than
usual. The grain seems to be maturing finely."^
From Henry county, July 1st :
^ TtCheat is ripe and a good crop almost m our hands, but we are
prevented from harvesting it by heavy rains. Oats and grasses look
CORBEBPONDING SECRETARY'S REPORT. 53
excellent in this neighborhood. Com is very backward for the sea-
son, owing to the late spring and wet weather."
From Hannibal:
"The harvest of May wheat began June'28th ; Bine stein is ready
now (July 2d); heads well filled ; no rust as yet. Bain «very day and
sometimes morning, noon and night. Many fields of corn are so wet
that a horse cannot walk across them, yet some have a fair prospect
for corn. Oats are fair ; grass, good. The apple crop will not be as
large as was expected ; many varieties are badly scabbed, and others
are still dropping."
From New Franklin, July 3d :
^' Harvest has commenced in earnest. The grain is quite up to an
average, both in quality and quantity. Corn is growing rapidly.
Oats promise well. Vegetables and ^fruit, except peaches, will be
abundant."
From Callaway county, July 4th :
*'The wheat harvest is now fully under way for the medium, early
wheat ; and if the weather should Keep dry for a few days, the crop
will be in the shock. Hay and oats are better than for many years
past. Entirely too much rain ior com in some parts of this county."
From the 10th to the 20th the heat was quite oppressive, but a
few clear days enabled farmers to get their grain in the shock or
stack, with less damage than had been feared. The last week in the
month was cool and dry. The estimates made at that time upon the
newly garnered crops, pronounced the yield of winter wheat in 1869
the largest and best that had ever been noted in the Mississippi
Valley. Oats were also exceedingly fine and beautifuL Spring
wheat fell a little behind, but was not by any means a failure. Corn,
though making rapid progress, could not be estimated higher than two«
thirds of a crop. The hay crop was heavy, but could not be con-
sidered of first quality since much of it was badly bleached in curing.
Vegetables of all kinds made good growth, and small fruits were un-
Qsually plentiful.
Meteorological table, by A. Fendler, Esq., AUenton, Mo., July,
1869.
Thermometer in open air, in the shade.
7 A. M. 2 p. M. 9 p. M. Mean of month.
68*^.0 86^5 69^4 74^6
Maximum temp. 95^.0, on the 13th, 15th, 16th.
Minimum temp. 52^.0, on the 21st, 30th, 5 am.
Range, 43^.0 degrees.
Wet bulb thermometer.
7 A. iL 2 p. H. 9 p. H. Mean of month.
66^7 75M 68^0 69°.9
Barometer — height reduced to freezing point
7 A. M. 2 p. M. 9 p. M. Mean of month.
29.535 29.495 29.502 29.511
, 29.726, on the Slst^ 7 a. m
54 MISSOURI A4IBX0ULTURS.
Minimum, 29.833, on the 9th, 9 p. m.
Range, 0.393 inches.
Raili on the Isi, 3d, 7th, 8th, 11th, ITtb, I8th and 25tfa.
Total amount of rain, 1.82 inches.
Ay. tern. Rain.
July, 1866^ 76^7 4.93 inches.
July, 1867, 76^5 2.05 inches.
July, 1868, 81^6 2.30 inches.
Julyi 1869, 74''.6 1.82 inches.
AUGUST
Opened with beautiful weather — clear, drying, and cool — for the
season; excellent weather for stacking and threshing grain, and lor
securing hay, and was improved everywhere by farmers to the extent
of* their strength.
About the 14th began the ^heated term" of the season — burning
suns and sultry showers (few of the latter), and nights in which not a
leaf was stirred by the breeze, were the unvarying order of things
for more than two weeks. Vegetation of all kinds ripened with sur-
prising rapidity, and even the com received an impetus in its growth
that raised the hopes of farmers in regard to the yield. Fruits of all
kinds filled the markets, and plenty crowned the land.
We give the variations of the thermometer from Miss Muir's
memoranda :
For the week ending August 7th :
The mean of the week, 74.*'75.
Maximum on the 3d and 4th, 92^
Minimum on the 1st, 61^
Range, SV.
For the week ending August 14th :
The mean of the week, 75.*^85.
Maximum on the 9th, 13th and 14th, 86^
Minimum on the 8th, 64^.
Range, 22^
For the week ending August 21st:
The mean of the week, 83.^14.
Maximum on the 2l8t, 96^
Minimum on the 15th and 18th, 74^
Range, 22°.
For the week ending August 28th:
The mean of the week, 81.''38.
Maximum on the 24th, 94^
Minimum on the 25th and 26th, 72^
Range, 22^
SSPTEBCBBR.
The temperature from the first to the 13th of this month was
rather low than otherwise, and very dry, * It was much more favor-
COBBESPOKDING S£0&£TABT^S REPORT. 55
able to the ripening of fruits and corn than to the plowing and har-
rowing operation^ necessary to fall seeding.
The very general fears. of an early frost were not realized as yet,
and such of the duties as still appertained to the garnering and mar-
keting of the harvest returns progressed without interruption, either
from storm or extreme heat.
Slight rains on the 16th and 17th were very grateftil to vegeta-
tion, but not suflicient to put the ground in good liondition to plow,
and farmers were fearful x)t being much behind with their work of
that kind by the time of severe frost
The latter portion of the month was unseasonably chilly and
changeable. The first frost, which was slight and only observable on
low grounds, occurred on the 27th.
Below will be found the weekly variations of the thermometer:
For the week ending September 4th :
The mean of the week, 70.'*23.
Maximum on the 31st, 81^.
Minimum on the 3d, 58^
Range, 23^
For the week ending September 11th :
The mean of the week, 68.°04.
Maximum on the 5th, 83^
Minimum on the 8th, 53^.
Range, 30"*.
For the week ending September 18th :
The mean of the week, 70.''90.
Maximum on the 12th and 18th, 36^
Minimum on the 14th, 60th^
Range, 26^
OCTOBER
Game in with bright skies and a degree of warmth just suited to the
holiday season of the autumnal fairs, and farmers and their families
seemed very generally inclined to avail themselves of the recreation
these exhibitions afforded.
The " dry spell" still continued, greatly retarding fall plowing
and planting, and the temperature gradually decreased until the 16th,
when occurred the first general frost of the season, much later than
usual. From this time onward the weather was of a perfectly anoma-
lous character for the season and the latitude. Instead of the warm,
hazy airs of Indian summer, which every one anticipated, we had a
series of fierce storms, of sleet and snow covering the ground to th«
depth of three or four inches, and remaining on for many days, while
the cold was severe. Thousand of bushels of potatoes were frozen
up in the earth, and the wealth of innumerable apple orchards, the
fruit of which the owners had delayed to gather, was rendered almost
worthless in a night. The severe cold of the 24th and 25th of Octo^
56 MI8S0UBI A^RIOULTUltB.
ber, 1869, and the extensive damage resulting from it, will long render
those days memorable. On the 27th the temperature increased, and
the snow and ice began to disappear, and in the sun one felt decid-
edly warm.
Thermometrical observations as follows, for the week ending
October 2d :
The mean of the week, 68.''37.
Maximum on the SOth, 80^
Minimum on the 26th, 42^
Range, 38°.
For the week ending October 9lh :
The mean of the week, ST.^'OO.
Maximum on the 8th, 79^
Minimum on the 3d, 5th and 9th, 42^
Range, 87'*.
For the week ending October 16th :
Mean of the week, 49.''99.
Maximum on the 10th, 70**.
Minimum on the 16th, 31^
Range, 39^
For the week ending October 23d :
The mean of the week, 39.''09.
Maximum on the 17th, 62''.
Minimum on the 23d, 25^
Range, 37^
For the week ending October 30th :
Mean of the week, 38°.47.
Maximum on the 28th, 66^
Minimum on the 24th and 25th, 16^
Range, 50°.
NOVEMBER.
This was truly a month of '^ melancholy days." Cold and clouds
were the rule, sunshine the rare exception. All field labors were out
oi the question. The roads were extremely heavy, rendering the
marketing of grain, the drawing of wood or lumber, or building
materials of any kind very arduous work for man and beast. Even
the work of building itself was everywhere interrupted by the con-
tinuous rains and snows, and without warning or giving time for need-
ful preparation. Winter usurped the reins of government and
opened a particularly brisk campaign. Very little tree planting
•could be done. The grain fields were much ii^jured by the lack of
.sunshine and 'the severe frost-s. Stock of all kinds required unusual
attention to prevent their losing flesh in the very beginning of the
•cold season.
We clip the following from our exchanges, and cannot help think-
ing from the irregularity of the weather that it will be a hard matter
CORKESPONDING SECRETARY'S REPORT. 57
to keep the run of the snows this season. We have noticed snow and
no snow, ice and unfrozen mud, within three miles of each other.
That this is a general feature of ihe season, we conclude from the
following :
"Number Five. — Five from thirteen leaves eight — more snow
. storms yet to come. If the Weather King continues to send them as
fast as he has since the first snow fell, we are thinking the number
will be filled before the close of 1869."— Jefferson County (Mo.) Dem-
ocrat.
^ More Snow.— Monday night and Tuesday morning last this lati-
tude was favored with another snow, two inches in depth, more or
less. During the week considerable rain has fallen also. We learn
that there was no snow at Westphalia, eleven miles distant, and that
there was none seen on the road closer than about four miles this
side of there." — ^Linn County (Mo.) Democrat, 20th.
For the week ending November 6th :
Mean of the week, 49*^.8.
Maximum on the Ist and 2d, 74^
Minimum on the 31st, 18^
Range, 56^
For the week ending November 18th :
Mean of the week, S&.^'SS.
Maximum on the 9th, 44^
Minimum on the 11th, 28^
Range, 16^.
For the week ending November 20th :
Mean of the week, 36.^09.
Maximum on the 18th, 52^
Minimum on the 20th, 26°.
Range, 26'*.
For the week ending November 27th :
Mean of the week, 41^.86.
Maximum on the 22d, 54°.
Minimum on the 21st, 29°.
Range, 25°.
DECEMBER
Made its debut with the same sullen, tearful face with which its pre-
decessor had bade us farewell. The cold was not severe, but the sat-
urated air was chilling and unhealthy in the extreme. Rain, snow
and sleet alternated with each other almost through the entire month,
which, taken in connection with November, gave us seven weeks in
which the sun shone brightly but for two or three days. The gloomy
aspect of nature seemed to be reflected in every circle, commercial
and social, and a general dullness prevailed. About the 20th the
wind shifted sharp around into the west, and the curtain of clouds
was once more swept aside and the bright face of the sun beamed
cheeringly upon us. From this time to the end of the month the
weather continued pleasant
58 MISSOURI AGRICUl.TURBi
For the week ending December 4th s
Mean of the week, 41°.66.
Maximum on the 29th, 61^
Minimum on the let, 28^
Range, 38^
THE REAPER AND MOWER TRIA.L ATSEDALIA, MISSOURI.
The following account of the field trial at Sedalia was originally
written for and published in the Rural World by the Corresponding
Secretary :
The Pettis County Agricultural Society determined to have a
field trial of Reapers and Mowers — none having been held in Mis-
souri for some years past, and never so extensive a one as the pres-
ent. This was eminently desirable, because, in no department of
labor-saving machinery have there been made so many and valua-
ble improvements, during late years, as in these implements. There
are so many and such desirable machines in market now, that those
who have really no intrinsic merit, or have not been abje to keep up
with the march of improvement, will soon be weeded out. Our State
opens up so large and desirable a field for implement makers, that it
is no more than right that an opportunity |to judge for themselves
should be given to the farmers to obtain, or form an intelligent opin-
ion, as to the actual merits or demerits, of the several machines claim*
ing their patronage.
Manufacturers of standing are always willing to grant all such
requests — ^in fact, they are like the thorough-bred horse (pardon the
simile — ever ready for the contest, and seem to relish the excitement
— they smell the battle. They are, in a certain sense, men of on«
idea, they have the reaper on the brain, and, considering the immense
fortunes that have been made by the manufacture of reapers, they
are furnished with pretty strong reasons for the faith that is in them.
IsJt any wonder, then, that today forty machines, in various combi-
nations, came to the scratch — every one (its backers or manufac-
turers) sure of laurels?
It was determined by the committee, to put all the self-rakers on
trial, first The field chosen was that of Mr. Wm. Williams, about
two-and-one-half miles southeast of Sedalia, the crop being May
(winter) wheaU and the first raised on the ground. The land, a good,
rich prairie loam. The field gently sloped to the southeast, and
towards that point the grain was a rather thin stand, while towards
the northwest, the growth was strong, straw being long enough to
require only a single band; the average product we judge about
twenty bushels per acre. The white grub had worked on the roots of
COBRE8PONDIK6 StCBETARY^fl RKPOKT. S9
the wheat to some extent, hence much of the straw was leaning and
easily uprooted ; and, had the season been dry, early and warm, there
would, no doubt, have been a partial failure-^as it was, the damage
was not Tery serious. In such a field, and in like condition, any ma-
chine worthy a shade of consideration ought to work, hence, we do
not consider the first day's trial any test at all.
We are of opinion that, were the Pettis County Agricultural So-
ciety to order another trial, some things, in which experience is only
a sure guide, would be altered — and here we disclaim any disposition
to be captious. For instance : a committee of three, or at most, five,
would have been much easier to handle and give a satisfactory award.
Second, much time would have been saved by having the surveys
made before hand, and the work cut out, both in reaping and mow-
ing. Next, each machine should have had to cut its acre or half acre
complete, and have the time noted ; also, the wear of the machine,
the hindrances observed, etc. We have really no intention to find
fault, yet these points obtrude themselves, and we cannot help writ-
ing; we hope some, if not all, maybe obviated before the contest
closes.
The first machine to start was Champion No. 1, a single-wheel
machine ; it seemed to work easy for the horses, and do its work well.
The acre was not finished by this machine, but completed by Cham^
pion No. 2, a two-wheeled machine, which is the one generally and
favorable known, and put on the market in the West, by Swan, Ogden
& Co., general agents. This seemed to be somewhat the favorite,
and did fair work as a self-raker; but we think better, even, as a
** dropper." We had never seen any dropper operate, and were very
much and favorably impressed. It leaves the bundle with the butts
even, laying across the swath ; can be approached from either side by
half face movement, and is easily gathered by a move of the foot.
The second machine to start, was, Wood*8 made by Walter A.
Wood, of Hoosick Falls, New York. In this grain the machine worked
well, but in a severer trial the second day, in tangled and trodden
grain, it did not sustain its reputation — choking four times in one
round; nevertheless, the Tr^?^?^ is quite a favorite among machines.
The motion and construction of its rake is very difierent from any
other in the trial.
The third machine was the Kirhy^ manufactured by D. M. Os-
borne & Co., of Auburn, New York., and exhibited by Dick Ransom,
of St. Louis, general agent. The machine claims (or rather its man-
ufacturers) that, having a good, reliable self-rake, the dropper is
•* played out." We certainly agree, that the rake is a good one, and
in the tangled grain did the best of any machine on trial. Altogether,
he who buys a Kirhy^ has a reliable machine. See (frontispiece.)
The fourth machine was the Auburn Harvester^ which did not,
on this and subsequent trials, furnish us with any strong points for
commendation.
60 MISSOURI AGRICULTURE.
The fifth was the Marsh ITarvester^ -carrying with it the crowd
of men, women and children, attracted by the novelty of seeing
two men, while riding on a platform of the machine, receive the
grain from an endless apron, bind the bundles as fast as received,
and leave the grain ready for the shocker. Everybody seem anxious
to see the binders clogged — and, " whip up the horses,'' " keep them
a going," etc., was the cry; not only from the lookers-on, but from
the marshal himself, who actually whipped the team until the move-
ment was almost — some say quite — a trot, and much faster than the
other teams traveled, and yet the men bound the grain. Two good
hinders without the excitement of a machine trial and in their own
or neighbor's field, can bind the grain, have the sheaves of more uni-
form size, and leave the whole in good condition at night — ^in fact,
^afe against almost every calamity, if the shocks are well set up.
Seeing this is the first time we ever ^aw the Marsh in the field, we
can conscientiously say, we like it much. It does not seem liable to
get out of order easily, and has made many friends on this occasion.
Of course it is not a mower, and was not entered as such.
On the second day, in the morning, the combined machines were
tried with the drop attachment. We should mention here that the
surveys stopped at the third or fourth machine, and there was a great
deal of extra work performed, some machines going once or twice
around the entire piece ; others had but a slim chance before the com-
mittee in consequence. Among those who left the grain in perfect
order by the use of the "dropper," were the Champion^ the Dodg^^ the
Russell^ (made at Massillon, Ohio,) and the John P. Manny^ (made
at Rockford, Illinois), The New York Clipper and Cayuga Chief
did fair work.
In the afternoon, a piece of wheat had been selected (on the
place of Dr. Martin, joining the first field), which was heavy and
lodged ; it was further tangled by men, horses and carriages running
and driving through in every direction, and then the macfiines were
set to work. We have already hinted at the result, and will comment
no more, only reiterating that this was the only real test and hard
spot; only two or three machines came out of this trial with any
laurels. No one expects a machine to straighten out the bundles
much; while every farmer wants a machine that will cut and save
even down and tangled grain.
The third and last day, the machines were tried as mowers.
While we shall give the names and prices, we may be allowed to say
that most of these are sold as mowers only when required, with one
or two exceptions — by purchasing the extras any one can be conver-
ted into a reaper, dropper, or self raker. It was supposed that a little
old grass would prove a serious obstacle; and give the machines a
hard task. Not so ; all worked well. In fact, this was no test trial at
all, according to our notion of things. Of course some machines
worked easier and some harder. A six feet cut Chan\{pion^ for in-
CCfRRRSPOmmTSB SECRETARY'S REPORT. 61
stance, was drawn and worked by a single mule — ^his mate simply
assisting in holding up the yoke, while his traces were unhitched,
working well even at a very slow pace.
All the following were entered as combined machines, except
the Young Warrior^ which came to the contest only as a mower.
The Worlds as a mower, cut four feet six inches ; with all combi*
nations, price $230.
The Dodges as a mower, cut four feet five inches ; all combined,
$210.
The Kirby^ as a mower, cut four feet ten inches; combined, $140;
self-rake, extra, $40.
The Wood^ as a mower, cut four feet ; self-rake, combined, $200.
The Excelsior^ as a mower, cut four feet six inches ; combined,
$185.
The Cayuga Chiefs as a mower, cut four feet two inches ; com-
bined, as dropper and mower, $160.
The Auburn Harvester^ as a mower, cut four feet eight inches ;
self-rake and mower combined, $180.
The (7Aam;?i<?7i, as a mower, cut five feet and six inches; selfrake
combined, $215 ; dropper and mower, $190.
The John P% Manny ^ as a mower, cut five feet; combined hand
raker and mower, $160; dropper, extra, $20.
The Clipper^ as a mower, cut five feet; reaper, mower and drop-
per combined, $190.
The Young Warrior^ as a mower, costs $125,
At the present writing, the result of the trial, as far as the com-
mittee is concerned, is not known— when it is we will publish it.
It may be presumptuous in us to send forth our own verdict. Let
it be understood that it is only the opinion of an humble individual.
The verdict of so large and intelligent a committee will have more
force. *
The committee consisted of the following gentlemen, members
of the Pettis County Agricultural Society : Major W. Gentry, Presi-
dent; Dr. Tobias, Secretary ; Wm. Paif, Chas. Walker, J. B. McClure,
J. T. Phillips, George Anderson, Wm. M. Gentry, J. N, Snead, and H.
J. McOormick.
The agricultural society charged an entry fee of sixty dollars for
every machine in every combination, or fifteen dollars for every sepa-
rate combination— we believe ; and, though they worked hard, they
will save (if we are correctly informed) about Hve Mmdred dollars for
the society. Four of the contestants united in paying $20 an acre for
the down-trodden wheat. Injustice to Dr. Martin, we must say, that
they would have paid him $30 — ^but the Dr. thought that too much.
How it was saved, we hope to learn from the Dr. at no distant day.
On the first day, perhaps three hundred farmers and their wives
were present; but there was a great falling off in attendance the sec-
62 ICLSSOURl AamOULTURE.
ond day, and on the last day there were still less, owing to the busy
season of the year."
The Corresponding^ Secretary of the State Board has failed, eyea after personal request, to ob-
tain a report from the Secretary of the Pettis County Ag^ricoltaral Society, which wonkl hare beeft
(if en in place of this.
FIELD TRIAL OF PLOWS, SEEDERS, CORN-PLANTERS, ROLL-
ERS AND HARROWS.
According to the resolutions passed by the State Board of Agri
culture, the Corresponding Secretary prepared and issued the follow-
ing circular:
The very great interest manifested by the Farmers in Field Trials
of Harvest Machinery, during the season ot 1869, has induced the
State Board of Agriculture of Missouri to order a field trial of soil-
stirrings seeding and planting implements, to be holden at St. Louis,
as near the Fair Grounds as possible (on the morning of each day),
during the Fair, to wit : October 4th, 6th, 6th, 7th, and 8th, in the fol-
lowing order :
First day, 9 A. m. — Class I, breaking and sub-soil plows.
Second day, 9 a. m. — Class II, old ground, trench and gang plows.
Third day, 9 A. m. — Class III, seed drills, broadcast seeders and
corn planters.
Fourth day, 9 a. m. — Class IV, short plows, riding and walking
cultivators and rollers.
Fifth day, 9 a. m. — Class V, any new soil-stirring implement not
enumerated or classified in the preceding.
REGULATIONS.
1. The implements entered for competition must be such as are
ordinarily sold by the manufacturer.
2. All competitors not ready to take their places when their
number is called, may be ruled out, at the option of the Board,
3. Competitors are required to furnish their own teams^ and
plow-men or operators.
4. Competitors are required to furnish their own seed grain.
5. All entries must be made on the day previous to the trial of
each respective class.
6. An entry fee of two dollars will be charged for each separate
entry.
7. There will be a first and second award for each subdivision in
each class, to wit : the certificate of the Board.
8. To facilitate the necessary preliminary arrangements, entries
should be made at as early a date as possible.
y
CORRfiSPONDIKG SECKETARY'S REPORT. Q3
The books are now open. Address, Charles W. Murtfeldt, Cor-
responding Secretary, No. 612 North Fifth street, St. Louis.
Editors and Publishers to whom this circular may be sent will
confer a favor by giving the same publicity.
THE TRIAL.
The Board having duly considered the importance of regular
field trials for the more important implements used on the farm, as
the only reliable proof of their practical utility, entered upon the
trial with spirit The manufacturers responded in sufficient numbers
to give interest to the trial. Even Ohio, Michigan, and New York
manufacturers, who had faith in the implements which they ofifered
to the public, entered the list.
The trial, as a first effort, must be considered a success. Not only
was competition good, but the implements offered were of superior
workmanship and merit, and had it not been for the adoption of a
scale of points upon which to decide the merits of the several ma-
chines, it would have been impossible in some instances to have
made a decision at all.
Great credit is due to the President of the Board, Hon. Henry T.
Hudd, for his indefatigable attentions and the rare ability with which
the awarding committees were selected. Also to the gentlemen
serving on these committees for their close scrutiny and unbiased
judgment, as well as their patience and labor to bring the trial to a
successful issue.
The scale of Points adopted to aid the several committees in
their decisions was as follows :
Quality of work 20
Ease of draft 10
Cost 5
Total 36
FIRST DAT.
The first trial was for Breaking Plows^ and took place on the
well known St. Louis Fair Grounds, the management generously
granting the privilege. Five competitors were ready, and came to
the test, which was spirited, and although some contended that only
one class of plows could strictly compete, namely : prairie breaking
plows, yet as there was no distinction made in the circular, all were
allowed to enter, and after a severe trial the first award was given to
F. T. Woodford, Utica, New York ; the second to the Industrial Plo^r
Manufacturing Company of St. Louis.
Committee. — Henry Clay Hart, Chairman, St. Louis; Colonel M.
M. Bain, Mississippi; David Thomas, Missouri ; Barnabas Smith, Wil-
liam Stark, Missouri, members of the State Board.
Subsoil Plowsy according to the technical significance of the
term, were not entered, and, hence, no trial had.
64 MISSOURI AGRICULTURB.
\
SECOND DAY.
The weather seemed to favor the exhibition. Quite a number of
farmers and manufacturers attended outside of the Fair Grounds.
The trial for Gang Plows was held on the second day in a market
garden, in soil that was very mellow and deep. Clover sod would no
doubt have been more acceptable to the competitors, but the Board
wisely considered that it was not to be an easy, but a severe test
Out of four entries, three came to the trial. They all worked
admirably and well. When the committee were satisfied, they gave
the first premium to Robert Newton, of Jerseyville, 111. (We undet-
stand that there are several hundred of these plows in Jersey and
adjoining counties, busily employed in turning over the prairies.) The
second premium was given to Doyle & Curtis, of Bradford, Stark
county, Illinois.
The Old-Ground Plows, or rather their makers, also thought that
a stubble field would have furnished a better place to try the plows;
the Board thought that market gardens must, of necessity, also be
plowed, and ordered them forward. At it they went ; the plows were
set to go beam-deep, and mules and horses got all they wanted in a
few rounds. That piece of land was never so well plowed; but we
can get the evidence only in next year's crop. The first premium
was given to the Industrial Plow Company of St. Louis; the second
to Dodge, Kimball & Austins, of Kalamazoo, Mich.
The following names are the gentlemen that served on this com-
mittee :
Chairman, O. A. A. Gardner, Columbia, Mo., Barnabas Smith,
Crawford county, members of the Board; T. Sappington, St. Louis;
Charles A. Mularow, St. Louis ; Isaiah Jones, St. Louis.
THIRD DAT,
Of Seed Drills only two were entered. The well and favorably
known " Buckeye Drill," manufactured at Springfield, Ohio, and sold
by Barnum Brothers, St. Louis, obtained the first award. The second
was given to Seigel & Smith, of Carlinville, 111. The price of the
machine is $85.
Five machines were entered as Corn Planters. The first award
was given to the " Viandiver Corn Planter" (see illustration), entered
by Joshua Wood & Co., Quincy, 111. (This planter also took the pre-
mium of the St. Louis Agricultural and Mechanical Association.)
We think it of sufficient importance to give the claims set up by this
planter.
"We claim for the "Vandiver" decided advantages over all other
Planters, among which we guarantee most positively:
" It is lighter of draft than any other Planter, as it runs on four
wheels, having gauge wheels forward which serves to balance the
Planter, so that the tongue plays in the neck-yoke, causing no weight
on the horse's neck, even though the heaviest man ride as operator.
** It will plant deep or shaflow, as may be desired, perfectly and
CORttBSFOBDINe SECBBrABT'S BBPOBX. > 65
with certainty, these extra wheels forward being easilr raised or
lowered for that purpose.
" It works free oa the hinges, so as to accomnindate itself per-
fectly to all iinevennesB of ground, the gauge wheel Berving to regu-
late the depth of the runners, at the same lime obviating the neces-
siiy of using a sLilT frame to accomplish this purpose, and doing the-
work more perfectly and with greater ease to the horses, as well as-
doing away entirely with the plunging which characterizes machinee-
with stiff frames.
" The opening at the heel of the rnnnera is of a width sufficient to-
allow the corn to scatter in the hill instead of dropping in a bunchy
as is the case with other Planters having the narrow openings. We
»re enabled to use thi? wide opening in conseauence of coverers (or
little plows) being connected with the Planter by hinge attachments,.
VANDIVBR CORK PLAHTEB.
thus actnnlly covering the corn, and not depending upon the whech
to accomplish this work as do all other Planters. This ingenious at-
tachment is so contrived as to make the "little plows" perfect cov-
erers, as it forces them to raise as the runners fall, and fall as the
ninners raise. It also capacitates them to jump over any obstacle
that would tend to clog them — as would be the case if they were a
stiff coverer — without retarding the progress of, or interfering in the
least particular with the workings of the machine, or any part
thereof. It also makes them act as cultivators, destroying all weeds
that may have started prior to planting five inches each side of the
row, forming a ridge above the main level, which is immediately
pressed by the deep concave wheels, on top and each side. By this
means all washing of the com is prevented, turning the rain in wet.
and holding the moisture in a dry season, and allowing the operator
to plant the corn very shallow, if need be, and yet very tharoaghly
cover it.
"The drop plate ie very simple, and can be readily ganged to
drop more or less seed in a hill, by simply changing the slide.
"The " Vandiver Planter" has a drill attachment for drilling, and
BOd attachment for planting the toagbest prairie sod, either of which
66 MISSOURI AGRICULTURE.
can be added by the farmer at any time in the field. These attach*
ments are extra, and must be paid for as such, and can be procured
of our agents, or by sending to the manufactory.
"The " Vandiver'' is supplied with a flexible cut ofl^ which per-
forms its work with perfect certainty, and which we guarantee will
never ih^'ure a grain of com in planting.
" It IS the moat perfect, complete, and reliable com planter in
use, and we fully warrant it in every particular, and only ask for a
trial of the machine.''
The second award was made to Ha worth A Son, Decatur, II L
This last has an ingenious device, consisting of a cord and pullies, by
which any piece of ground can be planted in checkrow without firsi
marking it out, thus saving much labor.
Oommittee.— Judge P. S. Lanham, Chairman, St Louis; Iliomas
E. Breckenridge, St. Louis ; B. Smith, Cuba, Crawford county, Mis-
souri ; Jonathan Huggins, Macoupin county, Illinois; Philip L. Tippett,
Mississippi.
THIRD DAT.
The trial commenced with ffarrows^ and a strong competition.*
There were seven entries, one of which would doubtless have re-
ceived an award if entered as an.ew implement, being in fact a roller
and harrow combined, not, however, working on the generally recog-
nized principle of a harrow, but rather on that of a roller or pulver-
izer. On this ground it was mled out, and the first award given to
Monfioe^s Improved Rotary Harrow. (See illustration.) This har-
row adjusts itself to any surface of land, and clears itself by its ro-
tary motion.
The report of a committee of the " New York Farmer$^ CluV^ we
deem of 6ufilcient interest to insert here.
^* We went to the farm of Mr. Davis, near White Plains, and there
met Mr. Monroe, the inventor. We saw a device resembling a large
cartwheel laid horizontally. The spokes are ten in number, made of
white oak, 3x3, and each armed with three harrow teeth. The hub, or
axle, into which th«y fit is a single casting, and through the centre
runs a strong kingbolt, to which a bar is attached. On one end of
bar is a small wheel running around on a nanrow iron trsK^k near the
outer end of the tooth spokes ; at the other end is the clevis. In ad-
dition to this is a cast-iron wheel of twenty-five pounds weight so
oennected with the kingbolt as to revolve near the outer edge at right
angles with the clevis beam. The effect of this wheel is to weight
one side of the harrow, producing greater resistance, as the teeth
thus weighted sink deeper. This unequal bearing on the two sides
of the wheel harrow give a rotating motion, combmed with the for-
I
OORRBSPOKDING SBCmSTABT'S KKPORT. 67
ward motioD, without loss of power. A sliding weight is so adjusted
as to increase or lessen the bearing of this wheel at pleasure. The
test to which we subjected the invention was severe. The field was
a roughly turned sod, with grass sprouting high from the edge of each
furrow-slice. There were some bushes, some loose stones, some fast
stones, while a copious rain falling all the morning made the surface
muddy where not greaser.
^ A careful observation of the style in which this implement did
its work has convinced your committee :
^ 1. That, by giving the plowmen of America such a help for fine
tillage as they have in this rotating harrow, Mr. Monroe deserves the
thanks of farm laborers and farm horses.
'* 2. We think his harrows going once over a surface will accom-
plish as much as any other harrow going three times over. As the di-
rection of the rotation is easily controlled, it can, in harrowing, move
always from the back to the upper ed^e of the furrow-slice.
^3. No sod need be upturned by its action.
^ 4. The rotating motion allows the implement to clear itself of
anything that will clog harrow teeth and free itself from a stump or
iSsist rock. No lifting is called for, and the draught is uniform upon
tiie team.
^ 5. llie teeth wear out alike.
^ 6. This implement does not operate as well with the slow move-
ment of oxen.
^* 7. The inventor acts wisely in selling the castings for a small
sum, and not requiring every purchaser to take a complete harrow or
nothing. With the castings and a set of harrow teeth, any farmer
expert enough to shape a good plow handle, can get out the timber
and frame this harrow in his workshop.
^^8. Your committee specially commend to the attention of
farmers any implement the use of which will make the mixing of
soils and fineness of tilth easy and cheap. Few fields are as thor-
oughly prepared for grain crops as they should be. B^ the use of
this and similar improvements in tillage the crops oi the country
might be greatly increased.''
Committee. — J. B. Lyman, S. E. Todd, W. S. Oarpenter.
FOURTH DAY.
The interest of the implement trial was well maintained. Riding
Two-horse Cultivators were first tried. Ohio and Illinois again ia
the lead. The ground upon which these implements were tried was
not all that could have been desired, being the same that was used on
the first day for the breaking plows. An actual field of standing
(growing) com would have been better, yet the committee felt well
satisfied in making the awards. The first to Thomas & Mast, Spring-
field, Ohio, the second to J^ames Armstrong, Elmira, Illinois.
Walking Two-horse Cultivators were next in order, and in this
class several first-class implements were offered. After a severe trial
the first award was made to Weir Plow Company^ of Monmouth, 111.
(See illustration.) The manufacturers claim for this corn plow :
1. Its simplicity and durability of construction.
2. The peculiar twist of the Diamond Shovels, by means of which
dirt can be throwns to or from the aorn, without the gangs crowding.
imaouBi AQMiauurutM.
S. The patent eqnare frame, and the arrangement of the knuckles,
which keeps the gangs in an exact vertical position, and the same
'g
time allows the gangs to have free and easy lateral and TerticaL
motion without that lopping of the gangs so common wiUt nearly all
other Doable Com Plows.
ooBRBSFOiTBnre okibssabt's bepobt. 69
4. The set and form of shovels, which makes it run deeper than
any other implement of the kind yet constructed.
5. The draft being on a direct line from the shovels to the horses'
necks, the point of the tongue and wheels are relieved of all down-
ward pressure.
The first award for Double and Tripple Shovel Plows was made
to the Industrial Plow Oompany of St. Louis.
J. W. Dilly was awarded the first prize on a Section Self-acfjusP-
ing Field Roller^ while for a similar implement the second award
was made to O. B. Oolcord^^of Greenville, 111. Both rollers worked
admirably. One was made (in the main) of wood, the other of iron,
and this difference decided the committee in favor of the more last-
ing material. One such implement should be found on every farm in
the State.
Committee — ^Wm. Stark, chairman, Pike county, Mo., member ol
Missouri State Board of Agriculture ; Sam'l W. Bayles, St. Louis ; P.
H. Fulkerson, St. Oharles.
The Industrial Plow Oompany offered for trial a Trench Plow,
This plow is made to follow in the same furrow of a common plow,
thus running twice or more of the usual depth. It is a very strong
tool, of which the committee please to say that it is admirably adapted
for the purpose intended, and decidedly the best they have ever
tested.
Committee — ^Dr. H. Glaggett, St. Louis ; Michael Schipler, St.
Loui9 ; Asa Loudon, St. Louis.
As far as the Board of Agriculture has been able to judge or as-
certain, the awards have given general satisfaction, and when it is
noticed that some of the most important prizes were carried out of
the State of Missouri, the charge so frequently made of such trials,
namely, that of partiality to home manufactured articles, falls to the
ground.
It should not be passed over, that a great deal to6 much time was
(and is generally) consumed by tinkering. Why manufacturers will
put in jeopardy a premium which they, of right, esteem very highly,
by entering a contest without having previously tried every bolt and
screw on their implements, is very hard to understand. Many of the
exhibitors wanted time to scour the plows, or to try them separately,
etc., etc., all of which diminished the time which should have been
allotted to actual trial. But notwithstanding all this, none of the
gentlemen of the various committees woqld hesitate to recommend
any of the implements that came of victorious in this trial. In fact^
it is worthy of special notice that every implement offered was a good
one, and in several cases only a few, and in one even a half point de-
cided the committee. Disappointments there will be at such trials,
but it is not much of a vantage to be beaten only Iby half a point, and
a great deal of satisfaction to have been in competition with a first-
elass implement.
70 MI880UBI AeBICULTUKB.
THE TEXTILE FABRIC AND WOOL EXPOSITION AT OINOIN-
NATL
Haying been named on the Committee on Wools, the Correspond-
ing Secretary repaired to Cincinnati, and makes this brief report:
For years it has been the cry of the West and South,- that capital
and skilled labor were all they needed to develop their inexhaustible
resources*! Well, we will leave out the inexhaustible, and substitute
magnificent, natural resources — ^for such both the South and the West
possess. As for skilled labor and capital, they are finding their way
Westward with very perceptible increase of speed every year. We
are not unfamiliar with the efforts made by woolen mills and factories,
as seen at the different State fairs.
The present exposition, of which we have undertaken to speak,
eclipsed all former efforts that it has been our pleasure to se^, not
only in point of magnitude, but also in the quality of the goods ex-
posed. Surely skilled labor is in our midst now^ if this be an index.
Of course we have the raw material, and our capital is on the increase
and being rapidly augmented.
Why should the West and the South send their wool, cotton,
hemp, flax and hides to New England to be manufactured ; send along
the bread and meat to sustain the operatives ; pay all the expenses of
handling, transportation, insurance, commissions; pay for manufac-
turing, a profit to the capitalists, and all return expenses in buying
back the goods made? Still more, why should they send their cotton
to old England and France, with all the incidental expenses as above,
only more so^ and purchase back the manufactured goods ? Or, in the
words of Judge Bellamy Storer:
^But the manufacturers of the West present a thought which is
full of abiding interest to you all. Why should we be tributary to Eng-
land or any other portion of the world ? Why should we regard our-
selves as bound to import from any part of this, our hemisphere, let it
be the Eastern or Western, any article necessai7foruse,orthati8Just
and proper to be used ? It is said, however, that we cannot manufac-
ture as cheap here. My pride is humbled when I know that a pound
of cotton is sent over to Europe and it comes back to us in perhaps
one or two yards of gossamer texture. Who pays the duty ? We pay
the broker who buys the cotton. We pay the insurance upon it. We
pa^ the commission in Manchester or Birmingham. We pay the
freights over here. Then we pa^ to him who imports another duty
upon it; and by the tirn^ it arrives here, it is very much like the
shawls which cost $15 that our own manufacturers can furnish for $8.''
This was the old time rule ; but our Eastern friends may as well
make up their minds to come West, and bring their skilled workmen
and capital along; and they had better be quick about it, too, or the
^coming Johnny," from China, will get here first.
At this exhibition we saw and handled fabrics of wool and cotton
ooBBKSPONDme bkoutary's report. 71
in the way of meltons, cassimeres, jeans, blankets, domestic cottons,
cotton and wool blanket^, etc., that would be very hard to beat in any
market. Thread (cotton), made for the use of sewing machines, un-
surpassed by any other. Silk-sewings and twist, made from the finest
imported raw China silk, and equal to the old established Italian
brand of ^^Kubinacci"— even, elastici and of beautiful lustre. Very
soon Oalifornia will furnish raw silk. The West is bound to be the
mafnufacturing centre of this goodly land ; or, as a gentleman at the
exhibition had it : ^Let us of the Northwest manufacture the woolen
goods, and the South the cotton goods" — and we say Amen.
But, the question is often asked, why will our American nation
import English, French and German goods, when, as we have proven,
we can make goods equal in every respect? Let us tell you one rea*
son, and take it in the spirit in which it is written : Whenever a ^aJk-
tfi;^ «^yZ6 of goods is imported — say fancy cassimere, or fancy lawns,
or any other ladies dress goods — from England, some sharp Yankee
will immediately imitate it, and so closely that is difficult to mark the
difference ; it continues ^^ to take." Now, he will set his wits to work
to make an article that will look as well, but has not the wear in it;
and so, the standard is lowered by every new piece — that is what
makes the buyer shy. Foreign manufacturers cannot afford to do this ;
they must keep up their reputation or go down. Americans make
the same goods under a dozen different brands at the same mill, if it
suits their schemes. If all were as careful that their fabrics should
be of uniform quality, as, for instance, the York Mills, they might not
get rich so fast, but there would not be a shadow of a doubt of ulti-
mate great success. We could hope that especially our southern fao*
tones would raise their standards high, and keep the goods up to the
mark. The domestics exhibited by them at this time were highly
creditable, and as firm and solid as could be desired ; we hope that
very soon we 4hall see, also, some very fine prints made at the South,
and made as honest, both for color and texture, as were those domes-
tics and jeans;
But is it not a little singular that the wool-growers of the North-
west are so shy of the manufacturers ? Have they any more reason
than for the farmer to be shy of the miller, or of the drover or butcher t
Will not supply and demand regulate their affairs as well ? Must the
wool-grower take, without allowance, all that the manufacturer as-
serts, as to the amount of wool on hand ? We think not. A wool-
grower should keep posted — and we have never known one that did
not (for they are sharp chaps, loo sharp perhaps) — and then sell his.
clip when he is ready, or when the figures suit him. For example : A
friend of ours fattens half a dozen steers every season; they are stall
fed ; wlien fat, he lets it be known ; he fixes his price, of course reier-
ring to tiie conditions of the general markets; then, if a buyer comes,.
be gives his figures, and he will obtain that amount or the oxen re-
main in bis stalls. What is to hinder the wool-grower from giving hia*
73 IIIBSOUFI AQKIClLTrRB.
figures either to the buyer or to his commission merchant, and acting
like our friend ?
Men are selfish, there is no denying that fact. If they buy, they
will get their purchase as cheap as they can ; if they sell, they want
to sell for the most money, and hire their labor at the lowest rate : dr
as Mr. Stebbins, of Detroit, one of the speakers, had it:
^^ Manufacturers must give employ to many persons. In 1860, the
eleven Northwestern States bad over 225,000 men and women work-
ing in mills and factories of all kinds, and turned out $390,000,000
worth of their products. This has largely increased since. In 1865,
Massachusetts alone employed 225,000 persons in the same way, and
turned out over $400,000,000 worth (of woolens, $45,000,000), and their
farm products were over $100,000,000, on a thin soil, increasing in ten
years, more, in proportion, than those of the factory; and showing the
benefit of having the farm and factory neighbors, as they shoiUd be
with us, and must be, for the best good ot purse and soil and soul
among our own people.
The women and girls of Massachusetts earn yearly $25,000,000 in
factories, and can command respect, meanwhile, by womanly charac-
ter and conduct No' small item, this, in these days when women are
looking for self-support and independence.
I am not here to settle this labor question, or to say that either
employers or employed are all right or all wrong. A mean man will be
mean, be he rich or poor, and an nonorable man is ^a man for a' that,''
ae Burns says, whether he is rich or poor. But I can gladly say that
the working people of this country are the best paid, all things con- .
sidered, of any in the world.
But some people say your manufacturers ai!e ^bloated monopo-
lists.* That is bad.
I have a list of two hundred and thirty firms in New York city, in
the thirty-second revenue district, whose sales, largely of imported
goods, exceed $100,000 a month, and fourteen firms in that city report
yearly sales, counting up $140,000,000. A. T. Stewart, a well-known
importer, gives his income at over $3,000,000; larger than that of any
half dozen companies of manufacturers in the land. For the capital
invested, manufacturers must employ twenty times as many persons
as these traders. I do not call these men ^^monopolists ;" but if they
are not, I can't see how you are, and you have less chance to be, as
there are more of you, and more competition.
In 1860, the eleven Northwestern States had $!K)0,000,000 of farm
Sroducts to consume and sell. How much did manufacturing Europe,
Ingland and the Continent take of us ? Only some $13,000,000 worth.
How much did 22,000,000 of our customers, East and South, in the
Union, bu^ ? Some $190,000,000, or sixty-fold as much per head. But
these foreign countries sent us $200,000,000 worth of their manufac*
tures. Great Britain sent to the West $45,000,000 of her wares — buy-
ing little and selling us much."
We cannot close this necessarily brief account without referring
•explicitly to the beautiful, tasty and comfortable shawls, manufac-
tured by Blake & Co., of the Racine Woolen Mills, called the ** Badger
tState Shawls ;" and they are the same so flatteringly referred to in his
: address by Judge Bellamy Storer. One, a beautiful scarlet plaid, was
•declared to be every way equal to any ever made in Scotland, and no
rwonder, when they have that canny little Scot, K Street, for superin*
CORRESFONDHra SECRBTART^S REPORT. 73
tendent. Some one has said : It is a pity that a Scotchman should
ever be wrong, for they are so hard to turn. We suppose that it is
the same when they are rights only more so. Judging from this, the
goods made at this mill will soon acquire a repute in their specific liiia
equal to the celebrated York Mills. Messrs. Blake & Co., make, also,
double and twisted cassimeres, meltons and blankets. We congratu-
late them upon their success.
The Prairie State shawls, manufactured by the Lacon Woolen
Manufacturing Company, Marshall county, Illinois, were equal to th«
first, and in twenty different patterns ; and we could, with propriety,
repeat all said above. They deserved and received the premium for
the best low-priced shawls.
P. H. & F. M. Roots, manufacturers, of Connorsville, Indiana, had
on exhibition sixteen pieces of fancy cassimeres of a very superior
quality, and, we think, of more complicated patterns than any we laid
our eyes upon ; also four pieces of meltons, that any duke might b«
proud to wear. These goods were not made expressly for this exhi-
bition, bnt are the honest offerings of their salesroom, where they can
be duplicated any day. The manufacturers cannot supply the demand,
and we do not wonder at it. Why not enlarge your works, gentle-
men ? Only keep up the standard as hitherto, and success is yours,
and no such word as fail.
The Lawrenceburgh, Indiana, Woolen Mills made a most excel-
lent exhibition. Nearly sixty pieces of various qualities of meltons,
cassimeres, doeskins, blankets, and a variety of woolen goods of the
very best quality and modern styles, were entered by them. To think
of merchants traveling to Boston or New York to lay in goods, when
such an assortment is spread before them in their immediate vicinity,
seenfis preposterous, unless a man is determined to verify the old ad-
age, "far fetched and dear bought." This company has been very
successful with their show of goods at various State fairs, as the difr
ferent medals awarded them amply certify. We hope to see them at
the niinois State fair, but more especially at the St. Louis fair, and
have no doubt they will carry off many prizes. Their goods are kepi
up to a number one standard.
Surely skilled labor and capital are now in the Northwest, and
this includes Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, and even Cali-
fornia.
Only two pieces of bagging were sent from Missouri. No wools
from this State, and but few from any State. We think wool-growers,
as such, were ignored by the' manufacturers.
74 mSSOUPI AeBIOULTOKB.
NOXIOUS WEEDS.
BT THB KDITOR.
At the annaal meeting of the Board the, subject of noxious weeds
was referred to. Members seemed to agree that it was very impor-
tant that farmers should be better posted. Our lands are so fertile that
where no good crops grow weeds will spring up. The Secretary, there-
fore, offers the following, originally iirritten by him for the Rural
World. Would that the teachers of our common schools were suffi-
ciently versed in botany to make these cormorant pests object lessons
for their classes, so that our youth might early become acquainted
with them. Lands can be kept free from them, and although the
fields of the slovenly farmer will produce seed enough for the entire
neighborhood, yet no good farmer will allow weeds to go to seed on
his premises. , ^
What are weeds t We have consulted books and asked writers,
and the best definition to our mind, we can give or get, is this :
" Plants out of place." But our purpose will be better subserved if
we speak of noxious weeds ; because, under the first designation, a
stool of rye in a wheat field, or a stool of oats in a barley field, would
be classed as weeds — they are undoubtedly plants out of place.
Noxious weeds, however, are such plants as are not only out of place,
but have no general worth or use, and that multiply to rapidly that
they appropriate all the space a careless farmer will allow them to
occupy. No good farmer, deserving that name, will allow them to
occupy the ground. We must cry shame, too, on the blotches we so
frequently see in fields, often right in the midst and on the very best
soil on the farm ; where, because weeds are in the msyority, and
wheat or oats not in sufficient quantity, the weeds are left standing,
allowed to mature their seeds, and spread them all around — and this,
with the knowledge and consent of the owner or occupant. Weeds
can and should be kept under, if aot in one way, then, in another; if
not with the hoe, then with the scythe or plow. They appropriate
plant food that should go to nourish useful plants.
The article on Horse Nettle in the Rural World has stirred up
some of our correspondents, and we hope waked up all our readers to
the necessity of waging war against these pests. We propose to
treat in this paper on some others, which we know and see to be
equally noxious, and which no good farmer will allow to get a foot-
hold on his grounds.
The Thorn-apple or Jamestown Weed {Datura stramonium). —
Annual. Darlington says : "A native of Asia or tropical America.
Both varieties — the one with a green, and the other with purple stems
—are very common. The herbs and seeds are powerful narcotic poi-
sons. Both varieties are a coarse, unsightly * weed, and should be
carefully extirpated by the farmer."
coBRESPOKDnre siobstary's report. 16
Barn-yards, old hog-pens and verj rich ground, generally are
places where this plant grows and thrives — and jost sach places will
produce the best ropt crops for table nse if cnltivated there. It flow-
ers in August, and the fruit is ripe in September. Children some-
times eat the seeds, become crazed and die from the effects. Sheep
will eat the leaves without harm. There is a cultivated, ornamental
Datura^ which resembles the first-named plant, but has no smell and
a flower nearly four times the size of the first— nearly a pure white,
and very beautiful.
Cockle Bur {Xanthium strumarium). — Annual. "This,*' says
Darlington, " has the appearance of a naturalized stranger, but it is
considered by Gray indigenous ; it is an obnoxious weed, though not
much inclined to spread, and, with little attention, is easily kept in
subjection. The burs are a great annoyance in the fleeces of sheep."
Now, we differ somewhat with the writer. In our opinion^ it is
not so easily killed. We believe the seeds will lie dormant for a
year or two and then sprout. This weed also flourishes in rich and fine
soil, and will there spread and develop into unsightly proportion.
We sometimes see it come up late in the season, after wheat or other
spring crops have been harvested ; it will grow rapidly and mature
the burs and seeds before the frost will stop its growing. This weed
is spreading very widely, and increasiug every year. If the plow is
kept moving in the autumn, that will hold it very much in check ;
but, if found in fields recently reaped of small grain, the best and
surest way is,' to pull it up by the roots (not very hard work, even for
young hands), before the burs set. Dry, and then burn it.
£tlrdook (Zappa). — Darlington says: "Everybody knows this
coarse and homely weed wherever it has gained admittance— but
everybody does not take care to keep it in due subjection. One of
the earliest and surest evidences of slovenly negligence about a
farm-yard is, the prevalence of huge burdock.'*
The plant has some medicinal properties for external application.
This is also a hard thing to get rid of after it has once obtained a foot-
hold. It is very generally spread, in the bur, over the whole farm, by
all kinds of stock, whose caudle appendages are thereby converted
into huge clubs; and we wish that, if the cows could be taught to
handle them rather sharply around their owner's head while he is
attempting to draw the lacteal fluid, this might be done— it might
serve as a gentle (?) reminder, that those hideous burdocks had bet-
ter be cut down.
Sheep Sorrel (JRumex acet08ella),-'T!he author above quoted bajb:
^'This little species (well known for its acidity) is often so abundant
as to become a nuisance on a farm. Improving the land, especially
by adequate dressings of lime, is believed to be the best mode of ex-
pelling this as well as many other obnoxious plants."
There was a time when we were very much afraid of this weed,
and we know that at this day very many farmers are in sympathy
76 MIi|80UBI AGRIOULTUBE. i
with us. This sorrel will take all the ground you will let it, and no
useful plant or grain can, or does, grow where it abounds. But, we
know from experience, that it can be kept in subjection. The best
way we have ever tried was, to get the ground seeded to white
clover (which is the stronger plant, and will more than holds its own
against this pest) and pasture the same. Of course, manuring, fre-
quent plowing and thorough cultivation, will keep it down, so as to
be of little damage — but it will, and does, answer as a kick to boost
a slovenly farmer down hill.
We expect to continue this article on weeds. We are not even a
mediocre botanist, and never like to sail under false colors ;. for this
reason we do not attempt to give a full botanical description which we
might find in Gray or Wood. We give the botanical name to enable
the student to look up, if he pleases, what scientists say about these
weeds. One thing we desire all our readers to know, that is, if they
wish to prosper on a farm and by its cultivation: No weeds should
be allowed to go to seed on the place ; if they do not take the weeds,
the weeds will tak^ the farm !
Mbrisons cynoglosaum — {Darlington). — ^It is no uncommon thing
to see the pants up to the middle of the slovenly farmer decorated
with Beggar's Lice. They are rightly so named. Where they are
found plenty, other weeds will also be likely to abound, and the
farmer will soon be a beggar. Our own pants have been lined with
them when going through a little copse where they had undisputed
sway for years. They always gave- us a very uneasy feeling, almost
as if they were things of life, and we never could rest until they were
all picked off. These, like other burs are carried all about the farm
by the stock. Darlington says : ^The slovenly farmer is apt to get a
practical acquaintance with this obnoxious weed, in consequence of
its racemes of bur like fruit entangling the manes of his horses and
the fleeces of his sheep." There are two distinct weeds, both bur
like — ^in fact, one is a regular little bur, and round ; the other rather
flat. Darling calls the one Beggar^a Lice^ the other Beggar^e
Ticks.
Smart Weed {Polygonum incarnatum), — Annual. This weed is
very common, and occupies altogether too much ground on almost
every farm. It likes the richest of soil, and will flourish and rob the
farm of just that plant food which ought to be brought to the roots of
wheat, corn or potatoes. Darlington says of it : ^^A worthless weed^
as most of the species are ; and it is, moreover, a highly acrid plants
sometimes causing obstinate ulcerative inflammation, when incau-
tiously applied to the skin. The medical men ot the middle ages
highly extolled it for its remedial qualities, but it is not used at pre-
sent." Children going barefoot will sometimes run through a thick
patch of it to clean their feet (after a rain or when the dew is on); but,
as above hinted, it proves a sore bath — and often the cause of the
trouble is not even suspected.
CORRESPONDING BRORBTART'S REPORT. 77
The Thistle Family ( Cirsium). — ^There are quite too many varie-
ties of thistle for the good of the farmer. There is the common,
Scotch, tall, cotton, cursed, Canada and yellow thistles ; a very formi-
dable array of names indeed, and a hard lot of weeds to keep under'
Bubjection, especially from this fact — that most of them, if not all,
bear winged seeds, which are carried about by every wind. Itot only
are they an everlasting pest on the farm where they are allowed to
dbtain a foothold, but to all the neighborhood besides. They grow in
places where it really does not seem any body's business to extirpate
them ; along the common highway — and especially on railroad tracks
where these are not available for truck patches for our Irish fellow
citizens. It cannot be long before some laws will be enacted, making
it a penal offense to allow noxious weeds to go to seed, in private as
well as public grounds. We have now special reference to the Can-
ada thistle (oircium arven8e\ and the Horse Nettle (solanu7n caro-
linense). The sooner such a law is passed the better it will be for
the State.
Yellow Dock (liumex hritanica), — There is perhaps no other
weed that seeds so profusely as yellow dock. Like all other noxiouB
weeds, it appropriates every inch of ground you give it leave to. It
sends its long and strong root deep into the soil, and it is seldom you
can pull it up without breaking t^e root; the piece left in the soil
will grow again. Where it abounds, no other good crop can flourish.
To destroy it« it must be drawn or dug up by the roots entire ; frequent
plowing will help to keep it down. Although not so disagreeable as
either bur or thistle, it is nevertheless an enemy that should not be
tolerated on any farm. >
Mare'^B Tail — {Ilippuris^ Ze.). — ^To labor is, for the healthy
man, a necessity — ^if he would enjoy life ; if he would relish food,
sleep and rest. How can a man rest unless he is tired ? He that
would eivjoy food must be hungry. Men will labor their whole life
long, so that they may rest in the evening of their days ; but, what
is the result? As soon as their active liie stops, they droop and die.
Labor, then, is a gift from God, rather than a curse. That our labors
as farmers are so hard, is greatly our own fault. Look at it ! We
break up a number of acres of virgin soil, on a prairie if you please.
The grass and a few short-lived weeds are subdued by once plowing
the land ; it is cross-plowed and cultivated to wheat. Not a weed
on the land— is that so ? Just allow your land to lay still three or
four weeks after harvest, and what is the result ? a splendid crop of
Jfare^ tail I
78 KISSOtJBI AeRICULTURB.
SOUTHWEST MISSOURI.
RKPORT OF OOKRESPONDING SECRETARY*
One of the most cherished desires of onr heart, namely : To see,
with our own e^es, the much-lauded Southwest Missouri, has recently
been fulfilled, and we propose to give a brief account of our observa-
tions.
The beautiful prairies of Northern Illinois so charmed as twenty-^
five years ago, that we removed to them in just one month after our
eyes first beheld their beauty. To think that a country, at least as
heautiful^ formed a part of Missouri, never entered our head. What
was our surprise, therefore, to find it indeed true. Some one has said
that it was well our forefathers first landed on the sterile coast of
New England, for had they beheld the entrancing beauty of our
Western prairies, and discovered the ease with which these can be
cultivated, and the fertility of the soil, New England would yet be a
barren waste. But, of course, science and industry overcome most
natural obstacles, as is the case in New England.
It is not at all our purpose to raise the hopes and expectations of
our readers and possible immigrants to the Southwest, so high that
they will feel in the least disappointed when they get there (if they
ever do.) As far as we have been enabled to view the goodly land^
we claim to give a truthful report
7%€ Prairies of this section are high and rolling, and for the most
part composed of a strong soil, of a retentive clay, with more or less
sand, and underlaid by limestone or gravel ; and in the bottoms, a
rich, alluvial soil that will produce well if rightly handled. Some
portions of these prairies are rather stony and covered with a sandy*
flint freestone, good for building material and fencing; but these are
easily picked off and really valuable. All the old chimneys, many
of which are standing while the houses or cabins for which they were
built were burnt during the war, are built of these stones, and often
form a very pretty mosaic from the varieties of colors shown, varying
from a creamy white to a reddish brown, and the fantastic way in
which these are laid.
The Inhabitants are a wide-awake, hardy, industrious class of
people, coming largely from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and many of the
Eastern States. The goodly land and the immunity from long and
severe winters seem to have been the principal stimulus, though
many have doubtless been attracted by the cheapness and richness
of the soil. We learn, with great pleasure, that there is quite a
settlement of Friends, whose proverbial thrift and honesty will not
fail to be impressed upon their neighbors. If we live to ever visit
this section again, we shall certainly spend a considerable time with
them.
Winter Wheat is the only variety grown as yet, and we saw many
CORBXflPOHBIHe BSCRBTikRT'S RSPOBT. . 79
fields looking quite we]I, thongh for the most part exhibiting not the
very best mode of cnltare ; not a single drill-sown field being visible
on our route. We are assured, however, by dealers, that a good many
drills have been sold this last season.
Corn^ we should judge, would grow well, and, in our opinion, this
will and ought to form the great staple of this section. Cattle will
be driven here from Texas and the Oherokee Nation to be fattened ;
and when the Southwest Pacific railroad shall be completed to Spring-
field and beyond, they will will seek St. Louis as a market, or as an
entrepot to the East, if St. Louis can offer as great inducements in the
way of stockyards, etc., as Ohicago.
The Oraases will do well. This has been proven by one farmer,
at least, who has a four hundred acre blue grass pasture, on which he
winters his stock, the wild grass furnishing the best kind oi feed in
abundance for the' summer range, while bis blue grass is not touched.
We noticed one field of red clover looking well, sown this last spring.
Hay is cut from the prairies in great abundance ; and such is the fer-
tility of the soil that over five tons to the acre have been secured
this season ; and men can now be found who will lay a wager that
they can find, on the prairies, an acre that will yield five tons, now
that it is dry and frost-bitten. Of course, with so much of this material .
prairie Hres are most extensive and often do a great deal of damage.
One night, while we were riding from Springfield to Carthage, the fire
burnt over a very large prairie and through the woods. There was
no need of lanterns to the coach ; it was almost as light as day, and
the scene was grand in the extreme. Could we have conjured up a
dozen or more of horsemen, to canter 1[)ack and forward against the
horizon and between the fire and our eyes, we might have fancied
that the '^red man" was on his war path, leaving death and destruc-
tion to mark his track.
Timber is. in good proportion, and in Jasper and a^oining
counties, especially, one is constantly in sight of the woode, more or
less distant, often within sight on three sides at once.
There are pineries in Arkansas, distant from Jasper county about
seventy miles, of course less so from Newton and McDonald counties,
which lie south of Jasper. These furnish building lumber and fene-
ing, though saw mills are established on most streams, and furnish a
' very good article of oak lumber, which is sold at reasonable rates.
For fencing, Osage orange is in common use ; and when we shall have
a law which will declare a well-set live hedge, one year old, a lawful
fence. Southwest Missouri will have plenty of timber for all time to
come, especially if the settlers now will exercise economy, wisdom
and forethought, and plant timber belts on all their prairie farms.
Water and Streams are plenty, and th^se latter are fed by living
springs; the quality of the water is excellent. Spring river is large
enough to drive machinery. Of course, we could not ascertain its
80 MISSOURI AaRIOULTUBB.
fall and where damming would be feasible, but it must be strong
enough at some points, for the water flows quite swift
One valuable feature about the streams that we traversed, and
whii^h we had a good chance to observe is this: they all have a hard
ravelly bottom, and offer secure fords. '
Oood Dwellings may be found on many farms ; but we have often
thought there was as much love, affection, comfort and enjoyment, in
the rude cabin as in the palace, and that is our opinion still. We
now call to mind two or three years of our own experience in log
oabin life, and are foolish enough to mention it with a sort of pride.
But, we are eraying, we did not intend to mention names, but
make an exception in the case of a Mr. Pierce, formerly from Stephen-
son county. 111., and who now lives near Montevallo, Vernon county.
This gentleman and thorough farmer has just finished a large and
commodious bank-barn, after the style of Pennsylvania farmers.
Knowing the comfort this will insure to him and his stock, even in
this most mild and genial climate, and the opportunity he will there-
'by secure to save manure, we cannot but commend it. The base-
ment, or rather lower story — for there is no portion of it beneath tha
level of the surface soil — was substantially built of the same free
gtone before mentioned, and looked really beautiful, while the bam
itself is a good frame and was just being painted. In a few years
there will be many such in that vicinity, or we overrate the force of
example.
OrcTiards and^Nur aeries. — One can hardly imaginf^ a country
better adapted to fruit growing than the one under consideration.
Peaches, apples, pears, plums, cherries and the so-called small fruits,
all do well here, and will until the insect foes shall become too numer-
ous for the orchardist. This, we hope, may never be the case, and if
these good people will but heed the teachings of our State Entomolo-
gist, they can at least put off the evil day, or be properly equipped
for the battle and come off victors.
Large nurseries are being established in many localities, by most
reliable men, as we have reason to know ; and in a very few years,
fine, large orchards, of the choicest cultivated fruits, will be found on
every farm. In our report of the fair, we mentioned the fact that
Mr. Lamb exhibited eleven correctly-named varieties of winter
apples ; and we doubt not others might have done as well had thej
taken the pains to gather, select and bring them to the show.
Drouth is said to b« a great drawback to this part of the State.
We do not believe that it is any more subject to annual or periodical
drouths than the vicinity of St. Louis, or Lexington, or any other por-
tion of land west of the Mississippi. No one need be afraid of this
bugbear. Good cultivation will, in a great measure, overcome even
drouth.
Minerals abound in tliis section. There are rich lead mines at
Granby and at Minersville, and these can hardly be called fairly
CORRESPOHDZHG SBOUTAET'S BBPOET. 81
opened jet, indeed, the extent of surface explored is as yet very small,
and the mines are very shallow, and yet, the results attained are very
satisfactory. Much more coivld be done with an increase of steady
miners, and these in turn would lurnish a home market for the agri-
cultural products. By invitation from Colonel Young, who is in
charge of the mines in Minersville, and who also represents Jasper
in our Legislature, we visited the mines under his supervision, and
were much interested and thoroughly impressed with their riches.
Goal is also found in various parts, and at no distant day will be much
used for family fuel and manufacturing purposes — it is to some extent
already. Brick clay is not very plenty, but is found in some places,
limestone abounds.
We feel our inability to do justice to that highly favored portion
.of our State in a short article like the present, but we have reached
the limit of our space, and must desist for the present, only adding
one word in favor of Jasper county, and that is in these words : She
has saved all, her records unimpaired through the war.
Some idea of the amount of business done at one of the embryo
cities (Carthage) may be inferred from the fact that there are two
banks, each of whose deposits and disbursements amounted to over
^ne million of dollars for the year.
Sorghum is a good crop in Southwest Missouri. The cane yields
well and the quality is No. 1. *
0OUTHWEST KISSOUBI STOCK AKD AeRICTTLTUBAL ASSOCIATION — FAIK A9
CARTHAGE, JASPKR COUNTT.
The Fair Orounde^ situated about two miles south of Carthage,
and comprising eighty acres of beautiful prairie, without trees, how-
ever, except a few which had been planted by the former owner for
homestead purposes. We learned that the Association were offered,
as a gift, a warranty deed for twenty-two acres of land well adapted
for a fair ground nearer to the village, but that the minority of the
directors thought that plat too small. Never was there a greater
mistake I If that step can be retraced; if that offer is still held out
— 4>y all means, gentlemen, bestir yourselves, and gratefully accept it
Would that our advice were timely and that our counsel could yet be
adopted; we should count all our fatigue, time and labor as nothing,
compared with the good we were able to accomplisn in the cause for
which we labor in this direction. The possession of a mile track
does not weigh a feather against other advantages which would
accrue. It is well enough to be able suitably to try the style and
speed of horses, but unless racing, with all its demmralieing infln-
ances, is intended to be the main and dominant feature and objeot of
tliia Association and its fairs (and if it is, or is to be, we are muoh
mistaken), twenty-two acres are ample, very ample, and will afford
»t least a half•n^le track. Then, tbe means now iavested in (he land
8S ItlSBOUKI AamOULTURB.
only, eonld be devoted to the nsnal improyements on hit grounds ;
embellishments; proper buildings for exhibition and offices; raised
seats, &c., &o. Again, gentlemen directors, we entreat yon to retrace
your steps, if it be yet possible.
The Fair^ as 4 first effort, was a decided success ; the attendance
large for so scattered a population ; the exhibition far beyond any
thing we thought it possible to make at a first fair. We did, how-
ever, look for more and better horses, especially thorough-breds ;
these, in a country where so many ride horseback, are generally
abundant; perhaps, however, the war used up a good many, and the
new importations from Kentucky, or elsewhere, are few.
The Short Horns were well represented by Josiah TQden, for-
merly from Galesburg, Illinois, who bought over 1,500 aeres of land
in this county last fall for a stock farm. He has some fine stock on
exhibition, which attracted general attention.
His Short-horns exhibited were, the Duke of Jasper^ red and
white bull calf, seven months old, by 10th Duke of Thomdale (5610);
dam, Arzie, by Boyal Oxford (18774; dam, Agnes, by Lord Brawith
(10415); dam, Alva, by Amateur (3007); dam, April Daisy, by Belthaz-
zar (1703); dam, by Abraham (2906); dam, by Simon (51S4); dam, by
Young George (3886); dam, by George (276).
Belle of the Valley^ red, by the 11th Duke of Thomdale (5611);
dam. Lady d' Argentine, by Duke d' Argentine (4703); dam. Maid Ma-
rion 5th, by Albion 19209; dam, Maid Marion 2d, by Lord John (11728);
dam, Maid Marion, by Robin Hood (9555); lily, by Young Zealot
(8797); dam, Lily, by Young Vandyke (8733); Duchess, by Young
Spectator (8519); dam, by Fhantasia (8889); dam, by Young Rocking-
ham (8489).
Both bred by James O. Sheldon, Geneva, N. Y., and purchased ot
him by Mr. Tilden last August
Lassie^ red and white, two years old, by Hickory (4023); dam,
Julia Dunlap, by Diamond (2718); Julia, by Bob (1262); JunO| by
Commodore (3448); Eudosia, by Frederick (515; Beatrice, by Conten-
tion (3479); dam, by Ferguson (1548); dam by Embassador (8711 ); by
Pluto (825).
Bed Boae^red^ two years old, by Hickory (4022); dam, Laura Ol-
son, by Diamond (2713); Laura, by Bob (1262); Queen of the West,
by Suwaroff (2875); Eudosia, by Frederick (515); Beatrice, by Conten-
tion (3479); dam, by Ferguson (1548) dam, by Embassador (^711); dam,
by Pkito (825).
Mr. Tilden also showed a thorough*bred Aldemey or Jersey bnll
<Milf, obtained of Mr. Sheldon*
Hv: Liikens, also formerly an lUinoisan, exhibited a fibe- fonr-
year oldf tiiorough-bred bull, raited by one of tiie Alexaaden, in
S$^ftttie3^, tod bod^t by Mr. L. at the StiUw fair of HliMii^ Jteld at
Quincy. These animals are a great acquisition to a camUtj which
OOBBXSPOHDIire sboiurart's bbfo&t. 83
will ere long be at the veiy head of the State in fiiie stock. Some
fine grade cattle were exhibited by other parties.
Swine. — "Stt. lllden also introduced some superior swine of the
Poland and Ohina breeds. Stock obtained from such breedersas A. 0.
Moore, of Canton, HI., and H. M. and W. P. Sisson, of Galesbnrg, III,
whose stock attracted so much attention and sold at such high prices
at the recent fair in St Louis. Ifhis stock drew a crowd of farmers,
and quite a number of orders were given for pigs to be delivered in
the spring. Chester Whites and Berkshires, both very creditable,
filled quite a number of pens.
Sheep.— ^me of the finest Spanish sheep we ever saw of the
Hammond-Vermont stock, with a few from other breeders, were ex-
hibited by M. G. Skinner, Captain A. Foster and others. 13i,ese gen-
tlemen were enterprising enough to build proper pens, and had the
sexes and ages well divided. They had pedigrees and pliotographs,
and the whole sheep show w%s in every respect No. 1. Farmers and
breeders of this class are an acquisition to any county, and we con-
gratulate Jasper county upon her good fortune, and long may they
flourish.
Poultry.— If any one had said to us before entering, the grounds,
^ You will see some of the finest poultry you ever saw anywhere,"
we should have esteemed it a good joke. Judge of our surprise to
find a splendid trio of Creve Ooeurs,more than a dozen light- colored
Brahmas, White Cochins, White Bantams, very fine Black Spanish,
some Chittagongs, Cayuga ducks, &c.; a really fine show. Mr. lllden
was the principal exhibitor. ■
Not the least feature of the fair was, that part which embraced
the display of fancy needle work and embroidery, domestic counter-
panes and quilts, which was ahead in every way of many a county
fair in a country not nearly so new, showing evidently that the
ladies of Jasper are accomplished women and good housekeepers..
This (good housekeeping) we know includes many other branches,.
among these the dairy ; there were at least three good samples of
butter, well made, of good color, and not too salt ; these we tasted,,
yes, and eat— and we know good butter if we know anything. Jel-
lies, canned fruits and preserves, were shown, not ij
it is true, but of superior quality. Commenj
thage and vicinity— they have good L
informed, good company, and the best
wish to call names, but let us give vou a|
did and will do : ^^A young man pledge
separate, he to make his fortune in the
mountains. Tears intervene: he is si
tries and tries again ; ten years go by ;
again pass : yet they are true. He r
waiting; he comes to Jasper county, SJ
commences to make a hone. Needi
M MI880UBI AaUOULTURI.
pinery with two teams ; he drives the mules and she (his wife,jnst
married) the horses; thas she helps and is happy. IQet this lady is
quite accomplished, is well acquainted with books, understands music
so well that she can take a solo part in a public concert, use a sew-
ing machine, &o^ &c. Another, being a strong and robust woman,
assists in making fence, striking blows about with her husband, in
driving the posts. These^ are examples, and can be duplicated o^
lUitum in the essentials. But, we have stepped aside.
The Fine Arts were represented by some finely executed photo-
graphs and ambrotypes, and some of Prang's best chromes.
FruiU. — ^L N. Lamb, the President of the Association, exhibited
eFeven of the leading sorts of fall and winter apples, fine for size and
flavor, highly colored, and without the marks of a single insect that
we could discover. It is possible Jasper county may send us a col-
lection of her fruits for the winter meeting of our State Horticultu-
ral Society, and a delegate — but we shall not anticipate.
The Annual Address was delivered by the writer. The audience
was attentive and quiet, and perhaps a few grains of good seed have
been sown; if so, we are repaid.
Ladies^ Equestrimnism must, of course, also be attended to.
Four fair competitors (again we declare that we are not using a figure
of speech) entered the list, and acquitted themselves admirably.
The awards had our most cordial approval. AU should have had a
prixe.
Other Features.--The weather of the first two days of the fair was
raw and chilly, but the last was a b&autiful and cloudless one, having
the true haze of an Indian summer. The attendance was a great deal
larger than we expected to see. The fair grounds are new and very in-
complete in appointments. No doubt a greater and a more successful
effort will be made another year, if we can read the directors at all.
Of the races nothing need be said either way ; the time made in the
trot was decidedly slow, say ^ minutes. Carthage has a brass band,
very good for beginners ; they perform gratuitously on public ocoa'
sions, and jare a pet institution of all the town, and deservedly so.
County Reports.
■h^HM
%
County Reports.
CAPE GIRARDEAU.— Hon. M. J. HnrES.
The geographical position of Cape Girardeau is in the southeast
portion of the State. Its whole eastern border is washed by the Miss-
issippi riyer, in latitude 87^ north, commencing 120 miles south of St.
Louis. It contains an area of upwards of 860,000 acres, not one-sixth
of which is cultivated. The climate is mild and healthful, not subject
to long winters, or extreme cold. It contains a population of about
90,600. Gape Girardeau is the chief town, with a population ot about
6,000* Jackson is the county seat, and is situated near the center of
the county, with a population 800 or a 1,000. Appleton, Pocahontas,
Oak Ridge are villages in the county.
CTJLTIVATIOK 07 THB BOIL, AO.
We have men, educated doctors, who propose to heal all the ills
belonging to the human body. We have doctors of law ; also, those
who propose to minister to the immortal soul. We are also wanting
doctors, educated, to relieve our sick,* debilitated, and partly ruined
old fields. The quacks heretofore practicing, have been of the ram-
pant kind, they have depleted as long as the soil could *' sprout a
pea," and then they turn them out, call them eld, worn out, and
worthless. Those quacks, have no use for tonics, however they some-
times apply small blister plasters, — and then pronounce the patient
incurable. They now move over and take possession of another vir-
gin spot, which like the former virgin, is violated, and deserted. We
have a common interest in a common mother, though she be earth,
we scorn to see her outraged, and her reputation questioned. She
contains all that can promote our successes in life. The prosperity
of the world depends upon the cultivation of the soil, and every ef-
fort shoiild be put forward to elevate and foster agriculture. Take
from the hands of ignorant quacks the care and culture of the fields.
Hue gj^eatest gift of God to man : there is nothing so valuable as the
soil, that man can call his own. Jjet the practical farmer give new
impolse, inluse new life into the system of agriculture. We are cul-
tivating our farms as did our fathers and grand-fathers, while progress
18 atampied npom almost every department of human industry. I
■PmJc with due regard for the fathers, yet I dam that we are r#-
88 MIBSOURI AGRICULTtrilB.
quired to imprpye upon their system of farming. The quacks say that
lands are cheap, and the only way to make it pay, is to secure first
the cream, and they make it fly, — com, corn, wheat, wheat, away gQ0S
the cream, and a little bonny-clabber, or blue whey, is the legacy
left to their children, or those who succeed them. Oo into almost
any county in the rich southwest, where the lands are undulating, and
we see the enemy drawn up in line of battle, (red " clay".) I speak
thus, with due regard for truth, and for those who butcher the soiL
It is not a crime attributable to the southeast alone, you will find the
butcher at work in almost every part of the State, where the lands
are undulating. We farmers of Southeast Missouri, must adopt a dif-
ferent system of culture, or we will soon have no virgin spots left,
but instead a barren waste. Man requires a change of diet, as do all
domestic animals; the lands, however rich, require a change of
orops — ^rotation, &e. Glover is the great invigorator, turn it under,
" Plow de«p whUe ilugsaids «le«p !
And wt'U hftT« gnUk to iparei tad to keep."
Not only do we see the rich soil disappearing like snow before
the noon day sun^ but we see the finest forests in the State, falling by
the ruthless hand of waste. Like the soil, it is too cheap to save^
The wanton waste may be compared to that of the wild deer ; not
twenty years ago, the hunter prowled the forests and shot down theee
innocent animals merely for their pelts, and now it is a rare chance '
<that we even see one of these beautiful creatures. The mountain
"deer, like the poor red man, has almost disappeared, fallen before
what is termed, the march of civilization. Though created by Deity,
jtndin his express image, they are hunted upon their own soil, 'and shot
down like the wild beasts, simply because he has stamped upon his
rnature, by his Creator, a spirit of self-defense. The same cause in-
(duces the the little worm, when pricked, to roll himself up and make
fthe best defence he can. I am fearful we are contracting a great na*
;tiona3 debt — foreign to greenbacks, more terrible than the national
^port of hunting down those poor creatures, called ^^ Indians." South
America too, once boastful, dealt out to the red children of the
forest, fraud — destruction. How stands their case to-day — objects
over which angels weep ? God is just. I set out to speak of poor old
fields, and wasted forests, not of
" Gilded loam,
Or paiiited dlAj."
Twenty years hence, and we will have without a change, in our
conduct but a wreck ot what is now a magnificent forest
On the old farm upon which I reside, I can show enough wasted
timber to have supported the farm for years. Not only it is the case
on my own, but on almost every farm in the county. We should bear in
mind that it is never too late to cease to do evil, or too soon to do good«
I will urge every farmer to save his timber* and his rich lands, culti*
Tllte to save and improve, think not that land is cheap. Suppoee
oommr bbpobts. * 89
thoBe old worn out lands which have yielded an abundance and to
•pare, from the cream of which we have reared our children, could
be reclaimed. and made to yield as of old, and quadrupled in value,
would we not rejoice ? We can reclaim all, and they will be quad-
fupled in value.
I read not long since, in an agricultural report issued from the
Patent Office, a statement that billions of treasure lay dormant
six inches below the present reach of our plow-share. Scien*
tific Agriculture will make the desert a garden, and our old fields can
be made to blossom as the rose. The facts need no comment at this
late day. We might however, refer to the thousands of acres in the
Old World, that have been cultivated a thousand years, and now yield
larger crops than at first Sandy wastes, and stony hills, are yield-
ing annually and abundantly, rich harvests, golden tribute to science.
Increase the team, and let in the plowshare — ^it will win. Do
not think we can succeed so readily after the cream is gone, and
blue-john — ^red clay — ^appears.
Old Oape Oirardeau is the mother of counties ; is an old new
county, or soon will be, after all is said. Not one acre of her ex-
hausted lands but can be reclaimed, and in a few years quadrupled
in value. Tonics and strengthening plasters will do it — anoint with
•* elbow-grease," "hers to command." We'll have it, labor has com-
menced, the improvement is apparent. There is but a fraction of the
county, perhaps not an acre, where the steam whistle on the Father
of Waters, or the snort of the iron horse on the Iron Mountain Bail-
road, cannot be heard. Soon, we trust to see the flight of the
iron-wl^eeled steed, and hear his snort on the State Line road, which
is surveyed from Oape Girardeau to the Arkansas line, and we trust
ere long work will have commenced. At Little Rock, we connect
with the Great Southern road, which is built from Norfolk^ Virginia,
to Little Rock, Arkansas ; then for the golden sands of the Pacific,
via El Paso and San Diego, not to grapple with ice and snows, but
warmed by a genial sun.
All in all, Oape Girardeau is a county to be proud of, if cared for.
I am aware of the great partially of writers, almost every one has his
favorite section. I claim for this old new county, facilities which
aannot be surpassed. Her surface is mostly undulating, rich soil,
supporting fine forests of valuable timber, for building purposes ; we
have fine beds of stone throughout th^ county, and clay adapted to
brick of the best quality. The city of Oape Girardeau stands on a
bed of marble, from which the State House of Mississippi was built
It is used extensively for tombs and monuments. We ha^se in other
parts of the county the same stone, with beds of variegated shades,
red, black, and gray. The best lime is njade in all parts of the county)
often only burned on log heaps.
90 KiBBOwa AoaiocuRnuL
No section of the State equals the Southeast for good and clear
water. We have many valuable streams, affording the finest water
privileges, with brooks innumerable, running the entire year, clear
as a crystal. Almost every farmer has a spring of water, clear and cold^
which for dairy purposes cannot be excelled. The water genevally is
impregnated with lime. On our eastern border, along the margin of
the great river, are springs of soft water, pure as virgin snow. Her^ -
is what we call the Biver hills, a belt extending the entire length of
the county, and from four to six miles back. These hills afford rich
soil, and fine timber. For fruit growing they eannot be excelled, being
on a parallel with the fine fruit lands of Southern Illinois, remarka*
bly healthful. Hie writer of this article, has resided for thirty years
on the banks of this great river; He has reared a large family, which
can boast of good health, never having lost a member of his family.
Ihiring the thirty years he has had every year, peaehee, with three
exceptions, and the wild grape as regular as the seasons. The soil
being remarkably light and rich, underlaid generally with slate, and a
kind of rotten flint, which afford ample drainage. We trust ere long
our river hills will ke studded with vineyards, and the song of the
vine-dresser will be heard on every hill, together with the bleat of
the lamb, and low of the cow. For sheep husbandry these hills are
unsurpassed, and not only for sheep, but for stock generally. The
grasses succeed admirably. I have heard from my youth that the
blue grass country of Kentucky, was the most favored sections of
America, for growing fine stock. Just before the commencement of
the late war, it was my pleasure to visit that favored section^of our
common countvy.
Taking I^afayette as a basis of a rich county, I propose to place
Oape Girardeau beside her-^there is no need to blush for the latter.
She will compare favorably.
First, I will not say the blue grass will grow quite so fine as it does*
in Lafayette, however, it is here as there, the natural product of the
soil. Olover, timothy, red*top and orchard grass, succeed here equally
well, if not better. Outside of mechanical or chemical investigation
of the soil, the forests, stones, &c., are the very best criterions by
which to judge of soils. The timber and stones of the aforesaid cooa*
ties, are mdeh the same, to wit :
Hie varieties of oak known to the West, black and white walnut,
ash, hackberry, elm, black and white sugar maple, hickory, yellow
poplar, honey locust. Of undergrowth, we have red bud, dogwood,
pawpaw, hazel, spice bush and sumach, &c., The onl^ marked dif-
ference is, the large growth in Lafayette appears more scrubby, does
not grow so tall as in Oape Girardeau. Stone apparently the same,
limestone predominating. The face of the county much the same,
undulating.
Eentocky river hills, equally z»gged as our rirer bills, however^
mot 8o well adapted to frnits, more especially for the grape, which suc-
ceeds far better on the banbi of large streams, than on smaller ones.
Their lands are yalned from ^5^00 to $200,00 per acre, onrs from SS^OO
toiao^
We. will now analyze, and mark the difference : I^aiay ette lands
are all cleared, fenced, the nndmrgrowth removed, and sown to gr^ss^
when not cultivated. Lafayette grows stock, and cultivates its lands
systenoatically. The farming operations of Gape Qirardean are dif-
ferent, com, com, com, wheat, wheat, wheat. Our wood lands are in
the brush. Our system of cultivation impoverishes the soil, while
theirs improves it Dress old Oape Oirardeau in the garb of Lafayette^
and she will not be wanting in grandeur.
The whole I am sorry to say ia within a nut*shell. Their people
are more energetic ; we have been slothfdl. I trast my neighbors will
not be angry at this remark, I place myself in their midst. We have
not had the energy we ought and hoi>e to have. Sloth seems to be pro-
duced by a miasma ; once inhaled, the malady rages a kind of epe-
demic, contagious in the extreme, and always attributed by a class
of literary gentlemen, to what they please to call ^ slavery.'' Slavery
is not the came of a want of energy. I speak of neigro davery as it
Oftce eziisied in this county. I knoi^ not what effect may be wrought
by a change from ^ black to white slavery." This sloth seems to be
prevalent in all new oountries, where land is rich and cheap. Onoe
engrafted, it is like the seven year itch, hard to remove. When we
do emerge from it, there is a ^ new skin" upon the animal. The
writer of this article does not hail from a boasted section of the
oonntiy ; he is a Missourian by lHrth« educated in a little log school
house in the wildemess, amid the howl of the wolf^ and the screams
of the night bird; however he claims for himself not to be destitute
of tmth.
nmovuims axd maokirbbt.
Oape Oirardeau has many fine mills, propelled both by steam and
water. There are eleven flouring mills in the county, manufacturing
as good an article of flour as any country produces. We also have in
operation three woolen factories, which spin and weave, two of which
run 240 spindles each ; the third I am not able to give the number of
its spindles ; all of which have been established within two years.
8CHOO10.
•
Every neighborhood in the county has a free school open from four to
six monUis in the year. Oar school^houses are not all as good as might
be desired. At Oape Oirardeau, Jackson and Pleasant Hill we hav^
high schools. St Vincent College is situated at Oape Girardeau.
CHITBOHXa
▲re good and well attended.
99 KxsaouRi AnsamamM.
CB0F8.
Agriculture here is in its infancy. However, the crippled child
has commenced to walk. Our farmers are beginning to realize tiwi
fact of depletion, and are beginning to build up.
Wheat is our greatest staple, and succeeds well ; the quality un-
€urpa8sed ; the proof: it demands the highest figures in the markej^
Winter wheat is grown altogether. No such a thing as a failure from
freezing out. The yield per acre is from 15 to 20 bushels ; corn, oats
and barley are good and sure crops ; corn, from 30 to 75 bushels per
mere ; oats, 20 to 25 ; barley, winter, 30 to 50. Vegetables of all kinds
that grow in this climate succeed well.
MKAD0W8.
^ Hie grasses succeed well, are howeyer greatly neglected.
TOBAi^CO.
As good an article can be grown here as in tHe most favored see*
tions of the Old Dominion. Hemp and flax are but UtUe cultivated.
FRUITS.
This is the land of fruit Apples, pears, peaches, plums, cherries '
quinces, etc., etc., all do well. The grape is becoming an object, and
I am glad to say that vineyards are being planted in all parts of the
dounty, however, at present only on a small scale, varying from one
to five or six acres.
WILD FBUIT8.
The plutn, blackberry, raspberry, persimmon, grape,- mulberry^
paw-paw, cherry, etc., are abundant.
STOCK RAI8IN0
b greatly neglected, especially the fine breeds. We are in want of
fine stock, horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. It should be introduced.
This would be a superior section for growing stock ; mild winters and
fine clover lands. We have traders buying up stock, alwAjs ready
to take the surplus at remunerative prices.
BEFLECTIONa.
1869 is reeling, and will ere long be numbered with the past Ita
record is peace and plenty. The crops of 1869 are abundant ; it« win^
(er mild; seasons good and healthful; its 365 days have been golden
jewels, studs set in the crown of time, for which we thank the author
ci all good — our Heavenly Father.
OOLE OOUNTY AORIOULTURAL AND MECHANICAL ASSO-
CIATION.
JansBMi Cnr, ftbniuy 1, 1870.
IbL ChAB. W. MtTBTIKLBT,
Corresponding Secretary State Board Agriculture :
At yonr request I herewith sabmit the resulty with some general
observations) of our last connty fair :
We offered premiums to the amount of $2,000^ about half of which
was given as premiums on stock, and the balance divided between
machinery, grain, fruits, etc. Although the weather was very fiii»
during the fair, we were pecuniarily loosers to the amount of 9170 74»
We attribute our loss to the general apathy of the farmers in our
county, (with many honorable exceptions). Many farmers do not
•eem to be able to reconcile to themselves the fact, that there aM
other interests in the county than the horse interest ; and while they
seemed to be carried away with horse excitement, they appeared to
be totally callous in regard to the equally important interest of fruit,
grain and machinery.
The directors when aware of the deficit, immediately ordered an
assessment to pay all arrearages. The society is now out of debt
They own 40 acres of land, all paid for. The buildings are first-class.
The amphitheatre is capable of accommodating 6,000 persons, it is
885 feet in diameter, with booths under the seats for refreshments.
We also have a neat cottage for the accommodation of the ladies. The
ihow-room for textile fabrics is 25 feet by 60 feet There is 75 stalls
for horses and cattle, besides pens for hogs and sheep.
We had a splen^d display of fruits, one gentleman having 40 va-
rieties on exhibition. Our county being a fruit county, and, having
in our midst some practical and energetic fruit culturists ; we feel
satisfied that within a few years our county will be second to none in
the State, in the fruit interest.
Our society have frequently desired to offer agricultural papeilB
•8 premiums, but, have so far, from different reasons, neglected to do
so. - 1 can hardly hope for any great success in a county agricultural
society, until the fanners are educated to the importance and bene*
fits of county fairs, and, the quickest and easiest way to do that is for
each fanner to be a regular and diligent reader of one or more agi)-
cultural papers.
I would recommend the old law to be re-enacted, authorizing
county courts to subscribe a limited amount to be expended for
county premiums. Such a law would enable new and weak societies
to make a start, and those that have a beginning a more crcj^tabSs
showing.
The popular opinion is, that these eounty fairs are generally
Bl^ney making machines to those that run them ; but, from my long
s4senration and connection with them, I am positive in the beliel^
that, the pablie generally, are as much benefited as those who run
thenu
The following gentlemen compose oar present officers : O. B.
Berry, Piresideat; LeW Dixon, Vice President; 0. Wagner, D.L.
Price, Jno. Q. Schott, J. T. Rogers, A. Gondelflnger, W. 0. Bickey,
andGilson Swing, Directors ; J. Ohristy Watson, Secretary; 0. F«
liohman, nreasnrer, and W. H. Oonn, Marshal.
The regular annual election of officers takes place on the first
ICondi^ in May, of each year.
Bespectfhlly,
J. OHRISTY WATSON,
Secretary Cole Co. A. & Jf. A.
HENRY AND ADJOINING COUNTIES— H. P. Kl6a»*
Chas. W. Murtfeldt :
D£AB Sib: Yours, asking for something to add to your annual re-
port, in regard to location, immigration, natural advantages, etc., in
this portion of Missouri, has been receired.
Our immediate locality is so remote from the several county seats
that there has been but little interest in fairs or public enterprises,
on account of the distance. This very fact has prompted oqr people
to make an effort to have a new county organized, which, if accom-
plished, will afford us a convenient opportunify U> join with other por-
tions of the State for the development of our great State in agricul-
ture and ms^nufificturing.
Johnson and Heniy county each have held fairs the i^st year,
with a promise of increasing interest The ipiinigrivtion coming in
from Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky and oth^ States, are bringing in some
good stock.
Dr. Barbour and Brother, from Illinois, have bought a large farm
•in Henry county, and have stocked the same with some of tl^e best
stock from that State, including cattle, horses, aad hog^• ^
I submit the feUowing (or as much as you choose to use) as in-
formation in regard to this locality :
AGRICTTLTUBE.
' . .1
To the farmer :a]id agricuUuriat this region (^ffeirs many li^dqQe-
ments. Improved farme and wild lands are offered at comparatively
low prices, r^iging from 920 to 935 for improved, and from {|8 to ip.5
per acre for wild land. The soil is productive in the grains apd
grasses. Stock-raising is a most profitable, branch of husbandry. Hie
mild and short winters read^ir the expense of feed and j^rot^tipn
mucblasat^an ii^. a h^g|i|^ ktitude* The ^lEwntry and clioia^ >%re
ootmr BvoBia. 95
oondacive to the health of all claaees of stock, horses, eattle, hogs and
sheep, as has been proyen by an experience of thirty or forty years.
To those desirous of frnit-growing, there is no locality more inyit-
ing than this. We are just within the ^ Peach Line," as it is called by
some. North of the Pacific railroad, the peach crop is more liable to
fail. Here we may expect three crops out of five years, at least. Ap-
les seldom fail, and are of very fine quality, both trees and fruit but
little subject to disease.
Pears, plums, cherries and apricots thrive well, and produce
abundant crops. The grape is at home in our soil, producing the finest
clusters of most delicious fruit, with seldom any disease or blight.
Small fruits of all kinds do well. Very soon our communication
with the northwest States and Territories will open to us a market
much more accessible than from Southern Illinois.
There is, as yet, very little attention given to orcharding, and the
best of lands for that purpose can be obtained at low prices.
WATSR.
A stranger coming into this country from a region where many
cold, strong, running springs and brooks prevail, would be disposed to
call this a poorly watered country. We have not many strong springs,
and not many lasting running streams, yet there is plenty of good
water for man and beast.
The streams and creeks, although not always running, have more
or less of deep pools, that hold water the year round for stock. In
many localities are springs which never go dry, but afford a supply of
stock water. Good wells of water can be obtained by digging from
twenty to forty feet, very generally, and of excellent quality. In no
. country can artificial ponds and cisterns be made more easily, where-
by an abundance of water for stock and other purposes can be pro-
vided.
HBALTH.
To find a country free from prevailing disease and sickness is
most desirable, but to find one entirely exempt from sickness, more or
less, during certaiii seasons, that produce malaria, would be presump-
tion, on this earth. Yet this portion of Missouri may be truthfully
classed among the most healthy of countries. The past summer and
autumn has been an unusually sickly season threughout the west, yet
there has been a very small per cent, of fatality here.
SOCIETY.
Muck inqniry is made by those seeking homes in.Missouri as to
the state of society^ schools, churches, etc. Sooiety here is much in
adrance of what is expected, or even represented by many when
syeakin^ ^ MiesoQfi.
96 MiaSOUBI AQBICinLTUBB.
The old settlers remaining are generally a hospitable, kind and
generous spirited people, and welcome all good, law-abiding citiaent
into their midst
In no community elsewhero, of the same population, can a better
state of morals be found. Schools are organized, and good school*
houses of modern style and improvements are built and being erected
in every neighborhood. Church organizations of various denomina-
tions are established. Harmony and good feeling prevail in the com-
munityj regardless of sect or party. The bitter feeling which existed
here during the war has greatly abated, and will very soon give place
to universal peace and brotherhood. As an evidence of the improve-
ment of feeling, we insert an incident which occurred in our town a
few weeks ago, at a public mass meeting, held to advocate the claims
of the new county. It was mutually agreed upon by two of the lead-
ing men of the Committee of Arrangements, one of whom had been
an officer in the Confederate army, and the other had been an officer
in the Federal army, that the Dnion flag should be raised. So at the
appointed time it was hoisted by a Federal and Confederate soldier,
each taking hold of the old flag, and spreading it to the breeze.
The citizens, both old and new, take hold of improvements and
enterprises, and work shoulder to shoulder with a commendable spirit,
and it will not be long until our society will be equal, if not in ad-
vance of that which the immigrant leaves behind.
CLIMATE.
The latitude of this county is about 38^ ; mild, salubrious and
healthy; winters moderate aad short; summers agreeable and pleaa-
ant. The highest temperature of summer seldom goes above ninety
degrees, and the lowest of winter, rarely falls below zero.
COAL.
Nowhere in the State can there be found better and more abund-
ant coal beds. The quality is superior for smithing and forging, as
well as for fuel. Along the head branches of the Tebo are several
mines already worked by Messrs. Johnson, Williamson, Ogan, Chap-
pell, McEinley, and others. Messrs. Hurd and Condee, of Sedalfa,
have leased several tracts of land in the vicinity of Windsor, near the
line of the Tebo & Neosho Railroad, with a view to operating largely
as soon as the railroad is completed. Coal is sold at the bank now
from ten to twelve cents per bushel, but when more extensive and
expeditious facilities in mining are used, it can be afforded at a \etm
figure.
RAILKOADS.
The Tebo and Neosho Railroad, which waa formerly located ttom
Sedalia, a point on the Paeific Railroad, to Fort jScott, in Sootheaal
Kansas, and now located from Sedalia to Boonville, (m the Missonii
rhrer, pastes' through the center of the proposed new coanty, toaeb-
COUNTY RBPOBTS. 9T
ing Clinton, and other points southwest. The grading from Sedalia
to Olinton is now about completed, and the ties being delivered with
a view of beginning laying the iron early in the spring of the present
year. A large force of hands are at work on the line from Sedalia to-
Boonville, which will insure the early completion of that part of the
road which give us direct communication with the Missouri river. It
is the purpose of the managers of this road to extend it as rapidly as
possible to the Mississippi river at QuinQjT) securing to the Southwest
and Central Missouri the advantageof connecting with various routes-
to Chicago, Iowa, Minnesota, and all the important points on the
Upper Mississippi. When this road is extended to the southwest
border of Texas and the Indian Territory it will be one of the most
important thoroughfares of the country. The country through which,
this road will pass from its connection with the Mississippi river to its^
terminus southwest will be, without question, one of the most pro-
ductive in the way of grain, stock, coal, and minerals of any portion
of our great Republic. These resources, together with our centra
position on the great highway from ocean to ocean must, without
doubt, place this portion of Missouri in a favorable position for growth
and prosperity. The Pacific Bailroad passes about eight iniles north,
of the northern boundary of the new county.
IMMIGRATION.
During the three autumn months just passed there have been,
passing over the t)iinton road, through Windsor, from fiftjr to seventy-
six immigrant wagons per day to settle in Henry, Bates, Vernon, and.
other adjoining counties of Missouri; also many that are bou^d for:
Southeast Kansas and the Indian Territory.
HOLT COUNTY AGRIOULTDRAL AND MECHANICAL SOCIETr
FOR THE YEAR 1869.
At the close of the second annual fair of this society, the memr
bership numbered one hundred and eighteen of the most substantial
citizens of the county, representing almost every class of industry,
who promptly came forward and gave of their means to aid in the
permanent establishment of the society. With the means thus
obtained, ten acres of elevated ground adjoining the southwesterui
portion oi the city of Oregon were purchased by the society in the
beginning of the year 1868, which is now worth, exclusive of improve-
ments thereon, $2,000. The improvements consist of a fine fenc e,
seven feet in height, constructed at a cost of $1,000; a floral hall, built
at a cost of $1,600; a good well, costing $100; seats, stalls, and other
improvements, $300, making the total value of grounds and improve-
*8 A u
-,,^ .. .♦ . '^ .iMSSOUEI AOBIOtJLttJM.
-?..♦!
ihejits $5^11^. Agaiffltf^ihis there is a total indebtedness of $1,60(X
To meet tjq^^here iM^ an outstanding stock subscription, payable
January 1, ISTC^ipipKing to $500, still leaving a balance of indebt-
edness amomfUng tof^,000.
The pjihci^^'lniprovements necessary for properly conducting
^^Jhe annual fairs*"haying been made, no difficulty is apprehended of
the ability of the society tcTkneet its obligations promptly.
At the second annual fair of thef society, held at their grounds
September 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18tb, 1869, one hundred /and fifty-four
premiums were awarded, amounting in the aggregate to $1,000.
The live stock on exhibition included many fine specimens of
horses, mules, jacks, jennets, cows, bulls, sheep, hogs, etc., and num-
bered one hundred and thirty. ^
The industrial department contained one hundred s^cimens,
representing many of the most useful and ornamental articles of
home productions.
Forty-six agricultural and horticultural entries were made, em-
bracing wheat, corn, potatoes, apples, pears, peaches, plums, etc., of
the best quality.
The floral department and the fine arts were well represented,
but might have been more complete. An effort will be made at the
next annual fair to give greater encouragement to these depart-
ments.
The present year, despite the ravages of the grasshopp'^s in^ the
fipring and early part of the sununer, and the extraordinary fall of
Tain« has been one of unusual prosperity to our county. Many new
citizens have been added to our population, towns have sprung up as
if by magic, thousands of acres of lands have been fenced and
brought into cultivation, the staple products of the county have in-
creased in many instances to more than one hundred fold, fdlly one
million bushels of good corn have been produced, the average price
of which will not be less than forty cents per bushel ; the products of
wheat, rye, oats, and barley, although injured to some extent by
grasshoppers, will not fall shc^gtulf two million bushels. The number
of bushels of apples, for the year is estimated to exceed fifty thousand
bushels. Fifteen years ago the product was less than twenty-five
hundred bushels, very little more than is now produced by the town
of Oregon alone. The number of bushels of pears will exceed two
thousand, the average price of which will be at least $3 50 per bushel.
Of other fruits, including grapes, cherries, plums, etc., our farmers
and gardeners have produced large quantities of the best quality.
The clip of wool is estimated to reach thirty thousand pounds
annually, a considerable portion of which is manufactured in this
county. At the close of the season not less than thirty thousand
head of hogs will have been marketed, netting an average per head
of at least sixteen dollars, making an aggregate of $180,000. Add to
this the cattle, sheep, mules, and other stock sold during the year,
OOUNTT RSP0KT8. 99
and we have a total of sales of live stock for the year 1869 largely
exceeding a half million dollars. To this may be added the surplus
frait, grain, firewood, sawlogs, etc., and we find that our sales for the
year are more than a million dollars.
Q. R. OUMMINS, Secretary.
JASPER COUNTY.
Chas. W. Murtfeldt,'
Corresponding Secretary State Board of Agriculture :
DsSr Sih — Yours of December 28th came to hand two days since.
Will briefly report our Association.
The articles of incorporation were signed January 13th, 1869.
The main objects of the Society, as set forth in those articles, were,
^ to encourage and promote the agricultural, mineral and manufac-
turing resources of the county, and to advance the buying, selling
and improvement of stock.''
Capital stock, 9500,000 00.
Number of members, 145.
Extent of fair grounds, eighty acres, with a mile track.
Total receipts of the Association up to Jan. 1, 1870 92,782 95
Total expenditures ** " " " 2,393 81
Since that time there has been paid in about 9200 on stock of
new members, maki&g the assets of the AssQciation at this time
about 1530.
Our first fair was generally considered a surprising success.
Among the most successful features were the fine displays of
good blooded cattle of all ages, the specimens of pure blood in swine
and sheep, and a few fine lots of poultry.
The vegetables on exhibition were of good quality, but the quan-
tity was small. Fruits the same.
The display in the fine art department was of a superior order.
From the evidences constantly before us, together with those fur-
nished by our first fair, agriculture and horticulture, and perhaps
more especially the latter, can attain their highest perfection in this
part of the country. But our county being new and its resources
almost. entirely undeveloped, we must look to the future. Our agri-
culturists are mostly men of large experience in the practice of their
profession in the northern and middle States. We have many fruit-
growers and nurserymen, whose liberal means were obtained en-
tirely from the practice hi the same pursuits in the North and East,
who are now.building up the business in this county on an extensive
scale, with the most flattering prospects for success.
The annual election of thirteen directors for our Agricultural
100 laSSOUBI AOBIOULTURK.
Association took place January 1, 1870. The directors elect the offi-
cers, the day for which is set for January 15th, the result of which 1
will make known to you.
P^S. — According to promise, I should have answered you sooner.
The officers elect of the Southwest Missouri Stock and Agricultural
Association are as follows :
President— M. G. Skinner.
1st Vice President — ^I. N. Lamb.
2d " — Josiah Tilden.
8d " — W. G. Alexander.
Recording Secretary — H. A. Terpening.
Oorresponding Secretary — E. H. Benham. •
Treasurer — W. P. Davis.
General Agent — 0. 0. Allen.
Fair for 1870 to be held September 20th, 21st and 22d.
JEFFERSON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL
ASSOCIATION.
De Soto, January 1, 1870.
Charles W. Murtfeldt,
Corresponding Secretary State Board of Agriculture:
Dear Sir : In compliance with your request, I herewith send you
a statement in regard to the Jefferson County Agricultural and
Mechanical Association. The society was organized in the year A.
D. 1866, and labored under great difficulty in getting the united co-
operation of the people in consequence of their not being able to
agree upon the location for the fair grounds, but in the winter of A.
D. 1867, a new impetus was given to the enterprise, and by voluntary
subscriptions about $2,000 was raised, and the society commenced
inclosing its grounds at De Soto. The first fair was held in the fall
of 1867 with considerable promise of success. The enterprise, at first
surrounded with embarrassments and difficulties, were greatly over-
come by the energy and determination of our President, David W.
Bryant, who took hold of the matter with a will to make a success,
and the society's present prospects are largely due to him and Charles
S. Rankin, and its Secretary, W. S. Jewett, for their interest and faith-
fulness under all embarrassments and difficulties in the early history
of the association.
In the fall of A. D. 1868, the sepond fair was held, which proved
an utter failure, in consequence of the inclemency of the weather.
The third fair was held in the fall of A. D. 1869, and may be considered
a success, it being able to pay the expenses and all premiums, and
ihat'exhibition, it can unquestionably be said, was the finest display
OOUIfrTY BEPOBTS. 101
of fruit grown in the county ever presented, and would more than
compare favorably with the display at the St. Louis fair. Jefferson
county is peculiarly adapted to fruit culture, and we have a large
number of the finest orchards and vineyards in the State, and that
branch of industry is rapidly developing.
The Society, at its last exhibition elected Hon. Ohas. S. Kankin as
its President, and it can now be said is upon an established basis and
Burrounded with every promise of success.
The grounds have cost the society over f4,000, and they are in-
debted in about $500. The discords that heretofore interfered with its
success.are wearing away, and the people of the county are becoming
united and interested in its prosperity. We are looking forward with
the hope and belief that the Jefferson Oounty Agricultural and
Mechanical Association will, in a few years, have no superior in the
SUte.
I am respectfully,
LOUIS JAS. RA.NKIN,
Treasur&r and Secretary pro tern.
LAFAYETTE OOUNTY AGMOULTURAL AND MECHANICAL
SOCIETY.
Lbzington, Lafatetts Co. Mo., January 81, 1870.
Mb. Ghablbs W. Mubtfbldt,
Correepondirig Sec. Mo. State Board of Agriculture:
Deab Sib: I have the honor to report the following abstract of
this society : number of members 111. The financial affairs are in a
healthy and solvent condition, being entirely free of debt with a
small balance in the hands of the treasurer, with twenty-three acres
of ground in fee simple with an amphitheatre entirely and substan-
tially seated, one half under good roof with other out buildings, at a
cost of six thousand one hundred dollars to the society. The number
of premiums offered during the last year amounted to two hundred
and twenty-five, embracing all articles of general interest, and ior
which the society paid out in premiums the sum ot two thousand five
hundred dollars, classified as follows :
Household articles 40
Culinary articles 20
Orchard and garden 16
Field 16
Agricultural implements 16
Sheep l6
Hogs. 10
102- MfflSOUBI AaRICULTUBK.
Cattle 20
Jacks and jennets 15
Mnles 10
Horses 55
Total 225
The staples of the county consist as follows, together with the
home market :
Hemp, one hundred and thirty-five dollars per ton.
Wheat, eighty cents per bushel.
Oom, sixty cents per bnshel.
Oats, forty cents per bushel.
Barley, one dollar per bushel.
Fat cattle, three to four cents per pound, gross.
Fat hogs, seven to eight cents per pound, gross.
I have no data by which I can arrive at a proper estimate of the
total amount of the same produced in the county.
The ofScers of the society are as follows :
M. T. Buford, President
Sobt J. Smith, Vice President
DUUSOTOBS.
Eobt Hale, Z. S. Mitchell, Mason R Henry, John Carter, C. O.
Grimes, W. A. Chanslor, and A. T. Winsor.
B. R. Neland, Treasurer.
J. M. Md^Qirk, Secretary.
Hoping you will find my statement as full as necessary.
I remain yours truly,
J. M. McGIRK,
Secretary.
LAWEENCE COUNTY.
Chablbs W. Mubtfeldt,
Corregpondinff Secretary Mo. State B^ard of Affrioultttre :
The Board of Directors report the condition of the Society, as
follows :
The new fair grounds cost the Society $200, minus $50 of
said cost donated— real cost $150 00
Material (lumber) for improvement pf same, cost $6S6 53,
minns $26 of said cost donated— real cost 661 63
Work, incidentals, etc., inclosing the grounds, cost IM 60
Totalcost $1,006 13
The fair (Oct 6, 7, 8 and 9) brought into the treasury of the
society for eighty-one members, @ $2 60— $202 60,
minus board $86. Ninety^-one and five others ® $2 60... $167 60
Beceiyed from county court 159 00
Received from gate fees 140 20
Receired from sales of vegetables and in fair 16 45
Received from per cents on entries of stocks 13 00
Received from subscriptions paid 86 00
Received from other subscriptions canceled in settlements. 15 00
Total receipts $588 15
The liabilities of the society are as follows :
Incidentals fSOO
Cash premiums 71-60
Bill of silver ware 828 60
Improvements on grounds 194 60
Sundry services 62 20
Purchase of grounds 160 00
Lumber and hauling. 661 68
Total «1,466 43
, Leaving balance unpaid of. 9878 28
At its last fair the society awarded 107 premiums at an aggregate
cost of $400 10.
The specimens of fruit and vegetables on exhibition at the fair
were not numerous, but were excellent in quality.
The specimens in ladies' work were in considerable variety, and
were wrought with skill and taste.
The cattle exhibited were few in number, but in character they
show a steady improvement in the county.
There were butfew jacKs, jennets and mules exhibited.
The specimens in mechanism and art were fine and meritorious.
There were but few agricultural implements on exhibition.
The hogs were few in number, and were of the Chester white and
Suffolk breeds.
The Southwest was well represented in stallions, mares and
geldings.
Ool. Havens, of Springfield, delivered am address on the last day
of the fair, which was highly entertaining, and fraught with practical
ideas.
The election for a new Board of Directors was held, which re-
sulted in the election of Wm. K. Gibson, G. H. Moore, J. W. Moore,
J. D. Allen, F. L. Rutherford, A. G. McCause, J. W. Patton, James J..
Cheery and £. G. Paris, as the Directors for 1870.
JOHN D. ALLEN,
President Board A. and M. Society^.
J. H. Woods, Secretary.
IM MISSOURI ikGRIOULTUai.
PHELPS COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
FOR THB MONTH OF OOTOBXR.
Although we have not yet been organized a year and have hardly
started, still we will make a little report :
No. of members 28
Funds paid in 928 00
Paid for books, etc T.. 10 00
Cash in treasury 18 00
We have had no fair, and have no data from which to state the
probable quantity of staple products of the county. The prices at
present at the county seat is : wheat, $1 00 ; rye, 50 cents ; oats, 30
cents ; corn, 50 cents ; potatoes, 50 cents ; hay, 915 00 per ton.
Crops, as a general thing, are very good, with an average crop at
10, we report com 11, wheat 12, rye 12, oats 13, barley 10, buckwheat
10, potatoes 11, sweet potatoes 10, beans 11, sorghum 10, tobacco 10,
hay 14, apple 13, peaches 10, grapes 11.
E. W. BISHOP, President.
F. S. HUCKINS, Secretary.
10 beini^ the »T«ncf Mcordinf torul* adopted by the Aericultorml Bvmmi of WmthiB^n.
C* W. M •
VERNON OOtJNTY AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL AB-
SOOIATION.
KbyJlda Car, Yjimrov Comrrr, HiuouB^
Juiaarj 7, 1870.
Charles W. Murtfeldt, Esq:,
Cor. Secretary Mo. State Board of Agriculture :
Dear Sir: Your letter reqaesting a report of the Agricultural
and. Mechanical Association for this county, held in this place Octo-
ber, A. D. 1869, has been received, and in compliance with your re-
quest, as well as discharging a duty which we owe to the law, we
take pleasure in submitting the following report for the year eighteen
hundred and sixty-nine :
The fair held in October last was the fourth annual fair held in
this county, and was, at the time under the control of eighty-eight
members, directed by the following officers of the association :
Harvey Karnes, President.
0. R. Scott, Secretary.
L. £>. Roberts, Treasurer.
DIRECTORS.
R. O. Bryan, Enoch Yates, Albert Badger, J. L. Nichols, and T.
H. Austin.
COUNTY B£PORTS. ' 105
The fair ground is situated in the eastern portion of the town of
Nevada City, the county seat of Vernon county, and is beautifully ,
located on a high eminence and includes ten acres of ground, and if
properly improved would make one of the most beautiful grounds in
the State, but owing to the newness of the county, and the sparse pop-
ol&tioa, the ground is not as well improved as we desire the present
improvements, not amounting to more than five or six hundred
dollars.'
The fair commenced on the fifth day of October, and was contin-
ued through the two suceeding days and during each day the follow-
ing articles were exhibited :
BIRBT DAY. TEXTILS AND ABT DEPARTMENT. PART I.
Worsted Quilts. — ^There were six entries under this head, and the
entries were all beautiful. The first premium amounting to six dol-
lars was awarded to Mrs. D. 0. Hunter, of Nevada Oity, Missouri ; the
second premium, amounting to four dollars, was awarded to Mrs. H.
Hunter, of Nevada City, Missouri.
Cotton Quilts. — Under this head, there were three entries, and
after much difficulty in coming to a decision, it was decided that th«
first premium, amounting to six dollars, be awarded to Mrs. W. W.
Hill, of Vernon county, and that second premium be given to Mrs.
H. Hunter, of Nevada City, which premium amounted to four dollars.
Counterpanes — ^There were five entries under this class, and the
first premium was awarded to Mrs. Symms, of this county, who
brought forward a most elegant specimen of workmanship. This pre-
mium amounted to two dollars. The second premium was given to
Mrs. Collins, of Yemen county, valued at one dollar.
Coverlets. — From the number of six entries the coverlet belong-
ing to Mrs. Collins, of Vernon county, was the one selected as deserv-
ing the premium to be first given, and to her the first premium val-
ued at two dollars was awarded. The second premium was presented
to Mrs. H. Hunter, of Vernon county.
Woolen Socks. — Premium valued at one dollar awarded to Mrs.
Bowman, of Nevada City.
Woolen Gloves. — ^Premium awarded to Mrs. Duren, of Vernon
county.
Buck Gloves. — Premium presented to Mrs. Collins, of Vernon
county.
Woolen Yarn, Hank.— Premium to Mrs. Burton, of this county.
Crotchet Work. — ^The specimens exhibited under this head were
of exquisite skill and taste, and were five in number* the first pre-
mium, valued at two dollars, was borne off by Mrs. Tillottson, of this
place. The second premium, valued at one dollar, was awarded to
Mrs. Kaufman, of this county.
Embroidbrt.— There were three contestants for the premiums to
106 MISSOURI AaaiCDLTUBE.
be awarded on this occasion, and the first premium, valued at two dol«
lars, was given to Mrs. Kaufman, of this county. The second, valued
at one dollar, was awarded to Mrs. O. M. Nelson, of this place.
Tatting. — From the number of three entries, the work of Mrs.
P. Drake, of Nevada, was selected as deserving the first premium,
valued at two dollars, and the work of Mrs. Duren as entitled to the
second premium, valued at one dollar.
Bead Wore. — Under this head both premiums, valued at .two or
three dollars respectively, were awarded to Mrs. O. M. Nelson, of this
place.
Laoe. — ^Premium No. one, valued at two dollars, was presented to
Mrs. Kaufman, Vernon county. Premium No. two, valued at one dol-
lar, to Mrs. D. 0. Hunter, of Nevada City, Missouri.
Slippkrs. — ^Premium of two dollars awarded to Mrs. O. M. Nelson^
of this town.
First Day. Gallinaceous Department. Part n.
Best Pair of Turebts.— Premium of two dollars awarded to Mrs.
Harvey Karnes, of Vernon county.
Pair of Ohicksns.— Premium given to Hugh Logan, of Vernon
county, said premium was valued at two dollars.
first day — AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL DEPARTMENT. PART TO.
Portable Fence. — Premium, valued at three dollars, awarded to
W. W. Hill, of Vernon county.
Picture Frame.— Both premiums, valued at three dollars, were
given to A. B. McConoughey, of Nevada.
Two-HORSB Wagon.— Three dollar premium awarded to Thomas
H. Austin, of Nevada City, Mo.
Lady's Saddle. — Five dollar premium awarded to D. W. Mitchell,
of Nevada City.
Riding Bridle.— D. W. Mitchell received the premium of two
dollars.
Wagon Harness.— To D. W. Mitchell, of Nevada City, was awarded
the premium of seven dollars and a half.
Single Buggy Harness.- Presented to D. W. Mitchell, of Nevada
City, the premium of five dollars.
Stubble Plow E. Hill, of this place, received the premium of
five dollars.
Show Case, and this Best Arrangement Therein.— Premium,
valued at five dollars, given to Eahn & McNeil.
SECOND DAY.
Wheat, Best Bushel of.— Two dollar premium to W. W. Hill, of
Vernon county.
Corn, Fifty Ears.— To Elias Dean, a two dollar premium was
awarded.
OOUNTH BKP0RT8. 107
Oats. — H. H. Bowman received a two dollar preminm.
Beans, White. — One dollar premiam to H. H. Bowman, of Vernon
county.
Potatoes, Irish. — ^To Elias Dean was awarded a two dollar pre-
mium.
Potatoes, Sweet. — ifilias Dean received the premium of two dol-
lars.
Beets. — H. H. Bowman, of Vernon county, received a one dollar
premium.
Parsneps. — H. H. Bowman received premium valued at one
dollar.
Pumpkins and Squashes, Collection. — ^To Alexander Wight, of
Vernon county, was awarded a premium of one dollar.
Apples, Half Bushel. — ^The first premium, valued at two dollars,
was awarded to Elias Dean, of Vernon county.
The second premium, valued a^ one dollar, was presented to Alex.
Wight^ of Vernon county.
Peaks, Half Bushel. — ^To M. Duren was awarded a two dollar
premium.
Fruit, Best Collection. — A five dollar premium was awarded to
J. L. Nickols, of this place.
FIRST DAT. — stock DEPARTMENT.
Jack, Three Years Old and Over. — ^Premium, valued at fifteen
dollars, was awarded to P. W. Qainn, of Vernon county.
Pair of Draft Horses or Mares. — ^Thomas H. Austin, of Nevada
City, received the premium valued at ten dollars.
second day.
Boar of any Age. — Four entries were brought forward under
this head, and after much consideration, the first premium, valued at
ten dollars, was awarded, to T. E. Parker, of Vernon county;
The second, valued at five dollars, was awarded to John Brown.
Sow OF ANY Age. — After carefully examining the four entries that
were brought forward, the first premium was given to John Brown, of
Vernon county. It was valued at ten dollars.
The second premium, valued at five dollars, was given to T. £•
Parker, of Vernon county.
Bull, Three Years Old and Over. — Premium, valued at fifteen
dollars, was awarded to J. P. Dimmit, of Vernon county.
Bull, One Year and Under Two.— A premium, valued at six dol-
lars, was awarded to J. Clinton, of this county.
The second premium, valued at four dollars, was given to John
Brown, of this county.
Bull Calf.— First premium, valued at six dollars, was awarded to
J. Clinton, of this county.
lOS MISSOURI AQBICULTaRB.
Second premium, valued at four dollars, to Joe. L 'Moore, of this
county.
Cow, Thrkb Tbars and Upward. — Premium, valued at fifteen
dollars, awarded to G. W. Symns, of this county.
Second premium, of seven dollars and a half, was awarded to
Joe. I. Moore, of Vernon county.
Cow, Two AND Under Thrbb Years. — A. W. Edwards, of Vernon
county, received the first premium, valued at ten dollars.
The second premium, of five dollars, was awarded to Clinton, of
Vernon.
Heifer Calf. — Both premiums, valued at three and five dollars,
respectively, were awarded to Joe. I. Moore, of Vernon county.
SECOND DAT— sweepstakes.
Bull, ant Age. — J. Clinton received the first premium, valued at
twenty dollars.
J. P. Dimmit received the second premium, valued at ten dollars.
Cow, OF ANT Age.-^A twenty dollar premium was awarded to A.
W. Edwards, of this county, and to J. Clinton, also of Vernon, was
awarded a premium of ten dollars.
STOCK DEPARTMENT — CONTINUED.
MiLGH Cows. — Joe. I. Moore received the first premium, valued
at ten dollars, and the second premium, valued at five dollars, was
given to Q. W. Symns, of Vernon county.
F.ATTED Cow OR Steer. — A ten dollar premium was awarded to
6. W. Symns, of Vernon county, and to O. M. McGinnis, of the same
county, was presented a premium valued at five dollars.
Steer, Two and Under Three. — First premium to Joe. I. Moore, of
Vernon county. Said premium valued at six dollars.
Second premium, valued at three dollars, to Q. W. Symns, of Ver-
non county.
Steer, One Year and Under Two. — Both premiums, valued at five
and two and a half dollars, respectively, were awarded to Harvey
Karnes, of Vernon county.
Sweepstakes for Ponies Under Fourteen Hands. — A ten dollar
premium was awarded to Hardin Nelson, of Vernon county, and a
five dollar premium to R. T. £llis, of this county.
Sweepstakes for Draft Horses, Mares or Mules.— Premium
of fifteen dollars awarded to Thomas H. Austin, of this city.
THIRD DAT — STOCK DEPARTMENT — OONTINOKD,
4
Stallion, Four Years Old and Over.— Erasmus Foland, of this
county, received a premium, valued at fifteen dollars.
Stallion, Two and Under Three. — ^A premium, valued at six dol-
lars, was awarded to A. P. Jones.
COUNTY RKPOBTS. 109
Stallion, One ani> Under Two.— Premium of five dollars was
awarded to a very fine animal belonging to O. Hulburt, of Vernon
county.
Stallion Colt. — ^First premium of five dollars, was awarded to Q.
W. Symns, of Vernon county, and the second premium to Charles
Myres, of same county.
Bkoon Mares. — R. T. Ellis received the first premium, valued at
ten dollars, and the second was awarded to Charles Bartlett, of this
county. Said premium valued at fiye dollars.
Mares, Three and Under Four. — An eight dollar premium was
given to S. P. Symns, of this county.
Mares, Two aed Under Three. — First premium, valued at five dol-
lars, awarded to W. S. Willoughby, and the second premium of three
dollars was given to Jasper Shanbolster, of Vernon county.
Mares, One and Under Two. — David Wright, of Nevada City, re-
ceived the first premium, valued at five dollars, and a second premium
valued at three dollars, was presented to Robert Ellis, of this county.
Sweepstakes — Mares of Any Age.— From five entries a mare be-
longing to P. M. Wray was selected as the one ei^titled to the pre-
mium, valued at fifteen dollars, and a second premium, valued at ten
doUars, Was given to S. P. Symns, of Vernon county.
Stallion op any Age. — First premium of twenty dollars was
awarded to A. P. Jones, and the second premium of ten dollars was
presented to O. Hulburt, of Vernon county.
Horse or Mare in Single Hahness. — First premium, valued at ten
dollars, was given to J. L. Nickels, of Nevada City, and to Wm. Mc-
Ginnis, of Vernon county, was awarded the second premium, valued
at five dollars.
Horses or Mares in Double Harness. — J. L. Nickols, as before,
took the first premium, valued at ten dollars, and to V. C. Quick was
awarded the second premium, valued at five dollars.
Fastest Trotting House or Mare in Harness or Under Saddle. —
A prancing black, belonging to J. L. Nickols, was again successful,
and to him was awarded a ten dollar premium, and the second pre-
mium, of five dollars,^ was given to 6. W. Symns.
Mare or Horse IJnder Saddle, — ^In this ring five entries were
brought forward, and, after a hard contest, the premium, valued at
ten dollars, was awarded to C. R. Scott, his horse. Umpire, being vic-
torious, and to Dr. Blake, of Nevada City, was awarded the second
premium, valued at five dollars.
Slowest Horse or Mare.— Premium of ten dollars awarded to M.
Duren, of this county.
Mules, Three Tears and Upwards.— First premium of ten doUart
was given to H. H. Johnson, and the second premium of five dollars
was'given to W. T. and C. E. Harness.
Pair op Mules. — John Brown received a premium of ten dollars.
Sweepstakes por Mules. — ^The first premium was awarded to John
110 UlSSOUm AGRIGULTUKK.
Brown, which premium was valued at ten dollars, and the second
premium, valued at five dollars, was given to Charley Harness.
THIRD DAY— CULINARY DEPARTMENT.
Molasses, Sorghum. — R. M. George, of this county, received the
premium, valued at two dollars, and to Mrs. Symns was awarded a
premium valued at one dollar.
Preserves, PBACH.—Both premiums, valued at three dollar^, were
awarded to Mrs. (). M. Nelson, of -Nevada Cit^r.
Pkeservks, Apple. — First premium, valued at two dollars, was
awarded to Mrs. O. M. Nelson, and the second premium, valued at
one dollar, was given to Mrs. James H. More.
Pkbserves, OHERRY.~Premium, valued at two dollars, was awarded
to Mrs. 0. M. Nelson, of this place.
Preserves, Plum. — ^Two dollar premium was given to Mrs. O. M.
Nelson.
' Jelly, Jar, of. — First premium, valued at two dollars, was
awarded to Mrs. Karnes, and the second premium, valued at one dol-
lar, was given to Mrs. Duren.
Pickles, Sweet. — Mrs. Bowman received a premium valued at
two dollars, and the second premium, valued at one dollar, was given
to Mrs. O. M. Nelson, of this place.
Catsup. — tremium of two doUars awarded to Mrs. Bowman.
Oake, Plain, Pound. — ^First premium, valued at two doUars, was
given to Mrs. O. M. Nelson, and the second, valued at one dollar, was
awarded to Mrs. Duren.
Cake, Sponge. — ^Two dollar premium awarded to Mrs. Duren.
Bread, LoAP.~Mrs. C. R Scott, of Nevada City, received a two
dollar premium.
Cheese. — ^Mrs. H. A. Wright received a five dollar premium.
Butter, Mat. — First premiam, valued at two dollars, was given
to Mrs. Duren, and the second premium was awarded to Mrs. Fish-
pool, of this county.
Butter, Fresh. — ^Premium of two dollars was awarded to Mrs.
James More, and the second premium was given to Mrs. Fishpool.
This completes the list of articles that were exhibited at the
Vernon county fair for the year 1869, but, as the law requires that we
should make a report as to the crops in onr county, we must, before
closing, do so.
The staple commodities of this county are wheat, com and oats,
and last year the crops were very good. Com is now worth fifty
cents per bushel, wheat from fifty to ninety cents, and oats fifty cents.
The county, at some day not far distant, promises to be one of the
foremost in the State. It has great advantages even over some of
the older counties, as it far excels them as a stock county, being* pe-
culiarly adapted to that purpose. Also it has great advantages over
most of the counties in the State as regards fuel, there being plenty
COUNTY BEFORTS. Ill
of timber for all purposes, and innumerable coal banks of the great-
est abundance.
Our county also has one railroad in process of construction, and
a Tery flattering prospect for a second, to be commenced very soon.
Should we be so fortunate as to get both, we will, in a few years, in-
crease greatly in population, and soon double our number not only
in the county seat, but throughout the county.
For farming purposes, we have generally a fine quality of soil
throughout the county« and with proper cultivation no doubt it will
yield equal to any soil in the State.
I submit the above as the report for the Vernon County Agricul-
tural and Mechanical Association.
Very respectfully
0. R SOOTT, Secretarg.
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Chas. W. Murtfkldt, Esq.,
Corresponding Secretary^ etc.:
Dear Sir: I herewith submit my annual report of this county for
the year 1869. By reference to my report for 1^6F, it will be seen that
highly gratifying progress had been made during that year, both with
regard to the advancement and prosperity of our County Agricultural
ABSOciation and those community interests, of which it is the legally
constituted guardian and patron. I am gratified to know that the
present report will furnish incontrovertible evidences of still further
progress in these important interests.
The list of premiums presented by our County Association for
premiums in its third annual fair, embraced an aggregate of about
twenty-five hundred dollars, a sum quadruple that of the first, and
double that of the second annual exhibition. The catalogue was pub-
lished early in the season, affording farmers, stork-raisers and me-
chanics ample time in which to shape specimens of their various pro-
ducts for competition. The work of the committee on premiums was
thoroughly and judiciously performed, and the premium list was, so
far as I have been able to learn, eminently satisfactory to the large
classes in competition. The list was, with the exception of the county
court list, and a few individual premiums, thrown open "to the world"
for rivalry.
Our third annual fair was opened on Tuesday, September 28th,
1869, and continued for four days. The announcement was that it
would be held for three days, but the increasing attendance and in-
terest of each day forbade its closing before the evening of the first
day of October. The receipts were in increase of those of the preced-
112 MISSOURI AmiOOLTUBB.
ing year on the full ration of premiums, and more than justified the
highest expectations of the directorate.
The various departments of the exhibition were highly creditable
to the producers of the county, as well as to their respective superin-
tendents.
Of several of these departments, in which I was compelled, in mj
last report, to notice marked shortcomings, as especially in blooded
and thoroughbred cattle and hogs, I am happy to state that a marked
improvement was shown. During tJie past year, Frank Harris, Esq.i
(amember of our county board) has contributed materially toward
supplying the deficiency. Mr. Wm. Riehl has also established an ex*
perimental stock farm in the vicinity of Potosi, and is actively en-
gaged in preparing it for the rearing of fine stock of every utilized
breed. Other like enterprises are in progress, and we have every rea-
son to believe that the present year will furnish a record unprece-
dented in the history of our county.
In the various classes of mules and horses, particularly the latter,
the exhibition was highly creditable. I may be permitted, in this
connection, to mention the fine thoroughbred stallion, ^^Andy John-
son," owned by Judge David E. Ferryman, of .this county, as well as
the stables of Messrs. John T. Eobinson, Qeorge Towl, Mahlon
Hughes and others.
Our county is fast becoming supplied with fine and serviceable
stock.
The textile fabric, art and mechanical exhibitions were in every
respect creditable to their respective contributors, and to the energy
of the board in preparing for and arranging them.
The success of the fair, as an entirety, was best attested by the
fact that the Association's unsold stock was sought and taken, to some
considerable extent at the close of the exhibition.
The following exhibit will show the status of stock in tho county
for the last year :
2,554 horses, valued at $113,240
803 mules, " 43,680
7,683 cattle, " 78,430
7,444 sheep, '' 10,730
12,959 hogs, " 19,590
The comparative returns for 1869 show a small increase in live
stock over the returns of the preceding year.
In the way of cereals and other farm products,, I regret to say
that, no assessment having been made of them during the past year, I
am unable to present all those interesting fact« which I would de-
sire to.
Notwithstanding the great lumber and lead interest which have
their center point preeminently in this county, we have also large
bodies of desirable fertile lands, which have been lying idle to a con-
OOmRT ftDOKB. US
fliderftble extent during tlie last ten yetrg, which lurre been bat re-
cently sought out, and will soon be in a high state of onltiyation.
Aside from the Agrionltnral Association of the county, a prosperous
and actiTO Fanner's Olub, holding its semi-monthly session at various
points in the county, bears attest to the increasing interest in the en<
nobling pursuits of agriculture.
Hie physical character of Washington county would be classed as
more specific than varied, the entire northern and eastern portions
being exposures of third magnesian limestone, with sandstone, drusy
quartz and nodular cherts capping the hills and hill slopes.
The southern portion has surface exposure of lower third magnesia
or lowest Silurian ranges. There is a moderate development of the
laurentian or taconic system, with its characteristio red sandstones,
taleoid slates, calciferous or JPottsdam sandrocks and conglomerates,
brecciated early materials. ^ All these sets of rocks shelve southwardly,
upward, with the surface slopesof the many oblong and mound-shaped
hills of granite, porphyry, trap scyenite and other augitic rooks there
found. In no part of tike State are there soils more particularly
adapted to the growth of certain highly-valued iruitB and vegetables.
The combined soils to be found in th'e wide valleys and basins iii-
closed by those primitive rocks being, as they are, derived from the
rooks best calculated to impart desirable and lasting qualities to soils
adapted to the production of cereals, root crops, grasses or fruits.
What the central, eastern and northern portions of the county
lose thereby from the absence of any primitive rocks, is fully made
up in the wonderfully profuse exhibition of sulphate of barytes, now
becoming so important an item in the exportations of this county,
amounting to the shipment of four thousand tons for the year, from
one station on the Iron Mountain railroad, and native carbonate of
lime, respectively known, locally, as bald and glass tilT.
Millions of tons of the former too impure for any commercial use,
except the manufacture of putty, can, when properly sulgected to a
simple system of cheap chemical decomposition, be utilised. It then
becomes a fertilizer of the first order, combining more enlivening
and enriching qualities than New Jersey marls, phosphate of lime, or
much of the adulturated stuff sold as guano.
The lumber trade of the county for the year shows but little in-
crease of that of 1868, owing to the almost complete stagnation in
that branch of our commerce during the laftt three months of 1869,
and corresponding suspension of its manufacture. The one item of
shipments from Potosi depot, alone, to St. Louis, will give some ade-
quate idea of the extent of this branth of our industry. From the
first day of January te the 81st day of December, one thousand five
hundred and thirty-nine car loads, containing nine million nine hun-
dred and ninety-seven thousand feet were shipped as above.
The mining and manufacture of lead is, as stated in previona re*
114 ^ laaBonmi Acmomousx.
ports, a Itfge item in the rasonrces of onr eounty. I hacllK^<id Iq re-
port tke extent ot this branch of our indnttry in foil, but have been
unable with the greatest pains* taking, to obtain fiill retnms for the
year, therefore subjoin the statements of nine (about, one-heilfibe
entire number of fnmaees in operation ia the CQunly)^ incluaiTe only
of manufactures from January 1st to December . Slst, ISfiS, i^cluaiye :
Proprietors. Location. Founds.
Wm.Long Old Mines 781^1^
6t Louis Lead liGning Oo Xingston furnace. . . ^ M3^6t3
James Long Potosi .^iUJSDO
Firmin Desloge Potosi 386,000
J« ft J. Laity Cadet Slfi^
Mo. and Penn. Lead Oo fiarmpny ;86(MM0
John ETans ;Hopevell aSMOO
TeasdaleftOo Potosi 117,961
Jacob Boas Mineral Point 1(»,1«)
' Making an aggregate firom nine furnaces, alone, .of three miUjons
seyenty-three thousand and seren hundred . pounds. In this .connec-
tion allow me to recall the statement made by Peof. J. D. iWhitney,
in Mb work published in 1854, on the mineral .wealth of tib^e Uiufeed
States ; he estimates the entire yield of lead in Missouri. foe the year
1862 at fifteen hundred pigs, or about one hundred and fire i^uaand
pounds.
Another important feature ofthe.manufacturing mtereets of this
county is the iron fomace of Messrs. Edwin Harrison . & Oo., at Iron-
dale ; tUs firm manufactured at their Irondale. furnace firom the first
day of January to the 81st day of December, 1869,.inclusi¥e, seven thou-
sand five hundred and forty tons, of two hundred and sixty-eight pounds
each, an aggregate of seventeen millions onehuaidred jUiousand seven
hundred and twenty (17,100,720) pounds. This fiamace gives employ-
ment, directly and indirectly, to about 176 bands (and. superintend-
ents), involving an outlay in the item of labor of. f 100,000 per annum.
The ore used in these works (ninety*ftve per cent of it) is obtained
from Ir(m Mountain. A large proportion of >the supplies ^consumed
by this manufacturing communiiy, such as com^ hay^ oats, bogs, lum-
ber, etc., are bought in this county.
The zinc interest, mentioned in my last report, has: developed a
aow phase since that date. The experimental fiimacejbhea mentioned
as hsrving been erected at this place by Mr. Qeo« F« Hessebueyer, .was
' built and operated for several* months, to determine the praotioability
of bringing the large amounts of coal required in auc smeltiii^ to the
: irioinity of the mines, and transporting the manufactwed. arislcle.to
* murket, rather 'than to transport the crude ore to the vicipitgr of the
n . obH beds for manufacture.
The laiMer method proved the only praotioable one, wA Mr. Qes-
otoBbneye? abandoned the works at Potosi transfeiripg bis operations
to his new furnaces at Oarondelet I am unable -to give you the
oovmnr repobtb. IIS
amoTint of zino ore prodaoed at the several mines in this county dur-
ing the year, further than may be indicated by the shipments from
the one depot, at Hopewell furnace. Mr. John Evans shipped from
that station, during the year, nine car loads of zinc ore, weighing five
hundred and eighty thousand pounds.
From these meagre statistics^ one might well wonder at the spec-
tacle of a fund designed by the General Assembly for the endowment
of a school of mining and metallurgy, traversing the entire length
and breadth of the State, in the vain quest of a mininfi^ centre for its
location. Verbum sapientM^ etc. OEO. R OLABE, Secretary,
NORTH MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL AND MEOHANIOAL AS-
SOCIATION.
HAHnBAL, Mo., Deoemlwr S8, 1869.
Hon. Ohas. W. Mu&tfbldt,
Correeponding Secretary State Board of Agriculture :
Deae Sib — ^Yours of the 22d received and contents noted. Our
board of directors, on the 24th inst., passed the following resolution:
Heeolved, That the Secretary forward to Charles W. Murtfeldt,
Corresponding Secretary State Board of Agriculture, a full and com-
plete report of all matters connected with our association.
In compliance with such order and your letter, I have the honor
to report ais follows :
This association was organised on the joint stock plan, ^nder the
general incorporation laws, and the articles of association were filed
in the office of the Secretary of State in June 12, 1869. There are about
one hundred and twenty-five stockholders, principally citizens of
Marion, Ralls, and Monroe counties. * The board of directors first
elected, and who transacted the business last year, were William
Newland, President; Jamison F. Hawkins, Vice President ; A. £.
Trabne, Joseph M. Gentry, J. N. Peyton, A. W. Lamb. J. J. A. Jacoby,
Samuel O. McCIune, Thos. Bowling, C. F. Kirtley, B. F. Griffith, E. G.
Matson, W. A. Munger. All of the old directors were re-elected, Ex-
cept J. J. A. Jacoby and Samuel C. MoClune, whose places were
fiSled by John L. Lathrop and John Nichols. The present officers iEfre
A. W. Lamb, President; A. K. Trabue, Vice President,* ^eorg^ H.
Shields, Secretary and Treasurer.
The first fkir was held thd week beginning September 20, 1809, and
was well attended. We had an aggregate attenda'nce Off about twenty-
four thousand people. On Friday, the most attractive day, the at^efid-
' ance was abdtit ten or twelve thousand. The show of stdok was
rather emallet than a(! such ^rs, owiiig tb the fact of thd latetiesifof
our- getting ready and Advertising, whieh was not dene till late in
116 MOSOnU AQXtmLTOtX.
August, but we expect a much larger display kweafter. Hie me*
ehanioal and agricultural department was largely represented, and
tiie display unusually fine. Machinery for every conceivabie pur-
pose was en exhibition, and many of great utility. The textile fabrie,
fine art, and household product departments were filled to overflow-
ing, and probably such a* display was never before seen.in this part of
the State. The whole population seemed to vie with each other in
these departments, and a magnificent result followed. The fowl,
swine, and sheep displays were good. Altogether the exhibition was
first class, and, except the paucity of fine horses, was as good as any
district fair in this region of country.
In the cattle show, very fine stock was displayed, and it consti*
tuted one of the principal features of the fair.
The whole receipts were 97,208 79, and total expenses 9^,995 16,
showing net profits of f3,203 64. These profits were all swallowed 19
in paying for our improvements, so that the association made nothing
clear. It is merely stated to show the actual receipts and expenses
during the fair. The improvements consist of a large and commo*
dious amphitheatre, one -half thereof finished; the area the same size
as that of the St Louis fair grounds, capable of seating 10,000 people;
a large textile fabric hall, a ladies' cottage, sheds for mechanical and
agricultural implements, two hundred and fifty stalls for cattle and
horses. The grounds are fifty-two acres in extent, and inclosed with
a nine-foot fence, close boarded, and are situated about two miles
from Hannibal, on the Hannibal and St. Joseph Bailroad, and about
one hundred yards south of the Hannibal and Paris plank road, and
immediately south of and adjoining the Hannibal and New London
gravel road, and hence is easy of access from every direction. Forty
acres is as level as a floor, and shaded with large elm, maple, and oak
trees, making it the most desirable resort in summer for all pleasure
parties. The other ten acres is hill and dell, and divided from the plain
by Bear Greek, which runs through the whole extent of the grounds
east and wast, and a rivulet of living water fed by many springs flows
through the whole extent of the grounds north and south, affording
abundant water« clear and pure, for every purpose. Wells have been
sunk with foree pumps in all parts of the ground for the use of man
and beast.
The amphitheatre is encircled by a half mile track, fif^ feet wide
and perfectly level, and with the improvement thereon contemplated
during the next year, it will be one of the best tracks in the country.
The main premiums for stock were carried off last year by Lewis,
Monroe, Marion, and Balls counties for horses, and Pike and Monroe
counties for catUe, Marion for hogs and sheep, and Boone, Marion
and Balls for textile fabrics.
In regard to our enterprise, we consider it unusually sucoesifnl,
imd while for a few years we must apply all the earnings of the asso*
cfaition to improvements on the grounds, we hope to be able to not
C0UBT7 BSPOEIg. 117
only make onr fain a SQCoess, but to return a divideud to the etook-
hirers.
Our object will be to offer large premiums in a judicious way, to
induce fine stock, and all ezhibitora to come to our fair. Our next
fidr will be held the week previous to the next St Louis fair, so that
parties on their way to St Louis can stop here on their way down the
riyer and railroads.
Hannibal now has railroad connection with the East and the
West, and the rirer brings trade from north and south, and the early
completion (which will, no doubt, soon come to pass) of the Hanni-
bal and Oentral Missouri Railroad, connecting with the North Mis-
souri and Kansas City Railroads at Moberly, will give us another
feeder, and we expect that our next exhibition will be the best in the
State (except the world-renowned St Louis fair), and if earnest en-
deavor and active work will bring about that end, it will be done.
Onr premiums last year were part in solid silver plate, but the
directors have seen that the day of plate premiums has passed, and
hereafter the premiums will be in all instances paid in gash.
Hoping to be able to give you a full and complete history of an-
other successful exhibition next year, I have the honor to remain,
veiy respectfolly, your obedient servant,
GEO. H. SHIELDS,
Secretary ilT. Mo. A. and 1£. Ais^oiation.
NORTH MISSOURI STOCK, AQRIOULTURAL AND MBOHANI-
OAL ASSOCIATION.
Sauibukt, Mo., DtotmUr Si^ 1M9.
V
Okas. W. Mubtrldt,
Corresponding Secretary State Board of Agrioulture :
DsAB Snt. — Tours of the 22d instant, directed to the Secretary of
the North Missouri Stock, Agricultural and Mechanical Association,
has been handed to me.
In reply I will state that this Association organized in 1848, with
some eighty stoskholders. Capital stock, 96,000.
This Association is doing good ' work in encouraging the impor-
tation and raising of fine stock.
We have a good half mile track for trials of speed.
Our Association has well improved grounds near the railroad,
one-half mile from this town.
The entries of stock were large, most of the rings having strong
competition.
Our premium list amounted to $4,000.
lis MuaouBi AftBicniuimi.
From past experienoe I am confident onr conntj ^atTs" will have
to change their programmes in regard to entries and ^'dead heads^''
and offer premiums for their own coontgr stock, excluding the stock
from other counties in a portion of the rings. .
A conrention of the officers of our fairs ought to be held to con*
suit on these important suljects.
Your obedient seryanty
I>DOmS SALISBURY,
President N. Jf. S.^ A. nmd M. A.
J'V
Essays And Other Papers.
ar
I
ADDRESS OF
NORMAN J. COLMAN,
Mo. Editors and Publishers' Association.
GKETiLiEiaQr OF THB ASSOCIATION : The power of the Press is now
pretty well understood, and by none better than thp editorial profes*
ilon-»bat, it is donbtfhl whether the duties and responsibilities of the
Press are generally as well appreciated. like all other professions,
the Editorial has grare and responsible duties devolving upon it«-
but, unlike others, certain prescribed qualifications have not been re*
quired before entering upon the discharge of professional duty. No
attendance in the lecture hall, or particular course of study, or train*
ing, has been exacted. The Teacher, the Physician, the Lawyer and
the Divine, must each undergo a thorough preparatory course, before
being permitted to entew on his chosen career. Schools and colleges
must be attended, lectures listened to, and thorough examinations
undergone, before a license will be granted to enter the arena of the
profession. An Esprit de Corps is thus cultivated, which is lasting
and attended with the most beneficial results. But any particular
training, or course of study, or lectures, or schools, or colleges, to
prepare young men for the most important of all professions — the
Editorial— -have never been heard of. That institutions of this kind
ooQid be established, and would be attended with the most beneficial
results, can scarcely be<doubted. Each member of the profession has
now to learn for himself all that is to be known of the duties devolv*
iug upon him.
It maybe thought by some that these duties are not so very grave
nor responsible. But this is a great mistake. What other profession
is of equal responsibility ? It is that of the Teacher or Divine. Is
not the Press the great instructor of the age t Does not every good
sad noble cause require an enlightened and virtuous Press to uphold
192 lOSdOUIII AGRIOULTUBX.
it? While the Teacher and Diyine are instrncting a few hundred—
for they can be heard by but few — ^the Editor is swaying the minds of
thousands, and Bometimes of hundreds of thousands. He has a larger
field for the exercise of his powers and influence, and by some mys-
terious law his instructions are taken in with more aridity, llie
newspaper is now read almost everywhere, and its silent, yet pow-
erful, influence is constantly working upon the minds of all, young
and old, of both sexes — ^not less in the cabin of the backwoodsman
than in the mansion of the millionaire.
But while it is true that the other professions have been greatly
benefitted by special preparation, and that such preparation is a
wise provision for proper qualification and special excellence — ^yet
the Press stands as the personification and guardian of perfect
freedom.' It has no iron door of entrance sentineled by grim Satyrs,
demanding your parchment. The field lies open, whetiief inviting or
otherwise, and every aspirant for its honors can enter it unmolested.
He will stand or fall in accordance with his merits, and take rank
according to the powers he possesses. The wants of the hour and the
capacity to fill those wants, are the grand criteria of success — and a
law as unerring as gravitation assigns the true position.
One of the most obvious and important duties devolving on the
Press is the elevation of the people— not only in their ideas and feel-
ings, but in their language and modes of expreslrion. Thero is too
great a tendency to think aind writis in the commonest terms iaetead
of elevating the people, in th6 expression of their thoughts, to ibb
highest standard of purity. Vulgarity in speech is bad enough— but
to behold it in print, to take it home to our familiM, to introdnce it iit
our pariors and libraries, to famiHarixe oar wives and chitdiren with it
—is far worie.
It is always.boitter to dekl witii facts and pritioiples than witil ia«
dividtiab; In this way personalities are avoided, and (lie troth soooer
reached; Tbe man shdtild not be degraded that the conise may b^*
adVdaaoed or retarded.
Dotibtltes one of the leading oljects had in vieW in the organiJia*
tion of this Association, was to bring the members of the Ftess of this
State intb a oloser and more intimate relationship with one another^
UM tho06 so'oiai aobd professional courtesies' might be cultivated that
Aould idWays etist unong the membeils of an honorable profbeeiom
We ire g^merally mbre coulrteons in tdne and besring, in word and
deed, t6 a persoiial aoqnaantatioe or friend, thta we are to a total
striuiger, who may entefftaiil ot^imons difbrebt from oar»— and any-
thing which is calculated to elevate the tone of the publlo Prees^ ia
oertatnly desei^ving of attMtion. It is not ouieelvea, alone^ as a pro-
fession, that aie btaMltted, but the whole reiiding public. The Press
either eletktes Utt ton^ of ttte pubHo mind or debases it— depending
dpoQ tiie mton w in wMch it ie eondncted. If conducted apon high
ind hondrahle prineiplesi-^h^ pnblic mud is elevated in a cartes^
IBSAn AVD OTHXB PAPB18. IfiS
pending degree. Bntif nntruthfol, reddess statemento and assertionB
are published as trothfiil, the tone of the public mind is gradually
debased, becomes as familiar with falsehood as truth, and pays bat
little credence to anything that is published. How truthful are the
lines of the poet in this connectibn, when he says :
"Vic* is » moniter of incli frightful mien.
Am to h% hftttdi nMdf bat to bo leMi^
Ttt, MOB too oft, l^i^ilUr witti htt f aoo, .
Wo int ondwo, thou pitj, tbm ombroco 1''
What a text is this for a sermon. If these )ines aire true, whi^ a
fearful responsibilHy rests upon the Editorial profession. How guarded
should they* be as to what appears iu their respecttye journals. It is
the familiarity with yioe in all its forms, which is having so corrupt^
ing an influence upon the public morals. Newspapers, now-a-days,
are read by all classes— the high and the low, the young and the old»
the school-boy and the school-girl. Every word that is printed leaves
its iminress for good or for evil. How important, then, that ey^ry
JQunial should be the staunch and earnest friend of religion, morality,,
virtue and every noble attribute ot man. Newspapers are now the
great teachers of the world. They inform* instruct, guid0 and direct
the people of all nations. Through their influence one great political
party is in power to*>day and another to-morrow. The importance^
then, of a virtuous, patriotic Press is self-evident. How else can our
UbertieB be preserved, or our individual rights be maintained 1 To
use a homely expression, the members of the Press should be the
watch-dogs over the liberties and rights of the people. They should
resiflt to the bitter . end every encroachment upon either. In all
matters affecting the people, they should bd controlled only by
motives of the purest patriotism and philanthropy. They should be
found willing and eloquent advocates of all measures having the good
of the people in view. The establishment of schools and churcbest
the advancement of all public interests, the development of the re^
aources of one's locality— are all matters that should, eulist the heart*
iest efforts of those who wield so powerful an influence upon the
public mind.
The Press of Missouri in particular have grave responsibilities
devolving upon them. They have important duties to perform. They
tte, to a great extent, responsible for affairs as they now exist here-
on may hereafter exist They can advance or retard th6 car of pro*
gress. They can elevate the people, infuse into their minds a spirit;
of enterprise and progress in every worthy undertalcin^ They can
unfold to our people, and to the people of other States, the wonderful
resources with which our State has been blessed. By this mema
they will invite immigration and capital, and build up Missouri to
that high and mi^estic position, which she is yet, sooner or latei^
^••tined to attain.
And what are the advantages, and what tlie resouifcee, which oii^
194 1II08OUPI AaBIOULTUBl.
State posseeses over others t Agriculture is said to be the very foun*
dation stone on which is reared the prosperity of any State or nation.
How does Missouri compare with her sister States in this great indus-
trial pursuit f She is centrally located, and in the most desirable lat-
itude that could be selected for this great vocation. Her soil pro*
duces all the cereals in their greatest perfection, and * she possesses
the best hemp and tobacco lands on this continent In the southern
part of the State, cotton, of a fine quality is likewise produced. The
advantages of our climate are not to be overlooked. Farm operations,
of some kind or other, can be prosecuted the year round. This gives
the Missouri farmer great advantages over his more northern com*
petitors. In the Northern States farm work is all crowded into a few
months, instead of extending over the entire year as here. Th&re the
farmer is, emphatically, snow-bound and frozen in half of the time,
thus dwarfing all his operations and preventing him from performing
more than half of the work here accomplished with the same amount
of labor.
With the stock grower, the advantages in Missouri are 8tUl
greater. In fully one-fourth of the State — the southern quarter — all
kinds of stock will thrive the year round with bat little attention from
man. The herds are turned out to shift for themselves — ^and keep in
good order the entire year. It is doubtful whether more desirable
locations for raising stock can be found anywhere than are offered in
Southern Missouri, when all the advantages are taken into considera-
tion, not the least of which is its accessibility to a good market at all
seasons. Stock is easily raised, it is true, in Texas — ^but the great
distance from a good market causes it to sell at ruinously low figures.
Stock can be raised just as cheap in Southern Missouri, and will
command three or four times the price. In the more northern por*
tions of the State several months of feeding are required — but our
winters there, even, are much shorter than in more Northern sections,
where stock must be fed from six to eight months, or it will starve.
The stock grower must work diligently all summer to produce the
necessary food for winter, and the profits of the business are generally
found on the wrong side of the ledger.
In the production of BVuit, our State stands unrivalled. Our
apples, pears, peaches, and, in fact, all our fruits, bear off the palm,
and are the wonder and surprise of our Eastern friends, when they
visit us. All parts of the State are adapted to the production of these,
in their greatest perfection. It can be truly said, that Missouri is the
Paradise of the Fruit Grower.
But what can we say to adequately express the value of our lands
for the production of grapes and wine ? What other State can com-
pare with it in these respects ? Where else in this country are such
fitcilities offered to the Yineyardist, as here? Our wine will vie in
quality with any made on this continent, and is attracting the favora«^
ble attention of the wine connoisseurs of Europe. At the great
IgBATB ASD OTHXB PAPXB& 125
National wine trial, held at Philadelphia a few years since, Missonri
bore off the prize — a citizen of Boonville taking the first premiumlfbr
the best wine on exhibition ; and in Paris, at the great exhibition, it
made a most favorable impression, and was highly commended by Uie
best judges, as we are informed by the Hon. Marshal P. Wilder. We
have millions of acres of the best grape lands in the world — ^more than
all Earope possesses — that are now lying idle, only awaiting the hand
of industry to develop their untold wealth. In a few years, it is to
be hoped, these lands will be peopled by an intelligent, industrious
population, and covered with orchards and vineyards, almost
groaning under their precious burdens. (Jould the people of the
Old World, or of our older States, know of the bright prospects our
State offers to the immigrant — ^how soon would our population be
quadrupled.
It is almost needless to speak of our inexhaustible mine^ of iron,
lead, tin, coal, &c. To-morrow, you will behold the most wonderful
phenomenon of mineral wealth on the face of the globe — a mountain
of iron — ^that would furnish enough of this metal for all the world for
centuries. Iron is the most important mineral the earth produces.
It is indispensable in every industrial pursuit, and enters into m6re
general use than any other metal. Without it, our fields could not
be cultivated. It is used in a hundred forms on every farm and in
every workshop in the land. Large establishments are now being
erected by some of our wealthiest and most enterprising citizens to
utilize this material, with which our State is so wonderfully supplied.
Capital, enterprise and skill alone are wanting to make this one of
the greatest sources of wealth to Missouri. Look to the matter of
railroad iron alone. Take St. Louis as the focus. See the thousands
of miles of iron rail radiating from this city. Contemplate the thou'^
sands of miles yet to be constructed from the city, or from roads
leading thereto — ^for railroads will yet be as common as M'Adamii;ed
roads, as every county seat and town of any importance Will have
its railroad connections. Shall we always depend upon Great Britain
to supply the iron to lay the tracks, or re-place them when worn out t
Shall we send millions of dollars across the Atlantic annually for the
very material which is lying in profusion at our feet ? We have, too,
most of the other important metals is nearly as great abundance.
Vast forests of pine are to be found in the Southern portion of
the State, but awaiting the hand of industry to turn them into sources
of wealth.
My time does not allow me to dwell longer on this subject — but
the Press of the State can confer no greater boon upon her people
than by giving their hearty aid in the development of the varied re-
sources we possess. We must let the world know of our advantages
of position, of climate, of production ; of our agricultural, manufac*
tuiing and commercial wealth.
We have thousands of ndles of streams, unsurpassed for water-
196 MMOVBI AeBIOirLTUBB»
power. These Bhoiild be hamesBed and made useful allies in the de»
v^lopment of our wealth and resources. Upon these streams, large
manufacturing establishments should be erected, to turn our raw pro-
ductions into useful fabrics, and to give labor to our i>opulation.
In my travels through different parts of the State, I have been
astonished at the multitude of rivers and smaller streams which trav-
erse almost every county, eminently suited for the purposes of power,
and many of them peerless in this respect. There^ is the beautiful
Meramec, which flows almost along the borders of this city, and ca-
pable of driving a hundred great mills seated along its course. Fur-
ther southward flow the St. Francois, the Current, the Black ; and
towards the southwest, the Neosho and the White ; westward of here
and south of the Missouri, are those rapid and copious rivers, the Gas-
conade— ^the Osage, the clear waters of which dancing and dashing
along its channel in rapid descent, might furnish power equal to the
Passaic, and support upon its shores several such cities as that busy
and prosperous Patterson, which owes all its thrift to the waters of
the Passaic — ^the South Grand, the Lamine, the Black Water, the Big
Blue — ^whilst on the other side of the Missouri are those rivers, each
of which by the weight of its leaping waters, ought to support an op-
ulent and populous manufacturing city — ^the Ohariton, the Grand, the
Salt) the Platte, and others. All these rivers, and their tributaries,
are spread in a vast net-work over our State, and contain within
themselves, when brought into practical application, a wealth and
power of industrial resource not easily to be estimated and scarcely
possible to be overstated.
The cheapness of our lands as well as their great fertility and
adaption to all kinds of crops, must not be lost sight of.
By a constant and well-directed eifort on the part of the Press of
Missouri, the stream of immigration, which is now flowing into the
State, will be accelerated and enlarged, and Missouri ere long take
the high and grand i>osition which the God of Nature formed her to
occupy as the Empire State of this great confederacy.
But, here, we shall not stop ! When that glorious era dawns — as
it surely will— St Louis will have become the Oapital of the nation.
It requires no prophetic vision to fortell that the Valley of the Mississ-
ippi is yet to control the legislation of the country. At our next ap-
portionment for members of Oongress, the people of the Eastern
States will open their astonished eyes, when they behold the power
the West will have in the councils of the nation. It will then, prob*
ably, have become the controlling power : or, if not, but one more
census — another decade— will be required to develop the fact, that
the sceptre of pow,er has been transferred from the East to the great
Valley of the Mississippi. When that time comes, St Louis will be
crowned the Oapital of the nation, because she will then have be-
come the commercial and financial centre, and the centre of popula-
tion! no less than she now is the geographical centre, of this great
cP9niry. To this event, to l>e aooomplished in the oomiiig time, and
at no distant period, the finger of destiny points with unerring pre-
cision. It needs no prophetic vision to see that the coming millions
at population which are pouring into the Valley of the Mississippi,
bearing with them their wealth of means and enterprise, will impart
to this region and its great central city, opolence and power without
a parallel.
It is well, too, that in the order of Providence this is so ; for this
vast extent of country called "' the West" in the time of our Fathers^
and now being the middle country, constituting the YaUey of the
Mississippi, must always be homogeneous in its interestSs sentiments
and social tastes to a degree not possible among either the Eastern or
the Western States — and hence will be consolidated in this Yalley
a unity of sentiment among so many populous and powerful States,
which will always enable those States and their people in the legit-
imate exercise of their political power, to hold in check the abberra-
tions of the extremes, and with strength and dignity to counteract
the centrifugal tendencies of the remoter parts and extreme regions,
and to hold the whole country firmly and steadily in balance as one
people united in one individual nationality.
On you, gentlemen of the Press in Missouri, is devolved, the im-
mense responsibility that public opinion in Missouri shall be so wisely
shaped, that the people here shall in all respects be prepared to act
their part in the great drama of the future, with glory to their State
and benefit to their country— that at all times the people shall be
prepared with firmness to maintain their own rights — to obey, respect
and m>hold the laiws — and, above all, to inspire them with sentiments
of pontical uprightness and national patriotism^ which will become at
once the guaraintee and the prophecy of stability, prosperity, virtue
and honor.
Gentlemen of the Press, before concluding, I will venture, with
great diffidence (because I am of St. Louis), and briefly, to present
for your consideration a few thoughts respecting the relations of the
Metropolitan city to other parts of the State, and the influence of the
Press on these relations.
It is not true that the growth of the interior cities,^ towns and
rural districts of our State are as dependent upon the growth and pros-
perity of its great city, as that of the great city is dependent upon
the growth and prosperity of the country ? Look in whatever direc-
tion, you will find evidences that the country and its great city are
mutually bound together in interest, and the true policy of each is to
aid in the development and growth of the other. The influence of
Chicago upon a large circuit of country, comprising a very consider-
able portion of Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Indiana, in impart-
ing activity and prosperity to those regions, is patent to all. Oincin-
nati and Louisville have given impetus to the growth and develop-
ment of the extensive regions connected with them in business rela-
128 lOSSOUBI AQRIOULTUBB.
tJons. New England owes her wonderfal growth in wealth and in-
dnstrial activity to Boston. While the little State of New Jersey,
lying between two great cities, and though neither of them is within
her borders, saturated, as it were, with the growth-impelling influ-
ences of both, is rapidly becoming the richest State in the nation in
proportion to area; and that, too, notwithstanding her natural poverty
and sterility, which is rapidly giving place to richness and fertility
under the developing influences of New York and Fhiladelphia.
New York is undoubtedly the best illustration of this idea. Tell
me where the boundaries of her influence to-day are marked out, and
where its limits ? That influence, radiating in every direction, coven
the whole country and more or less impresses the value of every
acre, and afiects the growth of every town and city. The degree and
extent of this influence are in proportion to the 4i8tance and facilities
of access.
At the time of the organization of our National Government, as
now constituted, Virginia surpassed New York in population and
wealth. Her natural wealth of soil, of climate, and of mineral stores
was, and even yet is greatly superior. But she had not the foresight
to build a great city, and to transfer the seat of commerce for a cen-
tinent from Manhattan Island to Hampton Roads, and make her Nor-
folk the commercial metropolis of the nation. The result is, that
New York is, to-day, an Empire, by the power of her great city to
control the finances of this country — a State rich in all the elements
of greatness; abounding in prosperity, and teeming with a thrifty
population ; and this is due to the legitimate influence of her great
metropolitan city, whose throbbing pulsations are felt in every farm,
and village, and town throughout the Empire State. . Virginia, in th«
meantime, neglecting to build up such great central power for the
accumulation and distribution of wealth and enterprise, had receded
from the exalted position of the first State in the Union in popula*
tion, wealth and political influence, even before the war, to the posi-
tion of about the seventh.
Now, gentlemen of the press in Missouri, this magnificent State
of ours, planted by the hand of Providence in the midst of the richest
and most extensive valley of the world, endowed with mineral and
soil wealth and salubrity of climate beyond all her sisters, needs only
to foster and build up her Metropolitan city to secure for herself the
most commanding attitude in all this great belt of country stretching
between the mountains from East to West, and from the headwaters
of the Mississippi to the Gulf. The interests of those who represent
the rural districts and the interior towns and cities are identical with
the interests of those of us who represent St. Louis — ^your growth is
bound up in our growth, and ours in yours — ^your prosperity is linked
to ours, and ours to yours.
X6SATS AKD OTHER PAPEBS. 129
Let the press of the State then encourage the kindliest relations
and sentiments between the city and country, well assured that every
advance of one is a step forward for the the other.
BEE CULTURE.
BY T. R. ALLEX, OF ALLBNTON, MO.
There was a time in the history of the world when honey was
almost the only natural sweet available to man's use, and but for the
honey bee, this could not have been. Bees do not make honey, aa
many foolishly suppose, any more than man makes the saccharine
matter contained in the cane, fruits and many other things. Infinite
Wisdom saw fit to distribute this delicious nectar we call honey into*
almost infinitesimal particles, and have it deposited in the delicate
little cells and cups of multitudinous millions of flowers. In thia
condition, it seems to us that it would have been impossible that it
•hould ever have become available to the use of man as a separate
article of food. But the same beneficent wisdom that thus distributed
this most delicious of all sweets, provided the little insect that we
call the honey bee, with its industrious habits, delicate and wonder-
ful instincts, to collect the same, and deposit it in the neat little cells
built by herself, and as we say, furnishes her own materials and finds
herself. She may, in one sense, be said to be a manufacturer, and
the only one of the kind known; that is, of the peculiar kind of wax
the uses for building purposes. She has been called a mathemati-
cian: she is certainly a most accurate and finished mechanic in her
line. Her industry is probably not excelled by any of God's crea*
tures. Her chief employment is the collecting and storing honey
and propagating and perpetuating her species.
" How doth the little busy bee improve each shining hour,
And gather honey all the day from every opening flovreri
How skillfully she builds her cell, how neat she spreads her wax.
And labors hard to store it weU, with the sweet food she makes."
Although the labors of this useful insect have been utilized
by man to a greater or lesser extent from the earliest periods of the
world's history, yet little was known of its natural history until near
♦10-A B
130 MISSOURI AGBIODLTURB.
the close of the last century, when the great German naturalist, Hu-
ber, turned his attention to the study of its habits and instincts,
which, up to that time, seems to have been involved in the deepest
obscurity and superstition. The results of his investigations awa-
kened an interest on the subject in different parts of Europe hitherto
unknown. Men of learning and distinction turned their attention to
it as a science, and as an important department in rural economy.
The first author on the subject in this country, of any distinction,
was Mr. T. B. Miner, who published quite an elaborate treatise about
1849 or 1850. M. Quinby's " Mysteries of Bee Keeping Explained,"
appeared about 1853. This valuable work on the subject gave a new
impulse to bee culture in this country to an extent previously un-
known. It has passed through several editions, and is still a standard
work on apiarian science.
''The Hive and Honey Bee,'^ by L. L. Langstroth, appeared first, I
believe about 1859, and has also passed through several editions, and
is also a most valuable standard work. To this author we are also
indebted for that most inestimable invention, the movable comb
frames, making another great epoch in the science of bee culture.
Many books by other authors have since been published, but they
contain little or nothing new, but for the most part are the copyists of
the ideas of the authors above mentioned. Mr. Langstroth's inven-
tion of the movable comb frames is undoubtedly the most important
step in advance that has ever been taken in the science of apiculture.
The Italian, or Ligurian bee, was first introduced in this country
in 1859 or 1860. This is not a different species, but a different variety
of the same species as our native bees. It is, I believe, so far as they
have yet been tried, universally agreed among bee-keepers, that they
are very far superior, in very many respects, to our old native variety.
The superiority claimed for them are about the following : Larger,
more beautiful and hardy, more prolific, more industrious, swanu
earlier and more frequently, less inclined to sting, less disposed to
rob, more courageous and active in self-defense, longer lived, and
what is most important of all, will gather twice as much honey ; that
they can gather honey where the natives cannot, and consequently
can live where the natives would starve. I believe, myself, they are
very far superior, but I cannot personally vouch for the truth of all
the above claims. In the characteristic of docility, I have very seri-
ous doubts. I have found mine at times extremely irrascible and
pugnacious. Though this is quite far from being always agreeable, I
can hardly set it down as a grievous fault. As disagreeable as it cer-
tainly is, it is, in some respects, a quality rather to be admired than
despised.
My practical experience in bee culture is by no means extensive ;
indeed, I claim to be nothing more than a novice in the science, but
I am much in love with it, and am now giving it all possible attention
and a good deal of thought, and so far, I cannot complain of my sue-
SS8AYS AKD OTHfiR PAPERS. 131
C68S, or of my prospects. It is to me a most delightful pursuit, and I
believe, with a proper knowledge of its requirements and proper at-
tention, may be made profitable. It does seem to me strange, and a
great pity, that so little attention is given to this pleasant department
of raral economy. It has been estimated that, on an average, every
acre will produce a pound of honey. Missouri contains 43,123,200
acres — equivalent, then, to that many pounds of honey annually; and
how much of this vast amount is saved? Probably not one- tenth of
one per cent. The balance is wasted on the "desert air," According
to this estimate every square mile would support about six colo-
nies of bees ; a township of six miles square, or thirty-six square
miles, would sustain two hundred and sixteen colonies ; or 8t. Louis
county would sustain three thousand eight hundred colonies ; or the
State of Missouri wonld sustain half a million colonies.
But this calculation is based on the average spontaneous produc-
tion. Some districts will afibrd a great deal more, while others doubt-
less will afford less. But by a little attention to providing bee pas-
turage, or the cultivation of such crops as increase the honey pro-
duct, and which are otherwise remunerative in themselves, we may
greatly increase the product. According to our calculation the State
of Missouri, as we have said, would sustain half a million colonies or
families of bees. Now, allowing that each colony would, on an aver-
age, produce annually twenty-five pounds of surplus honey — which is
certainly not an extravagant estimate — we should have, as a product
of the State, twelve and one-half million pounds of honey, and this,
at an average of twenty cents per pound, would amount to two atid
one-half millions of dollars annually.
But as this may seem somewhat impracticable, let us bring the
estimates down to a scale that will be more personally interesting.
We have seen that a township of six miles square would not be over-
stocked with two hundred and sixteen colonies, relying exclusively
on natural resources, and this would give thirty-six families, six colo-
nies each, and an average of twenty-five pounds surplus honey to the
colony, would give each family one hundred and fifty pounds an-
nually, or ,the luxury of three pounds of honey per week the year
round. The whole investment would be a mere trifle. One or two
colonies would be enough for a commencement. Say that you com-
mence with one good colony of Italians, costing, with hive, $15; take
jBrom that, the first season, only one swarm. You want a hive for that
— a good one, and you should not accept any other — would cost you
$i. Here is your first year's investment, $19. Say you only get 25
pounds surplus honey from each, 50 pounds, worth at least 25 cents
per pound, or $12 50. You may get double that amount; then $12 50
from $19 leaves $6 50, and for this sum you now have two good colo-
nies of Italians, worth $30. The next year you may, if you choose,
safely take two swarms from each of these, and you will want four
more hives, costing $16. Now you have your complement, and your
182 1CI880UBI AOBIOl^LXVEX,
iavestment is now 96 50 and 916 or 922 60. Yoa ought to get, this
year, at least 100 pounds surplus honey, which about squares the ac-
obunt, or a little balance in your favor. Now, you have your six col-
nies paid for, and they are now worth, say, at least 930, though ygu
would hardly take twice that amount for them. Now, if 35 other
families in your township of six miles square have done just as you
have, and each have their six colonies, it probably would not be advi-
sable for you to increase your stock much more, unless your township
is above the average in the honey production naturally, or by artifi-
cially furnished bee pasture, in which case your increase must be
governed accordingly. On the other hand, you may increase your
stock, if you so desire, to just the number that the other 35 families
lack of filling their quota, and as much further as the circumstances
will justify. If none of the other 35 families keep any, you may take
the whole 210, for it is said the Italians will go three miles to work if
necessary, and this would cover the whole ground. The strong prob-
ability is that you can have all the territory you want for many years
to come. You say the thing looks well on paper, but that you have
no practical experience or any other kind on the subject, and know
nothing of the modus operandi^ to commence with. Then, if you
have a taste for the pursuit, and are willing to learn, to read« and to
think, and to give it the necessary attention for success, I advise you
to procure, without delay, Mr. Langs troth's or Mr. Quinby's book, or,
better, both of them, the latest editions, as standard works, read and
study them well and thoroughly. Then subscribe for the American
Bee Journal^ published by Samuel Wagoner, Washington City, D. 0.
Read and study diligently this winter.
Next spring procure a good strong colony of bees in a good kind of
hive, Langstroth's is the best of any of the patented ones. Continue to
read and think, now in connection with observation and practice, and
if you cannot in this way learn to manage them as your stock in-
creases, be sure you have mistaken your calling, abandon it and seek
something more congenial with your tastes. Do not expect to suc-
ceed by merely procuring a colony or two of bees and setting them
down and paying no attention to them. If you do you will surely find
you have made a mistake.
Although, as we have said, the bee '^ works for nothing and finds
himself," if you would derive profit from them they must have atten-
tion. You don't expect to succeed in raising poultry, pigs, sheep, cat-
tle and horses without attention ? You must not only feed your horse,
but it is your duty, and, I hope, your pleasure, to provide him a good,
warm stable, and see that he is comfortable. But your horse will not
work until you teach him how, and then he will not do it unless you
^o with him and compel him to it. He would eat oats and corn all
his life long and never earn a pound of it unless you forced him to do
it. He may do it very willingly with your presence and assistance,
but without, be assured he will never earn his salt. But not so with
B88AY8 AND OTHER PAPKRS. 133
the honey bee: yoa have no need to teach her to work. She knows
that by instinct better than yon can teach her ; you have no need to
compel her to it; she is more indastrioas than yon are; she will be in
the field before you are out of bed. She needs a shelter for her stores,
but is not 60 very particular about its Jooks or expensiveness, so that
it is adapted to her purpose; and if you don't provide it for her, she
will not gramble and pout, and get her back up about it, nor wait
long on you either, but go and seek one for herself.
She is of very independent character, honest and virtuous ; she
demands no wages, not even ^er board ; she simply propose a copart-
nership on business principles : you to furnish suitable shelter for
stores* and, in case of necessity, assist her in defense against her ene-
mies ; she will gather that which would otherwise be lost, and you to
have all, except what is absolutely necessary for her subsistence. If
you don't like the terms, you need not accept; or, whenever you de-
sire the copartnership can readily be dissolved without any sort of
litigation or hard feelings towards you on her part, and she will go and
do the best she can on her own hook.
But she stands upon her dignity, and it must not be expected that
she can with impunity be rudely interfered with in her regular and
systematic business operations. She is always ready to resist a real,
or even imaginary insult, even at the risk or sacrifice of her life. But
if you are respectful, dignified, and at the same time conciliatory in
your manners and dealings, there will be no trouble. Under such cir-
cumstances, she will even allow herself to be shamefully imposed
upon. Tou must be very careful not to excite her very irrascible
temper.
N'ow,if I have induced some to read, and to tMnh^ on this inter-
esting and Important subject in the department of rural economy, my
object is gained, if not my labor is lost.
B O X S • ( (Estrus equi.)
[TranBlated from the French by Prof. Spencer Smith*]
A young agriculturist, do Saone et Loire, sent me, about the be-
ginning of last season, a long complaint, which I may call the confes-
sions of a disappointed stock-breeder. I have no authority for pub-
lishing this instructive letter, but as I shall omit the address no harm
can be done :
"I shall confide to your discretion the edifying secret of my mis-
takes and simplicity; but to confess publicly, to openly avow my
ignorance and credulity is beyond my courage. Leave unpublished,
I pray you, the history of my bad failures and losses. • I hope your
good counsels will make me forget the former, and enable me to re-
pair the latter.
I am not discouraged. At some future time, when I have had
more eicperience, I may decide to make an open confession, which at
present would be too much for my self-esteem.
Among the things which you have so obligingly spoken to me
about, there is one which appears to me so strange that I would con-
sider it a favor if you would make it the subject of an article in your
journal. We should read it with interest. I wish to speak of what is
usually called " bots,'' by which I have lately lost some of my young
horses.''
I shall answer, with pleasure, the inquiries of my young friend.
His communication relates to the study of the development of the bot
in the digestive organs of the horse.
The parasite is found in only one of the forms of the insect. In
its perfect state it is like an ordinary fly. This is what probably so
surprised the young breeder of Saone et Loire, but it is a well-known
fact; besides the circumstance is nothing uncommon, and is well
understood. In fact, very few insects preserve through life the same
form as the one in which they are born. Metamorphosis is the gene-
ral rule. In this case a fly lays its eggs, inclosing a larva, and this
afterwards takes the form of a winged insect This is the natural
circle of insect life ; and now let us try to follow it through its differ-
ent stages.
There are many different species of bots. In its fecundity, nature
has not been sparing. If I am not mistaken, every animal has a spe-
ESSAYS AND OTHER PAPERS. 13 S
cies peculiar to itself^ And this is not all, for the horse has at least
two species. In the state of fly, their life is relatively short ; it is
much longer in the state of larva. This is true of insects generally.
To give one example : that of the beetle which has so short a life as
an insect and so long a life as a worm — the white grub. Between the
perfect insect and the transformations which it undergoes, that great
mistakes regarding its identity should \e made is not remarkable.
The diiferent appellations that there are appear to be nothing in com-
mon. Frequently the true name is applied indifferently to the cater-
pillar and butterfly. At present we shall oQcupy ourselves only with
the insect called box under all circumstances.
As a fly it is to be found in almost all countries; it may be known
at a considerable distance. It is a torment during the warm season,
whether in the prairie, in the shade, in the forests or by the highways
— everywhere that animals feed or work. But they do not torment
ISte^'M>8t other insects, by tickling or stinging, or those that live on
bJood, which, after they have had their fill, fly away ; but they simply
touch the animal and away. They stop but an instant, but in that
instant they deposit an egg in the most favorable place for its attain-
ing the grand object of its existence — the reproduction of its species.
Let us examine the two kinds which pursue horses, and especially
colts, whose tender flesh and delicate organization are the bot's pre*
destined prey, if we do not know how to preserve our stock from their
persistent attacks.
The worst kind are those whose larvae live only in the stomach or
in that portion of the intestine lying close to it, called the duodenum.
These have gauze wings, speckled with black in the center, the corse^
let is brownish yellow, as the sides, an orange yellow on its hinder
parts, the under side of the belly is of a dirty grey. The whole body
is covered with a cotton-like down, clouded like the parts which it
covers. It has six feet, the hindermost being bifid. The head is like
a large button supported by a small pedicle. The body is bent in a
peculiar manner, like the letter C, the two ends being brought very
near together. The posterior part of the body is very much elongated
and carries a small brown sheath closely bent under the belly.
The other fly differs from this, and is distinguished by two wel}
defined characteristics. Its ganzy wings are ivot spotted w|th black,
and the posterior part of the body is blunt, obtuse, and of a beautiiul
orange color, flanked by two sharp hooks, which are the instruments
by whose aid the insect pierces the membranes which serve as a
receptacle for the eggs. This double ovapositor is wanting in the first
kind, which lays its eggs on the surface of the body. If nature never
makes anything which is not useful, neither does she dispense with
anything which is necessary. This diversity of structure corresponda
to the different habits and wants of the two insects. In the prairiea
andin the fields, around animals in whose bodies they wish to deposit
their eggs, the two insects do not comport themselves alike. Those
188 MSmOVBl AeBIOITLTUBS.
which henceforth we shall call, in common with other nataralists,
the horse hot (oestrus equi)^ and which would be better named the
oestrus gastrique^ prefers to fly nsually towards the anterior parts of
the body, -especially the head and shoulders. They may also be seen
attacking the flanks and other parts, especially the regions which the
animal will be likely to reach with his teeth, or. those which may be
scratched by a comrade, the sides of the neck, for example. Flying
about is not a matter of pleasure ; it is a serious labor, during which
the fly seeks a favorable point, and awaits a propitious occasion, then
she stops for a moment and instantly deposits an e^g, which is so
firmly fixed, so strongly agglutinated that it is usually easier to pull
out the hair than to detach the egg. The first egg being disposed of,
is followed by others, till the supply is exhausted. Unless some acci-
dent happens to the mother fly, she is capable of laying seven or
eight hundred eggs.
The work of the day commences as soon as the sun has warmed
the air sufficiently to enable the insect to fly, and does not cease till
stopped by the dews of evening. High-bred colts, of a nervous
temperament, thin skin, and short hair are particularly annoyed by
this fly. Frequently they run furiously about the pasture, in vain
attempts to rid themselves of the pest. It is said that they have a
sort of premonition of the dangers, but the faster they run the more
persistent is the fly. It follows them wherever they go, and seems to
become excited in the chase, and never quits them till it succeeds in
depositing its eggs. The eggs are at first flat, oblate, and of yellowish
grey color. Almost everybody has seen them fixed to the mane, and
along the sides of the neck, the forelegs, especially the insides of the
knees. They increase rapidly in size, and are soon filled with a
whitish unctuous liquid. When first laid, it is very difficult to break
them, but after a short time they burst with a slight explosion when
crushed with the finger nail. In twenty-five days they hatch, and the
larvae, crawling about on the skin, cause a kind of itching, which in-
duces the horse to commence licking and scratching, and even biting
his skin. By this means the larvae are introduced into the mouth, and
from thence to the stomach. How admirable I The worm is born,
but between the place of its birth and the interior of the viscera,
where alone it can live and follow all the phases of its development,
what a distance 1 Truly, an abyss ! How many perils, what liability
to destruction. The insect seems completely abandoned. Its safety
lies entirely in the two hooks with which it is armed. It makes such
good use of these that it is almost impossible to cause them to loose
their hold, as feeble as it seems. The swallowing of the nits may be
brought about in another way. Being detached in one way and an-
other from the hair to which they have been fixed, they fall upon the
grass of the prairie or upon the forage consumed in the stable, and
arrive at their destination, together with the ball in which they are
inclosed. Are not many of them lost by the way? Certainly, but
K88ATS AND OTHER PAPBBS. 187
they are not the only lives trusted to the chances of nature. That
but few arrive at maturity is fortunate, for if they all euryived to hatch
into the state of bots, no horse could sustain tlieir insatiable attacks.
The first appearance of bots is in May and June, but numerous
broods appear during the entire season, and never cease their opera-
tions, according to the instincts of their nature. Fortunately even
the few which escape the thousand perils to which they are subjected
are not assured of safety till they are introduced into the stomach,
and there they are almost as liable to be thrown out as to stay. Un-
less they remain in the stomach the proper time, they never arrive to
the state of true insect, and they do no damage to the animal ^hich
rejects them in the state in which he received them. Arrived in the
stomach, the larvae have still much to do. They must first disengage
themselves from the other substances swallowed with them, and they
must succeed in attaching themselves to some place from which they
cannot be removed till maturity. The larva struggles hard, there-
fore, to fasten itself as soon as possible to the upper part of the
stomach or the sac of the right side. Once there, it fixes itself firmly
by means of the two hooks on the sides of the mouth. The place it
well chosen. The membrane to which the larvae are firmly hooked
is thick and dense. It offers to the worm a firm hold and security
from being torn away. The hooks hold well in thick membrane, and
the suckers around the mouth place themselves ready for action.
Ordinarily, when nothing troubles them, the bots remain quiet in
their position, and live upon what they extract from the membrane
to which they are attached. When disturbed they contract and
plunged their heads deeper into the hole they have made. This
gives them a firmer hold and enables the hot to contend success-
fully against all attacks upon it during its position in the stomach,
and especially against the imaginary remedies of veterinary sur-
geons. Medicines administered in a solid form never reach high
enough to touch them, and liquids do not rise above their level in
the stomach, which is, of course, in proportion to their quantity. We
may derive much advantage from this discovery. As has been already '
said, all the eggs laid do not become attached to the coats. Many
fail, and are carried out of the system — the only place where they can
do the least harm to the animal. Some, however, in going out of the
stomach make a renewed efibrt in passing along the duodenum, fix
themselves there and remain, but their existence is more disturbed,
because the larvae are smaller than those which have remained on th«
other side of the pylorus in the stomach.
But there is another explanation of this fact. It has been sup-
posed that the bots remaining in the duodenum were the last intro-
duced, and they took this place because thero was no room for them
elsewhere. I have not been able to verify the truth of this assertion,
but I can truly say that I have never found an insect attached to the
intestine, except when the left side was totally covered. I am in-
^^^^^ *• MliSOURl AORICUITURE.
^laigf^-
oliiled, therefore, to admit the truth of the assertion, but I must add
' that horses well fed and oared for, strong and active, the larv»
seldom stop on their way when once started out of the stomach.
The. mett^brane of the stomach, firm and tenacious repulses them,
, and they are not able to take a new hold.
: ::^ , This is not so with animals poor and feeble. On such the insect
^ ^^uces its greatest effect. -The membranes are soft and easily pene-
. trated, the animal not being able to defend itself against the attacks
• of the fly, easily yields itse}f a victim. Among such the bot abounds^
they find the conditions favorable, and remain. This is the* reason so
many are foundin poor and feeble animals, and so few in strong and
healthy^
The larvae of the bot remain ten or eleven months in the stomach,
V ^ad all this time they maintain themselves by sucking secretions
from'the membrane to which they are: attached. Some take their
iplaco in the stomach in the commen<3ement of the season, from May
tto July ; others arrive successively till October. The order t>f their
> introduction may^ plainly seen by observing the more or less ad-
•vanc^d state of the worms. When they have arrived at the proper
^ agie they detach themselves spontaneously, following the course of
•- the digestive mattfer along the alimentary canal, and are evacuated
* .with the excrements, to undergo thereafter their last metamorphosis.
..^ In .the state in which they are voided, they are apodes, that is, without
^f^eit^ of cylindrico-conical form, the body composed ol eleven or
Itwfe.lve segments, bordered with tubercles, or spines. Once on the
5 ground, they mingle with the dirt, remaining enveloped in it for some
;*time; it would be difficult to say how long, because they never stir
; as long as the least noise is made near them. As soon as there is
^ complete silence, they immediately commence moving very rapidly,
:-:roaking use of the rings of which the body is composed. They do not
■ progress blindly, but the least noise or obstruction causes them to
^stop^. and they remain perfectly immovable till they think it safe to
proceed. When they fall upon the grassof the prairies, they descend
; to the ground, and begin immediately to dig their way into the earth,
being aided by the hooks around the mouth. Finally, if they are
voided while the animal is in the stable, they make the best of the
.situation, biding themselves as soon as possible in some crevice in
the floor, where they can remain in safety during their final change
from pupa to fly. In this retreat, hard to find and difficult to get them
out of without destroying them, they become torpid, and after a while
change to pupae. In this state they await their last change, which
comes sooner or later, according to the state of the weather. The
conditions most favorable to this change are not well understood.
even during the finest season we may observe a difi'erence of twenty-
flve days. When the proper moment arrives the pupa breaks the
shell or sac which encloses it, and tearing open also its fine and silky
enTelope. It is a pupa no more, it has become a fly of the species
ESSAYS AND OTB£R PAPIERS. ^ 189
called by naturalists oestrus equi. It now lives merely for the pur*
pose of reprodoction. This accomplished, it dies. Its existence is
limited to a few days. This^ however, does not hinder our having
these flies all the season, from the last of May to the last of October.
The succession of larvse following the order in which they are in-
troduced into the stomach is very rationally explained.
The first frost is fatal to the perfect insect. Struck with torpor
by cold and humidity in the absence of the sun, even during the
season of heat, they are sure to die by the first frost. This is assuredly
very fortunate. Another remarkable fact, they will not remain in
stables. If they enter with a horse they come out as soon as possible.
I haver nothing more to say of the bot, but I am not yet done with
the larva. I have something more to say of the effects of its pres-
ence in the stomach.
When the hots are only few in number, the animal suffers very
little from their presence,^ and they pass without notice. But it is not
so when the number is considerable; then they crowd all over the
right side of the stomach, forming a continuous mass of hungry and
voracious worms. Once fixed they do not wait long to begin their
work of destruction, they satisfy f:heir hunger at the expense of their
host; he falls off and gets thin, while they grow fat ; the poor animal
grows poor and feeble. When the fat has disappeared the muscles
'shrink, the bones become discernable under their skin, the strength
fails, and all the signs of weakness are apparent. Very little alarm-
ing in the beginning, the disease makes sure progress, and the more
its effects are perceivable the stronger and more injurious these para-
sites become. There is a perfect coincidence between the conditions
of the animal and insects. Thus, while one party is ruined the other
is benefitted. It is a case of vigorous accountability, an example of
forced loan. The parasites take without returning, and the host they
treat as a conquered victim, who must yield to the law of the strongest,
vcs victis. They prey upon him, and sooner or later he must yield, for
he cannot support the forced contribution, except by drawing upon
his substance, to furnish the means. Every dav the exactions become
greater. The vampires draw harder upon his resources, and soon
these are entirely exhausted. The animal eats as much as ever, but
the appetite is not regular. It can no longer repair the want occas-
sioned by the enemy. Thus disappear gradually all signs and all ad-
vantages of health. His coat turns brown and rough. He be-
comes gaunt, and frequently opening his mouth, moves his jaws from
side to side, the consequence of muscular contraction of the jaws;
the eyes are dull and the sight is dim; the pupil is very much dilated.
Sometimes a remarkable scintilation of the eye may be observed
strangely in contrast with the languor which becomes the habitual
skate of the animal.
Every function shows that the condition of the animal is abnor-
mal. The sick animal (I write this in the presence of one) stamps
140 MISSOURI AGBIOULTURB.
frequently with his foot, thereby fatiguing himself when complete
rest is required ; he also frequently raises his head and stretches out
his neck. He cannot, like us, put his hand upon the seat of pain,
but he freqaently turns his head to the left and gazes long and stead-
ily at his flank. When he lies down it is frequently upon this side,
then he extends himself at full length, and rolling partly on his back
bends his head towards his body. The tail even has an expression.
It is often raised and bent towards the left side. Unequivocal signs
of the pain the animal suffers in the bowels are frequent. He rises
and stamps furiously about sometimes, so as to strike his body with
his hind feet, but generally the agitation is not so great as when
afflicted with acute colic. He feels pain, but it appears to be a kind
of dull heavy pain. At intervals there is a slight cough, which seems
to come from low down, and is called stomachic. This is a very char*
acteristic symptom. At this stage of the disease the limbs become
bloated. This dropsical appearance contrasts plainly with the ema-
ciation of the body elsewhere, and shows the impoverishment of the
body and the general derangement of the whole machine.
To such results do the operations of the gastric bot lead. As for*
midable as it appears, this attack amounts to nothing against strong
and vigorous animals .capable of defending themselves. With them
the resistance is so effectual that the evil passes off without any seri-
ous consequences. But with the poor and feeble, predisposed to at-
tack, the enemy me^ts with scarcely any resistance. Under such cir^*
cumstances the case becomes quickly alarming, and if not met by
prompt measures, the subject soon succumbs. The regimen must be
abundant, tonic in its character, and substantial. At the same time
the proper remedies must be perseveringly applied. Only in such
oases have vermifuges the slightest chance of success. They are use-
less as regards the few bots which can live in the stomach of healthy
and vigorous horses. The bots remain there without causing any un-
easiness to the horses. Having explained the condition of things, let
us see what should be the practice most injurious to the insect and
most beneficial to the animal suffering from their attack. I have said
that the place they occupy and their peculiar position in the stomach
insures them against the effects of any medicine either solid or liquid.
On the first appearance of danger they hide their heads in the mem*
brane of the stomach, and cling to it with terrible tenacity. Thus,
contracted and curled up, their respiratory and digestive organs are
safe against the effects of medicine. They do not try to get away,
instinct teaches them that their safety depends upon their remaining
and retaining their hold.
Such is the insect we have to contend with. We may remark
that their construction is such that it renders them more refractory to
the effects of poison than any other entozoa. This being the case, the
first efforts must be directed towards lulling the vigilance of the lar-
vae and rendering quiet and torpid, thereby depriving them of the
S8SAT8 A5iy OTBBR PAPEK8. 141
will and strength to continne their depredations. In accordance with
these principles we have composed the following remedy : The for-
mnla may Tary, but the articles composing it seem to be those most
tnccessful. The dose is made for animals eighteen to twenty months
old : macilaginous decoction of marsh mallow or flax seed, 15 oz ;
empyseumatic oil, one table spoonful ; sulphuric ether, one tea
spoonful. Shake the mixture and administer it cold in the morning
before feeding. Give the same the next morning, then stop three or
four mornings in order that the gastric irritation which is caused by
the empyseumatic oil, wjiich is here the poisonous agent, may sub-
side. The rapid volitization of the ether in the stomach, produces
intoxication of the larvae and deprives them of the power of contrac-
tion which has been before spoken of, and which is their greatest
protection against the effects of medicine. These preparations are
not entirely innocent, and their effects should be observed by a person
of experience.
Chasing away the fly or covering the coat with offensive oil or
other liquid, crushing the larvae when they escape naturally from the
body produce only meagre results. Tiie best effects are produced by
careful grooming, and cleaning the limbs from ail nits, once or twice
a day. Altogether the best preservative and the only effectual one
is a generous diet, substantial, and tonic, which enables the animal to
resist the attacks of every insect. Besides watch carefully j'our horses
•id endeavor to detect^ at the earliest possible moment, any symj,*
toms of disease.
Horses which have died of bots siiow scars on the stomach, which
may give some idea of what have been their sufferings. There can
almost always be found in the sacs of the stomach and in the duode-
num, even the greater part of the larvae which have had their abode
thAre. They are there in great numbers and of different sizes, ac-
cording to the times when they located themselves in different stages
of development. A large majority, however, are of large size aver-
aging about an inch in length. The thirteen or fourteen rings of the
body are armed with triangular and flat spines. The skin is hard,
hairy and tough, of a reddish appearance not only on the outside, but
through its entire thickness. The two hooks at the side of the mouth
are so deeply implanted, and so firmly attached to the head of the
larvse, that it is easier to tear off the head than to loose the hold.
When they are carefully removed, we may perceive a little round
ulcer which looks as if made with a punch. Each larva having
worked on his own account, the stomach is completely riddled. By
observing closely, many places in the stomach may be found hard,
thick and horny throughout. The other viscera connected with the
stomach, the pancreas, the liver and spleen are relapsed, tumefied
and filled with yellow abnormal concretion.
The rectum is covered with larvae, but these are of a different
ipecies, and have no connection with the death of the horse. They
142 MISSOURI AGRICULTURB.
are bora where they are founds, of eggs laid on the exterior of the
rectum by a fly called Oestre Hemorrhoidal^ bat would be better
called Oestre Anal. I spoke of this insect ia the commencement of
this article. Contrary to the action -of the other species of bo t, it
frequents only the posterior parts of the body of the horse, it flies
about the thighs and croup. As soon as the anus is opened to let
pass the fecal matter, it approaches, and, making an incision with its
double dart, lays an egg in each hole. Attacking parts which are
not very sensitive, the oesire anal causes very little pain. The eggs
hatch in from thirty-five to fifty-five days. The larva is neither so
large nor so long, and less than that of the stomach. It has only
eleven or twelve rings, and its hooks are like fishhooks, long and
sharp, and so firmly fixed that they are rarely detached.
Were I not fearful of making this article too long, I would explain
the physiological difference between the larva and fly of the oestre
gastrique, and the larva and fly of the oestre anal, but this would be
a matter of little consequence to the breeder of horses. Le' oestre
anal, besides, does not iiijure the horse, and his destruction is a mat-
ter of small consequence.
I stop here, believing that I have said all that is of practical
utility or of especial interest.
ENG. GAZOT,
Memler of the Imperial and Central SociUy of Agriculture of
France. 4
BREEDS OF SWINE.
Prepared for the Farmers'* Convention at Edwardsville^ Illinois^ l(/
Chas, W, Murtfeldt.
Webster defines swine thus: ^ A hog; a pachydermatous mam-
mal of the genus Su8^ which furnishes man with a large portion of his
most nourishing food. The fat, or lard of this animal enters into
various dishes of cookery. The swine is a heavy, stupid animal, and
delights to wallow in the mire."
Mr. President and Gentlemen: Swine are not considered as
noble animals, as horses or cattle ; neither have they the disposition
or patience of the sheep. Hence they have never in one sense of the
word drawn upon the sympathy of man, Man, commonly, does not
ESSAYS AUD OTHER PAPEBS. 14S
choose a swiue for a pet or companion, as he does the horse or the
dog, though a hog can be taught to be both, as may sometimes be
witnessed in the cabins of the Irish peasantry in Ireland.
» ..V'
PEDIGRiE.
If we go back to the *'Godolphin Arabian,^' brought from France
into England in 1724, it is less than a hundred and fifty years since
any attempt was made to keep the pedigree of horses. It is even less
time since a like record has been kept of cattle. The earliest date I
have been able to trace is about 1791. Of course it is still a less time
since the same has been attempted with sheep or swine.
A BREED.
Just what time is required to fix a certain type or establish a
breed of any animal is still an open question with the best of judges.
Oar authorities differ. Management, feed, climate, all have their
influence upon animal life. Even the human family is affected by
these. For instance, in the South we have the dark skin, brown or
black eyes, and other striking characteristics, while in the North we
find yellow, auburn, or brown hair, grey or blue eyes, and a fair com-
plexion as the general features. The inhabitants of Finland, living to
the north of Sweden and Denmark, form a striking exception, having
dark hair, eyes, and complexion. But, Mr. President, it has been
made my task on this occasion to speak on Breeds of Swine. With-
' out putting too fine a point on it, a breed may be considered as fixed
or established whenever the peculiar excellencies of the parents are
very generally transmitted to the offspring without deterioration, or
as it is termed, ^' breeding back."
It is the experience of every careful breeder, corroborated by my
own, that it is very difficult in swine to hlend the peculiar excellen-
cies of the sire and the dam in the offspring. This, if I understand
the matter, must be owing, in part at least, to the number of pigs in
each litter, some following the sire, others the dam. Very striking
examples, illustrating this point, are to be found in the dog. In ani-
mals which generally bring forth but one young, as the horse or cow,
it is not quite so difficult. Again, in the last-named animal it gener-
ally requires a full year or more to produce one young (no reference
to the time of gestation), while during the same time, with care and
attention, two and even three litters of pigs may be produced from
the same pair. Allowing only two litters as the standard for our pur-
pose, the constant breeding of the same excellent parents, or their
superior get^ would in fifteen or twenty years so fix their type as to be
recognised as a hrescLt while in the other two examples given, thirty
or forty years would be necessary to accomplish the same practical
result. In a conversation recently had with Prof. Miles, of Michigan
Agricultural College, upon this point, he expressed substantially the
same opinion as to swine. Grossing of an improved breed, with a
good model of a common hog (not a haBel-splitter, nor 9unii$h^ nor
144 MISSOURI AGEICULTURS.
landsharTc)^ crossings; two distinct breeds for the purpose of blendioK
the excellencies of each in the product, has been the labor of a lilb
time with many of our best farmers. Those breeds of swine now
known and recognized as fixed, are the result of the process I have
attempted to describe, and not of accident, as some men are likely to
conclude, aided by climatic and other influences already hinted at
It is the remark of a writer that ^' those animals which are most
essential to the comfort of man have been most widely diffused by a
kind Providence. Among these animals we certainly rank swine.
They are to be found in all latitudes between the frozen regions on
the north and south." Asia may, perhaps, be the home of swine. At
any rate, mention is made of them in the early history of our race.
(See Bible, Lev. ii, 4.) They were classed with the unclean animalB^
and the Jews were forbidden to eat the flesh.
In Piedmont and Italy the color of the hog is generally black.
In China, both white and black. In Normandy, the color is white.
Sometimes both colors are blended. It is asserted that in Hungary
and Sweden swine are found with solid hoofs, though in other coun*
tries they are universally cloven-footed.
The best aathority accessible to me asserts that ail swine are the
ofifspring of the wild hog, which is yet found in many sections of
France and Germany. His general color is a foxy or reddish brown.
He is not as large as our best popular breeds, very seldom attaining
to a weight of three hundred pounds; is less gluttonous also, living
chiefly on vegetables. He is not dangerous, except when attacked,
and then the means of defense are the tusks, often ten inches long,
which have been known to do fearful execution, even against human
skill and valor. Hunters and epicures esteem his flesh as more deli-
cate than that of the domesticated animal, though when we consider
the fact that the wild swine are never gelded, one would suppose that
the flesh was naturally less palatable.
The enormous increase of one pair of swine under domestication
will be apparent from the fact that in six years, at an annual increase
of fourteen, they will number 119,169, while one pair of sheep with
increase for the same time, will number only sixty-four. I wish to
refer here to a physiological fact, which may not be generally known,
namely : A hog's inside, the location and division of the vitals, heart,
lungs (lights), liver, diaphram, large and small intestines, resemble
more nearly that of the human body than those of any other animal,
except, perhaps, the orang-outang. In a country like ours, and among
a self-reliant people, who are accustomed to help ihcmsclvcB^ it not
unfrequently happens that the farmer has to turn butcher, conse-
quently most of my hearers have in all probability acted either as
masters or assistants at the annual hog slaughtering. Such will
remember how nearly the above statement is true.
With these cnrsory remarks as introductory, Mr. Chairman and
gentlemen, let ns consider some of the breeds of swine, called im-
E83ATS ADD OTHXK PAPIBfi.
9
I
E
E.
s.
146 MISSOURI AGRIOULTDBE.
proved, now claiming the attention of the farmer and stock breeder,
.and foremost among these I unhesitatingly class the
CHB8TKB WHITEB. (See illustration.)
They are not an original bnt a ''make up" breed, being a cross
between the best native stock of Chester county, Pennsylvania, and
an imported Bedfordshire boar. This animal was imported more than
forty years ago, by Oapt James Jeffries, bis stock is well distributed
.over the country. The present type may be described in its desirable
ipoints, as follows : good length and depth of carcass, breadth of back,
«mall bone, very small head in comparison with the size of carcass,
iull round ham, shoulders full and well pushed towards the head,
leaving little or no neck, heavy jowl, dished face, thin skin, straight
tiaiar and straight back. They are my model of a hog, can be made to
attain any desirable weight, and have the fat and lean in the right
place.
Farmers who breed for weight estimate a gain of one pound per
day until they are two years old, and they very often exceed this ;
some have attained a weight of 900 lbs. Hogs of from five to eight
hundred pounds are very common. As an instance I have copied the
•following from the Country Oentleman :
VERMONT SWINE.
"I observe that Mr, W. F. Baggerly, of Savannah, New York,
wishes to get the largest hog in his own State. We Yermonters are
out of the way, but 1 will take the libertv to let you know what we
have up here. B. H. Faine, of Lowell, killed a hog that was twenty
months and two days old^ and that he had fed twenty months and no
longer, which weighed ei^ht hundred and fifty and one- half pounds
(85^) four hours after killing, and was growing as fast and eating as
well as any hog ever |rew, till the day of his death, and probably
would have grown and done as well for three months more, as any
hog ever did in the United States. The hog was a ^^White Onester,'^
and ^ood judges think that by taking a little pains and feeding so as
to stimulate muscle, he could have been made to weigh fifteen hun-
dred (1,500) pounds.^' N.
THE "MAOIE"
Often successfully disputes first rank with the Chester Whites. Never
having bred the Magie^ or seen them in perfection, I wrote to the
originator of the breed and received the following courteous and
satisfactory reply :
OxpoRn, Ohio, January 12th, 1870.
Ohablbs W. Murtfeldt, Esq.,
Corresponding Sec* Missouri State Board of Agriculture :
Dear Sir: Your favor of the 6th inst., has been received, and
should have been answered sooner, but my business relations has
been such as to deprive me of the pleasure of complying with your
request before this. Fully appreciating the compliment paid me and
SB8ATS AKB OTHEB PAPERS. 147
the importance of you receiving this previous to your departure for
Edwardsville, III., I hasten to reply in answer to your questions:
1. The original breeds of my stock of hogs were Poland, Big
Irish Grazier, Big Spotted China and Byfield. Three of which were
imported.
2. The time occupied in perfecting the Magie hogs, or if you wish,
obtaining their present style and qualities, I am not prepared to
nnswet definitely — though I assure you it required GonHderdble time
and attention.
3. The excellencies I claim for the Magie hogs, viz : They are of
fine bone but large size, combining more eminently than any other
the excellencies of both large and small breeds, being docile, very
good breeders and sucklers, fattening readily at any age, and yet
attaining great weight at maturity.
They sometimes (fr€«^ 350 pounds at from ten. to twelve months
old; from eighteen to twenty months old, 500 to 600 pounds ; at full
growth I have had them to dress 800 to 936 pounds.
The Magie hogs have long bodies, short legs, broad, straight
backs, deep sides, with square heavy hams and shoulders, drooping
ears, and are of fine style generally,
Mr. M. further says regarding the
IRISH GRAZIER.
This is a breed, which, in its purity or originality, is not, to my
knowledge, bred or existing in this country at the present time, but
is one of the crosses of a great many of the hogs of .this country, and,
as shown above, is one of the breeds used in producing the ^^Magie"
breed of hogs. They (the Irish Grazier) are white, with long round
bodies, rather long limbs, with ears that are not inclined to droop.
Of the "Woburn," which, according to a letter received from George
M. Bedford, Esq., of Paris, Kentucky, are identical with the
BEDFORD
Hogs, Mr..Magie is pleased to say: I have seen them, but? as I never
admired the stock, have paid but little attention to them, coose-
quently am not prepared to express an opinion.
According to Mr. Bedford, Woburn is a small town in the shire
(county) of Bedford, England, from which the breed was imported
into Kentucky by Samuel D. Martin, M. D., somewhere about the
year 1888 or 1839, The importer claimed that they were the best
hog for the farmer, fattening rapidly, and attaining great siee. But
the farmers failed to see the point in the light of the Dr.^ and they
(the Bedfords) have disappeared entirely. Mr. Bedford thinks the
Irish Grazier were introduced about the &ame time, by James £.
Lettin, of Bourbon county, Kentucky, from Ireland. They were a
good hog, but when crossed with the Berkshire, were greatly im-
proved, giving them more constitution, maturing earlier, and having
less disposition to mange. Mr. B. does not like the OhesUr Whitee^
148 MIdSOTIRI AGBICULTtJBB.
thinks they are too coarse, and have to be kept entirely too long to be
profitable. When we have considered the
BBBKSHIBE
«
And pointed oat their peculiar excellencies, we will better nnder-
•tand why Mr. B. considers them the best breed (as he says he
does).
If the farmer wants a hog that will %hiTk for six months in the
year, this is ^^the chap." He is pretty leggy for his size, a good trav-
eler and grazier, has a good round ham, a fair shoulder, which accounts
for his easy locomotion, but fails on the inside and broadside, when
lard is the point. What I mean is this : that he will not ^open" as
well on slaughtering, as he promises when he is alive. His ribs spring
out from his back, and he looks heavier than he is. And in familiar
Illinois parlance : ^'this reminds me of a story," which furnishes a case
in point.
Near the mouth of the Kishwakee, Winnebago county, Illinois,
lived a fine old gentleman, whom I had the honor to know, and with
whose premises I have been familiar. We will call him Brovm for
good and sufficient reasons. Mr. Brown was well posted as regards
this characteristic point of the Berkshires. He bred them in their
purity for years, and sold many a pair at six weeks old, for twenty- five
dollars. The year of our story was about 1846 or 1847. At that time
com would not bear transportation for any considerable distance.
It would only bring 92 75 or $3 00 per hundred in the concentrated
shape of good pork, and many a wagon load went into Chicago from
Rock river, at even less figures.
That fall Mr. B. had a drove of perhaps 150 head of Berkshire
swine. Galena, having its lead mines in full operation at that time,
furnished a good market, and a point for packing. A drover from this
place visited Mr. B. with a view to buy his hogs, but they could not
come to terms, except on the actual weight of the hogs. Finally, it
was agreed that an average hog should be selected and weighed, and
the drove paid for at so much per 100 lbs average.
During his stay at Mr. B's., the drover had taken a great fancy to
a pair of pigs, which he wished to possess for breeders, and which Mr.
R valued at 925 00. The drove was started for Rockford, the average
hog was there to be weighed, and the whole drove settled for accord-
ing to agreement When about half way there, the drover and his
men were overtaken by a messenger irom Mr. R, with w(h^ that if
the drover would accept his (B's.) estimated weight, that the much
coveted pigs should be made a present to him. The bait was eagerly
swallowed, the offer accepted, and as a final result, the drover became
a wiser if not a richer man. A pair of Berkshire pigs, at most valoed
(not worth) at twenty*five dollars, cost him two or three hundred.
The color of the Berkshire is black, with a white stripe in the face
and white feeit*; small white BiK>t8 on the neok or body are not onfre-
ES8A7S AHD OIUBft PAPJBR8. 149
quent By good care and feeding they can be made to weigh between
four and five hundred pounds at twenty months old.
THB ^ MORGAN COURTY WHTnCS"
are an Illinois breed, pefected at the Hospital for the Insane, at Jaok-
8onTille. They have been known as the ^^ Hospital Breed^^ and are
a very desirable hog. Their color is white, they are well haired,
lengthy, deep in carcass, quiet in disposition, good feeders, hence
fatten easy. The foundation breed is evidently the Suffolk. They
attain good size, but are not quite equal to the Ghester County WhiteB
of Pennsylvania in this respect. They are now considered A brbid,
and from what I have seen of them at many of the Illinois and Mis-
sonri fairs, I am inclined to regard them with great favor, and do not
hesitate to recommend them to my farmer friends.
[NorE. — Having written this, I afterwards received the following
interesting letter from Dr. McFarland, which I give as corrobora-
tive, and worthy of implicit credence and confidence.]
Illdiom Bkatu RonraAL fob thx IvBivst
jAckionrille, Jan. 19th, 1870.
Mt Dear Sir : — ^I embrace the first leisure opportunity to respond
to your letter of recent date, requesting information as to the breed
of swine now generally J^own to be peculiar to this institution.
I premise by saying, that an Insane Asylum possesses extraordi-
nary advantages for the rearing and care of domestic animals, swine
more especially. From the table of the patients, will always neces-
sarily be carried much broken food, of a nutritious quality, which,
in more regulated households, would be served a second time in
another form ; but which, for obvious reasons, must find its way di-
rectly into the swill-car, atter receiving the kind of usage that re-
jected food does at the hands of the insane. The convenience of
steam, always at hand, gives the best facility for re-cooking all such
food, with its combination with such other ingredients as may be
found desirable. The same facility also brings heated water directly
into the pens of the animals, affording the luxury of a wash at the
most inclement season of the year.
There are also, among the inmates of such an institution more or
less of permanently resident incurable subjects, with just that degree
of sanity that makes them excellent curators of dumb animals, for
it is a fact that the insane man, when his line of duty does not abso-
lutely run against the grain of his disease, often makes the most faith-
ful of all care-takers. Again, it is a maxim at this institution that a
pretty bad fellow, whether sane or insane, can make a very passable
Christian of himself by exercising according to the best of his ^^ inner
light," the Christian graces upon the brute creation ; and swine we
consider excellent subjects for practice, bec§^use, in making any ascent
it is always best to start from a level I Hence our swine, through
good food, cleanliness at all seasons of the year, and, beyond all,
150 HISSOUBI AGRICrrLTUHS.
living under the asgis of a broad philanthropy, haye a pretty good
chance to make the most of their natural gifts.
Fully possessed with a knowledge of these advantages, I com-
menced in good earnest, nearly fifteeen years ago, to compose a new
breed of swine. As there has been a weak jealously in some qiiar*
ters toward recognizing our swine as a distinct breed, I would beg to
jput the question, What makes a breed, either of men or animals, but
certain distinct features of form and color, peculiar to a certain line
of descent f When these features are established, the breed exists,
beyond the dictum of any man. Any one who conclusively estab*
lishes form and feature by breeding continuously, has the undoubted
right to claim and name bis breed.
The breed of swine already on the ground at the time referred to,
were fancifully styled ^* Irish Graziers,'' from rather a dim tradition
that a hog bearing that name was the first animal of the species in-
troduced upon the place. They were of generous size, something of
the rail-splitter type, of undoubted constitution or they could not
have withstood their total want of systematic care, and, on the whole,
perhaps as good a primitive stock as could have been chosen on
which to engraft choicer blood.
The first essay at improvement was made with the Suffolks. This
proved only a partial experiment, as the boar introduced died after
only a limited use. It is probable, however, that even this small in-
fusion of new blood had its ultimate effect on the breed as now ex-
isting. At a period a little later, the Chester White was resorted to,
that breed being then the best approach to the model sought after.
To this deservedly celebrated breed of swine, I would award all the
credit it has received from the agricultural public. Yet, with all the
encomiums I am disposed to extend, it did not come up to our ideal,
in all respects, of what a perfect hog should be to command the entire
favor of pork-packers. It was variable in blood-points — different
specimens from the same litter often totally dissimilar in form, as if
of different blood ; it was frequently coarse, and with too great su-
perabundance of bone to be a favorite at the slaughter house.
In the year 1857, among the importations made by the. Illinois
Stock Importing Association, were some swine of the breed known
as the " Windsors," so termed from Prince Albert's Model Farm,
where they are said to have their origin. One of these animals was
purchased for the use of the institution ; and from this cross the es-
pecial peculiarities of our stock are derived. Size, symmetry, deli-
cacy of fiesh, docility, and early maturity, are what we claim as their
distinguishing characteristics. These several traits belonging to
the ^^ hog of the period," we have sedulously cultivated, by the most
strict attention to the points of every animal allowed to become a
breeder.
I have thus communicated all that is of material importance in
in regard to our swine. The whole is contained in the single idea of
S88AT8 AND OTHKB PAPKR8. 161
breeding, with a distinct and long established purpose in view. How
far that purpose has been attained the swine themselves must testify.
If success has attended the effort to produce a breed meeting the re-
quirements of the agricultral community, it is due in a great degree
to the unusual facilities afforded here for ascertaining the popular
idea of a good breed, and the means alluded to in the first part of
this communication for cairying out a well defined purpose.
Tours, very respectfully,
AND. McFARLAND, Supt., dc.
Ohas. W. Mu&tfeldt, Cor. Sec^y. State Board of Agriculture.
THB BS8EX
Take their name from a county in England. They are classed with
the ^small hreeds.'^^ Their color is black, but is only confined to the
epidermis, for when well dressed, they will be as white as any of the
white breeds. They are hardy, of quiet disposition, good feeders, and
can be made to weigh four or five hundred pounds at twenty months
old. They are preferred, because they can be made to weigh three
hundred pounds at twelve months old, and farther, they, like the Suf-
folks, are always ready for the knife, but unlike the breed just men-
tioned, are not subject to the mange.
THE SUFFOLK
Is also an English breed, but originally of China extraction. They
are thin haired, in color white, small boned, small eaters for their
size, very quiet disposition, disinclined to travel and of all the breeds
emphatically Hhe poor man^s swineJ^ A real door yard pig. They
will keep in good condition on the offal from the table and dairy, and
need but little com to make them ready for the knife. When lard is
the object, this breed yields more than any other according to their
gross weight. As some have it, ^^it is all fat?^ This breed is some-
what liable to the mange, unless the improved breed can be obtained,
which are well haired, and which were perfected by Prince Albert
consort to the Queen of England, and kept on his model farm at
Windsor. They are sometimes named after him or the place. As far
as I know, there is but one establishment in Illinois where pure im-
proved Suffolks are now bred, and I know of none in Missouri. Of
course, they are classed with the small breeds.
THE T0BK8HIBK
Yerymuch resemble the Suffolks as regards the thin white hair and
the consequent exposure to the mange. They ' are, however, much
larger, perhaps the largest of all the English breeds. Their flesh is
coarse in fibre, they have large bones and require a greater age to
come to maturity. Simon Ruble, Esq., of Beloit, Wis., has bred them
to some extent In a reply to a letter of mine he makes these same
objections, and days "they cost too much ; corn fed to the Suffolks and
Berkshire, which are my favbrite breeds, pays better. Mr. Buble,
153 MISSOURI AGBIOULTURX.
likes the ^ Berkshires,'' because they are more proUflo than tbo S^f-
folhs^ and better nurses ; and, I think, the point is well taken.
The very large premium (9800), offered by the St. Louis Agrioid*
tural and Mechanical Association, or rather by the Pork Packers of
St. Louis, through the above named association, for the Best Am
(boar) FOR Packino Purposes, has brought* out some extraordinary
hogs.' Among the competitors for the premium were most so-called
large breeds, but the victor was a mixed breed named
POLAND AND CHINA.
This hog was black with white spots irregularly all over the body^
of very large bone, as it must be to carry a weight of 800 pounds or
more. I should judge the fibre of the flesh to be coarse, but other-
wise the general appearance of the hog was good. Ham rounding
and full, and very deep sides, in fact, a hog which must ^^cut up" well
On the other hand, a hog requiring age (nearly or quite two years)
before maturing, and I should judge, also, not well adapted to early
dressing.
There, doubtless, are other breeds besides those enumerated, but
I am inclined that \ho^^ prominently and favorahly before the public
have been delineated, and their dominant characteristics given, truEh-
fully, as to the best authorities accessible, and my own personal ex-
perience.
Having devoted this much time to the consideration of ^"^ Breeds^'*
a few hints as to the most economical way to rear and fatten swine
will not be considered out of place. On a place where but a few
swine are fattened, and where thescf are bought at the age from two
to four or six months old, they are undoubtedly best kept in a sty until
ready for the knife. Farmers^ however, are not given to this sort of
thing, unless they are constitutionally opposed to pork. Western
farmers generally "^^ m" largely.
Commencing at the beginning, let us consider the best time to
have the pigs dropped. Breeding sows should be ^ept in a small
pasture, so that they can exercise ; confinement, while conducive to
fattening, is adverse to a full and perfect development of the pigs, as
well as to the healthy farrowing of the sow. Large hogs of the op-
posite sex, gelded or entire, should not be kept in the same inclosure,
neither should very small pigs ; the first will keep the sows too un-
easy, and the second are often overlaid, lamed or killed by heavy
BOWS.
As already stated, if any considerable number of swine are kept
on the same farm, the sows should not farrow until the weather is
warm, and the season so far advanced that very cold storms are not
anticipated and need not be guarded against — say sometime in March
or about the first of April. The pigs should be able to draw all the
needed sustenance from the dam, or in other words, the sow should
be so fed prior to and during first four or six weeks succeeding the
BBSATff AND OTHEB PAPERS. 153
*
fanrowing, with milk, house slops and offal mixed with bran or other
millieed and roots, as to afford plenty of milk for her young, and not
«brink materially herself in flesh during the suckling of the {jigs.
After this time she and the pigs should have, in addition, good
•clover pasture ^ the pigs should be taught (if necessary) to drink
milk, and weaned altogether in two weeks thereafter, or when about
eight weeks old. From my own experience of many yeartf, from per-
sonal observatiofn and from intercourse with practical farmers, I re-
commend mill feecL, viz: bran, shorts, com meal and the sweepings of
the mill, mixed with skimmed or loppered milk and kitchen slops, as
much better for young pigs, than com meal alone in any shape ; the
latter is too Hch^ or too strong^ if that is the better term.
Professor Miles, of Michigan Agricultural College (to try an ex-
periment) undertook to feed four Suffolk pigs, when only two days old,
entirely on commeal ; he said they did not do well, their hides cracked,
and an oily substance seemed to ooze out all over their entire surface,
he ordered them put out of theirial pen and given a more appropriate
diet.
As the result of such feeding as I have recommended, allow me
to state that I have known late harvest pigs to be made to weigh 180
to 20O pounds by New Years. They had, however, in addition, the
gleaning of the wheat fields, but no corn or meal, except, perhaps,
for two or three weeks, just prior to their being killed, and during this
time they were kept in a close sty.
A fellow townsman of mine adopted the following plan, with
whicli he and all that knew of it were very much pleased: He prepared
a field of clover of fifteen acres ; one of the same size he sowed to
oats, and one of like extent he planted with corn. The fields all joined
and were crossed by a brook of clear ranning water. The fence (a
movable one) inclosed the clover. When the clover was of sufficient
height, the hogs, near one hundred and fifty, and from four to six
months old, good thrifty shoats were put upon the pasture until the
oats were ready for them, when nearly ripe, then the fence was moved
so as to inclose the oat field, and the swine set to harvesting. It is
due to the hogs to say that once in possession of a field, with no one
to molest or make them afraid, they do not pull down more grain than
they will eat up clean. After the oats were all consumed, the fence
was again shifted so as to inclose the corn field, which was in turn
harvested. After this they were fed in a close pen on com in the
ear. I have the word of the owner, that had he only received three
cents per pound gross, it would have paid him well. His receipts
were largely in excess, however, just how much I do not now remem-
ber. This experiment was made prior to the war.
CORN vs. HOGS.
Again, two keen and hard working farmers had a strife for some
years as to which made the most money. The first, Mr. N., never sold
154 MISSOURI AGRIOULTUBB.
a kernel oi com in the market, but fed it, on his place, to swine prin-
cipally. Mr. W., on the contrary, preferred to market most of his
com. One year with another there was no great difference as to the
actual receipts in dollars and cents. Mr. W., however, had much the
most labor and much leas benefit from manures, though he was, in all
respects, a very good farmer and made good use of what manure be
did have. I am inclined to think that his farm deteriorated under the
eonstant cropping, while Mr. N.'s farm is now really in better tilth.
One more example. Mr. G. is one of the best farmers I ever
knew, measured by the standard oi intelligence, or by the result of
his farm operation in dollars and cents. His lands are rather thin,
naturally, but being sandy they are warm and quick. Oom is his
great crop, and most of his fields are planted to this staple every
year. Although being within two and one-half miles to a good
market, I never knew him, during a period of fifteen years, to sell
corn, except in the shape of pork, or, to a very small extent, beef.
He has, perhaps, thirty acres of June grass and hazel-brash pasture,
with here or there a burr or other oak tree ; in this he keeps his^stock,
including hogs. Until August, the hogs receive, in addition, the
kitchen and dairy slops, with a little mill feed or soaked com. If
acorns and nuts are plenty, they run to the pasture until the most of
these are consumed ; otherwise, they are shut up in a large yard, in
which are also the straw piles of the same year's crop of small grain ;
these afford shelter and bedding. When the hogs are first confined
to this yard, they receive plenty of salt, and ever after during the
entire fattening process ; they have free access to all the salt, sulphur
and charcoal they will eat, and all the drink they desire. At first, the
corn is fed to them, stalk and all, but after a little while the com
only, as much as they will eat up clean, and always at regular inter-
vals. In about six weeks after the corn is first fed, most of the swine
will be so fat as to refuse to rise and eat* I have often said and some-
times written, that he is the best, most careful and most judicious
feeder I ever knew, because he can put on to his hogs the most fleih
and fat in the least time.
Mr. 0.., in common with the other gentlemen referred to, were all
partial to the small breeds of swine, of which I have attempted to
give a brief outline. The observations noticed are not of a single
season, but for a number of years, and they have furnished the ex-
amples which in my own farming I have followed with some success.
COMBING AND DELAINE WOOLS.
BY A. P. MILLS, WAKBEN COUKTY, HO.
C. W. Mtjrtfeldt:
Dear Sir: — Agreeable to your request, I herewith give you a few
of my ideas as to the growing of combing and delaine wools in Mis-
sonri.
These wools have been and are now being grown in Kentucky
with good success, and as we have in Missouri a similar climate, I can
see BO reason why they cannot be grown here profitably. It is al-
ways best for farmers to raise and produce that article of which there
is not a supply equal to the demand. In growing fine wools we have
to compete with South America and Australia, where they can raise
wools, at a profit, at eight (8) cents per pound. While in combing
wools we have England and Canada as our greatest competitors, and
we can produce them at a much less cost than they can, and English
and French manufacturers want all the wools of this description pro-
duced in their respective countries.
The question may be asked : will we not overstock the market
with these wools? My answer is No. The shoe manufacturers of
Lynn, Mass., have offered a capital of $300,000 to any energetic com-
pany who would start the machinery for making lastings for uppers
to ladies' and children's shoes, and they would agree to take their
goods to the amount of $1,500,000 per annum ; but, for the want of the
combing wools, they could get no one to engage in it ; and this is the
only one branch of the trade in which these wools are used. There
is now used of these wools, in the United States, over 12,000,000
pounds annually, and our manufacturers have to depend on Canada
for a great part of this amount. In my opinion the best breed of
sheep for growing the combing wools are the Ootswold and Leices-
ter. The latter are preferred by some of our best manufacturers,
and I think they are the most hardy and healthy of the two varieties
named.
156 MISSOimi AGKICULTUES.
I have seen flocks ia Michigan that would average eight pounds
of wool per head. They are good breeders, almost always having
twins, one flock of twenty-eight ewes last year raised forty-eight
lambs. As a mutton sheep they are far superior to fine wool or native
sheep and they are better feeders. It is not uncommon to find Lei-
cesters at four years old that will weigh from 300 to 400 pounds, livB
weight. I had on exhibition, at the Michigan State Fair of 1869, a
three year old buck that weighed 350 pounds,, and a four year old that
weighed 400 pounds.
They make a fine cross with fine wools or native sheep, increas-
ing the size of the animal and making a good delaine wool or a num-
ber two combing at the first cross. It is not uncommon for the half
bloods to dress, at two years old 100 pounds of meat, and the meat is
of a much finer quality than any fine wool or native mutton. With as
good a mutton market as we have in St Louis, the raising of sheep for
that purpose must prove profitable to the^farmers of Missouri. The
question will no doubt be asked, what is the profit of growing wool at
the present low price ? My answer is this : During the war, the gov-
ernment was such a large consumer of woolen goods thatmany of our
manufactories of cotton were converted into woolen mills (as there
was a scarcity of cotton), thus giving us double the number of woolen
spindles at the close of the war to the number in operation or exist-
ence in 1860, which, together with the large amount of woolen . goods
the government sold at the close of the war, flooded the markets from
east to west and from north to south. This depression of the woolen
interests cannot last long, and now is the time for our western and
southwestern farmers to get started in wool raising. The best time
to buy any article of merchandise is just when everybody wants to
sell. Oompare the cost of sheep now with five years ago. Then
Michigan, Ohio, and other wool-growing States could sell their culls
at from five to seven dollars a head. Now good, young and healthy
fine wool sheep can be furnished, landed in Missouri, at a cost of from,
three to four dollars per head.
Fine wool sheep, I find, flourish well in this climate. We have a
flock, brought from Michigan last fall, as well as a flock of Leicesters
that we imported from Canada ; both flocks are doing finely ; with
proper shelter from storms, they would need no feeding during the win-
ter, if rye was sown among corn, after the corn was made, with per-
haps the exception of a few oats each day. Leicesters should have
turnips or mangel wurtzel to grow a strong staple of combing wool.
All kinds of sheep need tar and salt, where they can eat as often as
tliey are inclined. It keeps them healthy, and gives the wool a soft,
silky texture.
I would not advise the buying largely of long wool sheep, for this
reason : a farmer oi^n buy the fine wools much cheaper, and by buying
a few long wools (Cots wold or Leicesters) and breeding them on to
X8SAT8 ASJ> OTBSB PAPXBS. 1S7
fine wool sheep, he can soon make a flock of nice combing wool and
mutton sheep.
Much more could be said in favor of sheep husbandly in Missouri^
such as the abundant grass, the little feed that it takes to fatten a
sheep, compared with any other animal, the constant enriching of the
soil, etc., etc., but I fear I have wearied you already.
COOKING FOOD FOR STOCK.
BT A. B. TRABUK, HAKHIBAL, If 0.
Owing to the scarcity and high price of corn, its most economical
use and that of other cereals in fattening and wintering our stock for
the past few months has been an important consideration. For a
number of years I have seen numerous articles in the newspapers,
going to show that there is more economy in cooking the feed, for
hogs in particular, than feeding it in any other way.
I have been at considerable pains investigating this particular
point, and the testimony of all who have published their opinions and
experiments, point invariably to this result, that it is better to cook.
Thomas J. Edge, of Chester county, Pennsylvania, says, when com
is worth $1 a bushel and pork ten cents a pound, he found five bush-
els of shelled whole com made 47| pounds pork ; then, by my count,
his pork would thus cost him lOf cents. He found five bushels, less
miller's toll, ground and made into a thick slop with cold Water, made
b^ pounds, equal to a cost of 9 1-13 cents per pound. The same
quantity of meal, well boiled and fed cold, made 83^ pounds pork,
equal to a cost for pork of 6 1-40 cents per pound.
He found the following also, that ten bushels of ears of new com
nubbins, worth 60 cents a bushel, thrown on the ground to them,
made 29^ pounds, -» 17 cents per pound for the pork made.
The same quantity^ ground, shelled and boiled, made 64 pounds,
-« T 5*16 cents per pound.
Agricola, in the Practical Farmer^ December, 1868, says :
^ Five bushels of boiled meal (old com) makes 84 pounds porlL
"-•to 16 5-6 pounds pork to the bushel. Three bushels of meal boiled
158 MtflSOUBt AaUOULTOES.
and five of small unsalable potatoes made 72^ poands. Thus we find
one bushel of boiled potatoes make 4 2-5 pouaas."
His experiments proved also the following : That five bushels of
new com (shelled out of ten bushels of ears) ground and boiled, made
itOi pounds pork, »• 15 pounds per bushel ; ten bushels of new ears of
corn, ground cob and all and boiled, made 71 pounds. A bushel of
ground cobs then makes 10^ pounds of meat.
He thinks it pays to grind the cobs up to the 1st of January ; not
later.
He finds the increase of bulk is the true measure of value.
Millers will give a bushel of meal (by measure) for a bushel of
shelled corn.
Fermenting increases this bulk 25 or 30 per cent. Boiling will
double it, and makes it, therefore, 100 per cent better, and is, therefore
about 75 per cent better than fermenting it.
Another experimenter, October, 1869, finds when corn is worth
91 bushel, boiled or steamed potatoes are worth 50 cents a bushel for
fattening hogs, and new potatoes worth 25 cents a bushel, not more.
Ten years ago Sam. Clay, of Bourbon county, Ky., found raw com
made 5^ pounds pork, boiled corn, 10 pounds, and boiled meal 17^
pounds to the bushel of corn.
Professor Mapes, of New Jersey, found the contrast betw^^n
cooked and raw still greater ; Oassius Clay, of Ky., ditto, and that it
paid to cook for cattle. ^
I have not seen anywhere anything opposed to these results. It
would appear, therefore, to be demonstrated that the farmer that
insists on feeding raw com to hogs, had better throw one-half in the
river and cook the other half, even if hfi had to get an extra hired
girl for the business, and spread a new table cloth for every meal and
wash the dishes afterwards.
Impressed with this fact, I procured a good steamer at the last
St. Louis fair, and returning home put three Chester White pigs in
one pen, three ditto in another, and two ditto, with a half-breed sow
pig in the other. This last was out of a sow from Chester county,
Pa., by a Berkshire boar from Bourbon county, Ey. This last not
altered ; all the rest are altered, and nearly all out of sows direct
from Chester county. Pa.
All these pens were under the same shed, side by side, open on
the East and South sides only.
The meal fed was old corn, ground, and exactly the same as jLhat
that was used in the family. It weighed 46 pounds to the bushel.
The whole com fed was all new corn ; 68 pounds of ears shelled
out a level bushel of shelled com, which then weighed from 52 to 55
pounds, depending on the advance of the season.
The hogs were bedded with straw at first, then dry leaves from
the forest, then with good timothy hay, all alike.
Hie meal was cooked by, stirring a bushel of meal into a half bar-
rel of boiling water, and the compound then boiled an hour by steam ;
B8SAY8 AND OTHSB FAPEBS.
159
8 full handful of salt was also added. The corn shelled, and put into
enough cold water to cover it and immediately boiled 4 or 5 hours.
The raw corn was thrown to them on the ground, dry.
Pens in size, 6 feet by 16 feet.
PEN HO. 1.
Oet. 18.
Half-brted Berkshire and Chester White sow, weighed 110
Chester White berrow, " 64
" 63
n
it
Total 237
PXH ITO. 2.
QhMter White sow weighed 64
" " barrow weighed 56
«' *< *( tt 68i
TotaL « 178i
FBN NO. 8.
Gbiater White sow weighed 62
" " banrow weighed 63
t* *t n if 73J
Nor. 10.
llOi 1 Eat 3 bushels boiled
78^ I new com in ear and
76% V gained 27% lb.
264%]
791 \ Bat 8% bushels of
71 I boiled meal and gained
63^ \ 36i lbs.
213% J
81« ] Bat 8% bushels of raw
72| new com and gained
84| \ 60%lbs.
TotaL 188% 238i
It will be remembered the weather was vory severe from the 18th
to the 35th of October ; thermometer at one time, 16^ Fahrenheit.
Those fed on boiled corn fell off one-half a pound, those fed on
boiled meal fell off 2i pounds, and those on raw corn gained 1 pound
in seven days during this severe October weather.
November 10th they weighed as above. I then changed the feed
idl around — those before on boiled corn now get boiled meal, &c.,
made the mush much thicker now, so as to take it out on a spade.
FROM NOVSMBEB IOtH TO 26tH.
N^o* !••■•
PHi No. 2.*..
Put Vo
■ 9a • ■ ■ ^
1
Sow, 113
Barrow, 81
Barrow, 84|
Total.. 2781 J
Sow, 85%
Barrow, 81%
Barrow, 81%
236
Sow, 87f
Barrow, 73%
Barrow, 81
242f
Eat 2 bushels of boiled meal and gained 14% lbs. Mean tarn
peratare for the sixteen dajs, 28o Fahrenheit, at 6 ▲. m.
Eat 2 3-8 bnshels of raw com and gained 21% fbi*
Bat 10 bnshel of boiled corn and gvined 4 lbs.
Raw corn beat the other two again. Could not understand this.
Concluded the cooked stuff should not be salted. Also shelled the com
«nd soaked it twenty-four hours before boiling. Also soaked half the
meal the same time. It seemed almost impossible to boil the soaked
meal. The steam would escape through the part nearest the steam-
pipe, but would not diffuse itself through and cook the whole.
Changed again. Boiled meal pigs (Pen No. 1) now gdt raw com.
160
MISSOURI AaRIOULTURB.
Gave each pen salt and ashes in a small box, and water in separate
troughs.
DBCEMBBR 3d.
Finit pen.
( Sow, 116^
let Barrow, 86
2d Barrow, 89
Mean temperature aince last weight, 340. Eat 1 1-14^
bashelB o£ di7 com in fix days and gained 12|Ibs.
Second pen...
Third pen..
2911
Sow, 88^
let Barrow, 80|
2d Baarrow, 70|
2392
Sow, 05i
let Barrow, 82
2d Barrow 92^
269^
Eat one bushel of boiled com and in six days gained 4|
lbs.
Eat 1& bushels of boiled meal in six days and gaiiMd
27fts.
Concluded I had found the trouble, and that the cooked feed should
not be salted — also wrote the inventor of the steamer and agents to see
if I was using it right— got answer that I was. The rubber pipe hav-
ing burnt out, had to cook for the following experiment in a common
wash kettle. Part of the mush burnt to the bottom in spite of all the
stirring I could give it.
DECEMBER 8tH«
First pen.
Second pen....
Third pen..
f Bow, 121 '^
First Barrow, 91^
Second Barrow, 94
306i
Sow, . 94 1
First Barrow, 86
Second Barrow, 74
Sow, 94 1
First Barrow, 79
Second Barrow, 86
259
Mean temperature since last weighing 29o. Eat one
bushel of raw corn in Are days, and gained 14| fi>s.
Eat one bushel of boiled com in fire days, and gained
14iJbs.
Eat one bushel of boiled meal in fire days, and lost ten
and a half lbs.
It will be seen the same pigs got the same food this time as be-
fore, and the weather and temperature nearly the same — but the
result is very different After maturely considering the matter, I con-
cluded the favorable result of December 3d was due to the fact, that
the meal was only partly cooked, and that in fact I had been cooking
too much. The spirit, strength and substance was in great measure
boiled and evaporated and lost The cooked mess could be smelt fifty
feet away. Reasoning thus, the mess for the following experiment was
as cooked as follows: the corn soaked 24 hours in cold water,
then steamed ; as soon as the water boiled, the barrel containing it,
was immediately covered tight, so as to confine the heat, aroma, etc.,
for 12 hours. The meal was stirred into boiling water, and then as
soon as it boiled again, it also was blanketed with weights, etc. on,
like the corn with following result, pigs are not changed but get the
fame feed.
BfHSATB AHD OTHBB P1FBR«.
161
DBOSMBIB 13th.
Firf t p«ii.
Second p«n...
Sow, weighed 127^ ]
1ft Barrow, « 95|
2d Barrow, " 99
fS^w, WMghad 98f
Ist Barrow, 88|
2d Barrow, 80}
Tbirdiwii.
r Sow,
lit BitfTow,
2d Barrow,
268
97
88f
91
271|
Meai t»mperatar« ainca lait wtighing^ 42o Fahraii-
htit. Eat 6^8 of • bvihel of raw corn im ftra daji,
and gaintd 18 Ibi.
Eat thrte-fonrtba of a boihtl of boilad com U ilT*.
daji, and fainvd li Ibi.
Bat on| baib«l of boiled mtal in ftre dayi, and^
gained
^nf aain
miba.
It became manifest now, that a good breed of pigs could do their
own cooking and grinding, better than I could do it for them. Dur*^
ing the whole of this time I had been feeding our stock hogs cooked
wheat, that being more abundant with me than corn. Nearly all of
mj neighbors had also been feeding cooked 6r raw wheat.
I now began to fear it was bad policy to cook wheat also. Ac-
cordingly I fed the same shoats cooked and raw wheat, and raw com
meal with the following result:
BEOEMBKB 20lH.
FirtI pen.
fec«nd pen...
atw, weighed 121i
Ist Barrow, 98
2d Barrow, 96|
' Sow, weighed 97}
lit Barrow, 88|
2d Barrow, 78
Mean temperatore for seren dayi 220. Fahrenheit.
Eat one bnsnel af cooked wheat, and loat ten Ibe.
Eat one bushel of raw wheat, and loit ilz Ibi.
Sow, weighed 101{
Ist Barrow, 88
Third pen...... -{ 2d Barrow, 92
2791 J
Eat 1| bnihels of raw com meal, and gained 8| Ibe.
It now appeared that myself andneighbors had been acting a very
simple part in feeding wheat whether cooked or raw.
I had a considerable quantity of surprise oats on hand, weighing
46 pounds to the bushel, concluded to compare that with dry com and
com meal, with the following result :
DECBHBBB 28tH.
Fint pcfe..
Sow, weighed 1281
iBt Barrow. 95^
2d Barrow,
106^
8271
fleoond pen.
Sow, weighed tOl
let Barrow, 97}
2d Barrow, 88
•12 a R
S88i
Mean temperature of past eight days 240. Fahren-
heit. Bat half bnehel of raw wheat and 27-48 of a-
buihel of surprise oats in eight days and gained 16}
Bat 61-88 of a bushel of dry comim eight days,.
and gained 21} lbs.
16S
KOSMBt AQMOmitWB.
Third p«n.
8ow, wei|fh«d 106^
]8t Barrow, 00}
2d Barrow, 103|
mi
Eat two baehels of raw dry corsmeal in eight dmjB,
and i^ained 20| Ibi.
It would almost appear from this thaidry Burprise oats was al-
most as good or belter than corn. I now tried that direetly with this
jesult — the corn being changed to the other pen, etc :
JAKUARY 5th, 18^.
Itocond pen.
Third pen.
' Sow, weig^hed 119^
l«t Banow, 19H
2d Barrow, 91}
Total 317^
Sow, weighed lllf
let Barrow, 97
2d Barrow, 108i
n^ J
Mean temperature for paet eigbt days 250, Fahren-
heit Eat two bnsheli of dry raw com Insight day*,
and gained 83| Ibe.
Eat two bneheli <8S Ibe.) of raw dry eorpriee •ati
in eight dayi, and gained 10| Jba^
There is one other way to feed stock hogs that is snpposod to
give good resnlts, and that is to feed cattle through, the: winter, and
let two or three hogs follow each head of cattle. One cattie feeder
of this county found that one fall fed steer would feed three hogs
i^brough the winter.
Having a very thrifty scrub cow that I wished to fatten for beef,
I put her, December 29th, in a half acre lot. She had free access to a
shed at all times. This shed was tight on all sides except the east,
and this sheltered also by a rise in the ground, and other buildings.
The three pigs from pen No. 1 (above) w^re put in the same lot, and
had access to the same shed and water. The cow was fed in a trough
out of reach of the hogs, all the corn in the shuck she would eat. She
ate 45 pounds of this a day, equal to a half bushel of shelled com.
Weighed December 29th, 1,070 pounds; January 8th, she weighed
1,022^ pounds, having fallen off in ten days 47^ pounds ; the shoats
gained three pounds a day— thirty pounds. Mean temperature at
daylight for the ten days 21i^. Fahrenheit She was then turned out
during the day, and sdlowed access to a cornfield and a little blue
grass, and at night and morning waa fed as before, all the com she
could eat. On the 15th of January, she weighed 1,060 pounds ; gained
at liberty in one week 27i pounds — about fouir pounds a day. Mean
temperature at daylight 80^ Fahrenheit. Counting in the shoata,
this would make not less than fourteen pounds of beef and pork to
the bfashel of corn. She did not eat as much com as before, but the
stalks and grass were an equivalent, and proved better management.
At the same time with this thrifty seven fear old native cow, I
weighed a thorough-bred short horn two year old heifer. The latter
weighed 1,187^ pounds. She was not fed at all, but was allowed to
range in a corn- stalk field, in which there was some grass and hazle
l)rush* Inasmuch, as my forty head of cattle had been ranning in this
twenty acre stalk-field some weeks. I take it for granted, there was
but little fodder and no nubbins of corn left.
E88ATS AND OTHER PAPEB8. 168
That this short horn heifer lost no weight, nnder these circnm* I
stances, I consider a decided proof of the superiority of these lords of I
the horned world — the Durhams. !
While oiosing this article, the Practical Farmer comes to hand,
giving the experiments of a PennsyWania Farmer, who fed young j
hogs raw old corn, raw green com and boiled meal, from middle of |
August to middle of October, the feed and hogs not being changed ; ,
all fed at the same time, and all of the same litter of pigs. He found
boiled meal gave an increase of 18 1-5 pounds to the bushel, raw old
corn 18 4-5 pounds, and green or soft new corn 20 pounds to the bushel.
Temperature not given, but Central Pennsylvania, for the last seven
years, I find, gives a mean of 60° Fahr.
Now it is not possible to doubt the honesty and integrity of for-
mer experimenters on the hogs, and therefore these last^ right in the
teeth of those heretofore given, drives us irresistibly to this conclu-
aion:
1st. That the breed of hogs has been improved. That we have
now one breed, if not more, that can extract every particle of
nutriment from raw com ; that can do their own shucking, shelling,
taking to mill, grinding, packing back, steaming and boiling, much
better than we can do it ior them. '
2d. That the best temperature to fatten hogs is from 42° to 60°, '
which is usually found from the last of August to the middle of Octo-
ber.
dd. That they should have shelter, or access to it
4th. If the fall is dry they should be turned into the field to help
themselves before the corn hardens, and after it is out of the milk.
5th. All there is in corn is 18 to 20 pounds of pork to the bushel,
and if fed to an immature pure bred hog, cooking does not help it.
In conclusion, I suggest this theory:
Nothing should ever be fed to an animal in a moist state, for the
animal, whether horse, cow or hog, is thereby tempted and enabled to
swallow its food unmasticated. The more we can induce an animal
to chew its food, the better and more intimately it is imbrued with
saliva, and the more easily digested. That learned fossil, Prof. Agas-
siz,' at a discussion of the Boston Agricultural Society last month,
asserted that all food fed to animals should be ground and moistened,
because we thereby save saliva, ^ For whence " says he, ^^ comes sal-
iva f — It comes from the blood." Well, suppose it does. When it has
performed its office it goes right back to the blood again. It requires
two gallons of gastric juice to digest a pound of raw meat or its equiv-
alent. This juice is immediately reabsorbed, and is not lost So c{
the pancreatic, biliary, etc. Each of these have their offices in assim-
ilating certain portions of all food that is eaten.
The most recent experiments go to show ^hat the action of the
gastric juice is confined to nitrogenized substances, and that it exerts
no influence on starchy, saccharine or oily matters. Starch is ac^
164 ifissoiTRi ABtaouhTVjat.
upon by the salivary fluid, sugar is dissolved, and oily substances are
reduced by it to a state of fine division without the agency of the gas-
tric juice.
Now an acre, 30 bushels of shelled com, contains 270 pounds of
husk or woody fibre, 900 pounds of starch, sugar, etc., 216 pounds of
gluten, etc., 90 to 170 pounds of oil or fat, and 27 pounds of saline mat-
ter. Other grains, as well as bright, well cured bay, are nearly in the
same proportion. It will then be seen that the saliva is of the very
last importance, and we had better save anything else rather than
that The gastric juice of the stomach is altogether of secondary im- -
portanoe.
Considering these undeniable facts, we would naturally conclude
that the more we could induce our domestic animals to chew their
food, and imbrue it with their saliva, the more good it will do them ;
and accordingly the careful farmer will find this view abundantly
supported by the experiments above given.
I am now speaking of the improved breeds. It may or may not
pay to cook for others. There is undoubtedly a great deal in the
breed. Last year, in a fattening pen of thirty hogs, I put a pure bred
Chester White barrow ; the heaviest of the former weighed something
over 350 pounds at killing time ; the Chester White, on the same corn,
weighed 737^ pounds — a gain of two to one.
I have tried the Poland-China alongside the Chester Whites.
They seem full as thrifty.
The above experiments were with immature pigs a few months of
age. I have since carefully fed, in like circumstances, two Chester
White sows, from eighteen months to two years old, weighing 271^
and 343^ pounds, with this result :
When fed boiled meal, they gained 13| pounds to the bushel,
when weighed twelve hours after they ate it.
When fed raw dry corn, they gained 19| pounds to the bushel.
Hogs weighed twenty hours after they eat it, and allowed no water
meantime.
When fed meal that was first soaked in cold water and boiled,
they gained 20^ pounds to the bushel. Hogs weighed twelve hours
after eating.
When fed raw corn soaked in cold water, they gained 41i pounds
to the bushel. Hogs weighed nine hours after eating it.
Best result — ^The two hogs gained five pounds a day on boiled
meal and fourteen pounds a day on soaked raw com.
This, in one respect, conflicts with my theory that everything
should be fed dry.
MODEL PIGGERY.
In this connet^tion. I tliink it ofini[.ortance to give an il'QBtrfttirn
mrd ODiline of a '"Moilel Pigzery" whirfi wa* oriL'in lUy pnbli.^lied io
the Practiciil Farm-'i; edit-od by Paschall Morris, JC-iq , of Pliiladel-
phia.
"The plan- of the piggery delineated in the accompanying en-
graving Ib EDsceptihle of reduction or extension, for a larger or smaller
nnmber of pigs, and ia intended to enperscede the not only ueeleBS,
but objectionable as well as expensive, mode of constructing large
boildings under one roof, where confined and impure air, as well as
the difficulty of keeping clean, interfere greatly with both health and
thrift. Twenty-five or thirty breeding sows, farrowing at different
periods of the year, can be accommodated under this system of sep-
arate pens, by bringing them successively within the enclosure ; or
an equal number of hogs can be fattened without any crowding or
interference with each other. Some two years ago I sold a very fine
106 MI880UBI AeRICULTUBK.
pair of Ohester Coniity pigs to a costomer (not a farmer,) who com*
plained that at the end of twelve months thej only weighed 175
pounds each. On inquiry as to his management, I found tHey had
been kept in a horse stable, which was cleaned regularly once a
month I It was dark and badly ventilated, and the pigs were entirely
out of reach of sun and pure air. The tenacity of life shown by the
White Ohesters, under such circumstances, spoke well for the breed*
Thrift and growth were of course impracticable. Neither the White
Chester, nor any other breed with which we are acquainted, will do
well in confined or close quarters ; and where too many are kept in
a single pen, the heat of contact is very apt to create mange.
The nature of a liog, no less than the composition of his food, in-
dicates a large amount of animal heat ; and we have always noticed
that they suffer much more from heat and confinement than from
cold. This fact is kept in view in the above arrangement. The en-
trance, as seen in the engraving, is on the north side of the building,
which therefore fronts the south, as does also each separate pen.
The main building is thirty-two feet long by twelve wide, with an en-
trance gate at each lower corner to the yard of two first divisions.
The entry or room in the centre is eight feet wide, allowing space for
slop barrel, feed chest, charcoal barrel, (almost as indispensable as
feed chest,) hatchway for access to root cellar underneath the whole
building, and also passage way to second story. The latter is used
for storing corn in winter and curing some varieties of seeds In sum-
mer. A wooden spout, with sliding valve, conveys feed to the chest
below. The grain is hoisted to the second floor by a pulley and taekle
on the outside, as observed in the engraving.
The perspective of main building allows a partial view of plat-
forms, surmounted by a board roof, and divisions in the rear. The
ground plan allows six of these on eitheir side of the passage way.
The first two pens, to the right and left of the door, are 12 by 12 each,
and attached to them are 25 feet in length of yard by 15 feet \7ide.
Airthe yards are extended three feet wider than the building, which
admits of the two entrance gates at the corners.
Another division then commences, consisting of a raised plat-
form, 6 to 8 feet wide, and extending the same width as the first pen,
with a board roof over it, and also boarded up on the back, which
answers the purpose of a division fence to separate from the pen be-
hind. Twenty-five feet of yard are also attached to this, and the same
arrangement is continued to all the six divisions.
We have this' board roof and wooden floor on the north side of
each pen, and fronting the south, to be ample protection in cold, wet,
or stormy weather. The floor is kept perfectly clean, and even the
feeding trough is not on it, on account of more or less of wet and
dirt always contiguous to the trough, which freezes in winter and be*
comes slippery.
Each yard is used for the deposit of refuse vegetables and weeds^
X8BAT« AKB OTBKB PAFJEB8. 167
litter, etc., thrown in from time to time, to be eonmmed or converted
into manure. This is oonyeniently loaded into a cart passing along
on the ontside of each range of pene.
The passage way between eadb range of pens gives convenient
access to the feeder, for all the divisions. A door also communicafes
from one division to the other, to make changes when necessary , and
also a door or gate from each pen to the outside, so that one or more
can be removed and others introdaced without any confusion or in-
terference from any of the other pens. The two pens under the main
roof of the building, being more sheltered, are reserved for sows who
many happen to farrow very early in the season, or in extreme cold
weather, which is always avoided If practicable.
For several reasons^ the boiler for cooking food is in rough shed
adjacent to the piggery and entirely outside of it. There is no rea-
son why this should be necessarily a part of the piggery*
The above plan is not offered as embracing much that is novel in
arrangement, but as one that combines many advantages, —
1st. Complete separation, as well as easy communication be-
tween each pen, as well as to outside from each.
2d. Avoiding close and confined air, and admitting of extension
or alteration for a large or small number of pigs.
Sd. Facilities for keeping clean and receiving refuse vegetables
and weeds, etc., for conversion into manure, and'also for loading from
each pen into a cart passing along outside.
4th« Cheapness. With the exception of the main building, all
the rest can easily be erected by an intelligent farm hand."
FARMERS' CLUBS.
nrraoBucTORT by o. w. m.
There is perhaps, among men, no more encouraging feature than
the universally acknowledged * toiom, that ^^ Knowledge is power,''
«nd the practical turn given to this pursuit of knowledge and inform-
ation, in seeking that which appertains to the profession of the farmet^
or to his life work. FarmevB^ Clubs are springing up in every intelli-
gent neighborhood, and these cannot but result in good to every act^
ive member.
There are in every community leading men, who, by force of char^
aeter, by careful study and observation, and jnost of all by hard labor^
/-
168 lOdsotTSi AQtaowsmM.
have worked out the problem of life to worldly success (that they are
often godly, christian men also is an undisputed fact, and a very en-
couraging feature). Such are seldom talking men merely, but when
in debate are always ready to assign a reason for the faith that is in
them. They are rarely so niggardly and recreant to social duty as to
be unwilling to see their neighbors achieve like success with them*
selves ; and if they, by giving counsel and information, backed up by
example, can aid their fellows, they are glad to have the chance.
Being modest men, they need sometimes to be urged forward, but
once seeing matters in the light of duty, they will generally respond.
The readers are advised to look around them, and give honor to whom
honor is due.
Per contra. Talking theorizera^ who unfortunately are often
blessed with ^ the gift of gab^^^ are hardly ever wanting in a commu-
nity ; they are ever ready to ventilate their windy rhetoric, and often
occupy the time of " Farmers' Clubs,'^ or " Conventions," or even of
our Legislatures. But being unable to point to their own success, a
little skill on the part of presiding officers, or a few direct and perti-
nent questions from the solid members, will generally suffice to put
them in their proper light and place.
Viewed from a practical, intellectual and social standpoint, how
much better such meetings and discussions, than those of so-called
debating societies, whose general topics are confined to impropable
political questions and issues, or perchance to historic events, which
cannot be correctly decided, for the want of proper authorities, and
either side of which can be carried by the impudent assertion, well
stuck to, of any of those windy talkers which debating societies are
fio apt to develop. Of course no reference is had to literary societies
in connection with institutions of learning.
« It is a most happy feature then that Farmers' Olubs are being es-
tablished in many communities. Socially its value is beyond compu*
tation. Practically it furnished a great fund of information. But,
^ays one, how can we make it available ? Are not all its benefits lo-
.eal ? Suppose they are, if every county, or town, or school district,
has its club, does it not benefit and elevate the entire farming popu*
lation ? But there is no need to rest here. Let but the secretary of
the club be a practical man, able to ^^ boil down^^ the remarks of the
^speakers and furnish a corrected copy to the editor of his county pa-
^er, (and by the way every well conducted county paper should have
an agricultural column or two,) and the w/iter will hazard the opin-
ion that said editor will be ea^er to publish the proceedings. It will
flot only enhance the value of his paper, but as a necessary result
xWill increase his subscription list. Every man cannot attend eveiy
^meeting, but he will wish to know what has been said or done, or
very likely wish to preserve a complete record of all the proceedings
x>f his club. Again, if anything meritorious or valuable has been
}>rought te light, if any old and accepted theoryhM been overthrown,
1I6SATS AND OTHSK i'APSRS. 1<9
or any maxim confirmed by experiment, we say, if such things are
published, every well conducted exchange journal will copy the ar-
ticle, and this adds to the general stock of information.
The old homesteads of the Eastern and Middle States, loved, re-
vered and cherished though they be, have yet many younger sons to
send out. The few acres of eastern farms will bear no further subdi-
visions, and why should they ? In our day, when railroads and tele-
graphs annihilate distance, when a man can travel a thousand miles
quicker and with greater ease to himself than he could travel a hun-
dred but a few decades past, he is, to all intents and purposes, as near
to rooftree and kindred as he would be though he reside but in a
neighboring oounty.
Uncle Sim's farm on the contrary is a very large one — it will bei^r
lubdivisions ; he has a homestead for eiach of his boys, whether sons
or nephews, or adopted children, and while the old rooftree above re-
ferred to cannot shelter all that first saw light beneath its sheltering
rafters, the folds of the Star Spangled Banner of Uncle Sam are so
ample as to protect all his numerous family, wherever they may
dwell; and just here we cannot forbear to point to the grandest and
sublimest beauty of our National Federal Union.
A citizen of the United States is also by virtue of that right a
citizen of any State where he may please to make his abode ; in
Maine or Oalifornia, on the tide-washed banks oi the Hudson or
" where rolls the Oregon," and Uncle Sam says he may have a farm
if he wishes.
Now, it is true that some men can and do go from the hearth of
affection and intelligence to dwell in a wilderness, solitary and alone,
the foe and slayer of beaver and martin, the mink, wolf and bear.
Not many such men are found, just enough to form the exception to
the rule, that man is a social being.
A well read farmer, a social, loving, affectionate man, who ad-
mires and seeks as well as repects the company and association of
like minded men and women, will not be likely to make a new home
in a neighborhood of illiterate^ uncouth, idle, unthrifty, unsocial and,
afl a sequence, vicious men. He will prefer to settle in a community
where he sees evidences of thrift and intelligence, where he beholds
well cultivated fields, tidy buildings, neatly kept fence corners, well
fed herds and flocks, and last though not least, well planned school-
houses, peopled with tidy, rosy-cheeked little folks, all eager to master
the books with which their satchels are stored ; where the sound of
the church bells is heard, inviting to the worship of the All-Father,
and, if you please, where social meetings and Farmers' Clubs are not
wanting.
Therefore, we say, it is a most encouraging sign of the times, that
farmers are establishing clubs in which to discuss the best time and
manner of performing the various and multifarious labors of the ^
farm and the workshop; that this is being done in our own State, and
170 MISSOURI AeBIOULTUBX.
that by these discassions each add to the general stock of knowl-
edge, pecnliarly adapted to our own State, and to our own people.
Looking at this subject from a low standard only, (and we by no means
underralue the higher one of intelligence, good morals and Christian
benevolence), namely : that of dollars, we can readily see how the
value of every acre of land in the State is augmented, how it invites
immigration and contributes te the rapid development of internal
improvements, and in no small degree aids to make Missouri what she
is destined to be at once, the broadest, most beautiful, and at no distant
day, the Empire State of the Union the most brilliant in all the Con-
$tellation.
Among the most active of the new clubs we cannot omit to men-
tion the one started in St. Louis within the year 1869. This sprang
from the people full grown. Some of its members hesitate not to
ride twelve miles in their buggies to meet with their fellows, while
others come thirty or forty miles by rail, to erjoy the same privilege.
Its members are always courteous, but so keen and scrutinizing, and
of such practical turn of mind, that very little of nonsense has been
perpetrated. The writer is well aware that through some inadvertance
and mistakes, errors have been published, calculated to mislead,
but these have been promptly corrected by the club, and even with
these, the official proceedings, as reported by the Secretary, will com-
pare very favorable with the proceedings or transactions of any sim-
ilar organization in the United States. Other clubs might be men-
tioned, but we forbear. With these remarks, we beg the privilege to
introduce the records of Farmers' Clubs of an early and a more mod-
ern day.
FARMERS' CLUBS.
BT eSORGS T. WALTON, WSNTZVILLE, MO.
^ Two heads are better than one," is as old as the ^^ Common Law,^
against which the memory of man runneth not to the contrary. Who
believes this to be a practical truth?
Every " city," East or West, by river or railroad, in "running or-
der" or prospective, has its board of trade; every church has its
synod, conference, class, or other stated meeting ; every political,
social or scientific department has its meetings or consultations*
The minister, lawyer, doctor, teacher, mechanic, sailor, boatsmai^
• insurance men, bankers, transporters, railroad men, artists, in short,
X8SAT8 AKB OTHBB PAPBR8. J71
every trade, art, profession, believe, act upon it, have their ^ trades
unions," "institutes,^ "clubs" or "societies;" associated under some
name for mutnal assistance, instruction, protection and advantage,
the adhesive power of which is, that " in nnion there is strength'' — ^in
much conncil there is wisdom. Are farmers wiser than those? Is
their profession so very easy to master that they need no such help'
Is there less social feeling in them than others ? Are they afraid that
the secrets of their trade w|ll be obtained by others and themselves
damaged thereby? Does no fanner in the vicinity know better how
to plant, or sow, or cultivate his crops than you do, that you might
learn from him? Or is there nothing that you can learn? Then^
why not form associations for mutual information, profit, and pro-
tection ? Every non-producer in the land — and they are legion — ^from
the eloquent divine through all the trades and professions to' the
lowest quack or shyster lawyer, must obtain their "daily bread"
through your toil. They feel that the duty of " skinning you" is the
first one on the list, and each other next. You are the great " ob-
jective point" of each and every one of them, collectively and indi-
vidually. Let them eat each other as they may, you foot the final
bill. Can yon, therefore, afford lo fight them singly. If not, asso-
ciate together, gain all the experience of others you can, give all you
can, and by giving you will be enriched.
I have met with many different farmers' clubs or kindred asso-
ciations, whose object was the mutual information and assistance of
the membership and promotion of agricultural knowledge in the
community, and believe, with a very intelligent writer, that ' civiliza-
tion in every land is only in a true ratio with agriculture." I am not
surprised to find that wherever the best organized and conducted
agricultural societies are located, there is the best society — ^in a word>
civilization is in due proportion to agricultural knowledge.
In this article, intending to be brief as possible, I propose to
notice a few of the leading plans for farmers' clubs.
1. The Kentucky, or more properly speaking, perhaps, the Eng-
lish plan, where the farmers meet at the monthly county court, and
either formally, with officers and general rules, or informally, discuss
the different subjects relative to their agricultural interest in their
county — crops, cattle, horses, mules, labor, prices, best modes of cul-
tivation, curing, preserving, sale, and markets; different crops and
their profits, improvement of stock, or the leading staples of the
county. This seems to have been the favorite system of the South.
Large land owners and managing large farms, and the general ten-
dency being centralization, it suited the ^ farmer on horseback^ to
ride to town and have a talk on this subject. It was a beneficial sys-
tem, and did much to promote agriculture in the entire South.
2. The "debating society" system, much practiced in the North-
west^ having weekly evening meetings at the school-house, with
subject for discussion selected, and disputants either volunteer, are
172 MISSOURI AGBIOULIUBK.
appointed, or chosen to speak pro and con, generally run well during
winter, but as nights shorten, are adjourned either to shorter days or
^ine diC' A very good one, conducted on this system with George W.
Kinney, President; D. Q. Jones, Secretary; Chas. Sutphrin, Corre-
sponding Secretary, and a number of very intelligent farmers, resid-
ing near Snow Hill, North Missouri, has in some years much im-
proved the stock and raised the price of lands in that vicinity.
3. The social system, generally adopted in the Ohio Valley, of
which the Quaker Bottom Farmers' Olub is the pioneer, being organ-
ized as early as 1844, by Oapt H. N. Qillett, President; Thomas Wal-
ton, Secretary; Thomas Proctor, Corresponding Secretary; Thomas
Gardner, Vice President, and some ten or twelve members, and has
been in successful operation ever since, whose constitution and prac-
tice has been practically adopted by a number of societies in the
Ohio Valley, and attended in almost every case with permanency and
success, the promotion of intelligent cultivation, advancement of
morals — in a word, Civilization. I do not think of a better page or
two to add to the Missouri Agricultural Report than to give (from
memory) a synopsis of their constitution and laws, and a page or so
of the secretary's report, thereby giving the reader an insight of their
modus operandi^ which may form, with such alterations as locations
and circumstances require, a plan for future organizations of like
character in Missouri :
CONSTITUTION.
1. Name. Rome and Union (townships) Farmers' Club of Quaker
Bottom (P. O.), Lawrence county, Ohio.
2. OhjecL An association of cultivators of the soil, for mutual
information, protection, and benefit; to make and report experiments
in the cultivation, care and productions of the field, the garden, the
orchard and the farm; the improvement of our farm stock, whether
in the stable, the cow-pasture, the sheep-walk, the pig pen or poultry
yard, or the barn, the cellar, the pantry or tool-house. The discussion
of such subjects, the reading of such essays, books or papers as may
be deemed best for the development and dissemination of agricul-
tural knowledge ; also, to engender a kind and generous feeling in
the neighborhood, and to enjoy each others hospitality.
3. Memiership. Shall consist of the original signers and such
persons as may become members, who shall be proposed by some
member, and if unanimously elected, upon the payment of one dollar
and signing the constitution and by-laws, thereby assenting thereto,
shall be entitled to all the rights of an original corporator* The wife
of each member is an ex-oMcio member of the club. Honorary mem-
bers, consisting of such persons as the club may consider have done
something for the benefit of the club, as may entitle them to such
honor, may, by resolution of record, be so constituted, and will be
elected to sit with us and vote, except at elections.
IS8AT8 A5D OTHER FAFBR8. 17S
4. Officers. President, Vice President, Se^cretary, Corresponding
Secretary, Treasurer and Librarian, whose duties shall be such as i»
usnal in deliberative bodies, and such as the club may order.
5. Electiom. OfiBcers shall be elected at the first meeting in th«
new year, annually. Vacancies, either temporarily or^ permanent^
shall be filled by the next in rank present, and the last vacancy filled
by the President, or by election by the club.
6. Meetings shall be held on the last Friday of each month, com-
mencing at 10 A. M. at the house of a member. The first series or
meetings shall be decided by lot, each member drawing for the month
for his meeting, but may be transposed or changed for cause by the
club. Special meetings on other days may be held, or an adjourn-
ment for a longer period may be made by the club. Families of mem-
bers, honorary members and persons invited by the President or by
the landlord of the meeting may attend the meeting.
7. Dinner. Believing that good cooking is conducive to good
health, and good health to the proper consideration of any subject;
therefore, it is expected of each member, that at the meeting of the
club at his residence, he shall, with the assistance of the ^^gude wif,"
cause to be prepared a good, substantial farmers' dinner for the club.
8. Business. The President shall preside and keep proper order ;
in the absence of the orator shall speak on the '^leading subject," or
appoint other persons so to do; select ^^eading subject" for the next .
meeting and orator for the subject. It is expected of members to
make such remarks, inquiries or comments on the orator's remarks,
or those of any other person as may be respectful and relative to the
ftubjeot, or any other agricultural matter.
Members. It is expected that each members shall make one or
more experiments with some farm crop, and report manner of cult!-
nation, cost, profit or loss (especially any failure, and probable
cause), mode of managing farm, orchard, garden, vineyard, horses,
cattle, swine, sheep, poultry, bees— in short, to communicate his ex-
perience or knowledge, obtained either by experience or reading of
books or papers, or other manner, of any or all subjects relative to
the farm, or the profitable sale of its products ; assisting each other to
make agriculture not only pleasant but proAtdble.
Lady Members. Wives of members are expected in like manner
to give each other, or the club, their experience in the house, the
kitchen, the dairy, the poultry-yard, or other matters pertaining to
th^ department.
View. The club shall at each meeting view the landlord's farm,
and carefully examine the condition of the farm, mode of cultivation,
stock, improvements, and faults, of all of which the Secretary shall
keep a minute, to be made at next meeting, making suggestions of
improvements and other matters, subject to comment and alteration
or amendment.
1
174 MISSOURI AQBIOULTURl.
9. lax. Wbea the does are not enoagh for incidental ex-
penses, a per capita tax may be levied.
10. Books. The librarian shall have the care of the books and
papers belonging to the club, and distribute the same, keeping a list
of the recipients thereof.
11. Expulsion. Members may be expelled for conduct not be-
coming a civilized farmer, by two-thirds vote.
12. Amendments. Alterations or amendments to this constitu-
tion may be made at any regular meeting, by two-thirds of the mem-
bers voting for such change; provided, one month's notice be given
to the club of the proposed amendments.
Adopted by unanimous vote of the members, December 27, 1843.
HORATIO N. GILLETT, President.
Thomas Walton, Secretary.
Hall's Spbinos Farm, January, 1864.
Club met at Wm. D. Hall's, in pursuance of the constitution.
President Gillett in the chair.
Secretary not acting, James McVey appointed jE>ro tern.
Prayer by Rev. H. Z. Adams.
Report of last meeting being read and approved, except the sec-
retary j?r(? tem.'^s report of the " Farm View," which was this day re-
ported as follows :
Club meeting for December, 1868, at Orchard Valley Farm (G. T.
Walton's). Very fine orchard, and said to be profitable, but nature,
situation and soil appear to have done more for it than the owner.
The secretary ^ra tern, is of the opinion that the Colonel has added to
his surveying, farming and other duties, the small fruit business, as
much of the orchard and fence rows are in luxuriant blackberry
bushes and other native shrubbery, perhaps a little too thick for profit;
and also, that if he was as good at practical farming as he is at sur-
veying, or as his wife is at getting up a club dinner. Orchard Valley
would look better. Barn and fences and gates need repair. Very
good cistern, house and cellar. Remarkable fine native grape on
front of house. Had grapes an inch in diameter last August
Secretary read letter from J. H. Klippart, Secretary State Board
of Agriculture, presenting Agricultural Report; one from United
States Commissioner, I. Newton, with United States Agricultural
Report and sundry papers of seeds ; also, same from Hon. H. S.
Bundy, Member of Congress. Corresponding Secretary ordered to
return letters of thanks.
President announced the leading subject, ^ What is the most pro-
fitable fruit for this vicinity ? Col. N. Cox, orator, who having thor-
oughly investigated the subject, of course, made it very interesting.
His conclusion was that the Rome Beauty apple was at present the
S88ATS AKD OTHKB PAPEHS. 175
most profitable. Thinks the small fruits and vegetables will altera
nately be tho most profitable on the Ohio river bottoms.
Clab requested a copy of address for publication in Iron ton Be-
gister.
Thomas Proctor, late Corresponding Secretary, but now editor of
the Macon Argus, Missouri, made some interesting remarks relative
to the prosperity and history of the club. Thought North Missouri
only needed a few things to make it the garden of the world ; a good
farmers' club was one of the wants.
Dinner — which was just what was wanted. Among the many
good things was the light cornbread, in the making of which Mrs.
Hall is noted. Twenty members and their wives were present, be-
sides near one hundred visitors.
Farm View — All the members, and many of the visitors, went on
a search to find fault, either with house, orchard, barn, sorghpm fac-
tory, farm, or something. Failed to find it. Mr. Hall made some sug-
gestions of improvement.
Returned to the rooms, investigated the fruits, etc., of members
brought in.
By Oapt. H. N. Qillett— Lady Apple, Bome Beauty and twenty
other varieties, three winter pears, large onions, six different speci-
mens seedling potatoes, peaches.
Thomas Gardner— Twenty-three varieties apples, grapes, turnips,
beets.
Miss Eustacia Gardner — Bouquet of flowers. Miss Bo^e McY ey,
bouquet Both beautiful, contrasting with the snow.
Colonel Oox — Apples, pears, quinces, grapes, peaches.
Wm. D. Hall — Osage Orange, apples by the bushel, with knife
and other conveniences, several samples of sorghum, molasses, candy
and bona Ade sugar.
Judge Beckard— Large ears of corn, big wheat stalk, apples.
C. Turley— Pears, apples, grapes, sweet potatoes, sweet corn, large
com.
Jacob Proctor — Oom, potatoes, Bome Beauty, Bomanite, Bussetts.
Alanson Gillett— Sugar cane, Spanish moss. Palmetto from Louis-
iana.
Bobert Hall— Oabbage, large com, citron, melon, pumpkin.
G. T. Walton — Southern pea, native grape, very large, Bome
Beauty.
John P. Eaton — Very large corn, tall timothy, monster Bome
Beauty.
Elhanan W. Wakefield— Bome Beauty from the Hill Top orchard.
Thomas Walton — Seeds of the white thorn, from Yorkshire, Eng-
land. The true English hedge plant succeeds with him.
Thomas Procter— Bawles' Janet from Missouri, remarkably large
and fine.
In the Ladies' Parlor— Quite a display of juveniles, the raising of
176 MIB80UBI AQRICULTailE.
which does here appear ta be as important a branch of farming as the
raising of Rome Beauty apples or ^'quaker bottom pigs."
An hour devoted to general conversation. A few of the subjects,
the war, our boys, prices of apples, wheat, hay, horses, labor, under-
draining, fences ; prospectfor fruit; wheat; setting eut orchard ; Mi9^
souri, by Thomas Procter and his fordier students.
Order being restored. Rev. H. Z. Adams made some very good
remarks, one of which to the effect, that organizations of the farmers,
to promote the knowledge of workings of nature, were in every case
great moral societies, promoting moral and religious sentiments, and
elevating the mind and character of the people.
H. Radford proposed for membership F. Marion Rickard. He
elected. Being introduced, he requested the next meeting to be at
his place, ^Sunny Side Hill," as he joined to get information, practical
agricultural knowledge, was willing to give and glad to receive in-
formation.
Isaac Miller, being entitled to the February meeting, assented to
the change, which was adopted.
Thomas Walton presented a communication from Wm. D. Kelley,
President Lawrence County Agricultural Association, stating that
the managers had requested the following societies to prepare a list
of premiums, on the different subjects, to the amount of annexed ap-
propriations :
Ironton Mechanical — Manufactures of all kinds, $600.
Tronton Horticultural — Small fruits, grapes, wines, vegetables,
poultry, $400.
Hanging Rock — Horses, mules, oxen, coals, cast iron, ores, $500.
Rome and Union — Apples, other fruits, wheat, corn, orchards,
$500.
Symmes — ^Cattle, hogs, sheep, hay, oats, roads, $500.
Committee to make such list, and report to next meeting: Geo.
T. Walton, Wm. T. Radford and Judson (iarner. ♦
President announced leading subject for next meeting: "How
shall we Fence ?" Dr. Qerrard R. Ricketts, orator.
On motion of John Pierce, Dr. R. N. P. McDowell was elected an
honorary member.
Adjourned to meet at F. Marion Rickard's.
H. N. GILLETT, President.
Jaues MoVkt, Secretary pro tern.
fflOKORY GROVE FARMERS' OLUB.
BT Q. w. KorHirr.
Jnvaijr n, 1870.
The Hickory Orove Fanners' Club was organised TI^Tirsdaj,
November 26, 1888.
Thomas H. BoUes, chairman, D. O. Jones, Secretary jE>re> tern,
A committee upon permanent organization was appointed con-
sisting of Oharles Satphin, Thomas Davis and O. W. Kinney, who re-
ported as follows :
**The object of this association shall be the discussion and con-
sideration of such matters as immediately pertain to the farm, and
such other subjects as are of importance to tbe prosperity and well-
beinff of the community.
^o subiect of a religious or political character shall be allowed
before the club.
^Any person may become a member by signing the constitution
and complying with such regulations as may, from time to time, be
required.
^The ladies are constituted honorary members, and as such are
cordially invited to attend.
^*The permanent officers shall be a Chairman, Assistant Chairman
and Secretary, who shall he elected semi-annually. Other officers
may be appointed it found necessary.
^he expenses, if any, shall be defrayed by voluntary contribu-
lions.
^All are invited to become members and take part in the delib-
erations."
The report was unanimously adopted and made the constitution.
The club honored the following gentlemen by electing and in-
stalling them permanent officers : Geo. W. Eiimey, of St. Charles
county, chairman ; T. H. BoUes, of Warren county, assistant chair-
man ; I). G. Jones, of Warren county, secretary.
At its second •meeting, Mr. C. S. Osgood delivered an address
«pon *^he importance of Farmers' Clubs," which was followed by a
discussion upon ^Plowing."
At another meeting, Mr. D. G. Jones delivered an address ]^pon
*<The Culture of Wheat" which was listened to with marked attention*.
•1«— Am ^
178 ICISflOtTRI AGRIOVLTUBS*
and, no doubt, cansed many of the members to engage more exten*
eively in growing it.
Mr. T. H. Bolles read, at another time, an essay npon ^the Re*
sources of Missouri."
Mr. J. O. Oasner read an essay upon ^^the Oare of Tools and Im«
plements," which was to the profit of many of the members.
Mr. 0. S. Osgood deliyered an address upon ^Fmit Culture," which
was followed by a discussion upon the same subject, participated in
! by all the members*
The following were some of the subjects discnssed at various
1 times during the winter after its first formation : ^Shall we encourage
, immigration into our community;" ^^Improvements of our public roads;"
•**Grass;" "Stock Law;" "The most profitable crop for our vicinity;" —
. on this last subject the conclusion arrived at W9^% grass. — ^Oom cul-
iture;" "The dairy,'' and others.
At the end of six months the following gentlemen were elected
tOflcers : Henry Blattner, chairman ; W. 0« Lewis, assistant chair*
iimuk ;. J. 0. Casner, Secretary.
)The regular meetings, once in two weeks, were continued until
after corn planting in the spring, and were then adjourned until after
t^the 'busy season was over.
^Q^ reassembling, Mr. H. G. Quincy read the following, which will
^ve an idea of what we had done and how much we had profited by
our meetings :
A hasty review of the proceedings of this club since its formation,
cmight not be uninteresting, as we are commencing a new series of
imeetings. I have nothing new to offer to members who have attended
;all the meetings, and participated in the deliberations of the club,
'Who came through storm, mud and cold in the pursuit of knowledge
mnder great difficulties. I think all can refer to the meetings with
isome degree of satisfaction and profit. Some of the topics discussed
ihad the happy effect to bring out the live members of the club, and
we are anticipating rich intellectual treats when Messrs. Jones, Kin*
ney, Bolles, e^Satphin, Oasner, Osgood and others, shall address us
again. We have also accessions to the club this year. Live men of
talent and experience have come among us, who are able and willing
to give us advanced ideas upon farming.
Since the discussion upon stock breeding, we have seen our neigh-
bor Sutphin importing, at great expense, from Ohio, some fine Magie
hogs, and a blooded bull, both of which came home from the Warren
County Fair with the prize ribbons upon them.
Mr. A. P. Mills has imported from Michigan, and Canada some
fine short horn cows, and a bull, pronounced by Col. Colman, not to
have been excelled at the St. Louis Fair ; also, some superior full
blooded Leicester and Cotswold sheep.
' Our neighbors Watson, Casner, Rinney, Jones, Astrop and others,
have shown that they mean to profit by what they hav« learned*-to
BS8AY8 AJS3 OTHSE PAPSRS. 179
ptaotice what they preach— and have procured Chester Whites^ and
their hog yards already show a marked improTement over the old
^hazel-splitters." We notice that friend Jones always buys a ^ood
cow, when he sees snoh an one for sale, regardless of price ; he not
only talks dairying, but is coining money by fornishing wealthy fam^
ilies in St Louis with rich, golden butter at fifty cents per pound, the
year round.
We have seen members of the club digging cellars the past sum*
mer, and it seems very strange that so many of our farmers, and good
farmers too, live along from year to year, without the convenience of
a good cellar.
The discussion upon farm buildings seems to have had its effect,
new buildings are going up all around us.
We «ee members of the club taking pains to procure, new varie*
ties of seed. Tappahannock wheat has been sown quite extensively.
Our neighbor, Osgood, raised a fine crop of Norway oats, and R J.
Watson took the premium fpr best variety of corn exhibited before
the Club. Early Ooodrich, Early Rose, Harrison and other new va-
rieties of potatoes are becoming quite common.
Cooking food for stock was before us, and several members have
procured pans or kettles and boil all their feed ; some have facilities *
for grinding also.
Farm machinery was a topic one evening, and as a consequence
we find gang plows, sulky cultivators and hay rakes, i>ower shellers,
horse com planters, drills, etc., in operation where none were found
before. Reapers have taken the place of the cradle. Staid, sober old
stand-by farmers who have nearly worn themselves out swinging the
cradle, now ride about their fields superintending their abundant har-
vest. An agent of one, the Eirby Combined Reaper and Mower, in-
formed me that he had sold over fifty machines the past season in one
immediate vicinity. We see farmers using fertilizers who perhaps
never thought of doing so before ; manure heaps, the accumulation of
years, have been hauled into the fields.
We notice the march of improvements all about us^ men taking
the plow handles who have grown poor renting their lands to be sap-
ped and exhausted.
We see progress stamped on every man's countenance, and shall
we not say that we see daily the influence of the Farmers' Club in
ow midst.
The paper read at our second meeting by the chairman, G. W.
Kinney, on the subject of ^^ Deep plowing," was a valuable essay, well
arranged, argumentative and conclusive. It was not only published
in severid of our weekly journals, but was thought worthy of a place
in our State. Agricultural Report for 1888. We had ably presented to
us the reason why deep plowing will pay, and it is the pay we wank
It certainly costs something to plow deep, but it cost, time and labor
to plow at all. If our deed allows us any depth we wish, let us go
180 MIBgOIIU AilBICVLnnU.
down into the snbsoil and cnltivatd Biore of this prairie soil to the
acre and double our crops. Land plowed deep is certainly better
able to withstand the excess of the season, either wet or dry.
The address of Mr. 0. 8. Osgood, on ^^ Farmers' Clnbs as an Insti-
tntion," was a very able one^ and highly interesting to all who had
the pleasure of hearing it
From Mr. D. G. Jones we had a yalaable statistical address niK>n
a subject with which he is entirely conversant. An honest Pennsyl-
vania miller's idea upon the ^ Ooltnre of Wheat " as a staple crop for
Missouri is certainly worthy of consideration. It is regretted that
this and the preceding address were not reported for publication.
Mr. Ohas. Sutphin gave us some valuable hints on farming from
an intellectual standpoint. We should keep ^ debtor and credit ac-
count of profit and loss, so we profit in the future by Idle losses of the
past. It is hoped that members of this club and others who read
those hints have profited by them, and can tell us to-day on which
side of the ledger stands any crop they have raised the past season.
Mr. J. 0. Oasner's essay, ^ Take care of your tools," should be pub-
lished in the Farmer's Almanac, and go into every household in the
land. His direct and sharp hits were felt by every member of the
club, and you will see fewer plows, harrows, reapers, etc., in the fields
this winter than formerly.
The ^^ fence question" was op, and I think the club is in favor of
a law restraining stock from running at large, such a law as is in force
in New York and other Eastern States, to the advantage and profit of
every man. It is a long way in advance of the relic of barbarism we
live under in Missouri, a law that allows a man to enforce the penal-
ties himself, a neighborly law, which in certain cases allows a man to
shoot trespassing stock. I fear the shooting does not always end
there.
^ What are the best and most profitable crops for this section of
country ?" was well discussed ; oats being considered the surest crop,
and at present prices pay well. Oom was recommended only for
home consumption. English grasses flourish well here, and conse-
quently dairying was recommended* The proposition to send milk to
St. Louis by railroad, when the bridge is completed at St Oharles,
met with much favor. A cheese factory might be made to pay well.
Fruit was recommended for home consumption, and, when we raise
sufficient to induce buyers, would be profitable to sell. Broom ci^n
was recommended highly, many thinking it did not exhaust the soil*
Tobacco was considered one of the most profitable as well as n^oat ex-
haustive crops.
The question, ** would it be advisable for this club to hold out in-
ducements for emigrants to settle among us t" was decided in the
affirmative, provided they bring greenbacks, pay their bills and keep
their hogs at home.
On farm machinery Mr. Oagood made the opening remarks ; was
X80AT0 AND OTHER PAPKBP. 181
decidedly in favor of more and better than most farmers in the vicinity
have been content with. The combined reaper and mower we could
hardly do without in the hurry of an abundant western harvest. An
eight horse sweep power with machinery to attach for threshing,
shelling, gridding, sawing, cider making, etc., is a great convenience.
A steam engine would be much better, and when we can plow these
western prairies by steam, we can farm scientifically. Use more
brains, less muscle, and have more time for amusement and mental
improvement. The merits of a variety of farm implements were dis-
cussed, and all seemed in favor of having a good supply in good con-
dition to use, and lend our neighlors. The horse hay fork was re-
commended as a labor-saving implement — ^not only the fork but the
hay to pitch, and a good barn to put it in — never mind the old house
until you get a good bam, the saving with this will soon build a good
house.
**Farm labor'' was a delicate subject to discuss, and no satisfactory
conclusion reached, unless we import a few hundred Chinese.
"Roads'' were discussed, but our overseer not being present, the
suggestions proved of little practical use, and each traveler still picks
his way as best he can, and leaves the mud, ruts and gullies for the
next
**Farm teams." Oxen are used by some of the members who con-
sider them profitable, as they get their growth as well as labor, and
can be turned into beef; their harness is also less expensive than
any other team. The mule had some firm friends, but received hard
thrusts from others for his waywardness. I think perhaps mules
could stand the hard usage under the old dispensation better than
horses.
Horses seem to be in general use about here at present;, and there
seems to be quite a surplus, such as they are. Perhaps we should
adopt the French custom, "eat horse."
"Com culture" was brought up, and aft the time for planting was
at hand, an interchange of ideas as to how and when to put the seed
in the ground was very opportune. Level cultivation was recom-
mended, but seemed rather impracticable this season, as with the wet
came the weeds, and the old style turning plow was the only imple-
ment used to advantage. Many use the single, double and triple
shovel plow, and a 'few the riding cultivator, of which many seem
jealous. With the umbrella attachment we think it just the thing
for lazy men. We used a two- horse planter on mellow ground, but it
having no gauge wheels, some of the seed was in so deep it did not
germinate, and some so shallow it was scarcely covered. The saving
of labor and time in planting is an important item, but should not be
at the expense of the crop. We have learned that a man must be
"up and dressed" early in the spring if he would feel sure of a good
crop of com or oats.
Our chairman, Mr. Astrop, did the prettiest thing last season : he
182 KISSOUBI AGRimJIiTDBlE.
jaBt spilt his oats in the mad, and, without plow or harrowi» grew the
finest crop about B^re. Our Eastern friends would hardly Bay
^^shrewd," but ^^shiftless," were they to see us sowing oats on com
ground without plowing. But when we are with the ^Romans," we
suppose there are some good reasons for doing as they do, and it
will not always pay to wait and learn everything by sad expe-
rience."
At the expiration of the second six months, Mr. John Astrop was
elected chairman*; Mr. W. O. Lewis, assistant chairman ; Mr. H. G.
Quincy, recording secretary, and O. W. Kinney, corresponding sec-
retary.
We have this winter listened to a very able address from the
Hon. N. J. Golman, an abstract of which may be found in the Mural
World of January 15, 1870. On this occasion the Colonel touched
considerably upon Free Trade, as it affects the farmer, which resulted
in a clash of arms with Mr. 0. S« Osgood, and stirred up many to in-
vestigate the subject more thoroughly. It also resulted in Mr. Hayes,
a lawyer of Wright Oity, making a request to discuss the same subject
before the club. This came off at the next meeting, and called out
many friends of a tariff, among whom we may mention Dr. 0. W.
Pringle, A. P. Mills, D. G. Jones, and others.
Mr. 0. W. Murtfeldt also delivered an address upon ^^Dairying,"
which was decidedly the best thing we ever listened to on the sub-
ject. An abstract of this may be found in the Journal of Agritmlture
of January 27, 1870.
Mr. Landon Rummins delivered an address which we hear
spoken of very highly, but not being present, we hope he will excuse
us for simply referring to it
W. 0. Lewis read an ^ssay upon ^^Farming, as compared with
the Mechanics' life" upon which he was able to speak knowingly,
having tried both occupations — of course, farming received his pre-
ference.
Mr. J. E. Leamard read an essay upon ^Missouri, as she is and is
to be," which showed that he had considered the subject thoroughly.
The proposed stock laV was discussed two evenings, showing
most of the members in favor of it. At a subsequent meeting resolu-
tions were unanimously passed instructing our members in the State
Legislature to vote for such a law as will make owners of stock re-
sponsible for the damage done by the running at large of such stock.
Mr. D. G. Jones and G. W. Kinney, were delegates from the club
to attend the annual meeting of the State Board of Agriculture, and
the latter was elected a member of the same, as a compliment to the
club for the interest they had manifested in the agricultural advance-
ment of the State.
B88ATB AND OTHKB PAPXBB. 188
We hope another year more olubs will be represented, that die*
cuasions will be had upon subjects of vital interest to the farmer, and
that the Board will not be compelled to hesitate and hunt about for
live men to fill tl^e vacancies which may occur in its membership.
JEFFERSON COUNTY FARMERS* CLUB.
Db Soto, JmwfMBMOM Coujitt, Mo., Dcoomber 26, 1869.
Chas. W« Mubtfildt, Esq.:
Sir — ^In obedience to your request, I herewith present you with
the organization and working of the ^ Jefferson ][Oounty Farmers'
Olub and Fruit Growers' Association."
This Association was organized on the 18th day of September
last, under the above title, and is convened on the first Saturday in
every month at the Club-room at De Soto. The officers are :
W. G. Herold, President
J. J. Squire, Vice, President.
G. H. Oherry, Secretary.
L. J. Rankin, Treasurer.
J. J. Squire, Corresponding Secretary and Librarian.
Standing Committee on Yegetables — W. H. Mann, W. H. Parkin-
Bon and Cunningham.
Committee on Fruits— W. S. Christian, J. J. Squire and W. F.
Bowen.
Our Club has been well attended and considerable interest taken
therein. The discussions are spirited, entertaining and profitable,
and every member feels that he is not only being benefited Individ*
ually, but that he is contributing to and encouraging the growth and
progress of agricultural science, than which nothini? is more needed
in this section of Southeast Missouri.
Our first subject before the Club for discussion was, ^The prepa-
ration of Soils," which has been continued on account of its extended
scope, being, as it was, at the base of all agricultural production. In
the main, the position has been sustained that very deep plowing
and a thorough stirring and disintegration of soils are necessary to
success.
Other topics of interest to Agriculture have been considered,
among which, and of paramount importance, is the '^ Stock Law."
This was well discussed at our last meeting, though by no means ex-
hausted. The arguments in favor of the continuance of the law, as
now existing, was very meager and easily disposed of, while those in
favor of a change were well and forcibly sustained. The prevailing
idea is that the Legislature should so frame a law empowering town-
18i losdouKC AffiKKmLTima.
ships or districts to elect, by their magistrates, whether to fence in
their stock or let them ran at large.
On the 3d instant, the Missouri School of Mines met in De Bote,
and held a joint session with the Jefferson Oonntj Farmers^ Olnb,
which was of considerable interest to this section, and we opine to
the State at large. The joint session was entertained by addresses
from Prof. Forest Shepperd, Jas. E. Ware, Esq., the Rev. Ohas. Pea-
body, J. O. Clark and others. Prof. Shepperd's address w%s exceed-
ingly interesting, a r^^t^ma of the deyelopments, discoveries and noted
circumstances in the mineral, metallurgical and engineering progress
of the times. Bey. 0. Peabody's address was quite felicitous and
spirited, illustrating in a clear and graphic manner the allied inter-
ests of the miner and farmer, wherein he cited the true relations ex-
isting between art and industry, mining and agriculture, at the same
time showing the comparative value of Southeast Missouri with the
best portions of the mineral regions of the globe — illustrating the
fact that no part of the world combines more of the elements of Na-
tional and State wealth than Missouri.
Apropos to this : The Missouri School of Mines deserve more
than a passing notice, representing as it does a highly important
branch of industry, and using its best energies to the enhancement
of industrial pursuits, in the practical knowledge of those elementary
principles so essential to a full exemplification of the arts. Skilled
labor without the active brain is impossible, so with perfection in
4urt ; and a mere knowledge of elementary principles without their
practical application by the skilled mechanic, cannot aid much in
industrial progress. It becomes, therefore, a matter of vital impor-
(tance to Missouri as a State that she should seek to encourage, by
every means in her power, the advancement of elementary science
and industrial application together, to the end that our vast resources
•may be developed and our wealth thereby increased. It, therefore^
becomjes our Legislature to consider well the proper distribution of
that munificent grant of Congress for the endowment of Agricultural
and Industrial schools in the StatOi South Missgnri has especial
claims to a portion of this grant, and the School of Mines can
nowhere be so well sustained in every essential particular, to a man-
fest benefit of the ends to be realized, than to be located where Na-
ture's laboratory is as magnificent and full in its avails, nay, infin-
itely more so, than the grant itself.
In ' regard to the best varieties of '^ Sweet Corn" for table use, I
am at a loss to decide for this section of country. Soil and climate
has considerable to do with the growth and quality of sweet corn, as
with some other products. That which seems to give the best results
East, is far from being satisfactory here. My experience, however, in
Missouri has been quite limited ; hence I will not venture an opinion
at present. I cultivated, the past season, for my canning purposes,
the "Evergreen Sweet,'' ** Adams' Early," and "Smith's Early White."
B80AT0 AK0 OTHBB PAPBB8. l8ft
The fiiBt of these «is very prolific and a good yariety; its quality,
however, cannot be said to be quite up to the standard of sweetness.
The other two are not sufficiently prolific for profitable cultivation.
•♦Bmith's Early White** is an excellent variety for canning, but lacks
sweetness. It maintains its white character in an eminent degree
and preserves well. I intend to experiment with other varieties the
next season. My aim is to procure a white variety which will com-
bine the proper standard of sweetness and be sufficiently prolific to
be profitable for extensive cultivation.
The past season was not good for peaches through Southeast Mis-
souri, i. e., for budded fruit Seedling peaches were abundant, but by
far too small for canning purposes, even if the quality had been up
to requirement. Peach growers are prone to allow their trees to bear
too large a quantity, hence the small fruit. If they would take
pains to reduce the quantity upon each tree, just after the fruit is set,
to about one-thirdy the crop would not only be larger in size, but bet-
ter in quality and far more valuable. A peach grown to a proper
size is equal to three of the ordinary growth of the past season, and
two-thirds more valuable, from the fact that it has but one stone, and
that no larger than the stone of the small peach. If the object was
to growpeaeh stones, the present mode of cultivation is perhaps well
enough, but for fruit, it is both unwise and improvident It is with
the peach tree as with the grapevine ; it should be allowed to mature
fruit only in proportion tojts capacity.
Yours sincerely and respectfully,
JAMES J. SQUIRE.
IMPORTED PERCHERON STALLION, "BISMARCK."
Those of the readers of this report, possessing also the report of
1868, will recognise in the accompanying engraving a familiar pic-
ture. It has often been asserted, by our best breeders, and the writer
subscribes to the point, that for the best coach horses as well as for
good sized farm horses, we must breed large well developed mares to
a thorough-bred stallion. Where are these mares to come from?
Are they within ceach of the farmer f Certainly not, if we mean
that the mares shall be thorough-bred al&o. These Would cost too
much, for even an untried colt cannot be bought for less than five
hundred or even a thousand dollars, especially if the parents have
exhibited any considerable speed. There is no alternative then but
180 lOSSOOBI AflEIOOLIDUL
to look to cold blooded stock for mues. If sach can be bad, that
sbow considerable speed as well as size, and besides, that most valu-
able of all qualities, endorance, then we have a stock of supe-
rior merit, npoa which to breed the ihorough-hrtd and from which to
raise valuable coach and farm horses.
The writer saw Biamarah soon after his arrival from Europe,
while just recovering from the efieots of a sea voyage, and of course
not acclimated, and again on the farm of his present owner, A. £.
Irabue, Esq^ sear Hannibal, Mo^ about a year after that, and canaay
truthfully that he never saw greater improvement in the general ap-
pearance of any animal, in so short a time. We introduce his plc-
t^ire and a few remarks from the pen of his owner^-^En.
' ^Biwnarch," is between U and 18 bands high, (stallion meas-
ure) a very dark dapple grey— short couple — very short fetlocki,
ESSAYS AKB OTHER PAPERS. 187
rocind in the barrel and of immense mnsonlar power in proportion to
his heighth. He possesses in a high degree, the peculiar charac-
teristic o the Percheron — to wit : rapid draught.
The history of ^^ Bismarck" is briefly this :
Mr. J. E. Clark, a gentleman of wealth, well known in St Louis,
traveling in Europe in '68, was astonished to see with what ease and
speed this race of horses dragged the heavy stone carts through the
streets of Paris, a draft power to each of 6,000 lbs. Assisted by th«
presence and judgment of the equerry of the Emperor Napoleon,
Mr. Clark secured two of the best of these horses, for service in his
native State, Missouri. ^ Bismarck arrived from Europe in the sum-
mer of 1868."
SMALL FRUITS AND VEGETABLES; OR, WHAT MAY
BE DONE IN ONE YEAR.
BY B. FRANK SMITH, OF J£FF£RSOK COUNTT.
We came to Jefferson county in the spring of 1869, with the in-
tention to raise small fruits and vegetables for the St. Louis market
It is somewhat embarrassing for me to write an article for the Agri*
cultural Report until our small fruits come into bearing ; but we can
give some idea of one summer's work, and then the reader ma|r
judge of what may follow if next season should prove favorable.
We have about twenty acres that were cultivated in small fruits
and vegetables. Here we may remark we found work enough for
two men, and more than two hands can cultivate thoroughly. Large
fruit farms are a curse to the country. If men engaged in the fruii
business would content themselves with small places, well tilled, and
let thorough culture be the watchword, we would not hear so much
complaint about expenses eating up the profits, etc. If we are to be
allowed to give our opinion, we may say there are but few men cap-
able of cultivating large farms profitably, either for grain or fhiiL
The best paying fruit farm we ever saw the owner cleared eleven
thousand dollars from thirteen acres in two years. Alongside was a
ihiit farm of eighty acres, from which the owner had never cleared
188 lOBSOUBX A«EIOULTfnUE.
expenses. * He had peaches, grapes, strawberries, pears, etc., but it
has taken all he has ever made, and more, to pay expenses.
But to return to onr own experiments. We planted on onr
twenty acres last spring three acres of strawberries, two and half
of blackberries, one acre of gooseberries, two acres of raspberries,
one hundred and sixty-two early May cherry trees, seven hundred
peach trees, two acres of grapes. One acre of Miami raspberries
were in bearing when we came in possession of the place. The first
thing we did was to cleakr the cornstalks off the ground for strawber^
lies. We then plowed the land as deep as we could with two horses,
it being rooty, and used a half shovel plow after plowing; we har-
rowed the ground well, and marked it off in rows with a single shovel
plow, three feet apart We set our plants beside the furrow, smooth-
ing the ground slightly with the foot ; set plants ten to twelve inches
apart ; filled up the furrows with the hoe as soon as planting was
done. Tliis laying off ground with a plow for strawberries may seem
odd to some, as most men use a line, but I can say from experience
that this is much the quickest way. Some may object, and say the
rows would be crooked, but I can show rows that are so straight that
that it will take a close observer, after the plants have grown a few
months, to tell the difference. K I had a thousand acres to set out, I
would not have a line in the field, but simply a small plow and an old,
steady going horse. I kept a few plants a couple of weeks after set*
ting, to replant if any did not come. This is easily done. I kept
plants very well three weeks by digging a hole in the ground a foot
deep and about four to five feet square ; put the plants in, throwing
over a little straw, dampening it with water, and then putting on a
thin coat of soil. By keeping a few plants over we were prepared if
anything should happen to the first planting to prevent their coming,
to remedy it We found occasion to replant some where they had
'dried out, and in this way got the best stand of plants we ever saw.
Many strawbeiry growers have poor stands from having poor hands to
plant them. Employing boys to set plants because they can be had
ofaeaper is poor policy. Better hire men for five dollars per day than
boys for two shiUings. We write this from a little experience we
had yean ago. For setting plants we used a small trowel, two inches
wide and eight inches long ; have tried several ways setting plants,
and found this the best tool to use. We cultivated our patch eleven
times with cultivator and hoe. The cultivator is one of our own in-
ventions (not patented) ; the teeth are small, made out of 7i (square)
imn, and bent in shape of a bull-tongue plow ; can open or close it to
any width desii^d, and can run it six inches deep if necessary. The
nmners in the strawberry patch have filled up the space between the
plants, and the rows are in nkany places a foot wide ; did not allow the
rwnners to fill up the middle of the tow. Onr patch now (middle of
Kovembeor) looks as well as any we ever saw, and if we do not get
IS8BAn ASD OTESE SABEBS. 189
three or font hundred bushels of berries we shall foel uoreij disay-
pointed.
We planted two and one^half acres of Lawton blaekberriesi three
by eight feet apart We prepared the ground pretty much the same
as for strawberries ; cnltiy ated it over eight times with hoe and cul-
tivator. Oar blackberries were put in rather late, though we got a
fair stand. We think fall planting best £c^r blackberries.
Of gooseberries, we planted one acre. The yariely, Honghtcm
Seedling ; planted fiye by five feet, having room for two lulls of pota*
toes between each the hills of gooseberries. By doing this we did
not lose the use of the ground the first year, but raised one hundred
and forty bushels of potatoes from the gooseberry patch.
We think the gooseberry can be made profitable at two dollars
per bushel. In this latitude they will be ready for market by the
10th of May; can run on them until the 25th of May, when strawber*
ries come in ; then let them rest till strawbemes are g<»ie, and they
will be in marketable condition.
The gooseberry is a safe investment. K the commissioii mer*
chant does not sell them to-day he can sell them to-morrow or next
week. When our gooseberries come into bearing we will calculate
on two hundred dollars per acre net
We planted one acre of Miami raspberries in addition to obo
acre in bearing when we came in possession of the place. We shall
try to make the two acres bear seventy-five bushels per acre by
thorough culture and summer pinching. The acre now in bearing we
pruned or pinched back three times during the summer. The first
time, about the 26th of May, when about three to four feet hi|^, in
two or three weeks the laterals were ten to fifteen inches long ; then
we pinched out the buds of each. In three or four weeks th^ had
thrown out other laterals, which were treated as before. The rowk
now are almost as impassable as a hedge fence, and we feel confident
some stools will yield a gallon of berries. This summer pinching is
an experiment with us, and we feel assured that when we harvest the
fruit we will be abundantly rewarded for our time and extra labor.
A few years ago we cut some canes back with a knife after they had
grown some six feet long. The cane was soon decayed five or six
inches below the cut, and no more laterals oame after than had
before. The cane is not the least affected when summer pinched, in
the way I have described, and then the canes are stronger and stand
up better, and it does away with the necessity of staking and tyiofi
up. However, if timber is plenty and labor cheap, we would say tie
up to stakes, and then you will be insured against storms.
We planted five hundred Olark raspberries ; also, five hundred
Davinson's Thoml^ss Black Gap. They have a fine growth of canes
for the first season. They are highly recommended by parties that
kave seen the fruit from them. The Thorniest is said to be ten days
in advance of the improved Doolittle. If so, it will a valuable market
190 masouu AamouLTUBK.
•
berry for this locality, lapping on tlie strawberry season at least ten
days.
We planted one hundred and sixty-two Early May cherry trees,
losing hot one tree. We expect in three years to gather the fruit of
this fine yariety of cherries. We consider it the best of all the early
cherries. The cherry, next to the peach, is one of the most produo
tive fruits we have in our country. No farmer or fruit-grower should
be without this fruit. It is easily raised, and as yet it has no insect
enemies that we know of.
We set out seven hundred peach trees—one hundred Hale's Early,
two hundred Early Orawfords, one hundred Late Orawfords, and one
hundred old Mixon Freestone. The balance we made up of Heath
Oling, Stump the World, Troth's Early, etc. We are aware that the
Hale has been almost condemned in the West, but it has some good
qualities. It is hard to winter kill, bears well, often paying well the
fourth year for all the trouble and expense of planting and growing.
The Crawford has done so poorly the past three years that if we had
to set another orchard of the number of trees we have we should
plant three hundred Hale's and leave out the Crawford.
We planted an acre of Alton Nutmeg melons, and had hundreds
of melons. The ground was literally covered. We planted on a
southwestern slope (first year land), in hills six by eight feet. They
did not pay us the cost of the seed. The originators claim to have
made a handsome margin after packing and shipping three hundred
miles to market.
We raised a quarter acre of tomatoes, which was a non-paying
erop this season.
The amount of our potato crop was two hundred and fifty bushels,
principally raised between gooseberries and blackberries. The
varieties planted were Early York and Harrison, and two pounds
Excelsior, irom which we dug four bushels fine potatoes. We con*
sider the Early York the best early potatoes, not excepting the famous
Early Rose. ' The Early Rose is a week earlier, but is not to our taste
as fine a flavored potato as the Early York. With us the Harrison is
a poor potato, and is not as good as the Peach Blow.
Our opinion is that the hills of Jefferson county cannot be ex-
celled, north or soath, for a fine table potato. I have had potatoes
from lowa^ Wisconsin and Michigan, but never tasted as fine flavored
potatoes as we raise here.
Our vineyard of two acres bore a small crop of grapes this sea^
son. This is our first yearns experience with grape growing. We
must confess we like ti) work among other small fruits better. We
cultivated and summer-pruned; as did other vineyardists in the neigh-
borhood. Our vineyard is on a northwestern slope ; were troubled
but little with the rot
We planted a half-acre of white beans, mostly between the rewi
oC blaekberries, as our potatoes did not finish out the middle of ttal
X8SAT8 Airi> OTHBB PAFBBS. 101
TO Wf • Planted this crop 2Sd of June, and pulled them 24th of Sep*
tember. AH the cultivation we gave them was running through
twice with a cultivator. The yield will probably be eight bushels.
We expect to make potatoes a specialty, connected with small
flruits. It is a crop easily raised, and is a great benefit to young grow-
ing trees and shrubs. Then it is a paying crop at fifty cents per
bushel net, though they do not pay that price this year. We do not
intend to stop growing potatoes because they are cheap this year, but
renew our vigor another season. They will hardly be so abundant
again for several years.
Some of our peach trees did not make as fine growth as they
would have done had they not been planted among corn. The trees
that were among the strawberries and blackberries made more than
double the growth than the trees among the corn. In hoeing
the strawberries, we occasionally piled purslain about the roots,
which seemed to be a powerful stimulant to the growing of the tree.
Any person walking through the strawberry patch would notice the
difierence at once. Another season we shall pile all the purslain we
have about the roots of the peach trees. What has become of all the
peach borers ? Have not discovered a single one about my trees.
Perhaps our insect enemies are going to let us alone for a while.
What will become of Mr. Riley and Dr. Hull?
^ The expense of hired labor, besides our own work, has been but a
little over one hundred dollars. In the spring we employed three
men until the planting was done, after which the labor of one hand
and myself kept everything in good running order. We kept our
plants, trees and vegetables clean and in good growing condition
simply by cultivating everything, at the proper time, not waiting till
the weeds were up above the plants, but destroying them as soon at
they came through the ground. This ought always to be done in
every kind of a crop. Allow the weeds to get a start, the crop, no
matter what it is, is stunted, and has received a check in its growth
from which it will never recover, no matter how clean the cultivator
may make it afterwards.
Many a farmer has lost a fine crop of corn because he was too
penurious to hire a little extra labor, that he might do his plowing in
season ; to be sure, he was thinking to do it himself in good season,
but alas I the weeds soon got a start, and checked the growth of what
might have been a fine field of corn if he had hired say five or six
days labor, which would cost perhaps six or seren dollars. .
. Our land is all second and third year (except one or two acres of
new land), oi^ has been cultivated two and three years, and as a con-
•eqnence was very rooty and full of stumps. It seemed as though the
sproots would grow a foot a day. We cut them off as many as seven
or right times. Have heard it said that to out down the sprouts in
AsgQtt th^y would never come again, but do not beitoTt it We
cut all through August and they came up ia September, but the
growth they made did Bot amount to anything. This was onr first
year among the roots and stnmpa, and it often seemed disconragingi
but a little perseverance will overcome many little obstacles, as also
large ones.
ST. LOUIS AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL AS-
SOCIATION.
Bf. hoviB, Febmary l, 1870.
OUAB. W. MURTFBLDT,
Secretary State Board of Agriculture :
Dbab Sib : — ^In compliance with your request, I herewith send a
short statistical account of the St Louis Fair, which may be of some
interest to the people of our State.
In 1855 some prominent and enterprising gentlemen of this city
conceived the project of establishing a popular annual fair, which, on
account of the central position of St. Louis in a rich and rapidly grow-
ing country, could not fail to attract great attention, and command
the industrial patronage of the people of many States.
Application was at once made to the State Legislature for a char-
ter and such other special legislation as was necessary to incorpo*
rate the St. Louis Agricultural and Mechanical Association.
The Legislature at once enacted the necessary laws, the Associ-
ation was soon organized, and since 1856 (with the exception of a few
years during the rebellion) the Association ha^s been successful in
getting up the most popular fairs in the whole country.
Their grounds were selected with much care, and fortunately in
a most desirable locality. They are situated on the west side of Grand
Avenue, and in a northwesterly portion of the city. They embrace
about eighty acres of land, which is most beautiful in its general char-
acter.
The relation which the grounds sustain to Grand Avenue is of
very great ooacem to their importance.
It is well known that Grand Ayenue is a wide street eneircling
the entire city, and it has long been the design of the city council U>
inproye it in such a manner aa to make it the finest city thoroughfare
in the world— the Boulevards of the western continent That design
hm more Meentty met the favorable and deoided consideration of onr
B6S1T6 AKD OTH£R PAPtB& , 198
city council, and will no doubt be considered to the full extent of pub*
lie improvements in the most attractive and desirable manner. This
will add vastly to the importance of the St Louis Fair Grounds.
The grounds are improved in the most tasty manner. They are
thickly set with blue grass, and studded with beautiful trees, most of
which are natives of the primitive forests that once occupied the
lands. Those which have been transplanted are of choice varieties of*
evergreens, ornamental txees and shrubs, enhancing greatly the
beauty of the general appearance.
Meandering walks, well improved, and handsomely bordered
drives are laid out in every direction, while here and there oma*
mental fountains send forth, in ceaseless flow, their cooling waters.
The rustic or grotto work and flower beds, which occupy a portion or
the south side of the grounds, form a very centre of attraction. This
beautiful little improvement never ceases to be an object of curiosity
aad admiration to all who visit the grounds.
BUILDIKGS.
. The spacious amphitheatre, by far the largest in the United States
will seat, comfortably, 12,000 people, giving to each a view of the
arena and the exhibitions within the same. There are also two pro-
menades, each of which hold 12,000 persons. Thus it will be seen,
that this immense structure will shelter as many as 36,000 people, and
yet, at the last fair, it has proven insufficient. Thousands of visitors*
could not be accommodated. Hence, the Board of Directors have
determined to erect a new amphitheatre one-half size larger than the
present one. Under the present amphitheatre are 86 booths, at which i
visitors can be furnished with refreshments at all times.
The arena of the amphitheatre is 250 feet in diameter, in the centre, .
of which is the pagoda, designed for committees and a music stand,,
around which all the fine stock is exhibited. The pagoda is 46 feet
• high, has three stories, and is built in the most ornamental style.
The Floral^ Mechanical^ Une Art^ Textile Fabric cmd Mineral'
/Tails are each and all well adapted to the exhibition of such articles
as may be shown in those departments.
The new Mechanical Hall^ built of brick, has the shape of a=
Maltese Cross^ with two wings, one running from north to south, the*
other from east to west. There is a rotunda in the centre, 75 feet
high and 48 feet in diameter. The hall has 48 windows, each 5 by 12'
feet. The rotunda has 16 windows, giving lijght to all parts of the
house. This building was erected during the summer of 1868, at a
cost of about 921,000.
The Machinery Hallj also erected of brick, is 62 feet wide by 250'
feet long, and 25 feet high, is well supplied with shafting and pullies ;,
it has two boilers and a 75 ^orse power engine. This hall was erected
in 1868, at a cost of about 919,000.
14»— A B
184 IU860UKX AGBXOULTUBK.
The Model Cottage, of a neat architectural design, contains four
Mloons, which are well farnished for the comfort and conyenience of
tbe lady visiters.
Paring a period of thirteen years, through which the association
bas existed, it has spent several hundred thousand dollars to beautify
jtnd improve these grounds, and in annual premiums* instead of divid-
ing large dividends as many hare faUely imagined. Nor is it a cor*
jporation made up of a few speculating stockholders. The facts are
quite otherwise.
The capital stock of the association is (82,000, and is held by 659
persons. The association has never declared any dividend^ but has
applied all its money to the improvements of the ground from year
to year, and intends to continue to do so.
Many persons have apprehended that the SL Louis faic was also
the State Fair of the State of Missouri. This is not the case. This
fair is metropolitan in its character, and receives no aid from the State.
Its popularity and success arises alone from the advantages of its
location and the energy and enterprise of the Board of Directors and
officers of the association.
There is not a mercantile house in St Louis of any character that
is not directly interested in its success. A large number of mechanics
and merchants of St. Louis are active participators every year, either
as exhibitor$y judges or stockholders.
Every industrial interest, both in our city and surrounding country,
is most favorably represented by the best men from the varied fields
of industry.
In this way the St Louis fair is an enterprise in which the whole
people are interested, both directly and indirectly. Every year since
the organization of the association, its managers have, with the
greatest liberality, spent from 918,000 (o $25,000 in premiums, and in
1889, the premium list was increased to $30,000. All this money has
gone to encourage the farmer to raise fine hogs, cattle, sheep, horses .
and crops ; also, to encourage the mechanics, and, in short, industry
in every honorable pursuit of life.
VUMBJBR OF SNTBIES IH THB VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS IN THE YEAR 1869.
Agricultural Department 537 entries.
Machinery Department 193 ^
Mechanical Department 569 *'
Products of field *and garden, food, etc 576 ^^
Cotton raised in the State of Missouri 27 bales.
Cotton raised in any of the Southern States 131 *'
Fruits and flowers 349 entries.
Fine Arts Department 690 "
Textile fabrics and materials 861 "
Oeological, Mineral and Chemical Department — 193 '^
BS8ATS AHO OTHXB PAPCM. 195
Poultry ; 177 "
fiheep 125 «
Swine 296 ''
Cattle 241 "
Mules, jacks and jennets 108 ^^
Horses 893 «
, . . . .... .
Total 6,866 **
The large departments of the Association have proven too small
for the display of the numeroQB goods exhibited ; the Textile Fabric
department and Art Qallery were over-crowded, and many fine sp«c*
imens were not seen by the public for want of sufficient room.
To overcome all these obstacles, the Board of .Directors deter*
mined, at their meeting, to enlarge some of the departments, and,
wherever necessary, to build new and suitable structures.
Very respectfully,
Q. O. EALB, Secretary.
Board of Directors and Officers of the 6t Louts Agricultural and
Mechanical Association lior the year 1870 :
DIRECTORS.
Arthur B. Barrett, D. EL Ferguson,
G. B. Allen, Jeff. K. Clark,
. John J. O'Fallon, James S. Farrar,
£. A. Manny, Samuel A. Hatch,
E. 0. Lackland, B. M. Ohambers,
David Glarkson, Henry Clay Hart,
Charles Speck.
OFFICERS.
■
Arthur B. Barret, President
6. B. Allen, 1st Vice President
E. A. Manny, 2d Vice President
Henry Clay Hart, 8d Vice President
6. O. Ealb, Secretary.
B. M. Chambers, Treasurer.
Wm. M. Lindsay, Superintendent Fair Grounds.
f
EVENING AT THE FARM.
Bar J. 7. VBOWHKEMK.
Over the hill the farm- boy goesi
His shadow lengthens along the land^
A giant staff in his giant hand ;
Ifx, the poplar tvee, abpre the spring.
The katydid begins to sing.
The early dews ate fJBdUng-^
Into the stone-heap darts the mink ;
The swallows skim the river's brink ;
And home to the woodland fly the crows.
When oyer the hill the farm-boy goes,
Cheerily calling,
" Co,' boss I CO*, boss I col col coT' *^^^
Farther, farther, over the hill,
Faintly calling; oalKng still,
** Oo', boss r to\ boss ! coM co P
Ihto the yard the farmer goes.
With gratefnl heart at the close of day ;
Harness and chain are hnng away ; .^
In the wagon^shed stand yoke and plow.
The straw's in the stack, the hay in the mow^
The cooling dews are falling—
The friendly sheep his welcome bleat,
The pigs come gmnling to his feet.
And the whinnying mare her master knows.
When into the yard the farmer goes, 1
His cattle calling —
"Co', boss 1 co', bossl col co'I co'I"
While still the cow-boy, far away,
Goes seeking those that have gone astray —
** Co', boss I co', boss f col col"
Now to her task the milkmaid goes,
The cattle con\e crowding through tiie gate.
Lowing, pushing, little and great ;
S8BAY8 AHD OTBXE PAPfiO. 197r
About the troughs, by the farm-yard pump.
The frolicksome yearlings frisk and jump,
While the pleasant dews are falling—
The new milch heifer is quick and shy,
But the old cows wait with a tranquil eye, ^
And the white stream into the bright pail flows,
When to her task the milkmaid goes, ,
Soothing, calling, , _,
^ So, boss! so, bossl sol sol sol"
The cheerful milkmaid takes her stool,
And sits and milks in the twilight cool.
Sayings ^ So, so, boss ! sol so !"
To sapper at last the farmer goes.
The apples are pared, the paper read.
The stories are told, then all to bed*
Without, the cricket's ceaseless song
Makes shrill the silence, all night long*
The heayy dews are falling —
The housewife's hand has turned the lock.
Drowsily ticks the kitchen clock.
The household sinks to deep repose.
Bat still in sleep the fann*boy goes.
Singing, calling,
" Oo', boss I co', boss ! col Col col"
And oft the milkmaid in her dreams.
Drums in the pail with the flashing streams.
Murmuring, ^* So, bossl so! soP
THE DAIRY.
A Paptr read before the Hichary 6hove Farmsr^^ Clvh^ hg
Ghae. W.MuHfdcU.
It is one of the peoaUar characteristics of the American people
that they are impatient of results* If they construct a railroad, or
enter into any joint stock oi>eration whatever, even to the establish*
ment of a cheese dairy, they want to be able to declare a dividend
within six months at farthest I believe that my hearers to-night,
form no exception to the rule. Remember that to patient, i>er8e-
vering toil success is sure.
198 XISdOtJBI AGRlCtJLTUBS.
It is not always safe for a farmer to confine himself to a specialty;
many have risked their all on a single crop and failed. But if there
is in all the wide range of farming, including the specialities of fruit
culture, a single branch of which it may be proper to make a specialty^
it is dairying; and by this we by no means imply that the laws of sup*
ply and demand do not govern dairy products as well as any other
commodity.
Allow me for a few moments to compare one or two of the com*
mon branches of farming with that of dairying; and, first, the raising
of grain. The farmer who cultivates winter wheat, rye or barley, will
wait patiently for the long year to roll round before his grain will
mature and can be carried to market. It wastes, with the most care-
ful, by every handling, by seeding, by harvesting, by threshing, and
last though not least, by marketing. Here the waste, as far as the
farmer is concerned, generally stops. We will not be digressing very
far in considering the result to state, first, that his very impatience leads
him to cultivate the varieties of grain which are calculated to bring
the speediest returns ; and, secondly, let us <;onsider this practice as
to the farm itself. In every sack of wheat, in every load of barley,
is carried away just so much of the farm, viz., of the fertile mineral
constituents which give it value.
In a little work called ^*The Chemistry of the Farm and of the
Sea," we read : ^^ If we make a chemical examination of wheat, we
find that what we are able to rub off from the kernels, after moisten-
ing, with a coarse towel, is made up of woody fibre, and differs but
little from the dry straw of the plant." (Bear in mind, if you please,
that there are some nutritive qualities in the straw itself, and also
that curious substance which, though mineral and really Hinty is yet
soluble, and in that form is silica or silicic acid in its purity, and forma
the glossy coating of the straw. Lands deficient in this cannot
produce heavy, well-matured crops of small grain.) ^^ The next
wrapper, which is a continuous one, contains the most important con-
stituents of the seed, holding the phosphate salts and the nitrogenous
ingredients. Here is stored up in little atoms the phosphate of lime,
magnesia, soda and potassa, which the microscopic mouths of the
root fibres have sucked from the soil in which it grew. The office of
the plant has been simply one of transference ; it has transferred
from the soil the eiftrthy particles, lifted them from their low estate
to the highest within its power to attain, placed them in position to
meet the requirements of men and animals."
This conclusively proves my position that the grain-raising farmer
literally carries off his farm in every load of grain he sells ; conse-
quently his lands are empoverished by this process from year to year,
until at the end of a decade or score of years, he considers his farm
worn out and intending to move westward to new lands ; he adver-
tises his lands as under ^^ a high state of cultivation^ and for sale.
^God save the mark I" He judges correctly of what his lands iyught
SBSATS ikKD OTfiEft ^APXRB. 199
to he^ considering the time he has occapied them, but Btates* facU
contrary to truth. Be is not likely to deceive a western farmer t
But to retrace our steps, compare the stock^raiser with the dairy*
man. I refer now to the man who raises cattle or swine for the sham*
bles: If neat cattle are his specialty, he waits patiently three, lour
or five yeard, according to the va^rious breeds of cattle, before they
a^ mature and ready for the market.
If he raises hogs, he must wait a year and over befbre he can
realize. Very frequently the peculiar trait first referred to will
stimulate farmers to sell steers or swine, especially the first, to the
drover a year before they are fully matured, and during which period
the feeder's profits would be much larger than at any previous time.
Impatient of results, he sells at three years old What he should keep
until four or five years old, but ^^ he must realize immediately." It is
no unfreguent occurrence that the steers reared in Missouri, or Kan-
sas, or in the Indian Nation, are driven into Illinois and there fattened
another year, and often they are fed still another year in Ohio or New
York. This would not be the case if western farmers understood
their true interests.
But, Mr. President, I proposed to compare the dairyman's condi-
tion with that of the grain-raiser or stock-breeder. The dairyman'i
harvest comes twice a day, night and morning. Under his system
most of his lands are in grass and clover, the least exhausting of all
crops (unless allowed to mature seed). His cattle tread his pastures
and furnish the top dressing for them and his meadows. When he
breaks his sward (for he must of necessity raise some grain to feed
to his stock), his lands are as good as new every time. He has it in
his power to so manur.e his land that he can reasonable expect large
crops of grain, and he alone can keep up a regular system of rotation
of crops. Under such a system of farming his lands improve from
year to year, and he will not be likely to move. Should the spirit ot
adventure impel him to such a step, he will find ready buyers for his
farm, and obtain a good price for his improvements.
IHPOBTATIOir OF BUTTER AND CHSESS.
Every careful observer must be astonished at the amount of dairy
products every year imported into Missouri. This, instead of lessen- n
ing as the State is settling up, is every year increasing. Look, if you
please, at the signs of our dealers : "New York butter," the real •*Qilt
edge," "Ohio butter," "Ohio factory cheese," "English dairy cheese,"
"Rock river butter, a No, 1." Who ever saw a sign "Missouri cheese,"
or "St. Charles county butter?" No one, I will venture to say, or, if
one, it will only be the exception.
It would certainly be very interesting, as well as instructive^
were it possible to ascertain the exact amount paid by St. Louis alone
for imported butter and cheese. The other cities of our State ar^
equally dependent upon the- imported produxst, perhaps not in thck
200 JOflSOURX AQVLQWUTUMJL
»
same proportion, because nearly all are snrronnded by an agricul*
tnral population, who furnish a good share of the butter consumed
in their limits. I know that St Louis receives a good deal of butter
that is sold directly from the producer to the consumer, of which no
one but the parties immediately interested take cognizance. I my*>
self have visited St. Louis annually for twelve successive, years, and
sold sometimes as high as three tons of butter, the product of my
own and neighboring dairies, generally directly to the consumer.
As to its profitableness, allow me to say that any one who can
furnish a number one article of butter, and who will patiently and
perseveringly look up his customers, can find, to-day, in the city of
St. Louis alone, five thousand families who will agree to pay (let me
name a moderate price) forty cents per pound, the year round, for all
they may need as a table supply.
Why should the farmers of Missouri, especially those living near
the largest city in the State or adjacent to a railroad line leading
thereto, allow their brethren of Illinois or Ohio, or the still more dis-
tant New Yorkers, to fill their pockets with ^^ the greenbacks'' which
ought to make plethoric their own wallets? Oan we not raise as nu-
tritious grasses, as sweet clover, as sound com, as those farmers east
af us ? Who will dare to say we cannot ?
It is a very common error, of which I myself have been guilty,
that the dairy region of these United States is confined to a strip of
land lying between the parallels of forty and forty*three degrees. That
this territory is well adapted to dairying is no more certain than that
firot-rate butter can be produced in Jefierson, Crawford or Jasper
counties, Missouri. Only introduce the grasses and the requisite skilh
and you can produce number one gilt edge butter. I know this, for
I have tested that which was produced there. It will, no doubt, be
necessary to introduce a somewhat different management, especially
0iM to the time of cows becoming fresh, and to have suitable and con-
venient springs of water, etc., but with these the thing is comparar
tively easy, even more so than farther north. This as to butter, while
in the production of cheese it would be still easier.
A BUTTER DAIRY.
In any pursuit of life theory withoutpractice amounts to nothing;
nor can we look for a correct practice where we have a false theory.
Both should be correct and go together, and to these we should add
.common sense. We must have a clear conception of what we desire
to accomplish, a correct theory how to do it^ and the requisite skill to
<carry out oi^ theory, and the common sense to adapt our practice to
incidental and ever varying circumstances. A chemist may try a
series of experiments with various and different matter or agents ;
now, if by a certain combination he can so manipulate his matter as
ta.pdrod«ice>a.sufe and invariably re^plt,.thea he has a scientific foot 4
iscience is only another word for knowledge.
ASSAYS ASJD 0TB1BR PAPJERS. 201
I very moch doubt whether we shall ever have much science in
agriculture; that is, compared with mathematical science, because
many of our experiments are naturally dependent upon circumstances
and natural forces and agencies beyond our control. Hence, it would
be folly for any man to assert that he, with a certainty ^ could grow a
crop of wheat, corn or oats, or any other crop, dependent upon sun-
shine and rain, and exposed to ravages of insects, droughth or excess
of rain, or untimely frosts. But by the light of experience, having a
correct theory, and the necessary art or practice, we can, by the ad-
dition of common sense, generally arrive at satisfactory results with
tolerable certainty.
What I shall say to yon at this time on the subject of dairying,
while containing a few scientific and universally admitted facts, is
mainly the result of a practical farm life of nearly 25 years. Allow
me to say, that as a dairyman my success is in a greai measure dae to
tiie patient and persevering skill of that hand which was placed in
mine at the altar, when we promised ^Holove and cherish each other."
She has been and is still, I am happy to say, a true helpmate to me.
God bless her I If yon are curious to know something of my public
success as a dairyman, allow me to refer you to the transactions of
the Illinois State Agricultural Society.
Dairying is not the hardest of farm labor, yet it has its hard fea-
tares ; one of which perhaps the hardest is that it is very confining^
if you follow it, you must be on hand at '^ milking time?'* In a well
regulated dairy, the hours for milking are morning and evening, and
should divide the day (twenty-four hours) as near as may be into two
equal halves; thus the harvest of the dairyman comes twice a day,
as already intimated. It comes too in the pleasantest part of the
day for the labor, namely : in the cool of the day for all the outdoor
work, while the indoor work can be done in the shade and during the
hot weather in the coolest part of the house, viz : the cellar or the
spring house.
Before entering upon the detail of butter-making, allow me to
glance at the other branches^of dairying. Where milk can be sold
in its natui:al state, (without water or chalk) that is undoubtedly the
most profitable. It is not very likely that we could obtain a state-
ment as to profits of the proprietors of the '^ Mt. Cabana" dairy, near
St. Louis, nor of any of the other large dairies near the city. They
vary in keeping from one hundred to four hundred cows, and so com-,
pletely have they a monopoly of the milk trade, that to my knowl-
edge, (and I have made some inquiry) not a single can of milk enters
St Louis by any of the different railroad trains. While in Chicago, a
**milk train" arrives every morning over the leading roads, and ^Elgir^
milk, drawn from cows fifty miles away, is made the standard in that
city as to purity and quality. What is to hinder St, Charles and War-
ren counties from furnishing at least half the milk and cream con-
sumed in St. Louis?
S02 MISSOURI AQRICULTDRR.
But, Mr. President, I learn that my friends present here to-night
are about to establish a cheese dairy. The thoughts that I offer here
to night are intended for the annual report of the State Board of Ag-
riculture. The last report (1868) contains some valuable hints as to
the best mode of manufacture and profitableness of cheese, I wilt
confine myself to butter. Allow me to reiterate what I have stated,
that by most people, cheese is esteemed a luxury rather than a ne-
cessity, and that it is no business for a tyro or novice to undertake to
make it on the factory plan. If you intend to make cheese by all
means get a man of large experience to superintend it, or make cal-
culations for small dividends — if not actual losses.
Now, if you please, follow me into detail :
We will suppose the time of year to be the month of June, and
the time of day to be after six P. M. We have a dairy, say of twelve
cows, and there are two or three milkers. The pails, bright tin, or
well-scoured patent buckets, having been well scalded, and being
thoroughly sweet, are taken in hand, and we go out to the yard. —
Every milker milks the same cows, always, if at all practicable ; his
or her hands should be clean, and, if possible, not hard'y if a field-
hand must necessarily do some of the milking, a washing of the
hands in warm water— not so much for the immediate cleansing, al-
though that is indispensable, as for the softening of the hands — ^is a
great help. Always treat your cows gently. Lose not your temper
under any provocation. Remember you are dealing with a dumb
brute, which you can, by patience, educate to be gentle and tracta-
ble ; or, by opposite treatment, to be contrary, ill-natured, and, as far
as profit goes, " of no accountJ'^ Let your milking be done easily as
to motion, taking one back and one forward teat, because it is easiest
for your hands — and le sure to milk perfectly clean. Avoid unnec-
essary conversation, because, being at some distance from the other
milkers, and the operation of milking naturally making some noise,
you must stop frequently to enquire what is said, when your corres-
pondent, in turn, stops to listen to your remarks. The stopping is to
be avoided rather than the conversation. If you incline to hum a
cheerful tune, and your cows are accustomed to your temper, it is
not objectionable. It is also recommended to milk your cows in the
same order, though this is not essential, unless you have a cow which
will not wait. I have known such. Our pails being full, we carry
the contents to the milk room or cellar and strain immediately into
the pans, each holding from six to ten quarts. (They should never
be over three-fourths full.) We use for this a strainer pail, and also
an independent strainer. These utensils must, of course, be well
cleansed and scalded each time they are used. In the first washing,
the use of soap is recommended — fatty substances cannot well be re-
moved without — next use pure water, and scald well after that. The
practice of setting pans and pails out into the sunshine, is a good one,
Itet it he understood that absolute cleanliness is necessary to success*
ESSAYS AND OIHER PAPERS. 203
From what has been said, it will readily be inferred that I intend
to confine my remarks to the art of making butter.
Milk and cream want air, though the immediate current of a
strong breeze is to be avoided, as it tends to make the cream hard
and leathery ; milk-pans are made flaring to secure this object. In
the spring or fall, or whenever practicable, according to the weather,
the milk is placed in a milk room, and in very warm days in the cellar
— both if practicable^ constructed with a northern or eastern expos-
ure. These should be kept perfectly clean and sweet, free from all
vegetables, fresh meats or other odors — and to effect which there is
nothing more efficient than whitewash or lime — ^because there is.
nothing more easily affected by such foreign odors than milk, cream
or butter; both milk- room and cellar should be fitted /br, and used
only^ for their legitimate purpose, except a short time in winter* .
The temperiiture of these rooms should be between sixty and seventy
degrees ; if it gets much higher there is a waste, the milk souring be-
fore all the cream is thrown up ; if less, it takes a longer time than
is necessary for the cream to rise, and injuriously affects the quality.
In from thirty to thirty-six hours the milk may be skimmed. The
cream is put into a large cream pan, also widest at the top, and every
time new cream is added the contents are gently stirred. No cream
should be added if churning is to be done within four hours, because
it needs that time to ripen or to become thoroughly incorporated^
and even tempered with the mass. False cream is formed by adding
cream just before churning, and always attended by waste. When
churned, the cream should be at a temperature of sixty-two degrees.
The use of a good thermometer is very necessary. If your cream is
too cold, hot water — not scalding — may be added ; but if the cream
is too warm, cold water or ice may be used, moving the dash of the
churn gently at the time. If your animals have been properly salted,
once or twice a week, the butter will come in about twenty-live or
thirty minutes. I would not have it produced in less time than twenty
minutes, if I could ; that time is required, in my opinion, to obtain all
the butter your cream contains. Butter consists of fine globules of
oily or fatty matter, which must have time to form perfectly, and
which should not be broken. " Agitators,'^ and such like churns,
which keep up a strong motion, are to be avoided for reasons just in-
dicated. A churn promising to make butter in five minutes would
not recommend itself to me on that account.
When your butter is come, and well gathered by a few easy
strokes of the dasher, draw off your butter-milk, pour in a pailful of
cold water and move your dasher a few times, this will quickly sepa-
rate the butter-milk ; if not done to your satisfaction, repeat and per-
fect the separation by hand and ladle. Here is one of the great
points of adding the keeping qualities of your butter, viz : perfect *
reparation of the butter-milk. If you undertake to effect this by the
use of the ladle alone, without water, your butter will be worked too'
201 mSBOUBI A0HICULTUBI.
much, the small globules broken, and yonr barter becomes salvy and
greasy, and can never be classed as No. 1. Twenty years practice, and
considerable saccess, have confirmed me in this opinion. I question
if there is in itU Delaware and Herkimer counties, N. Y., a single
family of the contrary opinion. The color of the water used in wash*
ing your butter will indicate when your work is well done. Another
important point is the salting : Nearly an ounce of the best of ^^ Liver-
pool" blown ; or if that cannot be had, of ground ^ solar" salt to
a pound of butter, is probably nearest right. By a little attention,
and one or two actual weighings, you can come at the quantity nec-
essary for each churning by measurement. Have your bowl or tray
and ladle well scalded, so that neither salt or butter will stick to them ;
spread your butter well and evenly, and partially work in your salt ;
cover well, and set in a cool place ; let it stand from four to six hours,
then work it over with the ladle, (some use the hands ; I do not rec-
ommend that,) and thoroughly incorporate the salt; pour off the little
brine that has formed, and pack away. The color of this brine will
also tell you whether the product has been well purged of the butter-
milk.
It is not necessary to make a brine to cover your butter. A little
brine, say from a pint to one quart to the firkin, will form, any way,
and this should not be expelled by over working.
A few words as to cooperage : Oak and ash firkins of uniform size,
free from worm holes or sap in the staves are best They should be
well soaked before using ; this is best done by pouring boiling hot
water into the same and allowing it to cool, if filled full ot hay first
it is all the better ; after that scour well with brush and soap, because
coopers heat the staves, and often blacken them ; give another scald-
ing and then they are ready to receive your butter.
In packing, sprinkle a single handful of dairy salt at the bottom,
and make even layers of each churninfi: — pack as solifi as possible.
As you proceed, rub the sides with a little salt, so as to make the but-
ter cleave from the sides. Color in butter is a great point. It should
be uniform and natural — not artificial. If, for some reason, there is a
variation, keep such a churning for the family or immediate sales.
Always have the family supply on hand before you commence filling
a firkin, then fill as fast as possible, remembering, that while milk
and cream want air, butter must'he kept from the air, for when ex-
posed it rapidly deteriorates. A double cloth, with the addition of
the open head, will be sufficient. while you are filling your package.
Never cut out of the firkin for family supply or sale, if it is at all to be
avoided. Fill within half an inch of full, spread on a clean white
cloth, free from starch, cover this with a half-inch layer of salt, and
head up tight Remember this : if a farmer wishes to sell his wool to
. the best advantage, he turns out the shoulders of his fleeces, and not
tUe tag locks ; so with your packages— they should be neat and tidy^^
which speaks well for the contents, and invites inspection.
X88AT8 .AHI) OTHIK PAPBRS. 205
To the tryer, a number one article of butter will be of uniform
color, not salt to the taste, crisp, cleaving from the knife, and sweet
as a rose. For such an article you can demand the highest market
price— often more, and always find a ready market. There is never
an over stock of this quality of butter.
In a dairy of six or more cows, it is necessary to churn every day,
always excepting the Sabbath, in order to honor which it may be
necessary to chum twice on Saturday. It is best, in large dairies, to
make only iwo or three sales. Summer is a poor time to move but-
ter ; families purchase only for immediate use; autumn or early win-
ter, when a supply of from four to six months is needed and purchased
by every family which is able, is the best time to sell. Butter made
at such times, or later, may be sold to good advantage in ^* Welsh "
tubs, pails, or even rolls.
It will now be readily understood that to enter upon the business
under consideration some necessary preparation should be made ; a
good, cool, well- ventilated cellar and milk room, if possible with a
northern frontage, a good and handy supply of pure water, the uten-
sils, a proper arrangement of pastures, water convenient and of ready
access to the cattle, and above all to the cows themselves, are, of
course, absolutely necessary.
THE HONEY-BEE AND ITS GAINS DAY BY DAY.
BT A. E. XBABUB, HANNIBAL, MO.
We have occasional calls through the agricultural press and
Otherwise, to know whether bee-keeping in Missouri is profitable, and
also as to the best management to make it so. One enthusiastic gen-
tleman, desiring to make bee-keeping a specialty, and not having the
means to ride, walked over 130 miles from the interior of the State to
visit this apiary, arriving yesterday.
Not having time to answer as to management, for this would re-
quire a volume, I may be allowed to say, in a word, that to succeed in
bee-keeping requires a love for the business almost equal to the love
I and enthusiasm of this gentleman, and that hardly anything else will
do.
In the meantime, in compliance with yours of December 27th, I
take pleasure in furnishing the following record by return mail :
SMM UESttOURI AORICyLTURS.
I have never believed that saccess in anything could be achieved
at haphazard, and without knowledge, and more especially is thia
true of farming and bee-keeping. There are any number of guesses
and reckons about both, but there is nothing like, a reliable pair of
balance scales, and the thing recorded day by day. In applying this
test to farming and feeding stock, I find the best informed of nearly
all our agricultural writers on some points are greatly in error, espe-
cially as to the value, for instance, of cooked feed.
But to the present subject. I find, as a rule, that Italians store
from 50 to 100 per cent, more honey than the common bee.
There is a family of farmers in the upper end of this county, who
are natural born bee-keepers, and have always had bees and honey
while their neighbors have been running out of both.
Some seasons ago I furnished one of them an Italian swarm for
experiment, rather against his wishes, for he is much opposed to inno*
vation.
He had some stands of common bees. He noticed the Italians
worked earlier and later, and stored more honey, and increased 100
per cent. The blacks did not increase so much. Next season he had
thus two Italian and twenty stands of common bees. The difference
this time was more marked : the two Italians increased to thirteen,
and the twenty blacks to only twenty-three stands.
The blacks of his brother increased only ten per cent., while the
Italians increased 300 per cent. The difference in the honey-gather-
ing capacity of the two races is not so marked, though greatly in
favor of the Italian, because of their greater energy and longer pro*
boscis, enabling them to reach the nectars of many flowers that are
inaccessible to the common bee.
It is, then, important to have the Italian bee, if we want complete
saccess, This is imperative.
In the Agricultural Report for Missouri last year, we gave the in-
crease, by weeks, of an average Italian swarm daring the years 1867
and 1868. The net increase in the former being 87 pounds, counting
the gains of the two swarms that came from it, and of the latter 100
pounds net— it not being allowed to swarm.
This year I put a medium colony of Italians in a large hive, which
weighed, including frames^ comb, honey board, extra honey recep-
tacles, etc., 59 pounds. The bees and honey weighed 22 pounds — thua
the hive, bees, honey, etc., weighed 81 pounds.
The intelligent bee-keeper will require no persuasion to study
the following record :
1869, May 1, 81 pounds, gross. Cherry trees in bloom.
- 2, 8H «
^* Apple trees in bloom.
u
u
8,
83
4,
84
6,
84i
9,
86
ESSAYS AND OTHCR PAPSKS. S07
8, 90| pounds. Weather warm and genial.
Weather warm again.
Heavy rains.
Heavy rains; apples out of bloom; first
bloom of Thornless Black Cap raspberry.
Still wet.
First Doolittle and wild black raspberry in
bloom.
10, 92i
u
11, 92
u
12, 911
w
18, 91i
u
14, 9U
44
15, 92^
U
16, 92
M
17, 92
M
18, 91
U
19, 91
U
20, 91
U
21, Wi
u
22, 91i
u
23, 91i
u
24, 92i
u
25, 94i
u
26, 95i
CI
27, 96}
u
28, 96}
44
29, 96}
(4
81, 95i
U
raoe 1, 96i
44
2, 97|
44
3, 101}
14
4,102
U
5,1U3}
44
6,103}
44
7,103
44
8,105}
44
9,106}
44
10,108}
U
11,108}
U
12,108}
(4
18 to 16, 108}
a
17, 105}
tt
18,108}
C(
19 to 27, 108}
a
28,112
u
Cold rain all day.
Cold rain all day ; first bloom of Rntland
raspberry.
First bloom of white clover, no honey in it
Kirtland and Doolittle raspberry, and black
locust trees in full bloom ; first blossom of
Philadelphia ; no honey yet in white clo-
ver, and but little in black locust
Two inches rain.
Honey locust in bloom and honey in it, also
a little honey in white clover.
Damp.
Damp.
Black locust out of bloom.
Warm and clear.
Warm and clear ; bees gathering honey and
bee bread from red clover.
Clinton, Taylor and wild grapes in bloom.
Honey dew on oak leaves.
Cool; SO^ Fahr. an hour after sunrise.
44 ' tt 44 U 44
44
Honey in white clover for the first time.
Thornless Black Cap ripe ; rain to-day.
Kirtland ripe ; five inches rain ; some honey
in white clover again.
Working freely on white and red clover.
Philadelphia raspberry plenty and ripe.
20S MISSOITRf AGRICULTHKB.
r
29 to 30, 112 pounds.
July 1,112 " .
2, 113| " Clear and warm.
3, 113i "
4, 116 •*
6, 117i "
6 to 9, 117i "
10, llSf **
16, 117i "
20, 115i "
24,118i **
80, 121i "
Daring August, because of unfavorable weatheri they scarcely
gained or lost. I omit the dreary record.
September 3d, 129^ pounds. Yellow bastard Spanish needles in
bloom,
September 4th, 13^ pounds.
« 6th,137i "
** 6th, 162 *«
«* 7th, lUi «
** 8th, 147i «
•* 9th, 150J ''
" 10th, 165 « Rain ; warm.
** 11th, 157 "
t* 14th, 166 **
They gradually and sldwly declined from this date until the 8th
of October, when they weighed 163 pounds. I then broke them up
and prepared them for winter quarters.
Put about 126 Italian swarms in a bee house built this fall on the
top of the ground. The outer walls are of plank and the inner wall
of the same, three feet distant, and the space between stuffed with
straw — four or five feet of * straw on top and boards on top of that
The inside diameter of the house is fourteen feet, and the walls three
feet thick. The doorway is stuffed with straw and blankets.
A thermometer on the end of a long pole penetrates through the
straw into the center of the room, by withdrawing which the inside
temperature may be known at any time.
It is not satisfactory. There is so much ventilation through the
top and walls that the thermometer varies almost as rapidly inside as
it does out Owing to the peculiar winter, some that I have in the
ground are doing much better.
If we were having such a winter as the last, the case would be
reyerqed.
I wish to put on record a remarkable circumstance that happened
last fall.
About the 1st of September a hive cast a swarm. They settled
oh a limb of an oak in the horse-lot adjoining the public road.
B88AT8 AND OTHER PAPBBS. 209
They were beautiful Italians, but considering they coulc^ not
make enough honey to win tier, and the limb was a large one, forty feet
from the ground, I concluded to let them go. I would have returned
them to their own hive, had 1 known from which colony they emigrated.
Two days after I wm warned that the bees were swarming again,
and on investigation I found it was this identical swarm, which had
remained clustered forty-eight hours, and were proceeding to find
more comfortable quarters.
They explored around for an hour or two, and finally returned to
the same limb and clustered again. There was no other limb within
ten feet of them, and here they remained three or four weeks.
In about two weeks, in the middle of the day, I could see a honey
eomb of a golden yellow, protruding below the cluster. This comb
must have been eight or ten inches long and wide. I saw them last
about the Ist of October.
About a week afterwards I concluded they had done so well I
would hive them ; but on proceeding to the locality, I regretted to,
find they were gone, and nearly all the honey and comb gone too.
Their location was about eight feet from the body of the tree, ex-
posed to the North and West winds, and to every mischievous boy
thai passed, which finally, I suppose, caused their destruction.
I think this has not happened before in the experience of any
one, and proves a decided exception to the rule that bees will not re-
main clustered on a limb more than twenty-four hours.
THE HONEY EMPTYING MACHINE, (Or Melextrastor.)
BY W. e. OHUBOH, MEXICO, MO.
It has been known to most intelligent bee-keepers for years, that
bees consume a large amount of honey and time in producing the
wax from which their combs are built, though doubtless there are
many that are neither aware of the expense of the comb or the pro-
cess by which the wax is formed.
Wax is a secretion of the honey bee — as leaf lard is of the hog—
«nd exudes from under the rings of the abdomen in thin, 8emi-tran»>
parent scales, about the thirty^ecood of an inch in diameter, which
♦15— A B
210 lOBSOURI AGRIOULTURB.
r
are united together by the heat of the cluster of bees to form the
cells.
To produce this secretion, ^' idleness and indulgence" seem to be
absolutely necessary, and when comb-building commences, a large
' part of the colony cease operations, eat large quantities of honey and
hang lazily in large festoons in the hive, where they remain very
quiet until the wax is secreted^ when it is taken away by fother bees
and placed in the required position, being rendered soft and pliable
by the heat of the cluster*
Those who have given the subject the closest attention, estimaie
* that from twenty to thirty pounds of honey are consumed to prpduce
one pound of comb. If we allow that one-half the bees in a colony
engage in comb-building — which is a low estimate — ^that will, of
course, reduce the working force one-half, and make the actual loss
from forty to sixty pounds of honey for every pound of comb pro-
duced.
' Estimating the honey at twenty*five cents per pound, and we ste
that the comb is actually worth from ten to fifteen dollars a pound ;
and then when we remember that ordinary hives contain from three
to five pounds of comb, we can easily see what we lose by being ob-
liged to destroy the comb in order to obtain the honey.
After pondering these facts for a brief period, the bee keeper
will be prepared to hail with joy any plan by which this lavish expen-
diture may be saved, and bee keeping rendered more than doubly
profitable.
In the first edition of his "Mysteries of bee keeping," Mr. Quinby
urges the necessity of changing the comb occasionally to avoid
dwarfing the bees, by the accumulating cocoons in the cells reducing
their size, and consequently the size of the bees hatched in them. In
later editions, however, he abandons the position, having been forced
to do so oy unmistakable evidence to the contrary, having examiiied
he says, ''hives that had been occupied for twelve years without
changing the comb, and found the bees as large and healthy as^y.'^
Acting upon Mr. Quinby's original idea several hives were gottX up,
so arranged as to force the bees to ren^w their comb once or twice a
year ; but happily this absurd idea was forced to give way to reason
and experience, and the great anxiety for some time has been for
some plan by which this great waste might be avoided.
Several attempts were made to furnish hives with artificial comb,
but without success, and for once, at last^ Yankee ingenuity was. at
fault) while it remained for M^or Van Erushka, of Segnano, in Italy,
to conceive the idea of constructing a machine for extracting the
hoi^egr trom the comb without iiguring the cells, so that the combs
, might be again returned to the bees.
When the machine was first announced, it success was doubted
by many who thought the means were too simple to aceomplisVso
desirable an end ; but notwithstanding all doubts, it has won its way
SS8ATS Ain> OTHER PAPSB8. 211
into public favor, and does all and even more than was claimed for it
by the inventor.
The following description of the machine, by the inventor, is
taken from Adair's ^Annals of Bee Oultore :"
**The whole matter is very simple, and reminds one of the ^egg of
Oolumbns,' and is founded upon the use of centrifrigal jarre. You ^
can convince yourself very easily of this, by trying the experiment.
on a small scale. Take a pipe cover, place a piece of uncoveired
honey comb into it, tie a string to it, swing it around in horizontal
circles, and you will see that honey is emptied out of the comb very
easily.
^^Foundcid upon this idea, I have constructed an apparatus which
gives the most satisfactory results, and offers many advantages to
those obtaining honey in large quantities, and among these advan-
tages 9xe purity of the honey ^ celerity in gaining it, and intact preeer*
vation of the cell-structure, which is frequently so very valuable to
the apiarian.
^o give a general idea of this machine, imagine to yourself a
horizontal disk, put in rotary motion by a wheel; upon the edge of
the di^k are eight perpendicular parts, surrounded or connected by a
wire screen, and thus forming an octagon on the disk. If now you
hang the uncovered combs with their frames upon the post on the in«
ner side of this wire octagon, and put the disk in motion, so. as to
make about six revolutions per second, the combs will be emptied in
one or two minutes.
^^The honey is caught in a circular tub surrounding the disk and
drawn off at the bottom.
^With such a machine a laborer can easily empty in a day from
oight to ten hundred weight previously uncovered comb, and the
combs are emptied so thoroughly, by continuing the rotary motion
long enough that they appear perfectly dry."
The first account of the machine was published in the fall or win-
ter of 1867, and during the season of 1868, it was tested by several
perrons in different parts of the United States, and although in many
cases the machines were very rudely constructed, yet in every case
heard from, they proved a decided success.
During that and the succeeding seasons many improvements were
made, rendering the machine much more effective and easy to manage,
as also more readily cleaned, and less liable to get out of order.
Mr. Boot, of Medina, Ohio, after describing in the Bee Journal a
machine made by himself, says : ^with our lady assistant we emptied^
weighed and sealed up, 285 pounds of honey, in about three-fourths
of a day."
Farther on he says : "we poured our honey into a large jar with
strainer attached, and it is then drawn out by a faucet into the self-
sealing pkit jars as they stood on a pair of scales, so that it is quickly
and accurately weighed."
S18 USSOOJJBl AaBIOULTURS.
■
Later in the season, writing to the Medina Gazette^ he says : *^
the spring we selected a strong stock, with a yery prolific queen, and
first removed every bit of drone cpmb from the breeding apartment^
and supplied its place with clean straight frames of worker comb ;
second, we arranged the second story, as it was a Langstroth hive, so
as to hold frames above as well as below ; third, the honey was re-
moved by the machine at intervals, of from three days to a week, or
just before the bees were about to seal it up ; fourth, as the swarm
soon became very populous, we were several times obliged to remove
the comb from the centre and supply its place with empty frames, to
prevent their clustering out and ^^loafing," so that they have in reaHt^
built several frames of comb besides yielding us 203 pounds of puxe
honey up to this date, July 21, and from appearances we think they
ore not near ihrougK yetP
^Of course all our stocks have not done equally as well, yet we
think we could have them do so with the same treatment
From twenty stocks in the spring, some of which were quite
weak, we have taken just 1,000 pounds of honey and increased out
number to forty stocks, or an average of fifty pounds of honey and one
swarm for each.
At the Michigan Bee Keepers' Convention, held at Jackson,
Michigan, September 29, 1869, Mr. Marvin said': ^^This machine would
pay for itself if only used with a single hive for a sin^e season."
Mr. Kood said : ^No one can appreciate its value until he tries
it; no apiarian can afford to do without it, as the saving from the
repeated use of comb is immense. The quality of the honey is much
better than when obtained by straining."
Mr. Baldridge said : ^I can remove one hundred pounds per hour;
have taken from a single hive, the present season, 175 lbs. of liquid
honey, and forty pounds of box honey."
R; R Murphy, of Falton, Illinois, writing to the Bee Journal^
says: ^^I used the honey machine on one hive, and got 218 poun<kaf
honey, ad follows : •
July 7th 16i pounds.
July 28th 6 pounds.
August 14th 27ipoundB.
August 2l8t 36| pounds.
August 27th 84 pounds.
September 6th .' 83 pounds.
September 11th 28^ pounds.
September 2lBt 87 pounds.
Total 218 pounds.
And I could have obtained more if I had used the machine oftener.
I would not be without the honey machine for three times what il
cost"
Mr. J. M. Bobnette, of Oentralia, Illinois, writing to me Nov. 8^
B88AT8 ASD OTHXB PAPKBS. SM
1869, Bays : ^With the machine I got of you at the St Louis Fair, I
emptied about fifty pounds of honey, and took it to St. Lonis with
my box honey, and sold it for Ave cents a pound more than the box
honey."
Mr. Wolf, of Jefferson, Wisconsin, in the Bee Journal^ says : ^IX
folly answers the purpose intended. I confidently expect, by the nee
of this machine, to increase my honey crop three fold next year. I
have emptied both old comb and new to my entire satisfaction, and
without damaging either."
Pages might be filled with extracts like the foregoing, but these
are enough to show the estimate in which the machine is held by
those who have it in use.
When I commenced the manufacture of honey emptiers last sea-
son, I found those in the market were more or less objectionable;
some haying no gearing, and consequently running too slow to accom-
plish the work when the honey is thick and viscid, while those that
were provided with gearing were not only complicated and expen-
sive, but had the gearing placed above the tub so that any dirt or
grease falling from the gearing would be mixed with the honey.
To obviate these objections, I arranged my machines so as to
place the gear underneath the tub. By this arrangement, 1 not only
get rid of the dirt of the gearing, but the machine is much simplified
and rendered much easier to clean as well as more convenient to use,
and at the same time so reducing their expense as to place them in
reach of every person having any use for them.
I am satisfied that I only express the opinion of every one that
has tested ils merits, when I say that it is destined to work a revolu-
tion in bee keeping, and that next to movable comb hives, it is the
most valuable invention connected with the apiary, that has been
made during the present century.
By its use, transferring from box to moveable comb hives is much
more readily managed, and nearly all the comb utilized ; by its use
during the early spring, breeding can be stimulated to an almost
unlimited extent, and by its continued and judicious use through the
season, the strength of the colonies can be kept up to their maximum
without difficulty ; and last, though not least, by its general introduc-
tion we shall have our market supplied with pure honey instead of
the conglomerated trash composed of honey, comb, bee bjread and
dead bees, with which the market is now so largely supplied.
HIBSODBI AQRICULTnBl.
THE OBJECTS OF PLOUGHING.
Prof. Way discovered that soils not only possess the power of
separating ammonia, but likewise other bases from their solutions, and
they hold them, after being absorbed, with great tenacity. Thus one
hundred grains of clay soil taken from the plastic clay formation of
England absorbed one hundred and fifty grains of potash from a solu-
tion of caustic potash containing one per cent of the alkali. It is
interesting to observe that the liquid was not in this case filtered
through the soil, but only left in contact with the cold solution for
twelve hours. Prof. Way has further shown that soils have the ability
to separate the alkaline bases from the acids with which they are
combined. He found that when saline solutions were slowly filtered
through soils five or six inches deep, the liquids which passed through
were deprived from their fdkaline bases, as potash, soda, ammonia
and magnesia, and only the acids were to be found in combination
with some other base. Thus when muriate of ammonia was filtered
through the soil, the ammonia was removed, and a corresponding
quantity of lime, in combination with muriatic acid, was found in the
filtered liquid. In the same way sulphate of potash was deprived
of its base, and the liquid collected gave sulphate of lime on an
analysis. .
Prof. Liebig has attempted to show that in this power of soils,
which enables them thus to attract manurial substances from their
solutions is analagous to that by which charcoal separates coloring
matters and odoriferous matters from their combinations. This is
known to be partially mechanical and partly chemical.
The chemical force like that which causes the solution of sub-
stances in water is very weak ; it attracts substances itself, but does
not produce any change whatever upon the character of the sub-
stance. The coloring of the odorous is in contact with the pores of
the charcoal just as coloring matters adhere to the fibres of cotton or
wool, quite unchanged in their nature. Neither powder pit-coal nor
the hard, glossy charcoal from sugar or blood has much power to
attract coloring matter from their solutions, while porous blood or
bone charcoal possesses the property in a very high degree ; and
among wood eharcoals, those which have the greatest amount of
capillary porosity.
S16 UIBSOUBI AGRIOULTUBE.
It is just 80 with soils, those which have the greatest amount ot
oapillary porosity will condense a greater amonnt of mannrial sub-
stances on their internal surfaces ; will retain them longer against th^
adverse solvent action of water, and will give them out most readily
to the rootlets of the growing plant A mass of adhesive clay will
absorb but a very slight amount of available manure ; but if this
mass is rendered friable by mechanical processes, its power of ab-
sorption is amazingly increased. In view of what has been stated,
it is very clear that ploughing land increases its porosity by pul-
verization.— [Selected^
TAS WYCK'S 8WBBT SIBERIAN CRAB APPLE.— RumJ Sob Torktr.
NEW FROITS.
r
A NEW SWEET CRAB APPLE.
At a recent meeting of the New York Fruit Grovew^ Club, a
Miss Van Wyck from neSir Fishkill, New York, exhibited five varie-
ties of seedling crab apples. These seedlings had been reared in
thiswise: The old crab trees upon the old Van Wjck domain had
dropped their fruit, the seed of which had germinated, and the young
trees resulting had been carefully transplanted and cultivated. The
fruit exhibited was from these seedlings. Among them was one
notable for its beauty, size, and sweetness. It was as handsome as a
finely colored pear, with a delicate bloom upon it like a plum. It had
the appearance of a crab and yet it was as sweet as honey. The
question recurred to every one who saw and tasted it, ^^ Is it a crab?''
If it is, it must be of great value, not so niuch to the East, perhaps^
but to the extreme Northwest, where this class of apples alone, with
one or two exceptions, succeeds. The hope expressed in these
columns by Mi*. Elliott, early in the present year, that time and ex-
periment might, ^^in a few years, produce for us varieties 0f this crab
class which shall equal if not surpass the best varieties of the apple
now known," seems much nearer realization than was then supposed.
So far as we are aware, this is the only sweet crab in the country.
Is it a crab ? Following his professional instinct as the entomolo-
gist does who tears the bark from dead trees the day long for a bug»
Mr. Fuller posted off at once to see the tree and answer this ques-
tion. He reported, ''No mistake about it." He sent specimens of it
to Charles Downing, who also visited the tree the next day, and
asserts there is no question about it. From Mr. Downing we have
tlie follo^iug note and description Of the fruit, which, with the illus-
tration herewith presented, formally introduces this fruit to the
pomological world:
Eds. Rural New-Yoreer : I send you, as requested, a descrip-
tion of Van Wyck's Sweet Siberian Orab. Very truly,
OHAS. DOWNINa
DESCRiraOK.
Fruit large for a Siberian, or about an inch and a half in diame-
ter, roundish^ slightly conic, regular; skin whitish, shaded, and mot-
•16— A R
N
tin laSBOUSI A8RI0DLTDRE.
tied witli light red ; stalks an inch long, slender, inserted in a nar-
row, emooth cavity ; calyx small, closed ; segments short, closed ;
basin round, open, very slightly corrugated; flesh wbittisti, fine,
rather firm, moderately jaicy, with a honeyed sweet flavor, quite
rich; core small and close. — Rural New-Yorker.
THE PATER NOSTER PEAR.
The Pater Noster was catalogued by Van Mons in 1823, and is
therefore comparatiTely an old pear. It is sometimes sent out under
the name of Paul Shielens, to which it is superior in quality, altbongh
somewhat resembling it in appearance. The description of the fruit
•is as follows: Size, large; form variable from obovate obtuse pyri-
form to irregular obovate acute pyriform ; skin greenish yellow, mot-
tled and shaded in the sun with red, netted, patched and dotted with
russet brown; stalks stout, usually planted with a lip; basin shallow;
flesh white, juicy, melting, slightly vinous. Good to very good. Oc-
tober.to November. — Rural NeuhTorker.
Mineral Wealth of Missouri
TWO LECTURES
DELIVEBED IN THB HALL 07 BBFBBSENTATIVES, JEFFERSON CITT, MO., FEBRUARY
im AND 18tb, 1870, IN AGCOBBANCB WITH HOUSE RESOLUTIONS.
I. Mines and Mining Education. II. Coal and Iron.
BY PROFESSOR CD. WILBER,
INSPBCTOR OF MINING LANDS,
wim Air AppniDxx.
COPYRIOHT SECURED. PI^LISHED BY PBRMISSIOir OF THB AUTHOR.
I.-MINES AND MINING EDUCATION.
The interest with which minerals and mineral wealth are regarded
is universal. A man is only a walking cabinet of minerals — a micro-
cosm of metalloids. Besides definite proportions of phosphates, car-
bonates, nitrates, hydrates and oxides, what is he ? Ohemically con-
sidered, Adam was SSpoandsof phosphate of lime, didtribu ted through
5 pails of water ; while Eve required for her corporeal existence only
25 pounds, with 4 pails of water.
^ Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." This law dis-
tributes him to the sources whence he came, gathers up and restores
the fragments or atoms, so that nothing is lost The earth is our
mother, and the eagerness with which we listen to her revelations, is
it not inborn ?
We will further say that in proportion as we recede from barbar-
ism and advance towards civilization, our progress is marked by the
discovery of minerals, the inoreased production of mines, and by fre-
quent discovery of new usee of metals. Gold, Silver, Oopper, Lead,
. Tin, and Iron-*these are the pavements on which humanity marches
onward— and ibe golden streets of the New Jerusalem are only the
earnests of industrial progress continued and enjoyed forever !
With this acknowledged connection between men and minerals,
let ^s trace some of the metallic veins up through human history, and
we shall see that our zeal for metals — ^whether coarse or precious,
most civilized, as we claim to be — ^is far greater than the ancients
ever possessed.
While they worship metalic images we worship the precious
metal itself not atheistic nor idolatrous, but as unqualified trinitar-
ians — devotees, acceptable and orthodox, of the American trinity —
the golden eagle, the silver dollar, and the copper cent And it is the
force of this religion in us that will draw us back to a specie basis in
spite of all the recommendations of the Forty-first Congress.
The rudest tribes of mankind have neither ideas nor uses of met-
als. The Boshman, Oaffire, or Hottentot, appreciates a cowry above a
piece of silver, or gold. A Oheyenne or Apache Indian prefers a flint
to a ruby, and swine prefer artichokes to pearls.
222 HIS80UBI AeRICr0LTUBE«
In earlier times we find the use of silver most prevalent It was
cnrrency, or money. For the purchase of Hebron, Abraham weighed
the price in silver, " current money with the merchants " Of gold
and silver large quantities were used for ornaments of the person,
and the adornment of temples ; also for ransoms, tributes, and taxes.
Sums or weights of silvei: and gold are noted which indicate that the
mining industry of the Egyptian, Assyrian, Persian, Jewish, QreciaB,
and Roman empires was co-extensive with their greatness. The city of
Damascus paid a tribute of 2,300 talents of silver to Babylon (a talent
is ^^2,000 nearly), and according to Pliny, Gyrus obtained £7,7:!D,000,-
000 from the conquest of Asia. From Herodotus we learn that the
yearly tribute paid to the Persians was 3,000,000 lbs in silver. During
60 years Oarthage paid as tribute to Rome 9,000 lbs, Troy, of silver.
Oaligula ornamented the surmor and weapons for his grand circus or
coiiBeum with 1^000 lbs. of silver.
The ancients obtained metals from many localities. Eschylus de«
scribes ihe mines of Larium a^ ^^the fountains of the silver treasure of
the earth." The inodes of obtaining ores, or mining, and the methods
of reducing them, were the rudest sort. They were simple, involving
little or no cost, and calculated to wa§te more than they saved.
Diodorus says that the shepherds on the Pyrenees mountains set
fire to the forests, causing the silver in the rocks to melt and run
down in numerous streams.
The Oarthagenians employed 40,000 men to work the Spanish
mines, and the Moors, their successors, continued the work ; but so
wastefuUy was it performed, that a German colony of miners, in 1571,
took out ^0,000,000 of silver from the refuse of former workings.
German mining began as early as the seventh century. The
Bohemian silver mines were opened in the tenth century, and the Ty-
rolese mines in the twelfth century. Bohemia gave laws and methods
of mining, and developed a spirit of enterprise spreading north and
west throughout Europe. As a oenseqaenee, the mines of England^
France, Hungary and Norway were opened.
The discovery of America was anew era in the history of mining,
particularly on account of the vast wealth which poured into Europe
frosd South America and Mexico.
The Peruvians had no fixtures or machines, or knowledge of min-
ing. They smelted snr&ce ores and such as could be found above
water. Their furnaces were scooped out of hill or mountain side, and
the smelting flames were dependent upon the winds.
We cannot estimate the amount of silver thus obtained. The
soldiers of Pizarro found, not far from Ouzco, three beams of silver,
each twenty feet long, one foot in width, and three inches thick ;
probably bench planks for the portico of a nobleman's residence.
Atahualpa's ransom, in gold and silver omamentai contributed by his
loving subjects, was valued at £3,500,000 of gold, and 25,805 lbs. Troy
of silver. ^
HINBBAli WBAIiXB OF lOflSOUBI. 233
The Pasoo mines were discovered in 1680, and were worked with*!
oat any order or system, except systematized cruelty. One day a
portion of the mine caved in, and killed three hundred miners. The
mine was named '^Eill People," or Matagenti, afterwards. The
amount of silver smelted at these works, from 1784 to 1827, was 4,967,-
710 pounds Troy.
Bolivia contains mines still richer than those of Peru. '^ Potosi, "
or Silver Mountain, discovered in 1545, has yielded £240,000,000 worth
of silver, or £1,200,000,000.
The mines of Peru and Bolivia, under circumstances most dis-
couraging, ^^ of wars and rumors of wars, " have yielded 155,839,180
pounds Troy of silver.
Humboldt estimates the annual yield of the mines of Mexico, dur-
ing their early period, at $2,000,000 to 923,000,000 per annum. In the
eigthteenth century the production was increased to 28,000,000 per
annum.
The gold and silver crop of Oalifomia, since 1846, exceeds one
thousand millions of dollars I and this we may consider as the mere
out-crop.
The obstacles which everywhere opposed mining — shafting, drift-
ing, gangue-cutting, flooding, etc., etc., led to the invention of ma-
chinery, based upon the study of mechanics and hydraulics. As ne-
cessity is the mother of invention, so mining industry has given us the
engines that now perform nine-tenths of all labor. The steam engine
was called into existence by the irrepressible will of miners, to force
water out of the Oornish mines.
It was indeed a great triumph for a Watt engine to lift 6,590,000
ponnds of water one foot, by using one bushel of coal.
Smeaton increased the duty of an engine to 9,459,000 pounds. In
1776, engines could raise 19,000,000 pounds one foot, with one bushel,
of coal.
In 1823 an engine raised 28,000,000 pounds. In 1843, 60,000,000
pounds. Austen's engine, eighty inch cylinder, raised 96,000,000
pounds. So perfect and powerful are these engines now, that a farth-
ing worth of coal will raise 2^ tons of water 600 feet.
TLe mining districts of England alone, produced thip grand result
and contributed the steam engine to the world's industry.
The locomotive — so deservedly popular in this country — was an
after-thought, and at first only an automaton truck-wagon to move
the increased products of mines worked by engines. But so numer-
ous has this new bom race of coal consumers become, that we are
now obliged to seek and work coal in every land in order to procure
fuel or food to maintain them.
Two thousand locomotives going to and fro, night and day, in the
Mississippi Valley — consuming one ton of coal for every forty miles
of transit, added to these three times the number of stationary en-
gines, equally voracious — this fact bears strongly upon the import-
3S4 kiflsovRi A^Etooi^tms.
ance of coal ihiilthg; in our country. So great is the annual co&dUmp'
tion of coal that we are already estimating the amount we have on
hand, or rather in hank to meet both present and future demands,
iklready are we seeking to know how and where it is distributed and
how long it will last.
The answer is quite encouraging. From the Alleghenies, Penn-
sylvania, Ohio, and Virginia; from Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky,
and Missouri, comes the assurance, not with figures of rhetoric, but of
arithmetic, that we have for all these purposes enough to last 700,000
years I — ^beyond which limit we have no anxious care!
In the States and Territories west of the Mississippi River there
is still a deep concern upon the question of fuel. It is not yet settled
as regards the plains of Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado and the Indian
Territory.
The headlights of another thousand locomotives will soon illu-
mine those plains, long ago dedicated to desolation, and named by
our fathers, the Great American Desert
To welcome these missionaries of peace and prosperity, and lying in
the way of every railroad to the Pacific, is the great Colorado coal-field.
It reaches irom the British possessions into Mexico, 1200 miles ;
and is in many places 120 miles in width, and contains five workable
beds of coal from five to twenty feet thick. It is the largest and most
valuable deposit of coal in the world.
It will supply for ages all the homes of herdsmen upon the plains
who will utilize or occupy every acre of that tenantless domain — [a
better land to-day than the country of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob —
and far better than John Chinaman ever knew.]
It will form and fashion, spin and weave, utensils and fabrics for
(bbe eoming millions that will there seek and find prosperous homes*
Bas«»d upon mining industry, the country west of the Mississippi
— the Western States — will, in less than half century, exhibit a reign
of prosperity unequalled in the history of the race.
'< Weitword the itBr of empire takes iti w aj.
The first lour mcU, already passed.
The fifth shall usher in the g^lorioas daj :
Time's noblest empire is the last."
But let US look within the borders of Missouri — a State so attract
live to capital that the national Capitol has begun to march hither;
and be assured that it will arrive on time! No State has been so
iughly favored with mineral wealth. Although little explored, com-
paratively, yet it has attained and will maintain the first place as the
source of minerals and metallic ores, and the day is not far off when
the manufactured products of her mining industry will give her a
iike position. With her own hands she shall obtain riches more val-
uable than her inheritance.
It is, par excellence^ "the Iron State.'' Pilot Knob is only a sym-
bol, and is rising higher and higher in the world's estimation.
We extract from Dr. Litton's description :
MUXBAAJL WB^AJiXH OF USOOUBI. 3iOC
"The quantity of pure iron ore at the Pilot Knob is not, probably,
Ie«8 than all that portion of the mountain above the eleva tion of 440
feet above its base ; for, beneath this point, there are large masses
above the base of the hiU* A section of the Pilot Knob, 440 feet
above, and parallel with its base, would cover an area of not less than
fifty* three acres. Considering the upper 141 feet as composed en-
tirely of iron ore, and as a cone, with base of fifty- three acres, it
would make 108,607,960 cubic feet of iron ore ; which volume, if water,
would weigh 6,760,045,900 pounds. The specific gravity of three dif-
ferent specimens of the Pilot Knob ore was found to be 4.75, 4.49, and
4.66, the mean of which is 4.63; and taking the last as the average
specific weight of the ore, it would give, for the total weight of the
ore, upon the above supposition, in the upper 141 feet of the Pilot
Knob, 31,299,012,554 pounds, or 13,972,773 tons."
It is probably the head of the king bolt, binding the two hemis-
pheres together!
"* From surface indications, and from all explorations made, the
whole Iron Mountain seems to be a mass of iron ore. The elevation
of its summit above the valley varies according to the point at which
the measurement is made ; and, from the survey of the railroad, I
take for its height, 228 feet ; and at this depth, below its summit, its
base cannot cover a smaller area than 500 acres. Considered as a
cone, with a base of 600 acres, and a height of 228 feet, the solid con-
tents of that portion above the surface is, 1.655,280,000 cubic feet. One
oubic foot of water weighs 16.3 pounds, avoirdupois ; and were this
mass water, its total weight would be 103,123,944,000 pounds. But
the determination of the specific gravity of two specimens of the ore
has shown that it is between 5!05 and 5.23 times heavier than water.
Considering it, however, as only five times heavier, it would give for
the total weight of the iron ore, above the surface, 1,516,619,720,000
pounds, or 230,187,375 tons.**
In the vicinity there are other mountains, mounds, hills and dykes
of iron. In fifteen counties of south-eastern Missouri are dykes and
knobs of the purest specular and hermatite ores, and in quatities
which defy exhaustion.
Take a few analyses :
1st. From an iron meuntain in Dent county, a few miles from
the Southwestern Pacific Railroad, and 120 miles from St. Louis, be-
longing to Judge Simmons :
Metallic iron 68.87, Weiss.
«* w 69.81, Beauregard.
Mass 98.23, Weiss.
" 97,00, Beauregard.
Two specimens from near RoUa, Phelps county, Missouri, containa
M follows :
^JSB MXB80URI AGBICIILITUia.
No. 1:
Hematite ore 64.00 metallic iron.
27.43 oxygen.
64 waver.
6.20 insolable eilioa.
.02 pfaoBphorouGu
9&29
No. 2: 63.72 metallic iron*
27.31 oxygen.
5.80 inBoluble silica.
^ 1.69 water.
03 phosphorous.
98 55 Brock, Philada.
The ores oi England, Wales and Scotland are, as a class, far in-
ferior to these, yielding from 28 to 46 per cent, metallic ore.
Across the Mississippi river — the city of St. Louis between — ar^
strata of coal of correspounding magnitude. Within fifty miles of St.
Louis there is coal sufficient in quantity, and well adapted as to qual-
ity, to smelt every ton of iron above described.
The bands of matrimony between these two loving subjects — Coal
and L-on — have been declared, and St. Lonis — the home of the bride
— ^is Uieir chosen residence. The bridegroom is black, but comely,
and I move that the privilege of the Fifteenth Amendment be ex-
tended to them.
Iron is the most valuable of the metals, because it is the most
useful. It is also the most widely distributed, no part of the earth
being without it. In the mechanic^arts it is the right hand, and, in*
deed, has furnished to every man a hundred hands, so that in modern
days a person can be Vulcan and Briareus at the same time. It com-
bines a thousand uses, and has a vast residue latent, which will be
easily evoked by the dextrous cunning of men. It does anything,
everything! It serves anywhere, everywhere! Let a person name,
if he can, any implement, or article of food or clothing, that has not
been fashioned with iron fingers.
We walk upon iron pavements, and sit upon iron chairs ; we live
in iron houses, and sleep upon iron beds, made soft with springs of
steel ; we attend an iron church and occupy iron pews, listen to a
sermon written upon iron paper with a pen of iron, and return to our
own hearths and firesides : we travel on iron roads, in cars made of
iron, drawn by iron steeds.
On the trackless ocean an iron needle points out the way, like an
unerring finger. With iron wands, weird and wired, we have annihi-
lated Time and Space, and made of all aatioos one neighborhood.
And lastly, with iron ships, we have revolutionized the whole art of
modem warfare, and fought and won the greatest battles of history I
HINBKAI. WSALTH OF HISSOUBI. 39T
Lead, Zinc, Tin^ Copper, and many minerals nsefal in every day
life are here in force, bot we can describe them neither fairly nor
fblly, on account of the incompleteness of reporta. The State has
done nothing to ascertain of what accoant or extent they are daring
the past ten years. These examinations have been left to capitalists
and adventurers, who are continnally being enriched, and are indiffer*
ent in regard to making reports. Lead is being mined in the south-
western and middle counties of Missouri in large quantities, and
proves to be the best article in market, and commanding i to i cent,
per pound advance.
At one establishment in Jasper county 83,000 pounds of mineral
are smelted daily, yielding 22,000 pounds pure lead. The per cent, ol
lead is 71 to 75.
It has been found in twenty counties of southwestern Missouri
and in more than five hundred localities, in an area of 6,000 square
miles.
At Qranby, in Newton county, the lead comes to the very sur-
face of the ground, and mining at this point has been successful be*
^ond precedent. The lead is found in somewhat regular leads, or
pockets, or disseminated through the bed of chert, clay, sand, and
limestone, partially cemented, which overlies the Mountain lime-
stone. The sulphuret of lead, or galena, is the most abundant ore.
Pure galena contains 13.34 per cent, of sulphur and 86.66 per cent of
lead. The Center Greek and Turkey Greek mines in Jasper county,
and also the mines at Newtonia, Newton county, are being worked
successfully. The statistics of one shaft will give an idea of the quan-
tity of ore raised and the profits of mining in this county, being 100,000
pounds of galena per month. In one week alone it yielded 50,000
pounds, which, at 11^20 per thousand, would amount to $1,000 ; deduct
9150 for expenses, and the profits alone were 9850 for the week ; they
will average 91,500 per month. Hundreds of shafts have been sunk
and are yielding similar profits. The amount of mineral smelted in
this county last yeat was 10,000,000 pounds.
The coal fields of Missouri — though not yet determined — are
ample, and for the most part of excellent quality. The largest of
them is the Ohariton coal field, extending north and south 150 miles
on both sides of the Ohariton river, from Iowa to the Missouri river.
It has an average width of 30 miles. It contains four beds of coal,
all within 150 feet of the surface, the lower vein bearing 4^ feet
thickness.
There is also a considerable distribution of coals in southwesterH
Missouri, especially in that x>oi'tion known as the prairie counties.
These coals are uniformly good, but are not persistent either as to
thickness or direction. The railroads now in construction extend
across the coal as well as lead districts.
Will our coals work our ores ; especially iron ores ? We answer
yes. They are put here for that purpose, and we may suspect oar
S2S ICIflSDURr AORIOOITUKB.
ignorance rather than qnestion the arrangements of the Creator. The
GermanB make iron and steel by the use of coke, made from poorer
eoals than can be found in Missouri. The great beds of cannel coal,
found in Oallaway, Howard, and Boone counties, are from 10 to 40
feet in thickness, and have an area of 1,500 square miles. They are
so rich in oil that every ton will yield 80 gallons of crude oil, at a
<208t not exceeding 10 cents per gallon. The iron retort, and a car^
boy of sulphuric acid constitute the necessary apparatus for produ*
xsing refined oil. These coals will be distilled for this purpose at no
distant date.
The flowing wells of Pennsylvania — those impertinent spouts —
are the principal hindrance at present; but they are short lived : have
patience.
On the rim of an argent shield, the coat of one of the States, is
this motto: "Si queris amoenam peninsulam, circumspice." Lotus
translate it thus: If you are seeking a wonderful land, look around
you. Like Canaan beyond Jordan, it is indeed a goodly land. "A
land of brooks, of water, of fountains, and depths that spring out (jf
valleys and hills. A land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig
trees, and pomegranates. A land of oil, olive, and honey. A land
wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness ; thou shalt not lack
-anything in it. A land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills
thou mayest dig brass."
In the light of these facts or first lessons, the duty, or rather the
privilege of the commonwealth of Missouri is unmistakable. If you
would invite the Capital and Labor of both hemispheres, send to them
a correct inventory of your goods : send them at least a well printed
bill of fare, that they may know somewhat of the feast you have
ready.
In short, have your State thoroughly and systematically explored
by competent men — men of practical as well as scientific ability —
and whose record of discovery, description, and analysis are vouchers
for their capacity. There are men living in Missouri who can do this
work. A State that claims such men as Litton, Engleman, Shepard,
and Shumard, need not look abroad. If others were needed, the
labors of such men as Meek, Newbury, Lesquereux and Whittlesey
can be commanded.
The best endeavor of the people should be directed to have and
maintain a survey of the entire State, conducted with special refer>
ence to the development of its staple mineral values ; describing not
only the topography and drainage, and giving the areas of arable land
in each county, with analysis of soils, but also the extent and direction
of each rock formation, with an inventory of its particular values,
whether of metals and mineral ores, or coals, clays, cement, building
stone, marble, mineral paints ; but including also a descriptive cata-
logue of fossils — those types of life, or rather illumined letters in the
MINKRAL WKALTH OV XfSSDtriO. 928^
history of world-boilding, which enable us to read the well ordered
chapters of the Stony Book.
The munificence displayed by Divine Beneficence in this State
can be best appreciated by giving according as yon have received.
Give the information which millions are seeking* Write the thonch
and facts about these mineral treasures in a book and send it away.
It will be more marvellous than the story of AUadin's lamp, more
interesting than all the novels of Dickens and Thaokeray, and will
command the attention of the men that control the world's Com-
merce and Manufactures. And when the State of Missouri shall
number two millions of inhabitants, say ten years hence, and a
knowledge of her mineral wealth shall have become familiar to all,
what shall hinder thousands of her citizens from choosing some
particular branch of mining industry, whose united results will be
referred to with just pride by your citizens ? "Where no vision is,
the people perish." Let us delve and mine, measure and anal^ze^
and run to and fro in the land, until we have greatly increased this
knowledge and made it available for the men of skill and industry
who, from all countries, ar6 seeking homes within the borders of Mis-
souri.
These remarks lead us naturally to consider the relations of min-
ing industry to the system of education or Pnhiic Instruction.
In Europe these relations are understood. Schools of mining and
engineering are provided for by the State, and not only so, but Eng-
land, France, and Oermany have established Mining Bureaus, which
direct all surveys under government supervision — having reference,
also to the mining schools.
We have, in the United States, done much towards meeting the
real wants of the people in this regard, but much yet remains to be
done. We have a National Academy of Science and national surveys
of mines and mineral values in the Territories.
Mining schools in this country are for the most part individual
enterprises, as in New York, Philadelphia, and are generally adjuncts
of mining and assay offices.
On the other hand scientific schools are mere departments of our
Colleges and Universities, and in most instances are made secondary
and inferior to the classical department But it may be said, we
have only afew scientific men who can give weight and worth to such
a school.
Start a first class war, and there is no lack of generals ; and
bravery— the only thing that cannot be discounted for its abund^
ance — comes forth with every emergency. Provide mining and
scientific schools and foster them, and we too will raise up such
men as Watt, Stevenson, Trevi thick, Huxley, Agassiz, Faraday and
Humboldt.
No excuse can be plead in our Collegiate institutions for the
neglect with which the physical sciences are treated. We do not
K(0 MUfiOVRI AeBlCIL'trRK.
complain that preferments and rewards are generally given to excel-
lence in the knowledge of Latin and (}reek, tor these are only toys to
please children with. But we do protest HgKinst the blindness which
constantly invests the classical student with finer robes, and values
his knowledge as belonging to a higher ^rade— which looks with no
little reverence upon a person whose mind is familiar only with the
usages of Antiquity, which he has learned by groping with a dim light
in the dark chambers of the dead lan^na^e:^.
It will not suffice that he knows a)I these things — as fact, or a
mere matter of record* The translated histories will never do. JRoUias,
Gibbon, Josepbus, and the Scriptures — containing a more truthful
panorama of the phenomena of human action — all of this is second
class by force of the tyranny which is still vigorous in our Colleges
and Universities.
The secret spring of this sentiment, or the basis upon which this
aristocracy of learning rests, is unworthy of us, and is an outrage
upon the liberties of mankind. When analyzed, it means simply this,
that the few who study classics and endure and overcome the difficul-
ties incident to them, shall have extra privileges and be considered of
superior rank because of such toil and endurance ! It cannot be
urged that they know more^ or have more thorough knowledge than
those who read the best translations in English, for that is impossible.
Shall we crown a youth with ^4aarel and bay" because he has spent
a year in a dark cavern ? Because one in ten thousand has inter-
preted for himself a few of the jargons of Babel and spent a few of
his best years in threading the labyrinths of ruins made in the rude
ages of human history, is he therefore, ^^ altogether lovely f ' Shall
we put him upon a white steed and lead him about the streets, pro-
claiming : ^^Thus shall it be done nnto the man whom the King de-
lighteth to honor ?"
But it is and often has been urged that the classics- give refine-
ment, culture, and discipline to a degree beyond all other studies.
We not only doubt this, but know that it is not true, and in the nature
of things can neveb be true.
The literature of the classical course, irbat is it at bestV
It is Mythology, Poetry^ and History — ^in short, descriptions of
ancient nationalities, by writers then living. Now, what can be said
of all the gods and goddesses of the Pantheon or of Pandemonium,
when we know that they never had an existence ? Shall we study
the myths of Soman and Grecian antiquity, for years, being assured
at ihe same time, that every word of it is false — ^but that for the sake
of discipline and culture we must wade through it?
And not only this, but the story of the gods — their words and
deeds — ^their relations to mankind, and constant interference in human
affairs, and shaping of individual and national existence — ^to say
nothing of the vices, big and little, which are attributed to them—
With rare exceptions — ^these, are interesting mainly becariiBe they are
MINSRAL WKALTH OF MISSOURI. 981
revolting, and for this reason are more fit for an iUnstrated page in
the "Day's Doings," or the "Police Oazette," than in the curriculum
of a college in the year of oar Lord 1870.
We have said that there is some consolation in the reflection
that these gods are not gods ; that, after patiently plodding through
with classical course, we can with the besom of truth, sweep it out,
like cobwebs from an untidy room. There was no 9uoh Jupiter; nor
any giant like Hercules. Mercury was not such a busy-body — every*
where present. Juno and Venus and Dido — why, they were myths;
and the highest success of ^'Woman's Rights" will not culminate in
such characters, and we need not apologize for them.
^^ But he retains in his mind the vigorous discipline of the course."
We doubt it; he may be sharpened as to those faculties most in us^-^
like the point and side of a plow — but his imagination, the picture
gallery of the soul, has been impaired by beholding a panorama of
false pictures, of unreal things, and the citadel of the soul — the heart,
where all that is royal and noble in man resides — this has not been
strengthened, but weakened by these false and insufficient methods
of instruction. We have come to entertctin serious doubts concern-
ing the refining process of a olassical education.
Will a seven years' residence on Mount Olympus, or Mount Ida,
at Delphos — among the "Gods of Greece"— or Rome, or, still farther,
with *^ Osirus, Orus, Apis, Isis," give us this, the most estimable jewel
of the crown ?
It requires a year to follow the exploits of Bacchus in the Odes of
Horace. [We use the expurgated or washed editions — a second wash-
ing would do no harm.] Virgil and Juno conduct the exercises in
VirgiJ, chiefly. Jupiter, Neptune, Vulcan — ^the strong gods — are sel-
dom seen in comedy, and retreat after putting in an occasional ap-
pearance.
In reading the Metamorphoses of Ovid, hold your book to the
leaward, not the windward side. And as for most classic orators —
Cicero and Demosthenes— every graduate knows that they are full
of oaths ; as downright swearing and profanity as the lips of men can
utter. It is true, it is only "Ma tons Theous!" "by all the gods!"
" Mehercle 1" " by Hercules — or Jupiter 1" or by one god or a dozen,
according to the refined taste of classic antiquity.
It was not so very bad in them, because one cannot take Jupiter's
name in vain, for he is ^'non eat inventui^ himself 1 But familiarity
with oaths, orgies and profanity makes it easy to take His name in
vain, and this is very bad indeed. Think of it as you may, the habit
of swearing, akin to that of lying, weakens and shatters the intellect.
Oaths and lies are the very worst of all written or spoken words. No
person can indulge in either without feeling the indignant lightningB
— hot very far off".
But let us render unto Ceesar, or the classics, the things that are
Caesar's, and honor to whom honor is due. The doctrine of UomoBO-
212 inesouRt aghicultubb.
pathy, " like cures like," is everywhere true. The study of ancient
langoa^s gives us facility of expression in the nse of our own Ian-
(^nage, and leads us to the best choice of words. Let it be so. We
will use them for this purpose. Study them as aids to our own ; uae
them as a rasp to sharpen our mother tongue — a work which they
will accomplish, no matter what they fail to do.
The refinement and culture, we seek for, are not traceable to th«
«tudy of languages. They come from the manners of our teachers
at home, in the school, college, or university. Their source is the
daily manifestation of a True Life, compelling our constant respect
and reverence by unselfish devotion to us as students ; by patiently
guiding us to new and better views, and leading us on to new victo-
ries and triumphs of mind over matter — of the spirit over the forces
of nature. There is no sense of delicacy finer than our feelings to-
wards such teachers. " By this they conquer," and hence we derive
the amenities and refinements of academical or even classical edu-
cation.
Without this personal power of mind over mind, to lift as well as
lead; this moral magnetism of self-governed as well as scientific and
classical teachers, whose Presence and Being are an unfailing inspir-
ation and encouragement to virtue, our colleges and universities
would be to-day but little better than the temporary abodes and
theaters for Bacchanalian revels, so minutely described in the pre-
cis >U8 text-books of the course. Arnold, of Rugby, Horace Mann,
Mark Hopkins, Alexander Campbejl, Louis Agassiz, Benj. Silliman,
Alexander Von Humboldt — what student ever went out from the
presence and instruction of such men without knowing, if not realiz-
ing, that these premises are absolutely true ?
In the great Mississippi Valley — (in which North America is
principally situated) — we demand a more ample and practical system
of education ; and not only so, we will have it !
We will not complain of the last remaining fetters imposed upon
us by the aristocracy, which provided for an excess of monastic learn-
ing in the colleges of Europe and America. It was the best they
knew one hundred years ago ; but to-day we know better. Besides,
Ihese fetters are crumbling piece-meal — probably from rusfr. Nor
will we complain of the tenacity with which most of our Eastern col-
leges pursue the study of languages — like their transatlantic pro-
genitors. Moss and mistletoe are not so sacred to us.
The advance made in those institutions towards practical learning
within twenty years is indeed wonderful. We do not want all they
have ; but we want the best they have added to the new demands of
the West.
Hence the emphatic decision recently given by the members of
this House on this momentous question. That decision is as follows :
We will promote that system of education in Missouri which
hears most directly upon the leading interests of the State ; or, in still
MXHnAI. WBAUB DW IBMMRL 3St
mcMra deittite laogange; w« williiiiTB. an Agi^icalturid and Mimag
sobool, well enddired wifli lands and fanids, and what is better, well
mlmned With competent instrnctiM'B*
The highest prize for farming and mining? Well done, Missouri.
May yotur broad rivers beiar the tiding onward to the Gulf, and the
Atlantic, and, mingling the tides and currents, with this news reach
and refresh the shores of distant nations, eager to follow your
exitmplet - •
The establishinent of. an Agricultural OoUege in the State of Mis*
sonri, with a Mining School in Southeastern Misaonri, is the dawn of
a new era in our educational history. It is an expression of the
people declaring that we have mining interests in this State, which
are not secondary to agriculture, and which require special culture
in order to develop them profitably. The forces which have car-
ried forward this scheme, and procured its adoption by the repre-
sentatives of the people of Missouri, have been collecting and
concentrating during the last twenty years; and they spring from
a steadily increasing conviction or knowledge that the commonwealth
of Missouri is most amply and wonderfully endowed with minerad
wealth. Among the wonders of the wiM-ld— known of both hemis-
pheres, and described in many tongues, are the Iron Mountains of
Missouri. There is not a school boy in all the land who does not '
know something about them, and he will tell you more of Pilot Knob,
Iron Mountain, and Shepherd's Mountain than of any other locality
celebrated for minerals on the Globe.
The Institution, properly called the School ^f Mines, declares a
determination to know the principles of minjiig, and to apply the
same to productive industry, in ordeij toopenn^W avenues of wealth
to our enterprising citusene. Tho^e who attend the institution will
be provided with, means o£ instructacm in Mineralogy, Geology, Chem-
istry, Metallurgy or essays, aeeoiding to tbos^ methods which give
the most profitable results.
The most useful, and alsO' the most conspicuous of the- Mining
schools is situated in the center of the richest mining district of
Europe — among the Hartz Mountains of Germany, at Freiburg. The
instruction, praetice, theories, and results of this school are the basis
of mining operations wherever skill accompanies intelligence. By
its thorough course 'of discipline — ^familiar every day companionship
with the vast treasuries of ores ; the student is constantly challeuged
to seek out still better modes, leading to the best results.
A traveler has recently described it as follows :
^ The Royal Saxon Mining School, now ninety-seven years old,
is situated at Freiburg, twenty-five miles southwest of Dresden. It
is Airrounded fbr miles by mines, chiefly of lead and silver, that have
been worked for six hundred ^ears, and is within d^o or (hree miles
of two large smeitihg works. The smelting works near Freibqrgi
♦17— AB
i$i imwni AttBWOtfflAB.
and aome of the mines belong with the school to the giorernmeflCf
and t^e rest of the mines andlfornsces are whcrfly under government
control. Students not only visit these mines and furnaces, but woik
ihern^ the oversight of these establishments l>eing given to the Ssxon
graduates of the school; constantly employing large numbers of
them."
Paris, liondon, Berlin and other European cities have also their
Mining Schools. So we have scientific and polytechnic schools in
many of our cities, but in either case it has always been difficult to
create and maintain a sufficient degree of enthusiasm to carry the
student through the course. It is impossible to concentrate the at-
tention of pupils by mere objects or specimens which are far removed
from their source.
A series of samples of Iron ores from Iron county, or of Lead
from Potosi or Gran by, however much we may be delighted with
their brilliancy, have a real interest only in connection with the
formations containing them, because with the latter are involved the
principal difficulties which require to be overcome.
The study of such formations gives the mind facility, or quick-
ness in judging of the richness or the quality and quantity of the
ores therein contidn^. It is necessary, therefore, both, to study and
manipulate ores in the region where they are found. To teach swim*
ming does not require the discussion of theories, or a knowledge of
the history of swimmers, but it does require proximity (to a body o
of water. The State Mining School could^not have a better location
and we predict for it a successful career. •
To sustain such schools and make them easily accessible to the
youth of the land, and to place the State under such inspection as
we have set forth, requires a large expenditure, and this, with some,
will be, at first, an objection ; but finally, none will oppose these
measures. The State of Pennsylvania may be cited as an example
of increased prosperity, brought about by minute surveys of her
Goal and Iron fields. Her shipments of coal were :
In 1820 865 tons.
In 1830 ; . . . . 174,874 tons.
In 1840 841,684 tons.
In 1880 8,176,687 tons.
In 1860 8,161,669 tons.
In 1870 16,000,000 tons.
The shipments and home use of Iron exhibit a corresponding rate
of increase.
Do the taxes on the increased valuation of her mining property
pay the expenses of her surveys I Aye, a thousand fold I
^ In other words, Pennsylvania eigoys an annual income of f 100,*
OOO^KX) from the development of her mines of Iron and Oca], and this
MXnftAL WEALTH OV UnSOUBI. SSi
we deelare to have been bronght about by her thorough public sur-
Teys. The State of Missouri affords a larger and richer field than
Pennsylvania. Besides it commands 23,000 miles of river navigation,
and better than this, her position is the heart of the Empire itself.
One word more. The State of Missouri contains 42,000,000 acres
of land, and it may be said generally that every section of this rich
domain is supplied or dyked with mineral ores or underlaid with
strata of coal. Is it too much to say that the proving of this state-
ment to be true — a most delightful task — and the publishing world-
of the verified facts, would enhance the value of every one of
42,000,000 acres by the amount of at least one dollar per acret
No one ean doabt this result, and what constituency would not
instruct and urge immediate action t
•l I
I
t
f
li-GOAL AND IRON:
>
«« • '. ' , t
» I • :
It is our purpose on this occasion to tlrace the rise arid progress
of the Goal and Iron trade from its rude beginnings, in order that
we may properly understand its importance and govern ourselves
wisely as to our own duty in these premises. A new era has dawned
upon the world, and we are its ushers.
It is an era of progress, based upon the uses principally of Coal
and Iron. Its climax is in the universal application of steam to the
doing of the world's work, in the general departments of Agricul-
ture, Manufactures and Oommerce, in order that Man may have op-
portunity for his highest development. The power which shall bring
to pass this grand millennium lies latent in a drop of water, which a
grain of Goal will start into such fierce action that the strength and
resistance of Iron are required to curb and direct its scarcely
awakened energies.
We shall also see from this discourse how abundantly we have
been favored with the materials for present and future prosperity,
and upon them as a basis we shall anticipate our national progress.
We will not enter upon this history of the riches of the Earth
that we may be pleased with its glittering array, but rather that in
earnest we may know how to shape our destiny, and discharge the
responsibility which this knowledge will bring upon us.
Of the material furnished us for manifold uses, we have chosen
Goal and Iron, as affording us illustrations of the prosperity that fol-
lows industry directed by intelligence. We find them closely asso^
ciated in Nature. The great coal fields have large iron deposits near
at hand. The State of Pennsylvania, whose coal and iron trade are
world-renowned, is a good illustration of this rule.
In the same hill or mountain, over many thousand square miles
of that State, one can frequently see coal and iron mining at one
vietr. And in the vast iron marts of England, Scotland and Wales^
the smoke of the iron foundry and colliery ascend together and
darken the same sky.
In early history no definite mention is made concerning stone ot
pit coal-Hlistinguishing it from charcoal ; and it is not until the thir^
MINKRAL WEALTH OF MISSOURI. 237
teenth Century tnat coals were mined iu a sjrstematio maniiev. Eii^g
Henry III. granted a charter, in 1239, to the people of K^Wrcqf9tle<)0i|r
l^ne^but tlie nee of-this product soon became known iajjondon,
whose citizens complained bi.tterlj. of <;oal 8mQk9,.and,mad|e;rQinaii*
^trances and petitions to have the nuisance abateid;, and in ISOQ^^ia
anewer'to petitions signed. by l^arliament^ Ki»g Edward L,:**by proof
clamatfon, probybifed the bnrneing of Eiea^coals in London and ^9
^tiburbSs, to avoid the sulfer.ous snioke aijid savour of the firing, an^
commanded all persons to make their fires of wood.^' * , . ,
But wood became scairce, the. pdious ^^ searcoals" sailed up the
Thames again, and found a place upon the king's hearth, twenty yean
after the veto was proclaimed.
In Germany, coal was worked as early as the tenth century, and
in 1348tlk0 m'etaltworkers ^^w€re forbidden to ppison the ai^ with coal
smoke.'' ' Ih Scolland and Wales, coals were used in 1300. it is prob-
able.thfti toiressity oompell^ men to seek for a kind of fuel which
could tftke th^' place of wood.
Goal wa^fifst applied to the uanufacture of glass in 1619, and in
1635*^ng91^fkries prohibited tJ^^ ia^pp^tation of foreign £la#A,.BaUing
forth m thd ro^alproclstmiik^i^'n th^t>^8k Bobert ManseU had by his
industry and^reat expense perfected that manufapturte wit^b 90A^
coale, or pit-coaie, whereby not only tl^Q woods ai^d timbfir.Qf tbij^
kingdom are greatly preserved, but the making of all kinds of glasii
established here, to the saving pi much treasury and the ei^Pilpyment
of great numbers of our people."
Tl)|a }Boiin4is veiy like an . argument in favor of proteotion ; but the
Englisik are 0neh> yaliant free-traders that it is ill-timed to make the
suggestionu , ,. .
GofU9 w^riQxiied luaiulyJioweYer, foe domestic purposes, aiid there
are no.d^ta. Iqjfi whiaeth. we. can. ascertain tha amount exhumed ; ibat the
shipnimt racpiTed at London. and. the east coast, in 1704, was ^647,344
tons, sent from Newcastle and Sunderland. In 1750, from these two
pOiffts, the-sjiipment was 1498^467 toiie.
It woul4 h& nfest; inter<ing, btrt our limits do not permit, to show
the impetus given to the coal trade by the discovery of its new uses'
and applications. The' invention of the ste^am engine, and the de-
oMttd 6f'0oa) ftyif steam, in theyeai" IWO; the didvelopment of Force,
instead tif Hsifttr ; the trse of coal forgas,in IfiOS^nOt including the
more recent use*— th^e? have called up frbm the coal treasuries of
civilized countries an amount which seems almost incredible.
The introducfion of the hot blast in Iron furnaces, by Neilson, in
18M, eofti^pelled l%f« im»*«a^ed consumption in Europe and America.'
It was intended to sa¥ei fuel, but it caused the erection df 'thbufeandff
of neW'MrnacM- a(nd since thU period the statistics of the mining of
coal are astonishing. We have derived this ibrmula for the history
of coal in its applications, ^^that every advance which ten& to'
S88 msBouRi ▲miOTuruBS.
cheapen the productions of manufacture enlarges so widely the field
of operations, that coal, the basis of the whole of thenc:, is always de»
manded in ever-increasing quantity."
In 1829, at the Olyde Iron Works, Scotland, it required eight tons
and 126 pounds of coal to make a ton of pig iron. By the hot blast,
only five tons, 325 pounds were used for a ton of pig-iron. In 1833,
by using raw coal in the furnace, instead of coke, one ton of pig-iron
was made with two tons, 550 pounds coal, adding 800 pounds used in
heating the blast, gives two tons, thirteen hundred-weight for one ton
of Scotch pig-iron.
The increased production of iron was enormous — i. e^ in Scot*
land :
In 1820 it was 20,000 tons.
In 1830 it was 37,500 tons.
In 18?9itwas.... 200,000 tons.
In 1861 it was 776,000 tons.
In 1861 it was 950,000 toms.
In 1864 it was 1,158,000 tons.
The amount of coal used to make 20,000 tons, in 1820, was 161,250
tons, coal ; and to make, in 1864, 1,158,000 tons iron, 2,621,671 tons of
coal were used, but the saving of fuel, in the latter instance, was
7,000,000 tons of coal, to be credited to the hot blast improvements of
Neilson.
The consumption of English coal was :
In 1800. 10,000,000 tons.
In 1869 42,000,000 tons.
In 1853 56,65O«00O tons.
In 1654. 65,661,401 tons.'
In 1866 98,000,000 tons.
In 1869 125,000,000 toM.
30,000,000 tons are allowed as the annual waste for the year end*
ing 1869, making the total consumption of coal, or. exhaust of the
coal fields, 155,000,000 tons yearly..
The United States contains over 275,000 square miles of coal su*
face— that is, surface beneath which may be, found from one to tOB'
strataa, or beds of coal. These great deposits, or b^sisof coyd^are*
mostly within the Northern States, bb the following estimates will
• show :
Tl^e Illinois coal field, including a small portion of Indiana and
Eentqcky, contains 56,000 square miles. The Missouri and Iowa coal-
fields occupies 50,000 square miles* Tlias embraces Northern Mis*
souri ai^d Southern Jowa. Michigan possesses I2fi00 square niiles of
coal area. The Eastern or Apalachian coal field is divided, as fol-^
lows :
immilL WSALTH t>V MlBBOtFfiL 389
PeBMyWania 16,000 square mile&
Ohio ^ 12,000 ** **
Maryland 600 •* "
Virginia 20,000 " **
Kentnoky 6,000 ** **
T6iine8«ee 4,000 *» **
North Carolina 250 " **
Alabama 4,000 « •*
Georgi a 150 ** «
In addition to these, we mnet allow for the Kansas coal field,
including the Indian Territory, 20,000 square miles; while the
great Oolorado coal field (Cretaceous) occupies 100,000 square miles.
In comparison with these, let ub notice the European coals. The
estimates are as follows :
Oreat Britain contains 12,000 square miles.
France " 1,719 " •*
Spain " 8,000 ** •*
Belgium " 678 ** "
The rates of consumption of foreign coals have led political econ-
omists to inquire how long Europe may use her own coals.
^It is evident," says an English writer, "that although our favored,
country has so long taken the lead, all civilized countries have en-
tered into the race of competition, and it becomes a matter of anx-
ious inquiry to learn under what circumstances the treasure is in
each country developed, and where it is likely to be best expended
or longest economized."
This question is more fully stated in the same treatise on English
eoals, as follows :
"Knowing, therefore, most of the edges, and pretty nearly the
depth, of all our recognized stores of coal, let us remember at what
rate we are digging them out. The amount of coal raised in this
countiyin 1864 shows that, supposing i«800'tons be obtained per foot
thick per acre (out of 1,600 which it actually contains), there are now
clearing out. in every hour, day and night, for every day in the year,
four acres of coal of two feet thick-— one acre in every quarter of an
hour I There oan here be no reproduction — nothing to grow again.
^We lire drawing,' aa an able writer has well put it, ^more and more
upon a capital which yields no annual interest, but once turned to
lighti and Heat, and Force, ia gone forever into space.' How fares it
with some of our best known districts i
^It seems that in twenty years, ending 1860, the quantity of coal
raised in Oreat Britain was more than doubled ; but are we thence
justified in believing that in the following twenty years it will be
again doubled, and so in geometrical progression f
240 MIMOOBI A9i«wi<nn»9.
" On this view of the subject, little more than «. oetuUuy voald
see this conntry utter deprived of the mainspring of its meMantile
li:reatneB8.
"Manufactories without their motive power — ^Iron fnmaoea blown
out— railway traios brought to a stand still, steamers replaced by
sailing ships — our streets left to the gloom of oil lamps, and oar fire-
grates empty — such would be the dismal prospect of a ii«ar approach-
ing time, could we give credit to such an inference 1.
The following table shows the coal production of Great Britain :
IONS. TONS.
1854. . 64,661,401, of ^hich were exported 4,809,2^5.
1856.. 64,453,050, " " - ..4,976,908
18.^6.. 66,645,460, " « « ..6,879,779
18tt7.. 65,304,707, " " " ..6,737,7*8
1858.. 65,008,r49, « u u ..6,629,483
1869.. 71,976,76«, " " "^ ..7,08 1, »4»
I860.. 83,20«,fi81, " " " ..7,412,675
IStJl.. 86,636,214, " " •' ..7.221J18
1862.. 83,638,188, a « « ..7,694,668
1863.. 88,292,21.% " " " ..7,629,341
1864. . 92,787,878, " ♦^ " . .8,06:*,846
1865.. 98,160,587, " « " ..9,170,477
1869, .126,000,0001
In France it has been observed that the production of coal bi(9
similarly been doubled after every period ot twelve to iourteep
years, thus :
TKAR. - tONS.
1789 : . . . . 250,000
1816 960,000 ■
1830 1.8 0,000
1843 3.700,000 •
1^57 7,900,000
1862 : '„ .10,000,000
These alarming results have caused recent; and special'sniYeys to
be made throughout Qreat' Britain, to ascertain the amount of coal,
including veins of twelve inches thickness, which a' conviction of
the scarcity of coals already compels mining both in Britain and on
the continent. And altbongli the amount in store is said to be 80,-
000,000,000 tons, it is not probable that one-half of i% will ever be ex-
humed; so that with the increased exhaustion of British colleries,
soon reaching 200,000^000 tons annually, 260 years will be near the
limit of total exhaustion 1 .
The total amount of coal in thd United States and Territories, if
«
exhumed and placed in m^iM fit th^ sufaoe, would be equal tb S,0Q(^
MUMIAL WBALTH CF MI860USL 341
,epbio miles. Him\ one cubie* wile eontains lOOO,000,OfH) tons, and
our present supply is 14,000,000,006 tons. Our yearly consumption
Af coal is aaarly 20,0D0,'(kN) tons, whence it is readily seen that, the
Jlmeriom ooala will serirev at' tlie present rates, 700,006 years-^a
jcODQlosion quite ratirfaotory to oar young and ambitioiis country-
«en.l • ^ ' .'■*.."
Afifl 88 'WB complain of the temporary adv^antages . of foreign la-
JtH>T and capital in the msfrketinfi: of the products 'of Coal and Iron
ivithin tooc borders, we may. safety anticipate th^ time when this
country will furnish fuel to>£arope to propel her sbipp and factpries,
•find to light faei hearth aad ibrge-flres, — another satisfac,tory cobclu-
rtonU- *..:•• ■■''''.
TbeqaMtioQ naturally arises; what quality gives to Ooal its value
-rasiofodt ovof all other natural products- of this class f
We reply, that coal contains the greatest store or amount of beat
in the smallest space, and yi-^lds it in the largest quantities, at the
leaat odst, and besidee is mo#t uhivei^alty distributed' tbrough all
oountries. . It 9s, in shovt, th^' cheapest wttrce of that wonderful
power, ' SCBAM^ which is the basiil of the world's progress ; and upob
thia^more ihmn anyother quality, rests its present estimation amon^
civilized' nations. Butits great range of heat is another important
fact in this connection. It spans nearly the whole catalogue of. Min-
nerals, of which the earths cruEit is composed. It will smeU; refiue
or volatilize all metallic ores, and has a residue left that will npt be
eoonomiBeiimtil we halve gone forther into- the realms of Discovery
Slid Use. ; /; I-
Like the steaoi, into which form it compels water, its'ran^e is'
illimitable. We stand only upon- the boundary of this Enchs^pted
Ittnd^ andiane voluble iaiour vain-glerious bbasting that we of the
imietQeb:thjoefitiirymiie>sO'SOODtd arrive^ at the dlimaic of inventfon
a»draiM6y the ripesi: fruita. BatnotsO: 'We haVe ns^ yet only the
b6yhood strength of a team*'
V We get an: occasional hint as to its real ^ower, when we find the
te-separated fragments of bbilers burst by shperheated steam—'
having a power one hundred fold greater than our present uises re-
<Iiiire. * •
Bat letoa inquire mere^lesely^ By the oom^bustion of 'dry wood'
weebt^ia.i • '•'. • ..•(::-
!•» . i • . .w .. ^' .:•;•. 1
Heat (Fahr.) ; 2,8^7^
.Turf. wiU yield (Eahr*>... .»., 3,788^
»i: fiitnmiMpacaa], "^ i u...-..^..;., :.i.;..4,0^y * i
Mtbraoita '' " ...-;..,.; :.':x.,.^4^170»^' ^ i
Coke, " : .;.i y...i^hS^
>i
The meitingpoifttof iron^ the. moat useful of the metals,: is S,4ftB^ -
(Sahr.), fuibeyoadihelieat power ef wood^ and withlfatli^ tengei^'
242 ustmuK A'fkvwwus^nm^
Ooal, giving the latter domiaioa over lion, ia all its ores and fonna,
with a surplus power of nearly 1,000^
Had the heat power of coal been limited l^OOQP lower, or the
melting point of iron eBtablished IfiOO^ higher than it is, Ihe entiM
Human Race would have been savages or barbarians until this day*—
shut out, too, from all improvement, as far as we now can see. Td
obtain a closer idea of the heat power resident in coal, let a person
consider— as he puts three tons of it aw8^ in a cellar — ^Aat it contains
a power greater than he can exert by working ten hours per day
during a life of three score and ten years !
Rising with the power thus conferred upon Man, by his diseovery
of these relations and uses, we find in Oreat Britain, on sea and
land, 100,000 steam engines, whose aggregate power is equal te the
muscular force of 12,000^000 of human beinga, working ton hoars per
day I
Now, making an estimate for the whole number of steam engines
in constant operation, in all countries, on ship and shore, in factories
and on railways, we shall find that their combined power is equal to
the aggregate muscular power of 600,000,000 of men 1 The day is not
far distant when Goal s.hall thus furnish force or power adapted te
every conceivable need, and equal to the united energies of the en*
tire human race 1 !
Familiar with it for years, we cannot yet properly estimate or re-
alize this power.
Sotting one thousand millions of human bdngs free from thebnr*
dens for ages of consuming, wearjring toil— is not this liberty to th#
captive upon the grandest scale ever witnessed or conceived ? Do
not the oppressed, indeed, go free f
With this all potont force, to dig and fashion, spin and weave;
build our houses, and cultivate our farms^tmling and watehing day
and night as a faithful servant, with a thousand eyes and hands^
what shall be our Country's progress during the next two centuries I
We have said that we are living early in the morning of the day
of progress, whose avant couriers are Goal, Steam and Iron. Let ns
consider.
The first locomotive or'*'mechanical traveler,'' as it was named by
its inventor, William Brunton, in 1828, moved on a tramway al the
rate of two and one-half miles per hour, with a load of thirty tone.
In 1838, Robert Stevenson's engine " Rocket," ran at an average of
fifteen miles per hour.
Recently, engines have been made to travel seveniy-flve miles
per hour. One engine, weighing fifteen and three-quarter, tons in
Pennsylvania^ hauled 16,298 tons (a train of 168 cars of coal, 3,020 feet
long) eighty-four miles in eight hours.
But we are using now only 100 to 120 pounds of steam per square
inch of cylinder, or piston-head. When we have constrneted st^
of onerfaiOf to five-eighths thickness and raised stenm to «»
lOHSEAL WIALTH OV lOBSOUBI. 248
pounds and 700 ponnds per square inch, with cylinder and enginerj
in proportion, it is hard indeed to snj what pay; not be done.
We cannot better conclude this portion of our subject than to
introduce the appropriate remarks of Francis Jeffrey.
^ The steam engine has become a thing stupendous alike for it4
force and its flexibility, for the prodigious power which it can exert
and the ease, precision and ductility with which it can be variedf
distributed and applied. The trunk of an elephant that can pick up
a pin or rend an oak is as nothing to it It can engrave a seal and crush
masses of obdurate metal before it; draw out, without breaking, a
thread as fine as gossamer; and lift up ships of war like a bubble in
the air. In can embroider muslin and forge anchors; cut steel into
ribbands and impel loaded vessels against the f\iry of the waves and
winds*
^ It is our improved steam engine that has fought all the recent
batUes of Europe, and elialted and sustained, through the late tremen-
dous contest, the political greatness of our land. It is the same power
whioh enables us to pay out natioiial debt and to maintain the ardu-
mis struggle in which we are still engaged with the skill and capital
of eountries less oppressed with taxation."
But these are poor and comparatively narrow vi^ws of its import*
mnce.
It has increased indefinitely the mass of human comforts and en*
joy men ts, and rendered cheap and accessible, all over the world, the
materials of wealth and prosperity. It has armed the feeble hand of
man^ in short, with a power to wbidh no limit can be assigned ; com-
pleted the dominion of Mind over the most refractory qualities of
Hatter, and laid a sure foundation for all those future miracles of me;
chanical power whioh are to aid and rewarcl the labors of after gener-
ations.
In the use and economy of our coflils for iron making, it is a fact
that the faults most eomplained of a^ no^t in otir coals, but in our-
selves. We do not' eat bread made of straw,' chaff, 'and bran, but
rather, we thresh and winnow, and grind until we h&v^'si^kperfine flour.'
We have learned to do this uncomplainingly, knowing the inevitable'
aeeompaniments of the raw material;' and in like mfanner when we
inspect, select, and improve, by the cheapest and simplest methods,
oui An»erican coals will everywhere be found to answer every possi*
ble demand in the manufaoture of bon.
Nothing is more common in thd West than the unqualified abuse
helped upon our Western coakk And I claim it a special honor to
fight as a volunteer on every occasion of this kind, and vindicate thO'
character of King Goal in the Mississippi Valley.
Our repugnance to sulphur is unavoidable^ for our memories r»«*
specUng this elem^wt are often unpleaisant, and our anticipations stiU
more so ; and when used either in the stove or furiiaoe thci result is-
not .only unpleasaatv but ruiiioi:ia«
944 •' - HISSOUBi AGRIClTLttTRlE.
Bat n^ coals exist *witfc<(iit sulphur excfepl. charcoal. * It is also an
inevitable 'Mc^^^iAiAtiiii; birt disposed aitd distriboted in such a
nianner, and so teadily Volatile and Easily ifemp^ed, that it becomes a
left hand complftneiit txr any^6rson,'fiiiding fault with our coaIs, in
this regard at the presiBnt time. ' ;
The h^at either of the steam or hotbU^t'whl soon. be introduced
into the smelting furnace, and dispel f^om coal every vestige cjf %mV
thur.
We said in tbe^j'ece4iag le^ctufQ tl^at jtbe^iotir^ ara^ipf ^ifi^ouris
with a triflipg re9e];ve, was occupied either wit^ the Goal m^a^rea,
or devoted to dikes^eMid pja(;ersof useful mipei^. la many instpj^oea^
south of the ^sppuri i;iy^ bo;bh these yalaes oocupy the sanie dis*
trict.
T^e.o<^a^ of Mid41^ w4 SQut^eru. Miasonta, w^ece formezly'' more
^ep^ye.apd eontio^iOGS thai^ nofir (t^^ar* JSk^ ii(ph0aval whieli
yave vis. the Oz^ik ipqfi?' ai^d Jt^nam^rm^ eipara aqd antaoUnalB-t^l*
iridin^, ^ref^kin^. aj^d^ ^Vokg th^ wl^^ ar^ wiMi . m jneraL vauifl ^^^
axas8e8r-<}ifitQ|-bQd .9ind pr^t^ably carti^ away '^ ^ooeiderabl^ poitkMi
of the coal deposits, involving* a;t the s^iM tinae lai'ge niafisiea in the
pocketrforni, aa, w^ b^^ find iix^m^ Aoother portion yet framiains,
bearing marks of the former disturbance by its upturned anddiM
torted.atiratai aff^rd^ng.^ mapif; eouiMi^^ of SpUthwesleni Missburi,
^<>uf^ fpr a],) , 1^0484 i <Acoe$Bibl^ ^y m^^y driftihg^ iaataad oittfaar^
«Lore.e:|ipen8iv.e no^tl^dA ^f sj^f^ftiixg.; ,Aa tbfdrrosiilt o£ thoab fiefeioa
pjxysical ^aoyel:|ae^j(s,,^.p[|l^h. IfMra^f: cMaat^UBt.of : eoal. th^n^we. could
g^ppoqe^bap ^p. ^tt^ sim^t up |n pochieits, same M \hsim hiairiDg a
d«pthoidQ,^4'^V:W> 7^ fmt^((|t9^ pe^y^ml hundred feat. in etsOenk
Albo anions tbo bgr^fvk^.Qf-^ii^^m.Mi^sowi tha sbma phenofniana.od*>
cur. l!hey constitute a peculiar feature of the Goal system of Hia^
aouri. 8)Byfra^{PJf.tbe^i(rfi nqw worikad QYl ^ Iteti.af the Pacific
£UilrQ^d; Ofthep7» J^yeb^f^foijiadpp. th^ Una o< the. Sotithi Picifid,;
^i^ one if liqftFBifcq ^ijv^i farter. (iQqtt,i to wdrda.thiahOaark rlinge. It
isr ^xoh^]/^\i^fktijB^^^^,r^ be fpuod inSonthwaM Miseoarji^oOnr:
t)|iniq|9g. 4a£ j(,^ at^ j^A^l^^^^QPQ busbal^ of 4^0aL Wifchin aJew yeara
cp^l ^afi hew f«Wftd.ft|fing tba<?i)tim fl9W90;flf- tha Oet«a riivcjf^'aa*
niost of i^ trib^tiinqs* . fjoav diff#s€^pit¥^y^ appeiit .to.be waU defined
-rhav^ng-a/thi^lN^esa.of ^4«A aitdinl manyxaported insiameaB /of 6'
and 7 feet thickness. £xploratH(iM) py^mi^Oiimd tboroogh^ wall de«
i^al^p a: still mi^^f^x W^Mi VOL Qiraa^. pftrta of i tfaie Slate, aqd . we irball
s^a ibaMniMisflpma 99 WQU:as;I^aiUi8y];iitaQia^.we batei both> or^a>attd
QAa)8 aiMtii^tect ....:[.:: : ; ; • o • . - . • -
• We have already jspfdn-ed^fq itha middle porUon of iMrth^^^
aa being the eentmb akia ^6f a v^fT* lexiendi ve aeries of coal deposita,
wd eatiniatadiiha eUiaiitim<Boid'a»!e»t0ndSiig'dGr miles ilft ' width bjr*
liiOimiles in lengtki;
Allowing only one workable vein,' tbia area gives iM^i^^XXJO
MlHEJ^Jf WEALTH f]f.^ff.l3B9Vfil. Mfr
tons, supposiog the stratum now being worked to maintain four feet
thickness, (6 'say potjiing of the £hree siaaller veins Q]VeFl>ing it.
Yaluedat half ado^ar per ton« the arnoant is nearly f 10,000,000,-
dOO^one of the smalTef items in the inventory of the mineral waaltlj^
of the State of Missouri. Mined and transported by sailway . at the
rate of 1,000 tons per day, it will serve for a period of 2,770 years.
0nite the coals of North Missouri with the Qres of the southern.,
half of the State; connect them by railroads ;' bridge the Misspuri
with iron spaus, so firmly that the northern half willnever again think,
of secession. A mutual prosperity will thence, arise to bind and unite
stronger eveix than Iron bands i. . ,..
We may safely assume that. the earth will continue to be and ap-,
I>ear in its present condition for and during a period of years long,
enough to use the supply of coals— notwlthstandii^g, p,od^n .prapbe-
eied and visions: because tkese '^ black diamonds'^ can not andr will
liot be wasted.
Every ton of these coals is for man's u$e. They w^ere Jaid down in^
the waste places of the earth long ago, in the middle ages of geologic^
history, and were slowly accumulated through processes that.cleaned
the earth of its poisonous carbon — storing it safely ii^ pprmaneptform^
as we now behold it in every coal vein of th^ ;eart}i^9 .crua|;, The. tiny!,
plant, whosQ transforn^tion has becon^ coal, is micrpsqopio, and . tiie
forces or agencies employed were silenjt, and pbediej^t to. the plan,
whose unity was preserved tbroiigh centuries, and wtos^ results con-
centrate oiUy in man — a work, that was jirophetip of^i^s millions of
years befote the human race apjpeAred upon t;hie /ace ejf th^e earth I
It is estimated that the amount of heat conta^qed in coal is the
• . . . ^ - , , • , , .1
precise amount derived from t^e &un during the successive jsjummers
of its surface existence, and that l^y cppibustion, we r/estore exactly ,
this amount;, to be used again in the, world's va^t laboratory* Tr.uly
tbere is nothing lost I not an atom of matter, nor- 1^ pulsation of force^
Tbe hair^ of our heads are numbered,. and whocan say tbere is no rec-
ord of our thought^ and deeds? .^ ....
Ne^ uses of coaV^re constantly, being. d^yelop€td,Bo that,fami}iar
as we are \frith it, it is still the greatest, wpnder in our mids^^ . • >
We shall notice only two of these, .as. our Unfits and your patienc.e j
ar^all-eady trespassed. ' r , . , . . . . • ^
"Th^ once useless and 4;etid, products piftno distillation of coal,^
have been made to yield sweei scents aud, savors. From.it^ naptha
are^o^btained the paraffine oil, and»the beautiful, tranqljctc^nt solid pigrr .
affine, which in'brilliancy and beauty e.s,ceeds w^x itself^ and from its .
aniline are obtained a galaxy of colors^ among whicl^ . W|3 nojBd oplj
mention mauv6 and magenta." ' i ,, - » ,1 •*
Can ifr,^ say that in the nineteenlli, century, the gay esit and richest' ,
colots that clothe and adorn the beautjr.of our jfujii^— r^cher^ th^n^Ty:^ ,
nan jpui^pla or Damascene gold— oolbrs that flaefh and dazzljO: in every
assembly of fashion, were once the veritable rainbow colors of the
I
M6 Hissoniii aoricvltubs.
OQD, as it shone millionfl of years ago upon the tropic and microscopic
Tegetation which has been transformed into strata of bituminons
coal? Surely the day of miracles is not past, but remains forever
with us !
The second of the new uses referred to is to the combustion of
coal oils for the generation of steam, thus avoiding the tonnage and
transportation of coal.
It is estimated that crude oil may be used both for locomotives
and steamships, as well as for domestic purposes, in countries where
coal does not exist — saving nine-tenths of the costs of carriage.
It appears improbable, however, that either the oil extracts of
coal, or any other form of hydro-carbon, will supplant the use of
coals. The most we can expect from the combustion of oils, is to
supply the heat of flame, which comes from the volatile portion of
coal, the stronger heat being in the fixed carbon, which is obtained
in the coke or fixed-carbon portion of coal, and is the result oi the
second burning or oxidising of coal— having already a red or white
heat.
The flame, which is all that the oils can supply, we judge to be
quite limited in its amount of heat, and insufficient for the rapid
generation of steam and the maintaining of a high degree of pressure,
and therefore incompetent for heavy service. We must largely nse
onr coals in their present form, improving them by inspection, and
by process of cleansing, coking, etc., etc.
Successful experiments have recently been made in Missouri to
use the better class of bituminous slates and shales in making steam,
by means of a grate adapted to the peculiar nature of slates.
With the simple apparatus used, 40 gallons of water at the or-
dinary temperature, was raised to 212^ in 15 minutes.
The large amount and general distribution of rich bituminous
shales and slates, in districts where the true coals do not abound,
indicates another supply of fuel hitherto ignored, but economical
only in regions where coal does not exist under workable conditions.
Great improvements are also being made in the manner of using
ooals, with reference to complete combustion, insisting upon the en-
tire consumption of all smoke and gases by such modifications of the
fire-box or grate, that the atmosphere shall be supplied in precisely
such proportions as the constitution of coal demands.
These improvements have been carried so far that one ton of
coal, which formerly would serve a train for 25 miles, can now be
made to haul the same train 50 miles.
It is true that much depends upon the quality of coals of re-
spective localities. Thus we find that from a certain mine that 1
lb. of coal will evaporate 7 to 71 fts. of water, while another lb. of
coal will evaporate only 6 to 6| fts. of water.
Experiments with coal and wood, comparatively, as fuel, whether
for steam or domestic use, show a great economy in the use of coal
MinRAL WKALTff OF VISSOUEI. 247
OYer wood ai ordinary prices. It is estimated that one ton of coal
is equal to S^ cords of average or mixed wood, or two cords of best
wood, a reaultf as will bereadily seen, of the superior heat power
contained in coaL
On locomotives the advantages of coal over wood has been vari-
ously estimated. The ratio of 26 to 17, established by the Illinois *
Oentral railroad, exhibit.s, doubtless, the average superiority.
Having already referred to the more striking features of the
mineral wealth of Missouri, we will now consider the extent of re-
cent discoveries. The astonishment, natural to every person after
beholding the three mountains of iron in Iron county, already noticed,
leads him to suppose that we may not again expect a similar display.
But we find, upon search, that these gigantic masses are not a hun-
dredth part of the accessible iron ores, of the same quality and sim-
ilarly disposed, in twenty-five or thirty counties of Southern Missouri,
In February, 1869| the first ore bank was purchased, near Cuba,
Orawibrd county. The partial development of this ore led to the
discovery of other iron deposits in the vicinity. There are now
known to be ten workable beds of red oxide, blue specular and her*
matite varieties, within a radius of three mUes from Iron Center (a
station on the South Pacific railway).
A shaft forty feet deep was made in this iron bank, passing twen*
iy-five feet through red oxide and specular ore — ^the last fifteen feet
being massive, and requiring the force of powder in quarrying the
ore.
At Cuba, four hundred tons iron ore are ready for shipment
Twenty tons are raised daily — one hundred tons could be as readily
raised.
At St James, iron has been worked successfully forty years, in
charcoal furnaces. The supply of coal is unlimited.
In the vicinity of RoUa, large iron masses and dykes have been
discovered. Transfers of iron lands are constantly being made at
high prices, indicating that the ore is sufSciently magnetic to draw
the iron masters of Ohio and Pennsylvania, and even of England and
Germany, to more inviting fields than their own.
Twelve distinct banks have been discovered and reported in the
Saline Valley, St Genevieve county, and four in Perry county.
Two new banks are reported in Iron county, and several in places
remote at present from any railroad.
Two new banks have recently been purchased on the extension
of the Iron Mountain railroad. In all these instances the ores are
massive, both specular and hematite.
On both sides of the St Francis river, for a considerable distance,
arelbahd extensive districts of excellent hematite iron. Fourteen
localities have been noted, each sufficiently furnished with ore to
aaintain furnaces for an indefinite time. A railroad is under con-
struction, I am informed, from this region to Oape Girardeau, in order
S48 i^aaoniLi AW€ifjhwn%> ^
to carry this ore to the Miaaiasippj riv^r, and retiiiEftr<)0i|]> |o 'tb»'.iroH
region.
* The timber in the vicinity is equal to aay defEUiod that nay be
made ibr charcoal, which is known as the best feel f(a woildng iron^
It is most probable that a large proportioa of tbe vast foi^estd of
I Southern Missouri will be used for amelting and refining iron and
other metallic ores.
The amount of charcoal which can be used in comftHCUon with
the ores of iron and other metals, fboin forests in proxhiiitry tb vaist
deposits of ore, and accessible both by riyer and rail, may be safely
esK^imated at 182^,000,000,000,000 bushels, atloiwing 300: dordl of wood
per acre, and 100 bushels charcoal to a cord of wood, oniln area 6f
10^000 square miles. {
Dykes or deposits of the same class of itt>n ate foubd inproxiiii-
ity to both the Gasconade and the Oaage rivers, and irnsdme instaiicea
cqal ai^d iron are intimately associated. Perhaps 1€0 miles oi^ the
fopaer stream and 150 upon the latter cOuldbe clsissed as prodtoctiv^
iron districts. The same is true of the Meramec land dther large
streams,.,,
. N.or isdt mf rely good fortune j that the railroads. paM throttgbVich
iron districts. Construct railroads in anydir^cti^^ and each ^one will
have exhaustless iron within reach;
' ▲ tb^roQgh Burviay of the State would give us a system of the^e .
wonderfuK veins or courses of metallic orefik, and'Ie^d to th6'di8c6very
of a much larger amount than we have now ascertained.
A careful study of the distribution of minerals in all parts of the
globe shoWs that ordfer reigns everywhere. Mineral^are surrounded
with rock formations which are constant associates, and upon this
order, science is founded. Those who have learned this alphabet of
nature are quick to reach th^ most profitable conclusions.
It will be seen that the lines of anti'clihas are marked and .dis- .
tinguished by a more uniform supply of ores. The reduction of iron
from its ores and the various refining processes in its manufacture
will oblige lis to use our coaU to an extent' now scarcely apprehended
and in this manner the. vast forests of Missouri will disappear. Dr.
Smith, already referred* to, says: ' . . ^
''The total production of the rjurbanoi |^nd Korthmnberlai^d field,
which, in 1851, was 15,420,615 tons, is for. tjhe year 1864 no . l^ss 'than
23.284,367.tons. This enormou^ increase is. in .great part dii^ to the
rajpid development of the Cley^and iron district, in .North Y/orkphire. .
TtTe iron furnaces in the three districts fed with the coal from, ..thipi .
fieid were, in 1854, as mfipy ^858; in 18.65 thiey were.augmenjt'editplOS
actually in blast; and large quantities, of Durham coke are i^qw coa-
ve;;^ed to tlie western qqast for the snjielting of the heipatit^ orofk ;
The total quantity of coal thus jeofisumed ij^ probably »much xn^^. .{
than doubled in one decemium." « . i . . *
The smeltiDg of iron ores in the toaaoes consist^ simply in driv-
ing away the more volatile portions of the mixed ore, or in melting
the iron omt of the grasp of the more inldsible parts. It is oft^i fonnd
nearly pure ; but it ^ema to be a law in the gra^d ecpno^ny of nature
that, to keep and preserve the metals from oxidation or rust, they
mast be anited with such other materials that the resulting componnd
or ore will have little or no affinity with oxygen.
By this means the ores of all metals are carefolly guarded from
destruction through the long ages that m^at intervene befope man
shall require them for their varied uses.
The most common forms of iron are the Hematite and Specular
Of es. The former is named from its red ai^earance ; the latter from
its crystalline structure. These occur principally in our mountain
ranges, or districts which have been subject to volcanic agency.
We have also nodular ore, and baad ore, the sulphurets, ai^d car-
bonates, besides the fasM ore, as it is termed in Pennsylvania, being
composed of qmall ferruginous shells, which lived in the water of an
ancient era in such vast myriads as to form strata of iron-shell-roqk
many hundred feet in thiokness.
Is it not ma^veUons, at least, that these tiny creatures efhoold
have been furnished with iron, instead of lime, for their masks or
shells, BO that it has become a special contributor to human progress
a nuUion of years since be ceased to exist I
^ Practically speaking, absolutely pure iron h^s no oQmmerciftl
existence. But, on the other hand, extraordinarily small traces of
foreign elements exert a very marked influence on the metal, and it
is precisely these small, and, in many ca^es, unnoticed differences of
composition that render so many points in the chemistry and practi-
cal working of iron obscure and difficult to be understood.
When it is considered that the investigation of such problems
calls for researches involving the utmost refinements of analytical
chemistry, it is not remarkable that contradictory statements and
opinions still abound on many points of the chemistry of iron-
making."
It is proper, at this point, to notice the extent and qnality of other
ores which are being discovered and marketed.
Zinc ores are particularly abundant From one locality, five
mUes from the Iron Mountain Raikoad, is derived all the sine ore
used at the Garondelet Zinc Wotks. In Southeast Missouri it eo-
exists with lead, and both follow a general direction ndrthwest to
southeast, from the Yirginia mines to Mine-la-Motte, a distance of
seventy-five miles.
Copper has been worked from the green and purple oxides, found
en Current Biver^ tribiltary to White fiiver, in Shannon county. In
UB56 several hundred toQs were sent to Baltimore, from whioh copper
WAS extracted.
♦— J8 A E
160 MIBSOURI A0BIOtJLtUBB.
Bar7tl^ or heavy spar, which abounds in many counties, has ao
Ifkoreasing demand.
From Oadel Station, Iron Mountain Railroad, in three year»,
00,000,000 pounds have been shipped. It is worth nine dollars per
ton, and is largely used for white paint, and for many purposes
hitherto served by ivory. It is also largely used to imitate white lead,
or sugar and flour, and the temptations in this direction are stronger
than human nature can bear. But such transactions are first-claaa
forgeries, deserving both fines and imprisonment
Since three years, great excitement has arisen from reported dis-
coveries of tin in the region of Mine la Motte, and other localities-
Large areas of tin lands were bought and sold, and numerous assays
were made, assuring a per cent, of tin far greater than the yield of
the Oornwall or Sumatra ores.
The English ores of tin, or ^ tin stone," are valuable, which hold
one and a half or one and a quarter per cent, of metal, and are
sought after in deep mines which extend 2,000 or 8,000 feet below the
surface.
The Missouri ^ tin-stone" is said to afford from two to four per
cent pure tin, and the rock formation or lode holding it is said to be
twenty to thirty feet in thickness, extending several miles. In one
instance a dyke of ^ tin-stone" was found to extend through Reeves'
Mountayi, from base to summit, nearly 1,000 feet above the bed of St
Francis river. The ores of tin are as easily reduced as lead, but the
price of tin is far greater.
Why are not these ores worked? is a question often asked. If
they are so rich in tin, we have most certainly a monopoly of this
article in Missouri The whole truth is shrouded in mists, but the fol»
lowing letter from General Sherman, while ^ non-committaP in some
respects, is, to my view, encouraging:
Hbabquartkbs Armies of tqb Unitbd States,
Washington, D. 0., Jan. 27, 1870,
J. P. MuBPHT, Esq., JeiFetson City :
Deak Sir : Yours of January 22d is received. I did visit the Tin
mines near the Iron Mountain, and did have some assays made, bbtb
la St Louis and in London.
These assays convinced me that the mineral was not rich enough
to work, with the present cost of labor, etc.
This is as much as I am wUling to say.
Yours truly,
[Copy.] W. T. SHERMAN,
Eight miles southwest of Fredericktown, in Madison county,
where one of the tin mines of Missouri are located, 982,000 have been
already expended for machinery, buildings, fixtures, lands, etc.,
•ta Tin smelting will doubtless soon be commenced, and the Tin
msrXRAL WEALTH OV 1II880UBL 351
lands be placed upon their real merits, and be judged by their profits.
It is quite certain, too, that deep mining will be as profitable in Mis-
souri as elsewhere — whether it be for Tin, or Zinc, or Lead, or Iron.
Quite as important are the recent discoveries of gray and red
Granite, under such conditions that extensive quarries can be opened,
and Granite blocks of dimension size sent to any part of the coui^try,^
or to (he city of St Louis. But, nol this stone is ^rejected by the
builders." We must send to Scotland for Granite base-blocks or pil-
lars, paying one thousand instead of one hundred dollars for an in*
ferior quality.
Seven miles from Farmington is a large quarry of Carnation
Granite, of beautiful tint> and in extent, unlimited. It i,s capable of
the finest polish, and will prove a most valuable acquisition to the
city of St Louis — ^in whose reconstruction, all are glad to see beauti*
ful building stone used, instead of dismal, cheerless brick. The front
pillars of a New York jobbing house, from the Scotch quarries, cost
$20,000| and single shafts for cemetery use, from the same source,
usually cost 9I9IOO. With the new process of quarrying, this rock
can be cut or split in any required form. These Granites, gray, red,
and carnation, deserve the immediate attention of architects and
capitalists.
By the discovery of placers or dykes of metallic ores, a great
value is immediately conferred upon lands.
Professor Shepard mentions an instance. A few bundled acres in
Ohio^not worth one dollar per acre — by the discovery of band ore,
was sold for 930,000, and is now estimated at 9:^50,000. At another
place a man asked $300 for a small tract of Iron land; but the Iron*
workers preferred to pay 10c per ton royalty for the ore. The amount
thus paid in a few years was 94,000. In Missouri tracts of land that
were unsaleable at one shilling per acre — the purchaser having sym*
pathy as the bitten party-— cannot now be had for 9250 per acre. Sales
are often made of lands that have risen from 9ii000 to 940,000.
In childhood we have seen light follow shadow across the meadow,
or harvest-field ; and it is not less delightful now to see lands, long
burdened by unworthiness, set free, and made not only respectable,
but aristocratic. But we forbear. In the midst of such riches, hid-
den, but not unsearchable, a man feels like a beggar-boy in the Bank
of England, with only a six pence in his pocket.
But if toe cannot enjoy we can, at least, be grateful for the limit*
less supply vouchsafed to coming generations, and with security in-
terpret the vast supplies of Goal and Iron as mute prophecies not
only of the permanence of the present order of things, but also of the
unexampled prosperity of our country.
There is Iron enough in the State of Missouri to build railroads*
ten miles apart^ all over the Earth — cobweb the air with telegraph
lines — span eveiy river with If on bridges, v and supply ordnance and
iron-clads for all nations during the next thousand year f
252 MISSOURI AGBIOULT0BB.
It is not proposed to take this contract just now; but simply to
compete with other iron marts of our country, and manage to furnish
a reasonable share of the present demand.
We may next consider the value conferred upon Iron by skill %nd
industry. A locomotive which weighs fifteen tons of Iron is worth
120,000. The v^ue of the amount of Iron ore required in its con-
struction is, perhaps, 9100 1 A pound of Iron will make 200 to 900
main springs, small size, and 80 to 100 per pound large size.
From 200 to 400 hair springs, of smallest size, can be made from
one pennyweight of Steel, which will also make 80 large size hair
springs. A pound of Iron or Steel, Troy weight, will furnish, there-
fore, from 48,000 to 96,000 hair springs. The price of these articles
varies from f 1.00 to 93-00 per gross ; very fine hair springs cost
910.00 each. The price of main springs is, average, 918.00 per
gross.
A fine laminated steel gun-barrel — ^its raw material costing twen-
ty-five cents— is worth 930 to 950.
In regard to the new uses and application of Iron, let us notice the
statement of one of the pioneers of railroads in the West, Mr. A. T*
Hall, of the Ohicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, ^that there is
more room for progress in the perfection of railways henceforth, than
the entire improvements made during twenty years I" Chief among
these is ^e use of Steel rails, requiring for their production addition-
al skill and capital.
We may notice, next in order, the condition of Iron manufac-
ture in our own country, as compared with the Iron Manufactures of
England,
!the production of pig-iron in England and United States, from
1854 to 1862, was :
BKGLANl). UIOTBD STATES.
1854 3,069,838 tons 716,647 tons.
1855 8,218,154 tons 764,178 tons.
1856 3,585,387 tons 874,428 tons.
1867 3,659,447 tons 798,157 tons.
1858 3,456,064 tons 705,004 tons.
1859 d,712,904 tons 840,428 tons.
1860 8,826,752 tons 913,774 tons.
1861 3,712,890 tons 731,564 tons.
1862 3,943,469 tons 787,662 tons.
The amount for 1869 was, for England 4,900,000 tons pig Iron!
The increased demand for Pig Iron in the United States is not far
from 200,000 tons per annum, while our increased production will
average only 60,000 tons per annum. A deficiency of 100,000 to 140,000
tons yearly is therefore supplied from foreign Iron markets.
"In France, the annual product of Fig Iron was, in 1866,
MIKXRAL WJBALIH OW JOBSOUBI.
2S3
1^53,100 tons, and 1867, 1,142,800 tons, showing a decline of 110,900
tons.
^ In Austria, the ofScial returns of the Iron trade show a diminuT
tion of forty-two per cent in 1866, as compared with 1860, and of sixty
per cent, as compared with 1862."
The Iron production of the world for 1856, as stated by Mr. Hewitt,
was as follows :
COtTlVTKIXS.
England
France
Belgium
Prussia
Austria
Sweden
Russia
Spain
Italy
SwitEeriand.. .
ZoUyerein^ . .
United States
TotaL..
PIf IroiH-'SVM.
Wto't Iro»-9«w.
4,530,051
];»)0,320
600,000
800,000
812,000
226,076
408.000
76,000
30,000
16,000
250,000
1,176,900
3,600,000
844,734
400,000
400,000
200,000
148,292
860,000
50,000
20,000
10,000
200,000
882,000
7,205,026
Indadinc all olawes of imported Iron. We give the following for
the United States :
1868. 1869.
Iron, pig and paddled 83,664 182,491
Iron, bar, angle, bolt and rod 88,000 61,788
Iron, railroad of all Borta. 266,462 294,869
Iron caatihgB 1,213 1,677
Iron hoops, sheets, and boiler plates 16,999 31,292
Iron, wrought, of all sorts 4,020 7,864
Total 899,468 618,930
Steel, nnwroaght 14,847 16,612
As we look at these statistics of foreign importation of Iron, we
are inclined to question the intruder, and enforce the provisions of
the Monroe doctrine, which are neither latent nor dormant, among
our citizens !
We are debtors now to Europe in a sum exceeding 91,000,000,000,
chiefly for Railroad Iron. It is not a National debt, strictly consid-
ered, but our railroads are bound for its payment. Foreign Capital
thus dictates their management, and tells us both when we can ride
and what we must pay per mile. It is not at all consoling to under-
stand that cheap capital and labor enable English Iron Masters to
254 HIBSOURI AGRIOULTURX.
impose this Lnrden upon us, especially when ire consider that oar
own ores produce Iron of far better qaality, in the yery districts tra-
versed by English rails.
To-day, English Railroad Iron costs 935 per ton in gold ; the
freight to New Orleans, 95 per ton ; duty, per ton, 915.6S; add 20 per
cent, premium for gold, and we have the cost of a ton of railroad
iron in currency, 966.12. The cost of American Iron is about 985.00
per ton.
But why should this difference exist— a difference of nearly 920
per ton, cheaper, in favor of English Iron t
We will answer, briefly :
The price or worth of money— three per cent, in Britain, and tea
per cent in the United States — makes onr Iron cost 95 more per toa
than English Iron.
The capital of British Iron masters, accumulated through a hon-
dred years of mining industry, enables them to lend money, in the
form of Iron, at a small rate, and on long time.
We, from our recent beginnings, especially in the West, cannot
offer such terms ; and when we would grant time to consumers, or
customers, the Englishman outbids us by his trump card of eternity f
In other words, he says, ^' Pay the interest, merely ; the Iron being
used simply to create a permanent indebtedness l"
But the especial cause of cheap English Iron, is the cheap or low*
priced labor of English operatives ; and in this regard we have no
desire to compete. We could not if we would. The condition of our
country is such that both common and skilled labor will command
wages sufficient to give every laborer an independent home — and this,
fellow citizens, is truly an American Institution !
We present a table showing wages paid to workers in Iron in
England and Germany :
Wages paid in South Staffordahire^ England^ in 186&.
PER DAT.
Common laborers 2«. 6(f. to 3«. 0/f.
Puddlers 7 6 to 7 10
Puddlers' helpers 2 6 to 2 11
PuddleroUers , 9 0 —
Heaters 7 0 —
Heater helpers 8 6 —
Finishing rollers 11 0 —
Shinglers 9 0 to 16 0
Machinists 8 0 to 16 0
Blacksmiths 4 0 to 6 0
Masons 7 6 to 8 6
The average price of skilled and unskilled labor at the iron work»
in England does not exceed ^a a day.
MinauL wsALKH ov mssouBi. 3B6
At the coal and iron works of Oreed & Williams, in Belgium, the
wages paid in 1866 were as follows :
PBR DAT.
Oommon laborers 1«. 2J. to 83. 6cL '
Loaders of coal 2 6 to 2 11
Wood-cntters 2 6 to 2 11
Wood or tree-setters 8 1. to 5 0
Miners 2 11 to 4 6
Exceptional men 5 0 to 6 0
At the Blast Furnaces.
Fillers 1 1 to 2 1
BoxPiUers 1 4 to 1 8
Oommon laborers 1 5 to 1 8
Furnace-keepers 2 1 to 2 11
In the Rolling-Mill.
Puddlers 4 2 to 6 »
Helpers 2 3 to 8 1
Rollers... 4 2 to 6 10
Helpers 3 4 to 4 *
Shearers 110 to 2 6
Oommon laborers 1 5 to 2 1
In all other European countries wages are lower than in England.
That is, 62^ cents day wages is paid common laborers ; while the
daily wages paid here will average 92 00 !
As a consequence of low wages, and the tyranny of masters, we
sre obliged to infer the pauperism and crime and misery of hundreds
of thousands who are too weak to resist, and too poor to come to a
land where labor finds reward.
Reliable statistics show us that, in 1868, 600 families died of star*
▼ation in England. We can strive against such odds only in one way.
But we have no disposition to appear in the arena where pitiless pov-^
erty and death, grim and gaunt from starvation, shall also have free
course. We will fence out such unsightly apparitions and protect
our manufactures, in order that we may honorably sustain our indus*
try and give to every laborer such wages as may enable him to be a
freeman.
The future demand for iron may be anticipated from the progress
of railroad building since 1827 to 1870:
Table showing the Annual Progress of Railroads Constructed in the
United State since 1827.
TEAR. KILEB.
1828 8
1829 28
1880 41
9K losMoiti AiuanvKtiL
im SI
1832 184
1838 676
1884 762
1835 918
1836 r: 1,102
1887 1,431
1838 1,843
1839 1,900
1840 2,197
1841 8,819
1842 8,877
1848 ~ 4,174
1844 4,811
1845 4,622
1846 4,870
1847 6,336
1848 6,682
1849 6,850
1850 7,475
1851 8,589
1852 ..11,037
1858 .-.18,497
1864 .16,672
1866 J7,898
1856 ..19,260
1867 -22,625
1868 ; J86,090
1869 -26,765
1860 -28,771
1861 , -30,598
1862 -81,769
1868 -32,741
1864 .88,860
1866 .84,442
1866 .36,861
1867 -86,896
1868 38,822
1869 -42,272
1870 48,860
There was an increase in 1869 of 6,000 miles^ of which the total
cost per mile is 945,000 ; and the aggregate cost is $2,198,700,000.
9298,000,000 were spent in 1869 in extending railroads. 13,446
miles are now projected and in process of bnilding.
There were completed, in 1869 :
In the Vorih iHterior States 3,976 miles of railway.
** Middle Eastern States ...1,026 " "
" Paeiflo States 922 ** "
'' South East and Soath West State.... 669 "" ''
4,000 miles of railway were built in the upper part of Mississippi
Valley in 1869, and 2,000 miles more to make Eastern conneetions,
while only 600 miles were constructed in all the rest of the country.
These statistics show the effect of the Union Pacific Bailway in
stimulating other corporations to make connection with it in order
to secure a share of the carrying trade across the continent
In all 5,000 miles extra of railroads have been added as the direct
impetus of the first road to the Pacific, which a few years ago was re-
garded as impossible, and whose projectors were considered insane.
The concentration of railroads from the Southern States, with
those of the Middle and -Northern States of the Mississippi Talley, at
some point probably in the Indian Territory, uniting in another
grand trunk route acrosd the continent, on or near the 3Sth parallel,
is an event that every person anticipates. The Kansas Pacific Rail-
way is rapidly approaching the mountains, pushed with an energy
that will find its way through, and across to the ocean. Add to these
statements and statistics the fact 4iiat railroad iron must be supplied
anew, or re-rolled, every ten years, and we may comprehend to some
extent the trade and manufacture of iron, which ought to be Ameri-
can.
«
The locomotives and cars of Europe, would reach from St. Peters-
burg to Paris, being nearly 1,000,000 in number. The total length of
Railways is 70,718 miles. The locomotives number nearly 20,000, and
their combined work is a transit of 60,000,000 miles per annum.
The amount of Iron used for rails, is 7,500,000 tons, and the an-
nual consumption of Goal is 4,000,000 tons.
In the United States, the amount of Iron laid down on Railways,
is nearly 4,000,000 tons, of which we may estimate at least 3,000,000
tons as foreign iron.
During the year jiast 65 new blasts furnaces have been erected in
15 States. Of this number 6 are in New York, 1 in New Jersey, 19 in
Pennsylvania, 1 in Maryland, 4 in Virginia, 6 in Ohio, 6 in Indiana, 8
in Illinois, 5 in Michigan, 2 in Wisconsin, 6 in Missouri, 3 in Kentucky^
1 in Georgia, 2 in Alabama, and 1 in Tennessee. From the new and
old, our productive power is now increased to 2,500,000 tons per annum.
Fifty additional furnaces are being erected this year, and our pro-
duct for 1870 will doubtless reach 2,225,000 tons or half the produc-
tion of Great Britain.
The present market price for American Pig Iron ranges from (33
to 135 per ton, to $42 for best quality. The total cost of making Iron
varies according to circumstances of ore, fuel skilled labor, and ma^
chinery which involves a large capital.
At Carondelet, the actual cost is as follows :
MS xunoina a^bzoultubk.
Fuel for ton of Iron 912 00
** " " Ore 8 77
" " " Lime 86
Labor and incidentals 6 00
Add for Transportation 92 00
** " Commission 1 25
" •* Interest 50 3 75
Total cost 929 87
In Indiana — Brazil*
m
Fuel 9 8 40
Ore, L M. If tons 16 49
Lime 60
Labor, etc 6 00
930 39
Add marketing 8 75
934 14
In Pennsylvania, in 37 Furnaces in the Lehigh, Schuylkill and
Susquehanna regions, the cost of making one ton of iron, was 929 63,
average for the last six months of 1869.
In Ohio — Southern.
Ore, 1^ tons Missouri Ore 915 00
lime 1 50
Fuel 9 00
Labor 8 00
. 928 50
In the last two instances we do not know the cost of marketing.
We are therefore compelled to regard the statements of certain
leading papers, that Iron is made at a cost of 922 per ton, as unrelia*
ble,no matter how these estimates are obtained ; and the statement
that in Tennessee, Iron has been made for 919 per ton, is wholly
untrue« and could only have been made concerning those furnaces
whose proprietors have been obliged, from heavy losses, to suspend
operations.
The shipment of Iron ore from Lake Superior Iron Mines, in .1868,
was as follows :
Jackson Mines 131,708 tons.
Cleveland " 102,213 **
Marquette *» , 7,979 "
lONXBAL WXALTB OV MIS80UBI. 9!^
Lake Superior " 105,746 «
New York • " 46,666 *^
Lake AngeUne « 27,657 *^
Edwards " 19,360 "
IronMountain ** 3,836 "
Washington " 86^856 **
NewEngland " 8,257 *^
Champion « ,256 «
Barnum « 14,380 *•
The shipment and distribution of these ores, however, over a dis*
tance of more than 1,000 miles, to meet, at a suitable place, the fuel
for its reduction, must always prove a serious inconvenience and loss,
as compared with the Missouri ores, with coal and other fuel near at
hand, and adequate, both as to quality and quantity.
The yearly consumption of Goal in 8L Louis is how 16,950,000
bushels, and the shipment of Iron ore by Railroad, from the various
Iron districts, is nearly or quite 1,000 tons per day. Both these esti-
mates will largely increase for the year 1870.
With facilities which Railways should be prompt to give for the
speedy transportation of both Goal and Iron, and with the encour-
agement of these industries by the State, in every legitimate man-
ner, and with the protection which justice demands, Missouri will
become the first of the American States in the manufacture and
commerce of Iron, and the consequent profits of Agriculture, and St.
Louis, at no distant day, will be the largest Iron mart on the Conti-
nent.
££
APPENDIX TO MINES AND MINING.
DESCRIPTION
or
SOUTHWESTERN MISSOURI
SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS,
IKCLUDINO
ilij OUmat^ WtUer^ Drainage^ Building Material^ Frttits <Md
other Pradmois^ Chnames and 6h€Bzing^ Railroad Lands^
HINTS TO SETTLERS, &o^ &c.
Haying made several examinations of the sontheasem .counties
of Kansas and the soathwestem counties of Missouri within the last
year, having in view the topography of the country as well as its min-
eral treasure, I propose to write out, for the benefit of those seeking
homes and investments, such facts as came under my notice.
The country under consideration lies south of the Kansas Pacific
Railway, and includes that portion of the State of Kansas lying east
of a line drawn south from Junction City to the Indian Territory, with
the counties of Jackson, Oass, Bates, Barton, Jasper, Newton, Law-
rence, Dade, Oedar, Vernon, St Olair, Henry, Johnson and Lafayette,
in the State of Missouri, This survey also takes in the Cherokee Neu-
tral Lands, the Osage Ceded Lands, and a portion of the Osage Lands
proper, llie district surveyed extends 175 miles north and south, by
260 miles east and west, and inclades that portion of Kansas and Mis-
souri towards which emigration is so rapidly tending.
This region is drained principally by the Osage, Neosho and Ar-
kansas rivers, and their tributaries. The general direction of these
streams will^ therefore give the slope or inclination of land, which can
mmniAL wbalvh of mbnk>itbi. S61
be speciitlly det^mined for oyery sdciaon by reference to any good
geographical map of the two States. The best map now extant is
Eeeler's^Oolton's or Blanehard's, however, will answer most pur-
poses.
The most common inquiries relate to the basis of the country it-
self. What are its foundations? or rather the rock formations under-
lying its surface ¥
It is an established principle that soils take their character from
the subjacent rocks, and with this in mind, the traveler may learn
much of the rocky structure of any region, by noticing carefully the^
loose earth or soil at the surface. The geological formation to which
this portion ot the country is referred, is called Oarboniferous, in
which are found the Ooal measures. A large portion of Eastern Kan-
sas is upper carboniferous — sometimes called Permian. This extends
beyonds Fort Riley, near which the Oretaceous formation appears
and extends beyond Salina, where the tertiary series appears above
it, and which extends beyond Phil. Sheridan and Fort Wallace, where
the Oretaceous group again occurs, and extend to the foot hills of the
Rocky Mountains. The succession of these formations is like the
courses of shingles in a roof rising westward. The overlaps are ir-
regular, but they do not dip, as has been often stated in public re-
ports. As the kernel is^of more importanee than the husk, so il is of
more consequence to describe the valuable materials which these rock
formations contain.
The common building, material is limestone, of which there are
several varieties, viz: yellow, white and brown — ^besides a coarse
massive limestone, suitable for heavy work, such as piers and abut-
ments for bridges. The Railroad bridge at Kansas Oity affords an ex-
ample of this class of stone. A much coarser variety is found in large
quantities, disposed in regular ledges, along the Neosho and Yerdi-
gries rivers. Small patches of it are also seen in the ^ border tier ^
counties, where it appears like the loose or lost rocks of the drift for-
mation, while in reality it is the last remnant of a series increasing in
quantity westward.
The Fort Scott Marble is an interesting variety of limestone be-
longing to the coal measures. It forms a ledge or stratum from six
inches to thirty inches in thickness. It is very compact and hard,
and is often affected by fractures and cleavage lines. It can be quar-
ried in masses and sawed into slabs for table tops and other cabinet
uses. It is beautifully variegated with golden threads of eYery im-
aginable curve, which are the rims or edges of shells of various gen-
era and species, inhabiting the waters, in ages past, of the great Car-
boniferous sea. Another class of building material, called magnesian
limestone, or Junction Oity Marble, is quarried and shipped exten-
sively from Junction Oity, Kansas— near Fort Riley. It is very exten-
sive, being from four to seven feet thickness, and forming a eap-rock
of many thousands of square miles of Middle and Bastern Kansas. It
S62 uamma A^aamnaoMM.
not only qaanies, bot oats eMily, and is worked to any
qnired, by saws and planes. It is of light drab color and makes a
beantifnl front The State Oapitol^ at Topeka, is bnilt of it, and sev-
eral new buildings and residences at Kansas Oity and Leavenworth
are finished with this material. This limestone should not be con-
founded with the lower magnesian limestone so prevalent in the
middle counties of Missouri — seen at various points on the Missoari
fiver^the State Oapitol being built of it : these belong to the lower
Silurian division of rock, while the former are of the Upper Oarbonii^
erous or Permian series.
The sandstones are everywhere prevalent, but are abundant near
the Missouri border. They alternate with limestone, in such a man-
ner that the farmer may choose his material for house, barn, and
fence. These sandstones are of various dimensions, and no part of
the country is without them. It is worthy of notice, too, that both
these classes of stone are near the surface, but not so near that they
materially interfere with farming, nor so deep as to make extra cost
in quarrying. The edges of these strata are seen in all directions,
wherever ravines, or creeks, or ridges, or mounds mark the general
surface. The rule pertaining to highlands or uplands is, that the cliff^
or edge separating them from the bottom lands is the outcrop of a
persistent ledge, and on a strip not 60 feet wide, in nearly every town-
ship, are quarries that can never be exhausted, of the cheapest and
best building material.
There is scarcely a section of land in this vast domain that is not
eupplied in this manner with one or both of the above described
classes of stone.
The improvements already made are characteristic of the geology
of the region. Stone fences, barns, houses, and walks are commom
and this material will continue to be used. Those who are wise will
discard brick, because stone is cheaper and far more valuable, while
for beauty or effect, all will prefer stone.
The water supply of this country is closely associated with the
system of rocks, and is a natural consequence of extensive rQck for>
mations lying near the surface.
Who does not see that strata of limestone, sandstone or slate riven
by fractures and separated by layers, forming innumerable crevices,
will give rise to myriads of springs of the purest water?
This feature is so extensive that it is safe to say that no portion of
the United States is so well watered as Southeastern Kansas and
Southwestern Missouri, excepting perhaps the Indian Territory.
It is also owing to this peculiar feature that the streams are for
the most part clear as crystal ; especially those flowing south and
southeast, while those flowing into the Osage, passing through deep
clay drift, though generally clear, are sometimes turbid.
Streams leading eastward are also slower, while the southern
streams are rapid, showing that the general average of surface, in
ICnrSllAL WKALtH Of MISSOURI. 213
Hiies drawn east and west, is nearly level, with a slight rise westward.
The slope southward is far greater, and gives greater advantages for
mills, factories, &e. The drainage system of this extensive region is
so perfect that not an acre in a thousand is unfit for cultivation from
excess of water. We did not see a swamp or marsh in our travels.
Grossing the prairie in any direction, we find that the high grasses
and reeds which generally indicate marshes, are nearly as firm as the
uplands and ridges.
It is a wonderful system which thus provides for the drainage of
every acre of land without loss I The solving of this problem indi-
cates the highest wisdom. Our preachers may here find new views of
the Divine Goodness quite as practical as those sublimer views which
often beguile our moral teachers of so much valuable time. This
problem has been perfectly solved for the portion of Kansas and Mis-
souri under consideration. In performing this stupendous miracle
there could be only one result, viz: a system of rolling prairies I But
lest we should seem to give undue importance to so common a fact,
we ask any observer to notice that every acre of land has its own
angle inclination, giving in the aggregate millions of topographical
lines, all diverse, and all so related as not in any way to hinder the
escape of water falling in rains I
Goal is universally, but not evenly distributed throbghout this
area ; but it should be remembered that most of this region com-
prises the upper coal measures, leaving the middle and lower yet to
be explored by test wells and shafts. The surface coals, or those
out-croping in ravines, and often on prairie slopes, are of excellent
quality, varying in thickness from one to five feet This class of coal
has been extensively mined, and many points are already noted for
their extensive coal trade, viz : Fort Scott, Burlingame, Emporia,
Ottawa, Lawrence, Topeka, Pleasanton, Oswego, Osage Mission, Ghe-
topa,* Kansas Gity, Gamden, Lexington, Gentertown, Knob-Noster,
&c, &c.
The most extensive deposits have been found on the Gherokee
Neutral Lands ; but recent discoveries assure us of abundant sup-
plies, aho, upon the Osage Lands.
These coals lie so near the surface as to admit of stripping. A
minority of the farmers, by this means, have a coal patch or mine at
home^ from which their owa wants are supplied. When the coal bed
is scant, a journey of several miles is sometimes performed. And
?rhen stripping requires too much labor^ the next farm or section may
afford a better opening.
And these coals are excellent for all purposes— making iron
either in fumaees or rolling mills*— making steam, whether for facto-
ries, mills or locomotives — ^in gas works or for domestic use. They
are singolarly free from sulphur and bun with the clear white flame
of Pittsburgh coals.
Their general diBtributiou adds greatly to tlie value of the lands
i^ this part of Kaasas and Missoari, as all will appreciate.
A fann of 160 acres, nnderlaid with coaj, is of mor^ yalue than
the same area with 80 acres of woodland. In the former case fuel is
aLceady prepared and stored for the wants of a hundred generations.
In the latter, a few years would exhaust the supply.
This bituminous co.al field, which is so ample in its extent, hj^t
generally a£fbrding only thin beds from ten to twenty-four inches, is
occasionally enlarged, giving three feet or more in thickness ; but
th^se are merely local surprises. The fuel question — quite as im-
portant as food — ^is not and cannot at present be determined, but every
year's search gives additional encouragement to settlers in proof that
there shall be no lack of fuel for the thousands of people that will
come hither as the years go on.
Unreliable reports are being circulated by persons who have self-
ish interests to promote — statements, for instance, that Kansas is un-
derlaid with twenty-one veins of coal, from one to eight feet in thick-
neps. The geological reports of Western States, which scarcely ever
contain either correct or positive statements, declare that Kansas
contains one-seventh of all the coal in the United States. Such per-
sons should be arraigned and branded upon the forehead with the
word ^* ignoramus," and if they are fraudulent as well as ignorant,
justice should be more severe.
The simple facts are good enough, and the truth, either spoken
or written, is\he most beautiful of all languages. ]^ut if it should
prove true that Kansas is not underlaid with veins ot workable coal,
yet we do know that the area of valuable coal upon and under
the surface is constantly enlarging by .the accidental discoveries of
settlers, and by those who are making diligent search.
Farther west, in Middle Kansas, Texas and Nebraska, the Ter-
tiary coals are found in abundance, and still further west, but lower
in geological position, are found in inexhaustible beds, or strata of
cretaceous coals of a quality equal to any service that may be re-
quired of bituminous coals.
We have already referred to the plentitude of coals, still further
west, but we declare again upon the authority of a measuring rod,
that the largest body of coal in the world lies between the Missouri
river and the Bocky mountains. We know that it extends over 1,200
miles from the British possessions to Mexico, and that it out-crops
along the entire line at the foot-hills of the eastern slope of the
Rocky range. Its breadth we know to be, in some places, over 120
miles. It contains five workable veins, averaging over six feet in
thickness. The distribution of these coals to all parts of the plains,
and to those States and Territories where they are needed, will be. a
leading business of all railroads extending across the mountains.
Within eiichteen months, coal has been discovered near EUflworth, on
the Kansas Pacific Railroad. It is a spongy coal, but exists in gseat
MUnBllAL WBALTH OV 1CIB809KI. 88t
abandance, ia veinB from two feet to three and a half feet thick. It
ha8 been referred to the Tertiary groap of rocka. It will possibly
supply 260 miles of railway. Since its development and use, wood
fallen from 950 to $10 pet cord.
Timber, as usual, accompanies all large streams in quantities suf-
ficient for most purposes, fencing, barns, &c. Pine lumber is brought
from Chicago or the railroad shipping points on the Mississippi Biver,
and to some extent from Texas.
To those that have learned tiiat prairie is more valuable than
timber, there is no deficiency in this respect. The leading varieties
are oak, poplar, hickory, black walnut^ pecan, hackberry, &c. The
quantity of timber, compared with prairie, decreases westward and
increases towards the south until in some portions of the Indian Ter*
ritory and Texas, the country is half covered with groves.
The soil of this district presents but few varieties. It is for the
most part the rich, dark carbonaceous mould of the great prairie
system of the West It varies from one to seven feet in thicknese
and is underlaid by a stratum of hard clay, or ^^ brick clay," when not
underlaid with limestone, but so compact that cisterns may be dug
or scooped in it, where there is no living water upon the highlands
and divides. Occasionally, the soil is of a red ochreous color. Among
sandstone ledges or base rock, there is sand and clay intermingled in
the soil above. During the drift period large tracts were overlaid
.with thin gravel beds, derived from the vast conglomerate deposit ly*
ing far to the north and west, and these again were doubtless derived
through the agency of glaciers from the Rocky Mountain range*
But of whatever variety, it is equal to any crop service that may be
required of it, upon terms which every good farmer knows. The
practice of selecting bottom lands for farms and rejecting uplands^
or reckoning them of little value, is erroneous. Within two years
the uplands have been cultivated and have proved to be asproduc**
tive as river bottoms.
The best selection for a farm, however, should include both npr
land and bottom land, and this can generally be secured, except on
the high divides.
But the especial attraction of South-eastern Kansas are her un*
failing fruits. It is a well known fact that in September, 1869, at the
ational Fair, held at Philadelphia, the highest prize — ^a gold medal
-^was awarded to Kansas for the best display of assorted fruits, as ap*
pies, pears, peaches, grapes, &c. But it should be remembered that
in the year 1869, there was a general failure of fruits in the Western
States. In Kansas and Missouri, fruits large and small, never fail ;
and with this assurance it will soon become the fruit-grower's para-
dise. The region between the Kansas Pacific Railroad, and the north
line of the Indian Territory, 160 miles north and south, comprising
South-eastern Kansas and Western Missouri, is all within the great
♦19— A B
iM mSSOCTBt 10RIOI7LT1fRB.
frait bearing region of the United States. Bat it will be seen, at the
same time, that the timber and broken regions of Illinois, Indiana and
Blissoari also extend across this line, and being for the most part in-
accessible by railroads, we perceive that Kansas possesses decided
advantages over tiiose regions.
It needs no wisdom to forecast the immense frnit trade of
Sonthem Kansas, whose beginnings have already surprised the whole
country.
The temperature, salubrity and moisture of the atmosphere, in
a word, the climate, might be easily inferred from the foregoing facts.
Of the temperature, a good measure, in the winter, is the thickness
of ice, which makes from four to ten inches. The fall of snow is
light, and soon disappears. The air has that clearness which is no-
ticeable upon the plains, and is a proof of its purity. Fresh meats
exposed, will dry, but not decay.
Invalids from many States hare sought their health here and
found it. This mild, equable climate of the middle and lower tem-
perate zones has alone attracted thousands of families from Northern
Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota, where only the most
vigorous can hope to realize the limit of three score and ten years.
The precipitation of rain will average for each year 40 inches — ^a
fact which ought to banish the fear of all who desire to dwell in this
goodly land, but who dread the *'drouth,'* or dry season. We will
here state that with the year 1860, this entire region has had only two
dry seasons. But this would hardly excite remark in older States
like Ohio, where drouth is more severe. As a consequence, both of
rich soils and mild skies, the grasses which grow luxuriantly during
the summer, afford, in winter, plentiful food for flocks and herds. The
entire region south of the Kansas Pacific Railroad is the herdman's
country. That he shall become rich, is only a question of time. The
prairie grasses, withered by frosts and dried in the ** Indian summer,''
afford subsistence during all the winter months ; it being necessary
to provide for the occasional smows. Most farmers as well as herds-
men cut a few tons of hay. Little or no care, beyond watching, is
bestowed upon herds, and therefore the cost is trifling. A faithful
lad and his dog suffice for a drove of 500 head. Further south even
these are not needed. The proprietor merely cuts or brands his mark
upon each animal, of which public notice is made, and the purchaser
may select his number, bearing that brand, from all herds, indiscrim-
inately^the brand or sign being the sole and sufficient proof of his
j)roperty.
This trade must assume immense proportions, increasing with the
years, istnd receding towards the unoccupied lands. Large grazing
farms, however, will take the place of ranges, herds and herdsmen,
with far more benefit to all branches of industry. There are already
enclosed and occupied, hundreds of grazing farms, comprising from
one to five sections of land.
MDmAL wMiiTft ojr maeoDRL S$7
It has be^n Qften prored, and is now genarally acknowledged that
domestic cattle of improved breeds ure far more profitable than Texas
cattle, herds of whi,ch are for the most par t^ indiscriminate crowds of
all sizes, ages and conditions, bought chiefly for their che^nesa, on
account of the hazard and hardship in transferring the drove from
the plains of Texas, or the Indian Territory, to a shipping point.
The profits of raising cattle are greater than offered in any other
branch of agriculture. The best drovers and herders say that the
a.verage outlay of 930 in the spring or summer, will secure 950 in sales
in the fall or winter of the same year, and this may be relied oa.
From yearly comparisons made as to the actual costs of cattle in New
York. Ohio and Illinois : Missouri and Kansas will exhibit the greater
advantages, which this region must always possess.
We will not further attempt to describe the natural advantages of
this country, nor note the excellent points of any particular section ;
but 'we positively declare that no man can suggest a substantial
good which this country does not possess. For soil, climate, water,
drainage, stone, timber, coal, grasses, grazing and general farming,
these portions of £ansas and Missouri are unrivalled, an(l, we be-
lieve, unequalled. These items^ the sure bases of wealth to all par-
ticipants, have already attracted many thousands — how many, we will
not attempt to state ; but the census of 1870 will present amazing
contrasts with the census of 1860. And still they come. Long trains
.of covered wagons are daily seen crossing the Missouri river, bearing
south and west until they reach these coveted lands. ^^The whol^
country will soon be occupied," says the traveler, on meeting these
wagon trains.
Lands are still cheap and abundant Prices are suited to evfry
one, whether he has means or not. Of the government, he can still
get farms, by the pre-emption or homestead law. Bailroad compa-
nies, having land grants, contract at low prices, on long time, at six
per cent, interest, permitting the purchaser to use his money for im-
provements. Non-resident or Hnoocupied lands can also be hadiipon
terms nearly as favorable as railroad lands. The price of lands will
increase steadily until farms in Missouri, Illinois and Kansas shall
have rates almost uniform. Sales of land in the two former States at
fifty and seventy-five dollars per acre will not be rapid while the
rich farming lands of Kansas, equally productive, can be had for (me-
tenth of those prices. These lands will advance until the.universai
standard is reached, viz : ^'The worth of an acre is three average
crops.'' The high-priced lands are, of oonrse^ upon the lines of rail-
roads, and if near stations, they can be purchased i^t ten to twe^oJky
dollars per acre, but upon wide are^aa and divides, far from roads^
either in operation or pjosoectivei the prices are much lower^fronr
two to five dollars per acre.
A lai^e portion of the eastern half of Kansas is hel4 upder f cts,
both of Congress and Legislature, relating to railroad grants* Ibej[
M8 MI80OURI AQBICflTLTURS.
eoniprise thelndiaa reservation, such as the Delaware, Pottawattomie,
Sac, Fox, Cherokee and Osage lands — ^in all nearly thirteen millions
of acres.
In the Congressional and State grants^ the alternate section has
been open to settlements by homestead, exemption, or pre-emption,
or subject to entry on land warrant.
Where purchases were made of Indian reservations, either by
individnals or colonies, the entire body of such lands, with the excep-
tion of the alternate sections Nos. 16 and 86 of each township, have
been hitherto kept out of market, waiting, doubtless, for the progress
of railroads, and the consequent increase of prices. In the spring of
1870 we shall see, however, nearly every acre of unoccupied land in
market. The rule prevailing with the railroad companies is to sell
lands as their prospective roads progress. Besides, agencies are now
established for the sale of Indian lands, purchased by individuals.
These reserves, of both kinds, have greatly delayed the settlement
of Kansas, but the cause is soon to be removed, so that every person
can pay his money and take his choice.
Most of the railroad lands are unoccupied. There are vast tracts
of this class where for miles not a house can be seen, the settler
choosing rather to ^read his title clear^ before locating or making
improvements.
The policy of all railroad companies toward actual settlers is
more than friendly ; it is parental. The price asked by them for lands
will not average one-half of their worth. Lands are far cheaper at
the appraised rates, with a railroad, than at 91.25 per acre without it
The settlers who makes improvements, and determines to make
and maintain a home, will not only be protected but aided by the
company.
There are now fifty thousand homes in Illinois, along the line of
the great Central Railway, made permanent and prosperous by the
sale of granted lands on favorable terms. The same is true, to a
large extent, of the lands sold by the Hannibal and St. Joseph Rail-
road Company, Union Pacific, Kansas Pacific, Central Pacific, Neosho
Yalley or Southern Branch Railroad, Leavenworth, Lawrence and
Galveston, Atchison, Top^ ka and Santa Fe railroad. The Missouri
River, Fort Scott and Gulf railroad, and the South Pacific railroad,
will pursue a similar course as soon as their lauds are ready for sale,
probably by the 1st of May.
Upon railroad lands, the actual settler is always the preferred
customer. He need not fear being dispossessed by any man. Those
who have ventured upon these lands are encouraged to do so with
the positive assurance that their claims will be first heard and allowed.
The only rational objection is, that these lands will be sold at prices
much higher than more distant lands.
Let us anticipate a few years, when the main railway line, now
in progress, shall have been completed to the Gulf of Mexico, and
MIKKKIL WXALTH OF XIMOUU. S89
southwest and west to and across the Bocky Mountain range to the
Pacific.
Consider also that the domain of ar^ible soil is limited ; that
Texas, Indian Territory, Eastern Kansas and Nebraska, are the
western limits of farming lands, nntil we reach the mountain slopes,
and that with every year this class of land is diminishing ; and one
can readily explain, not only the immense emigration settling mainly
toward the west and southwest, but also, the firm prices of lands main-
tained and steadily increasing every year.
We are no prophet, but it is easy to foresee along these extensive
railways now threading Kansas and Western Missouri in all direc-
tions, a hundred thousand new, happy and prosperous homes and
farms ; which to-day are open, unfurnished prairie ; and besides, but
less in importance, a thousand thriving villages and cities ; all the
ripening fruits of the generous policy of our railroad system.
To build a town or plant a colony, and establish society with
schools, churches, and courts, this is the work of a day, instead of
years.
Under the modern railroad regime it is an immediate creation,
instead of the slow process of pioneer life, with its struggles and
endurance.
The Kansas Pacific Railroad, now nearly five hundred miles long,
runs through the State from east to west The Central Pacific Rail-
road extends over one hundred miles. The Denver and St Joseph
Railroad is progressing. Besides these, there are branch roads being
built The Topeka, Atchison and Santa Fe Railroad is completed
beyond Burlingame, and the Neosho Valley Railroad is completed
to ICmporia, on its way, probably, to Chetopa, having a branch from
Humboldt to Fort Scott The Leavenworth, Lawrence and Galveston
Railroad is* running to Oamett, seventy miles south of Lawrence.
The Missouri River, Fort Scott and Oulf Railroad is completed to
Fort Scott, and will reach the boundary of the Indian Territory in
April or May. The railroad from Lebanon to Fort Scott will doubt-
less be completed at an early day, and also a railroad from Sedalia,
Mo., to Fort Scott, which has already become the leading town in
Southern Kansas.
In addition to these attractions, Kansas is free — not merely free
from fetters, recently loosed, but free, liberal and friendly in the spirit
of her citizens. Her laws are beneficent, her school system perfect,
her taxation light
Upon her soil was decided the great battle for freedom which
preceded the lesser but more sanguinary storms of war. It attracted
the best men of the Republic, who are stOl the guardians of that
commonwealth.
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
MISSOURI STATE
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
AT ITS
ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING
Held at St Louis the nth, 12th, 13th and 14th of January, 1870.
•1— HB
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE MISSOURI
State Horticultural Society,
AT ITS ELEVENTH ANNUAL MBETINa, HELD IN "THE TEMPLE,'^ CORNER 0»
FIFTH AND WALNUT STREETS, ST, LOUIS, MO., ON TUESDAY, llZH
JANUARY, 1870, AND THREE FOLLOWING DAYS.
The Society met at 10 A. m., the Rev. Chas. Peabody, President,
in the chair, and Wm. Muir, Secretary.
The meeting being called to order, the President introduced the
Rev. Dr. Post, who engaged in prayer,
The President next introduced the Hon. Mayor Oole, who wel-
comed the Society to St. Louis in a very appropriate address.
J/r. President and Oentlemen of the State Horticultural Society :
It a£fords me pleasure in being permitted to welcome yon to odr
city — coming, as you do, from different portions of the State, and rep-
resenting, as you do, Horticulture, that branch that is the life-blood,
as it were, of our country. I recognize in your Society one of the
greatest and most sublime of all the societies of our country. In
your deliberations you try to lighten that law of labor placed on our
parents in the garden of Eden.
You have directed your attention to that noble branch of indus-
try so admirably calculated to elevate the soul and mind, and thus
the more completely feel and know that divine influence, that, which
guides and controls all things. While you are engaged in these de-
lightful labors, you may feel that you are engaged in performing the
noblest charity to man, for horticulture is the twin-sister of virtue
and religion. There is certainly nothing better calculated to culti-
vate the mind and heart of man than cultivating fruits and flowers.
Horticulture is as old as man himself, and goes hand in hand
with intelligence and religion. All through the history of the past,
we find that nations have been more or less distinguished by the at-
tention which they have given to the cultivation of the fruits, grains
and flowers of the earth. Those nations which have given the great-
est attention to hortiqulture and agriculture, are those that have ad-
* #
4 MlfiSOimi AftEIOULTDBB.
▼anced to the highest stage of civilization and intelligence. We ob-
serve that as the pnrsuit of the culture of the soil declined, Aome
declined, while on the other hand as the British empire advanced in
horticulture, they rose in character and national greatness.
I welcome you to our city to hold your eleventh annual meeting,
and recognize in your deliberations a blessing to our State and
country, and in the discussion of the subjects that will come before
you, bear in mind that that alone is desirable which tends to beautify
and adorn the pathway of life. As a Horticultural Association there
is no dead past to bury its dead. I sincerely hope that harmony and
good feeling may attend your session. I observe that in your meet-
ings there is always harmony and good feeling, no ^ bickerings and
bitings," no political or sectarian or other axes to grind.
Trusting that your labors will be productive of the greatest re-
sults, such as every citizen may feel proud of, and proud of the men
who bring them forth, I now leave you to the work you have in hand.
President Peabody thanked his honor, the Mayor, for his kind
words of welcome. We come with fruits and flowers to greet yon, and
to discuss their culture in your midst, and hope by earnest application
to our calling to merit the high encomium you have accorded us.
The actual practical effects of the action of horticulturists com-
pare quite favorably with those of any other association in behalf of
the interests of the State, and while in merely political and secta-
rian assemblies, there is too frequently bitterness and animosity
among horticulturists, there is a vast amount of true public spirit
The President then delivered the following
ANlirUAL ADDRESS.
The Israelites of old celebrated an annual festival ; they came
from their homes on mountain top and hill-side, from the valley and
from the sea, up to the sacred city, intent upon a single object.
In like manner, ladies and gentlemen, have we come up here to-
day to our yearly gathering — to our annual festival. Animated by
common impulses, and united by kindred pursuits, we find ourselves
once more together face to face. We are here also once more in the
presence of that stem but invaluable schoolmaster — the experience
of another year.
Permit me, first, to express the abundant gratification of every
member of the Society, that we are permitted at last to disengage our
meetings from yonder hall« of justice, where for so many years we
were wont to assemble to discuss horticulture amid associations of
courts and juries. In the midst of such surroundings, ^ where men
alone do congregate," we have, at our meetings heretofore, looked in
vain for the animating presence of woman, whose tastes and habits,
whose aspirations and sympathies, are quite as much in accord with
the harmonies of our beautiful pursuit, as those of the stronger sex.
Let me also express the universal satisfaction that we can meet to-day
STATS HORTICm.TnRAL SOOIETT. 5
t
in this beantifal ^^ Temple," reared and dedicated to public
single enterprising citizen of our noble city — a monument in itself of
beauty unsurpassed, and a fitting spot for considering the grandeur
and beauty of nature.
In casting about for some theme on which, at this opening hour,
I may occupy a little space, I have selected as appropriate and timely,
HORTIGULTUBB AS A PRACTICAL PURfltJIT.
Theory and Practicer—AXvcLO^i everything in this world has a
theoretical side and a practical side. Accordingly horticulture has
two sides. A good many people are practical horticulturists. A very
small number have both the theoretical and practical combined, but
the number of theorizers on this subject is very large indeed. It is a
very easy matter for gentlemen or ladies of leisure, with a little knowl-
edge of books and a fair ability to write, to develop the most beauti-
ful horticultural systems. They make all the pathways of this pur-
suit both attractive and easy. But he who enters earnestly upon it
will find that he has to do with a thousand things which his book man
never told him, and which, perhaps, his book man never knew. He
comes at once into the presence of facts and realities. He has to
handle soils and slops ; rain fall and sunshine ; rot and mildew ; ma-
nures and fertilizers ; colds and frosts and summer heats ; bugs and
worms, and insects and depredators of every sort, from the centipede
and the quadruped down to the lowest and meanest of the whole
tribe, viz.: the sneaking biped.
When a man gets on fire with enthusiasm for the country and
for rural pursuits, with a heart all aglow with a full blown love of
horticulture, he sometimes makes grand mistakes. If he possesses
only that knowledge on this subject which he has derived from
books, and is fully persuaded in his own mind that he knows it all,
and that nobody can teach him anything new, he often makes a grand
failure. After a while he finds himself among the commonplace real"
ities of orchards and vineyards and gardens. He seems to himself to
be wandering about in some other realm, far less attractive and
lovely than his horticultural dreams had led him to anticipate. The
result often is that he abandons all his expensive improvements and
years of toil in supreme disgust.
Value of Books. — ^I am not opposed to books. I believe in
books — in book-farming in a certain sense, and in book-hortieulture.
Well digested books on these subjects, full of facts and correct infor-
mation, are indispensable. So are books useful on financiering, on
banking, on mercantile law, on the manufacture of iron, on building
ships or bouses. But where is the man so familiar with books on
these topics, that without any pratical knowledge he can manage a
bank or a mercantile house, or smelt iron, or build a steamboat! A
man may, by the help of engravings, and a little knowledge of anat-
omy, ef the extensor and flexor muscles of his arms and legs, get a
a MISSOURI AGRIOULTUBS.
r
pretty good idea of the art of swimming without ever having been
in the water. But if you see him, under the conviction that he knows
already how to swim, diving off into a deep pond, I advise you at
once to take off your coat, and for humanity's sake stand by ready to
pull him out.
As a man must first go into the water himself before he can be-
come a swimmer, so also you must first roll up your sleeves, put your
hands into the dirt, and watch nature's wonderful operations with
your own eyes before you can understand practical horticulture.
Everybody can have a garden. — ^Tfaere are no letters patent to
chain up this beautiful art, or to restrict it to a chosen few. All
classes may cultivate it. Whoever can get access to earth, air, water
and the sunshine may pursue it. The man of wealth may have his
suburban villa. He may adorn his grounds with evergreens and
walks and fountains; with clumps of shrubbery here and there, and
parterres of flowers. The farmer also may have his garden — not that
patch of ground behind his house, surrounded by a rail fence, where
a few cucumbers and sickly hills of potatoes seem to be waging
unequal battle for existence with weeds and thistles, but a real
garden, laid out and cultivated not only for utility, but for the culture
of his higher nature; not only such as will pay him for his toil in
dollars and cents, but also in the coin that will be current in the
higher spheres.
The clerk, or the young man commencing business for himself,
who has just taken the wife of his choice to begin a home on a twenty-
five foot lot in the suburbs, may have his garden. There is ample
room in that little yard in front for a clump of evergreens and a few
vines — for some rose bushes and a bed of verbenas. These will cost
less than half as much money as a box of cigars. I seem to hear that
little vacant spot calling loudly for cultivation; asking imploringly
for the hour before breakfast in the morning, which is now spent in
yawning and idleness. Here are all the materials and opportunities
at hand for making that little spot a small Tower Giove or a mini-
ature Ohatsworth. Let the leisure or the idle hours be devoted to it,
and it will be done.
Every householder in town or city, who has a little yard in front
or rear, can have a garden. Those old barrels and piles of coal ashes
which now encumber and disfigure the back yard, may be made to
give place to forms of utility and beauty. The peach, the nectarine
and the vine, all rejoice, like the domestic animals, in the presence of
human beings and human habitations, flven the Black Hamburg
and the Golden Oasselas, and other foreign grape vines, will climb
around your door and up the sides of your house yielding their deli*
cious clusters, while they utterly refuse to do the same thing in the
vineyard and the open field.
If you have not even a square inch of front yard or back yard,
you may have a garden. Nebuchadnezzer, of old, invented a method
STATE HOBTICULTUBAL SOCIXTT. 7
He hung his gardens high in air, so that at a distance they appeared
like enchanted forests above the din of old Babylon. The same thing
can be done on a small scale before the parlor window, or on an open
balcony. Who shall deny even the humblest householder^ the luxury
and jay of a flower stand, which only requires water and air, and sun-
shine, with a little pleasant care, to make it a thing of beauty and a
joy forever."
Why people dwell in cities. — Just here a grave question forces
itself on our minds. Why should such a large proportion of the human
race spend all their mortal days within the pent up dwellings of the
city t A proportion vastly larger than seems necessary to meet all
its mercantile or industrial requirements. This question involves
problems too vast to be brought into this address. Some are bound
to the city on account of its social life and superior religious advan-
tages. Some for the sake of its amusements. A vast number on
account of the real or imagined facility for acquiring wealth. Many
have a high regard for, and consider quite indispensable, its fashions
and conventionalities, and cannot live without them. The poor, the
idle, the wretched, the vicious reside there because of the facilities
for vicious indulgence and for the commission of crime, and perhaps
also sometimes with the idea of finding ready assistance from the ben-
evolent in the hour of need.
Cities necessary. — But whatever motives or combination of mo-
tives may serve to mass so many human beings for a lifetime into such
close quarters, this state of things has been the same in all ages.
Oities have been, all through the history of the past, the headquarters
of philanthrophy and religion, of science and learning, of arts and
arms. They seem to be a necessary part in the working out by
Divine Providence of the grand problem of human destiny. Their
existence, and the large wealth which they develop, are quite neces-
sary to the prosecution of the higher arts of horticulture. They are
filled up with those who are consumers, but not producers. They
afford thus a ready market for all horticultural products. They stim-
ulate also, especially in their immediate vicinity, the cultivation of
landscape gardening, and the production of fruits and flowers. Let
none of us, therefore, who prefer to make our dwelling place beyond
tlie dusky precincts of the city, quarrel with those who choose to re-
main in it. We entertain not a doubt, but that hundreds of those now
suffering for wealth or for a bare subsistence, up and down those
reeking thoroughfares, could better fulfill life's great issues, both for
themselves and their children, by undertaking rural pursuits. But
this is a free country and every man has a right, provided he behaves
himself, to dwell where he pleases, and to engage in such occupation
as he may choose. He will, doubtless, pursue that calling which in
his view will be the easiest and most direct road to competency and
independence.
Will Horticulture pay t—^\ii% leads us to an important question.
8 lOSSOUBI A0RICULTUBI.
What is the value of the pursuit of practical horticulture as a means
of livelihood? This is the great question that enters largely into all
our plans and undertakings. In giving a suitable answer and solution
to this question, it may be suggested that this pursuit is governed by
much the same laws as prevail, in eveiy other calling. In. all the
occupations which absorb the activities of mankind some make it
pay, and some do not Not every doctor, not every lawyer, not every
merchant or manufacturer or miner succeeds. Indeed, in all these
callings failures are quite common, but in all there are some who
achieve success. The florist, the gardener, the vintner, the pomoio-
gist all stand in the same category as the others. Some meet with
success, others with failure. Does a man need experience in order to
manufacture flour? So he also needs experience in order to raise
apples. Is shrewdness requisite in a man who bnys and sells on
'Change that he may make money every time ? So it is also in him
who cultivates grapes for market. Must a merchant have enterprise
and pluck in order to stem the tide of competition and pay his ex^
penses ? So must he who produces cabbages for your table or bou-
quets for your parlor. You do not advise an indolent, ignorant, sickly,
thriftless man to become a lawyer, neither do I advise such a man to
go into horticulture. In this calling those who are careful, shrewd,
clever, quick to learn and industrious will succeed and make it pay.
All others will fail.
Law of Supply and Demand.— the products of Horticulture, in
the prices which they are destined to command, must inevitably fol-
low the same laws as all other commodities. Equilibrium is one of
the fundabiental laws of trade. AH prices are regulated by supply
and demand. You cannot force an article on the community when it
is not wanted, any more than you can makeanaan eat another dinner
when his stomach is satisfied. You cannot sell your peaches at a
remunerative price when the market is glutted. There are certain
great staples df the world, such as wheat, cotton, iron, &c., which are
always in demand, because they are articles of prime necessity, and
yet, under the law of supply and demand, even these often fluctuate
with great violence. The products of Horticulture are subject to
much greater fluctuations, because they are generally artiolea of lux-
ury. It is often the case that &n article of luxury will work itself into
general consumption, and thus become after a while almost an article
of necessity.
Fifty years ago, ice, even in climates where it is produced, was
seldom preserved for domestic use, and in warmer climates and in the
tropics it was scarcely known. But now in every town and city of
our land, and all over the world, from New Orleans to Calcutta, it
has become an article of necessity. So it will be with the grape, that
most delicious and healthful ot all fruits. If it improves from year to
year in quality by the introduction of new and better varieties, its
consumption will increase almost indefinitely. As a general rule the
BTATB HOBTIOULTUKAL 800IBTT. 9
supply of anything valuable in horUeulture increases the demandyi
and he who anticipates^he public wants and is uKMt prompt and veady
to meet them will reap the largest reward.
The Law of Compensation. — But there is another law, prevailing
especially in the realm of horticulture, which may be called the law
of compensation. If on your grounds there be this year a partial fail^
ure in one direction, the same causes may produce abundance in an-
other direction*
If a product only partially fail, that part which is saved and sent
to market will secure a better price on account of the scarcity. If
destructive insects in one season abound and inflict great damage
upon the maturing fruits, their very abundance will bring into active-
existence another set of insects which may not only destroy the de-
predators, but prove oflasting benefit. Again, if your orchards or
vineyards are this year robbed of the promised fruit by an untimely
frost, you will lose the fruit, but the tree or the vine will be enabled
on that account to make a more vigorous growth, and prepare itself
for greater achievements in the future.
Increase of Enemies. — But there is in practical horticulture one
discouraging feature. It seems now to be a fact, pretty well estab*
lished, that the increase df vineyards and orchards and gardens in a.
certain locality has a tendency to give increase and activity to the
diseases and insect enemies which are so destructive. In this direc-
tion, gentlemen, to those of you who prosecute this part of horticul-
ture, is the great battle for success to be won or lost.
Let energy and perseverance, under the direction of skill and.
science, be brought to bear upon this great evil, and it will in time be*
overcome.
But in meeting diflSculties and conquering them, as well as in all
our toils and triumphs, let us not fail to recognize the hand of Him,^
who gives the rain and the sunshine, and who can cause '^the wilder-
ness and the solitary place to be glad for them, and the desert to bud.
and blossom as the rose."
REPORTS OF OFFICERS.
The Secretary naade a brief verbal report, showing that the seve-
ral committees of the Society covered the whole circle of operations*.
No new facts worthy of special notice had presented themselves.
The Treasurer presented his annual report showing a balance oh.
handoff39 35. The report was referred to a committee consisting:
of Messrs. H. T. Mudd, T. W. Guy and Dr. Morse, who subsequently-
reported the account correct.
On rcotion, the following were adopted as the hours of meatiJiiC^
^ A. M.; 2 p. M.; 7 p. m. Adjourned..
♦2h R
10 lfI88O0U AQBimJLTimS*
«
TUB8DAT AFXSBNOOV.
The reports of Vice Presidents on the state of horticulture in
their respective districts :
FIRST CON0RES8IONAL DISTRICT — ^RBPORT OF MR. J. M. JORDAN.
Mr. President and Memhere Missouri State Horticultural So^
-ciety :
It is made the duty of each Yice President to lay before the So*
^ity at its annual meeting such information as he may deem ef inter-
est to the Society, as well as suggestions for future operations, to-
gether with a review of the past season. Horticulture in Missouri is
progressing rapidly ; many are the acres planted to fruit the last year,
and very many that for the first time gladdened the hearts of the
owners by a beautiful return of fruit; while those orchards and vine-
yards of more mature age, did not disappoint their cultivators. There
are many engaged in horticulture that complain of the small returns
for their produce. Transportation, selling and commission, should be
worthy of our consideration. There is evidently a want to be supplied
in some form to give the consumer the fruits of the orchard, vine-
yard and garden, with less expense in transportation and thereby
pay the producer a better price for his commodities. The real value
of any article is better obtained when we compare it with other
articles. Now the price of fruit in our market has been better than
many other articles. A bushel of apples has been worth as much as
a bushel of wheat or corn. We can now exchange a barrel of apples
for a barrel of flour.
But while it only costs about BO per cent of the price of wheat in
our market to bring it from the producer to the consumer, it costs
about 50 per cent of the market price to handle fruit, I am of the
opinion that we pay too much to express companies. We could send
our fruits by common freights at much less prices, and very often in
the same time. As this Oongressional District (the Ist) does not con-
tain many orchards, I cannot be asked to go into the minutia of horti-
oulture. I will only say that a branch of horticulture hitherto very
much neglected, is now receiving much attention. I speak of th«
cultivation of ornamental trees and plants, and could our streets be
relieved of the limestone dust, we could grow many more fine shade
trees and beautiful plants ; this I believe will be done. The last ten
years I have been identified with the horticulturists of St Louis, and
I can truly say we are progressing with a steady, healthy growth.
BECOKD CONGRBSSIONAL DISTRICT— REPORT OF T. W. GUT.
Having been unable to get enough reliable statistics from which
to make up such a report of the progress and success of fruit growing
as I conceive is called for, from one holding the office you were pleased
BTATB HOEtXO0LTUAAL flOOIltT. 11
to confer on me, I can onlj report from the limited personal knowl*
edge I have of my own neighborhood and county :
There is still an increasing interest in horticoltare in its various
branches in the Second Congressional District, and many new plan-
tations of the different varieties of fruit are being made especially in
Jefferson county. -The apple did well generally this year, as witness
the very fine display at the St Louis Agricultural and Mechanical
Association, and the Horticultural Fair held this last fall, and those
owning orchards in my neighborhood, and those about to plant, are
very much encouraged. Pears, as far as we have tried, or seen tried^
give promise of considerable profit to those cultivating this Iruit.
The orchards in my neighborhood are "all young and just beginning to
bear, but judging from the few old trees and the fine growth of the
orchards lately planted, I think our section of the State will be found
to be favorably situated to produce this delicious fruit Peaches were
almost a failure this year, owing to various causes, but principally
the curculio, and we have either got to give up the peach, or go to
work manfully and whip the fellows, and no half-way work will do,
£or already it is almost impossible to find a specimen of this fruit that
he has not punctured. Of cherries, plums and quinces, not many are
raised. Grapes were very variable this season, rotting under every
method of culture, and, again in the same neighborhood, and under
the same system, showing perfect fruit with scarcely a single berry
being decayed, so that all our theories of the cause of rot are com*
pletely upset Small fruits were abundant, and their culture greatly
increased.
A word on marketing fruit; much of the profit in fruit culture
depends on the manner in which the fruit fs gathered and packed for
market, and the failure to put two or three more specimens into a
box may spoil the sale of the lot, as I have several times witnessed
the last summer and fall.
F. F. FDirX, VIGB PItBSIDBNT OF TUB FOURTH CONOBESSIOITAL DISTRICT.
Mr. President and Members of the 3fo, State Horticultural Society :
As Vice President of your Society for the Fourth District, I sub-
mit to your Society the following report. I will state that in this part
of the State horticulture is largely and rapidly on the increase. The
disposition amongst the people to plant fruit trees of all kinds sur-
passes any thing I have seen heretofore. The apple of which this
section of Missouri is the home, gave a very large crop, in fact too
much of one, and the consequence was the fruit was small, but
of good quality. Only about one-third of the crop was saved be-
fore the hard freeze in October, yet enough to keep the price so low
that all who wish can eat apples till they grow again. The apple
here is troubled very little with insects or diseases. The varie-
ties most popular here are Bawle's Janet, Winesap, W. W« Pearmain
Ben Davis, N. T. Pippin, as winter varieties.
13 MI890UBI AGBICtTLTUBK.
Pears are being planted to some extent, and promise well.
There were a good many in fruiting this season, showing good size
and fine qnalitj. As to disease, we are not exempt That pest,
the blight, the greatest obstacle to successful pear culture has
made havoc with some orchards here, although one man, who has an
orchard of seyen hundred trees has lost but one in four years.
Peaches seem to be at home here, and seldom fail to give a crop^
although most trees in bearing are seedlings. The past season gave
a moderate crop of fine sized peaches, of good quality, and exempt
from any defects whatever.
But few of the finest varieties of cherries have fruited here yejt,
and the past season was almost an entire failure for all kinds.
Plums grow wild in great abundance. The cultivated varieties
grow also, and are beautiful. B&t few are left by the little Turks to
ripen.
Grapes, as far as tried, do well. Such as Ooncord, Hartford, Del-
aware, Norton's Clinton, Northern, Muscadine, etc. Although the
rot prevailed to considerable extent the past season, especially with
the Ooncord, yet enough were left to make it a paying crop. Other
varieties did not rot as much ; some not at all. The wild grapes were
affected with the rot the past season so as to be a totaf failure, some-
thing I am told which is seldom known here.
Grape planting has nearly doubled itself the past season. There
are not less than fifty acres in Greene county, and about one half
fruiting this season. Webster, Wright, Dallas^ Polk, Lawrence, New-
ton, and Jasper are planting more or less. A. J. McCrackin, one of
the oldest horticulturists in the county, has made considerable wine
the past season from his vineyard. Nearly all of the newer varieties
are being planted here for trial.
The currant does not appear to be at home only where it is pro-
tected from the rays of the sun. The gooseberry does better, and
good crops are gathered. Blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries
grow spontaneously in the woodland and prairie, so there have been
but few planted, except of the strawberry, which gave asplendid crop
the last season. In conclusion, I may say that the prospects for horti- ,
culture in this district are very encouraging, and the time not far dis-
tant when this section will be one of the greatest fruit regions of the
West.
I'lPra CONORESSIONAL DISTRICT — RBPORT OF F. 1. KITCHT, VICB PRESIBEKT*
Mr. President, the friend who proposed and the society who
elected me as their representative in the Fifth Congressional District
have not been very fortunate in their selection. To do full justice to
the position, and to reward the expectations of the society, I should
have traveled through every one of the thirteen counties which are
comprised in the district, extending from the mouth of the Osage, in
the center of the State, to the remote border of Missouri in the West
BTATB H0BTICU1.TURAL 0OCISTY. 18
Or I might have at least corresponded with the prominent horticul*
turists in the flourishing settlements of the Osage Valley, of the
Black and Larmine Kivers. Neither of which I have done. Horti-
culture is expected to flourish naturally, to some e](tent, in the older
counties of Cole, Cooper and Johnson^ Of no less importance is it with
its store of observations and experience in the younger settlements
of our western counties, where the energy and thriftiness of the im-
migration is planting orchards and vineyards almost as soon as the
first crop of corn has been secured. But when I attempt to present
some account of what has been done in this hilly, timbered county-^
dole — ^in the immediate vicinity of the State Capital, it may, perhaps,
pass for a representation of the state of horticulture in the other por*
tions of the district similarly situated. For a general view I propose
to speak of the (1) orchard, (2) small fruit garden, (3) vineyard, (4)
the market garden, (5) the hop yard, and (6) the flower culture*
The orchard is a part of almost every old place ; its apples and
peaches being a source of income second only to the breadstufls and
hay.
Apples. — ^The trees come into regular bearing about the sixth
year, and as yet we know no limit to their lives, that is of our ap-
proved varieties. Trees of thirty years appear strong and healthy
enough for a full century. The varieties which succeed best are the
Genetin (Janeton), the Henderson, the Newton Pippin, the Rambo,
the Belleflower, in the order here named. The Baldwin, like many
other Eastern apples, is a large fruit, beautiful to the eye, but lacking
the flavor, the juiciness and the keeping qualities of the Baldwin of
New England. Planting more orchards is evidently the rule of the
day, for the by no means small nurseries of Messrs. Swift, Gregg,
Wielandy, and perhaps others, cannot supply the demand, so that
large orders are sent to Washington, Mo., St. Louis, Belleville, 111.,
and Bloomington, 111. After the trees have passed their third year, it
is not difficult to keep them in tbr^ty growth, but their first years
are causing anxiety to the planter: When their vigorous shoots of
early summer should mature under the autumn sun, then the enemy
appears. Thousands of grasshoppers will cover our fields, and destroy
every leaf on the young apple tree, leaving it bare and an object of
pity. The disheartened planter is glad to find the young trees budding
and growing again the following spring, yet it cannot be denied that
the growth of the tree has received a severe cheek. We implore our
benevolent friend, C. Y. Riley, the State Entomologist, to discover a
remedy against this annual plague — some cannibal, perhaps, whom
we shall pet and raise. Birds will do a great amount of destructive
work among the grasshoppers. We ought, therefore, to protect them
by a law, and have such law strictly enforced. Peach trees are less
subject to attacks from grasshoppers.
The apple crop this last season was enormous. Mr. Railton, who
has one hundred acres in orchard, has supplied all his home custom,
:4 1II880UKI lOBIOULItmS.
shipped a large quantity to St Lonis, and made barrels of apple bat-
ter, besides excellent cider and vinegar. The nnexpected frosts of
October 24th and 36th found manj an apple tree yet nnpicked — ^in
fact, some of the Janiton's were not qnite ripe, the season being late.
The frait injured by the frost has been almost all made into a very
good cider.
Peaches. — For these the soil and climate of this county and its
southern neighbors are not surpassed not even by the famous peach
region of Egypt — extreme southern Illinois. Trees will commence
bearfng at three years from the seed or bud.
Which varieties will do best is still a subject for further investi-
gation. Seedlings will gratefully bear every year, whilst the Early
Crawford, Hale's and Troth's Early have proved so capricious as to
preclude their being planted extensively. Already we have some
varieties originated in this county, which are really good, reliable,
early and prolific ; they are now being propagated by our nurserymen
(especially Mr. Wielandy) for further trial. The enemies of the peach
are principally the borers ; the curculio is not as yet so numerous here
as elsewhere. Taking one year with another, the most profitable
varieties are the seedlings. The crop was small the past season; of
the finer varieties we had almost none.
P^ar*.— These are as yet grown to a small extent The Seckle^
Bartlett, Flemish Beauty and others have done very well thus far.
The most successful grower of French varieties is Dr. Pondrom,of
Jefferson City, an enthusiastic lover of flowers and fruit
Quinces^ Cherries and Plums succeed well, but are not very
abundant as yet The Oerman prunes (Zwetchen) have for a number
of years done splendidly, contrary to the tradition of Pennsylvanians
and other eastern men.
SMALL FRUIT.
The culture of the Strawherry was for a while attempted on a
large scale ; soon, however, it was found that Egypt could beat us
in our own home market The plantations require more labor
than'we are willing or able to bestow. Hence, they were choked
with the weeds.
The berries few and not large. The market for a good article is
never glutted, but our experience seems to prove that there is no
profit in raising them. The Wilson does best ; next we have placed
the Agriculturist, Triomphe de Gand, Fillmore. Jucunda is discarded.
Oooseherries^ Currants and JSaspherries grow well in properly
shaded localities.
Of Blackberries we prefer the Eittatinny. It is hardy, prolific,
and of good quality. There is yet, however, such an abundance of wild
berries in our market that the propagated varieties are neccessarily
limited.
Vineyard. — ^If the vicinity of Hermann, in Gasconade county, has
BTATB HORTIOULTUBAL SOCIKTY. 16
ifthieved the front rank among l;he Tine and grape-growing sections
of onr State, notwithstanding the immense outlay of manual labor
required to fit its rocky and barren soil for the culture of the grape
vine ; we in Oole county have a soil that can compete with our neigh-
bors below, and have every fair assurance of success. Our soil is free
from rock, is mellow, rich in humus as well as in mineral plantr^
food necessary for the full development of vines and grapes ; the sur*
face is sufficiently hilly to afford excellent situations for vineyards,
without being so steep as to exclude cultivation by horse and plow.
On the whole, as far as the natural requisites of soil and site are con-
cerned, we are more favored than the vineyard regions on the Mis*
souri below this i>oint, and a fair encouraging state has been attained.
Messrs. Swift, Langerhans, Gundelfinger, Wielandy, Judge Krekel
and others, in the immediate viciaity of Jefferson Oity, are already
raising excellent crops of choice grapes. The public are becoming
more advanced in their taste, so that the demand for a good grape iis
steadily on the increase. Dr. DeWyl, who is our county assessor,
thinks that as many as fifty acres of vines are already planted, and
will be in bearing in 1870.
The first vineyard of some extent was planted by Messrs. Lang*
erhans and Gundelfinger. They raised principally the Catawba, or
rather tried to raise it. Their ill-success with this variety has induced
them to graft the roots with Ooncord, of which they had a good crop
this year of very fine fruit ; and the sweet, thoroughly ripe Ooncord
grapes raised by Judge Krekel, Dr. DeWyl, Swift, Dulle and others
are good enough for any fastidious epicure.
The Catawba is a failure in vineyards where the German method
of close pruning is practiced ; where it is '^cut long'' and no summer
pruning is permitted, it bears handsomely, and the grapes are of the
finest quality. 80 has Mrs. J. Hackney succeeded. 80 have otheri
on their trellises in the city yards succeeded also.
Judge Erekel, who as a close observer and very successful grower
of grape vines takes the front rank, tells of an incident illustrating
the true method of close and of long pruning, and their different re-
sults. A noted writer on grape culture paid him a visit, and was
shown by the Judge a portion of his vineyard, pruned and trained ac-
cording to his visitor's treatise, it bore no fruit. '^This other portion,"
explained the Judge, *^is left to the care of nature all the growing
season and is my hearing vineyard."
All our authorities on grape-growing insist that the peculiarities
of any location determine the varieties which will succeed there.
With this axiom in view, I have planted an **experimental vineyard'*
of about one-third of an acre. The past summer was the second after
planting, and I give below the table of my observations. No summer
pruning was done, and each vine was allowed to bear according to
its size and vigor. Husmann does not approve of fruiting vines in
the second summer ; but mine were so strong, so luxuriant that I
HIBSODBI AaSIOOLTUBlt.
risked the coQBeqneaces. I obtaioed them from the Blufflon Oom^
pany and, of coarse, they were good plants : "*
L
1
QrntUuB
■wiBc'* StwUinc
Bocw'iNd, 4.
B«c«t'i ITo. i.„..^..„
Rofti'i No. 9 ^..,.
Bocw-l Ho. 1
■oc*r'«Ko. 1> ^.
UdIod TilliLfi...........
tvlor...
Soldao OlintoB
(twvv
^•od'a Qluk
.fjranlinf . ,.,,,.,,/..,
ITotUi OaroUit^ (MdUpCv
UuBUwti;
bjbird*.
The quality of the fruit Till Improve with the age of the vine, and I
jFeally think that Martha and Qoethe (Roger's No. 1), Creveliug and
Delaware will come to equal theHerbemontgrapein exquisite vinous
uprightly jaice.
Market Oarden.~&B long as buildipg lot* do not rise consider-
ably in our (small) cities in price, so long will th^re be a large num-
ber of persons wbQ will on half an acre, or sometimes an acre, in
the blocks somewhat distant from the basiness centre of the town,
raise vegetables for the market The ^ork is done chiefly by women
^nd children, and t)ie sejling and peddling of the produce also falls
%o their sphere. Larger niarket gardens have, therefore, tu struggle
^aJnpt n very lively ^nd very cbe^p competition,
8TATK HORTICULTURAL SOCISTT. 17
Only Mr. Wielandy has, with a good, deal of stubborn persever-
ance, established a larger market garden in this county. All of the
varieties of garden vegetables found in the New York and Philadelphia
markets are easily grown here, with the exception of celery, which
we have not as yet seen in its glory. Potatoes might, perhaps, be
mentioned in this connection; the principal crops of this year were of
these varieties: Peach Blow, Neshannock, Miller, Goodrich, Harrison.
The Early Goodrich suddenly shows the rot, although the tubers were
dug when fully ripe, and the seed used was sound. This failing will
terminate the culture of this much-puflfed variety in this locality. The
Early Rose has done well, and is of a better quality than the Good-
rich.
nop Yard. — ^There is one of several acres planted by Mr. Simon
Kerl (the author), on his farm in this county. But, following the ex-
ample of the man in the parable (Luke XIY ), he has married a wife,
and neglected the hop yard this year. There is a good home market
for a considerable crop of hops, and now after the failure subsequent
upon overdoing the thing (in hops as in wool), a fair profit may be ex-
pected from a steady culture of this vine.
Flower Culture. — Formerly, it was only Dr. Pondrom who excel-
led in raising numbers of the finest garden flowers, bulbs and pot
plants. Of late Mr. Peterson, a professional gardener, has done a
good work in erecting the green and propagating houses of Mr. Belch
and Secretary Hodman, and in supplying pot plants, in company with
Dr. DeWyl, at attainable prices. Thus a good beginning has been
made in the decoration of city yards and windows, and the good ex-
ample set by one is soon followed by a dozen.
The refining influence of flower culture at home will soon be felt
in the increasing attachment of the children (and parents also) to the
old homestead.
Horticultural Sodety.-^K horticultural society has been in ex-
istence in Jefferson Oity for more than a year. It has held several
meetings ; published its proceedings ; had a fair of fruit, flowers and
grapes, which did credit to the exhibitors ; and managed the exhib-
ition of fruit, grapes, flowers and handiwork at our last county fair.
It has not yet developed a Barler or a Hull, but its beginning was
very auspicious, and in time it may become to Missouri what the
Alton society is to Illinois.
REPORT FROM THK SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT FOR 1869.
GEO M. DEWRY, VICE PRESIDENT.
The counties comprising this district border mostly on the Mis-
souri river ; have rich timber soil and prairie in about equal propor-
tion, and are well adapted to the growth of all the fruits common in
this latitude. 1869 will long be remembered as the wettest season here
Since the first settlement of the county, yet most of the fruits did well.
18 MISSOURI AORICULTURV.
m
Strawberries were fine, except where the beds were suffered to
mat together. The stool method is the best, where fiae fruit is the
object Wilsoa's is the variety most cultivated and most successful*
Green Prolific has done well.
Haspberries. — ^A success where cared for, and not too many canea
suffered to grow. The Black Gap and Philadelphia are principally
cultivated. Davidson's Thornless has no special merit. While at
Angola, New York, a few days ago, the home of the Thornless, I
learned that this variet}^ had a poor reputation in its own country.
Gooseberries do well when kept properly thinned, which is sel-
dom the case. When neglected, in two or three years, it becomes a
tangled mass, small fruit, mildew and death are the consequence.
Peaehes are a very uncertain crop in this part of the country, it
being just far enough south to start the buds during the warm days,
and just far enough north for cold snaps to kill them. December the
11th, 1868, the thermometer was twenty degrees below zero for four
hours, this finished the peach crop. On the l4th of March, 1867, the
thermometer was at ten degrees below zero, killing the peaches, and
so it is most every year. There were a few peaches last yearimmedi-
ately on the Missouri river. The borer is troublesome, and will kill
every tree that is not looked after.
Apples were a great success in 1869. Every tree old enough to
bear had on an overwhelming crop. The only serious drawback in
the apple business is the ravage of the codling moth ; probably one
apple in every five had a worm in it. No very eflBicient remedy has
been discovered for this moth. Still we entertain great hopes that,
like the Colorado potato bug, it will soon disappear.
The most generally cultivated and reliable apple here for winter
is the Janeton. The cold snap in October froze about twenty five
per cent, of the apples, rendering them worthless for anything bul,
cider. Apples sold during the fall from forty to fifty cents per bushel,
a remunerative crop at that. Large numbers of trees are being planted,
and we expect to find a market in the Far West. In Michigan we
shall find a strong competition in the apple business.
Pears succeeded better this year than ever before ; full crop of
all kinds, and little or no blight The Seckel and Duchess are consid*
ered the most reliable. Poor soil and some neglect in cultivation,
after the trees are three or four years old, are relied on to prevent
blight. With good cultivation and rich soil, the pear generally dies
of blight before the eighth year.
Plums are generally destroyed by the curculio. Catching the
Turk .by sheets has not been very successful. A tree standing near
my house, where the ground is always bare, and the chickens feed,
has borne a full crop every year for five years. After supplying my
own family, I have sold some five dollars worth every year from this
tree, while the curculio destroyed all the fruit on the other trees. A
man in Western New York informed me that he had succeeded in
STATE HOKTIGULTURAL 80CISTT. 19
raising plams by strewing the ground under the trees with salt;
thinks the Turks' eggs are on the ground under the tree, and that the
salt destroys them. Be this as it may, when he fails to put on the salt
the crop fails.
Cherries succeeded better this year than common. The only
trouble about the crop was the birds ; but as they only take a cherry
and go (and not like the grape birds, pick over a half-dozen bunches)
we have plenty left. A board should be set up on the south side of
tender varieties in winter, to prevent the sun^s rays after cold nights.
Grapes. — ^There are about one hundred acres in grapes in this dis-
trict. The principal varieties planted are Catawba, Concord, Norton,
Hartford and Delaware. The Catawba produces a crop about every
four years. It failed almost entirely this year, and made no good
wood for 1870. Rogers' No. 1 will soon fill its place, being its superior
in every respect.
The Concord rotted but little and made good growth of wood,
ripened its fruit well, and is making a good wine. To those who ob-
ject to its color, or taste, I will say, press the grapes as soon as gath-
ered, and put one-fourth lbs. of crushed sugar to each gallon. The
Norton has done well wherever planted, producing after the fourth
year a large crop, and all that can be desired for a dark heavy bodied
wine. Thfs wine will keep where the temperature is above 70^ for
months. Six hundred gallons of first-class wine to the acre, is but a
moderate yield, and six hundred gallons of water sugared to 80%
added to the husks, will make a wine that will do any tired man's body
good. The Delaware is doing well where it is well cultivated and not
over-borne. I have never yet seen a rotten berry. A second-class
wine can also be made of this grape, as recommended for the Norton ;
and whoever makes it, will wish he has more ; the unfounded preju-
dice against gallizing will die with this generation. For the benefit
of those temperance or over scrupulous persons I meet occasionally,
I will give a formula for keeping wine sweet. Put some gravel in a
funnel and about six inches of coarse sand, well washed. Run the
must through this, and to every ten gallons add an ounce of pow-
dered alum. I learned this secret from a Kelly's Island Vintner. As
white wine is more saleable than red, much effort will be made' to
produce a good white wine. At present Rogers' No. 1 seems likely
to be that grape. Grafting on old roots has been successful wherever
tried, the grafts usually making fifteen or twenty feet the first year.
But the same cannot be said in respect to grafting as practiced on
the root for apples. In the fall of 1868, 1 purchased 1000 Clinton
vines, and during the winter grafted them with Delaware scions, by
the common cleit mode. The roots and scions were kept moist all
the time, and as fast as made placed in a box and covered with damp
sawdust and placed in the cellar. The wrapping was waxed cloth,
and the stock and scion fitting neatly by making a shoulder on the
graft. These grafts seemed to have formed a callous and no mould ap
20 MISSOURI AQRIOULTURE.
peared in the sawdust. About the first of May, when the ground had
warmed some, I carefully planted them out; the bud swelled some
and for a while I thought the grafting would prove a success. There
was a plenty of rain and all that seemed necessary was done to make
these grafts grow. But, alas I not one of them grew. My neighbor
Redburn tried about the same number, with the same success. These
grafts seemed to fail for want of nourishment; the stock not furnish-
ing sap enough. The sap in the vessels in the stock and scion, may
have been so dissimilar as to produce the result. The most impor-
tant thing necessary to success in fruit culture, is a dry soil, the Cran-
berry being the only exception we know to this rule.
The Sixth Congressional District has a large amount of this kind
of soil, all the virtue there is in trenching and subsoiling, is due to
the drainage it produces. Dry feet will do more to keep the bark
smooth on apple trees than all the washes, and make them utterly un-
necessary. This was plainly visible to me in a trip I made on the
east shore of Lake Michigan. The soil there is very sandy and dry,
and the bark of the apple trees was as smooth as Russia stove pipe;
no wash is even thought of there.
The report of the Seventh Congressional District — H. M. Voriea,
of St. Joseph, Vice President, is in incorporated in his report as Chair-
man of the Act interim Committee.
RBPOBT OF 0. H. P. LEAR, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE EIGHTH DISTRICT.
Mr. President : — I beg leave to report the apple crop for this dis-
trict badly injured by the frost, and consequently nearly a failure so
iar as pecuniary gain to the owners. Some varieties of apples were
as fine this season as overgrew; and others, equally as hardy and
productive other years, were a total failure. The Willow Twig is a
fair illustration. Not more than one-fifth of a crop in my orchard.
My trees are eleven years old, are set on ridge land, and the ground
is sown in clover. The fruit on orchards to the west, similarly situ-
ated are about the same; but one-half mile to the east, on the same
ridge, the Willow Twigs are as fine as ever grew. Winesaps in the
first two orchards described are a failure — in the latter a partial crop.
Near Saverton, on the Mississippi second bottom, the Winsaps and
Rawle's Janet are very fine, and in the same orchards the Willow
Twig was an entire failure. The Ortley in some localities was a fail*
are, and indeed, we might add, that it was a general failure in this
section. Northern Spy and Peck's Pleasant produced a full crop of
very fine apples.
The apple crop in Marion and Ralls counties cannot be estimated
at more than a half a crop. The shipping price in this city was fifty
cents per bushel, at which price a large quantity was shipped from
this point. The frosted apples were largely used up for cider making
purposes, thereby utilizing the greater portion of the crop.
STATE BORTIGULTURAL 60CIETT. 21
The peacb crop ia this vicinity was a total failure, although we
have in range of this market at least ten thousand bearing trees.
The pear crop was very light; our market being poorly supplied
with choice, or even common pears. The majority of persons having
pear trees are discouraged from furtherinvestments in thatdirectioB^
on account of the blight. Still pear culture cannot be considered a
failure in this coun^ty, as na one within our knowledge has given it a
fair trial.
Cherries are not as extensively cultivated as they should be.
Many varieties &o well and are profitable to the owners; among
which may be named the Early Kichmond and Morello. The sweet
varieties are nol ae profitable here as ^further east, but produce some
very fine fruit; among the best we may name the Mayduke, Elton^
Yellow Spanish and Napoleon Bigarreau. SmalLfruits are not as exten-
iively cultivated within the range of this market, at the profitable-
ness of the investment would seem fco justify* A few of our farmers
have small *' patches" of strawberries but few of them have berries
to sell and eat.
Raspberries, Blackberries and Currants, are sparsely cultivated,
not because they do not pay ; but fuom sheer carelessness and want
of enterprise on the part of land owners. Mr. A. E. Trabue cultivates
the raspberry for bee pasturage, and also for the market, and finds it
a profitable crop.
The freeze on the 19th of October damaged at least ane-fourth
of the apple crop. The thermometer fell lo twenty six degrees, fol-
lowed by two warm days. On the 22d the thermometer marked
twenty-four degrees ; the cold constantly increasing until the 26th,
when it stood at eighteen. This summary seizure by jack frost, of
the poor neglected apples, should teach our fruit growers to gather
apples while the sun shines. Some cultivators shook' down their
apples thereby saving a portion of them. The Rawle^is Janet will
stand more freezing than any other variety.
In 1863, on the 22d day of October ; the snow fell to the depth of
three inches, and the thermometer marked twenty degrees. About
lour hundred bushels of my Eawle's Janets remaining unpicked, I
shook them down during the freeze which lasted two days ; the snow
melted, the apples were gathered up and stored in large bins along
side of the same amount of the best handled Janets that I ever saw.
Both lots remained in the cellar until spring, with less than two per
cent of loss, and no perceptible diiference in the lots. This is not
mentioned as an inducement for others to neglect their fruit, but as a
means of saving it under similar circumstances.
The question might now be well asked, and carefully weighed :
What have we learned from the late freeze? What varieties have
proved the most hardy? Are our trees injured by being full of sap
and leaves ? Had the sap performed its wholie duty before the freeze!
Will not the sap in the green wood cause the bark to burst oiT from
23 M1S80UBI AGBIOULIUBK.
many of the late growing varieties? If so, many trees will show
their withered and leafless branches before the midsummer snn of
eighteen hundred and seventy shall touch them with his heated
breath. But shall we fold our hands and give up in despair because
for the moment Pomona hides her smiling face and withholds her
richest and most luxurious blessings ! We say no! Never let it be
said of horticulturists, '^ they are discouraged;" but rather let us gird
on our armor anew and resolve to benefit by the experience of the
past, and select such varieties, propagate such seedlings, and rear up
such new fruits as are adapted to our soil and climate. Let us all
strive to become better acquainted with our profession. Let our aim
be to iiecome masters of the situation and bring our knowledge into
the orchard, field and garden. Let us properly instruct the rising
generation in the cultivation of fruits and flowers. Let us call a con-
vention of all those interested in this great work, impress upon our
legislature the importance of the establishment of an agricultural
college immediately, as the one great step in this most important
work. Let our common school law be so amended as to compel the
teaching of some of the more important branches of agriculture,
horticulture, botany, geology, etc. Let our newspapers keep this
subject before the people, let us all talk horticultural improvements,
make notes on experiments, etc. Thus we may expect to go onward
and upward in our calling until we arrive near perfection.
RBPORT OF THB VIKTH GOKGRBSSIONAL mSTRIGT, A. E. TRABUB, OF RALLS
COUNTY, VICE PRESIDENT,
About the first of December, 1868, we had a cold snap that
dropped the thermometer in a night from 40° Fah. to 16® below wl^ich
destroyed all half hardy buds. Not one peach bud out of fifty thou-
sand survived. During the past summer, in consequence, I did not
see more than a dozen peuches on a tree anywhere in this neigh-
borhood. Apples being of a hardier nature, survived the attack, and
we had a fair crop. However, about the middle of October we had
a spell of severe weather (16°), which froze all exposed fruit, render-
ing the msgority of those ungathered valueless for anything except
cider. Those who understood the thing, knocked their apples off
before the sun had power to thaw them, and thus saved their crop.
Hardly any variety of apples is injured if thawed out gradually;
consequently, if there are a few inches of snow on the ground when
apples are frozen on the tree, if they are immediately shook off,
their own weight buries them in the snow, and that is sufficient.
The budded fine plums, as usual, were taken by the curculio, but
as he charged nothing more for his services, we were very willing to
quit even. We therefore consider the curculio a bom gentleman.
If we raise anything, he takes it all and says nothing. But then,
again, if we raise nothing he charges nothing, and we would like to
square with all our other hands on the same terms, the past year. I
STATE HOHXICtJLTURAL BOCISIT. 28
think we ou^ht all to plant the Chickasaw plnm. It seems in-
vulnerable. Had fine crops of cherries; had any quantity of small
fntits the whole season.
It is a little astonishing how rapidly consumption is gaining on
production in the line of small fruits. Hannibal, that ordinarily con-
sumes not more than fifteen hundred gallons, last summer took
twenty*fiye hundred gallons, and did not seem much crowded. The
Kittatinny blackberry bore fruit until frost Nearly all varieties of
grapes rotted badly, the Delaware notably excepted, but this last
cast its leaves, and it failed to ripen its fruit. It withered green
on the vines. Nine-tenths, of our grapes rotted. 80 wet a summer
has hardly been known here before. We had a fair fall, however,
which caused what grapes that were left to ripen up well. The must
of the Concord weighed seventy to seventy-five.
Mr. Secretary, I find I cannot be present at this meeting. Is not
the culture of the honey bee a branch of horticulture, not technically
or truly, but rurally. I would like to offer this resolution, if not
much objeoted to. It is getting to be a heavy interest Please offer
it for me:
Resolved^ That the chair shall appoint a standing committee of
three, to be known as the Committee on the Honey See and its Pro-
ducts, whose duty it shall be to report to each succeeding annual
meeting of this society the state of bee culture in the State.
The resolution of Mr. Trabue was seconded by Dr. Spalding, and
adopted.
Mr. J. M. Jordan introduced a resolution, instructing the Com*
xnittee on Wines to report on those of 1869 as distinct from the others.
After some discussion, the motion was lost.
An address was then delivered on *^ Plant Life," by Wm. Muir:
In introducing the subject^ the speaker said it was impossible to
perform the operations required in horticultural pursuits without an
understanding of the laws that govern t)lant life. What constituted
this entity was not so much the point in the discussion as the condi-
tions with which the principle of life associated itself. The principle
of vegetable life is stored up for future use and development in seeds,
buds, bulbs, tubers, leaves, etc. The beautiful, highly artistic forms
in which the embryo is infolded was mentioned. The growth of the
hyacinth in the glass was given as an example of the mode of this
development that was easily appreciable to the eye, as first putting
out its roots, then sending up the stem and flower with all their color
and odor ; but it was found that the want of a new supply of plant food
was felt. No material was stored up to continue its existence, and
the hyacinth perished by exhaustion unless it could be placed in the
soil at once, and even then, if it lived, it could not bloom the next
year. The common potato and also the Chinese yam were given as
familiar illustrations.
Vegetable motion, in some instances almost amounting to sensa-
tion, was mentioned, of which the Sensitive Plant and the Fly-trap
24 MISSOURI AGRIOULTUBB.
famished apt illastrations. Instances of motion with indications of
purpose, or will, were found in the tendrils of the grape vine and
the twining of the bean, etc.
Motion in search ibr food was illustrated by the walking fern and
the common black cap raspberry.
Vegetable life was not only locked up for a future time or forth'-
coming conditions in the seed, but in the plant itself. The rose of
Jericho was a native of the sandy wastes, which were subject to wet
and dry periods, and during the scorching season not only was every*
thing dried up, but the violent winds blew the sand from around the
roots of the plant, which was afterwards borne about with violence
from place to place ; but, under the reviving influence of rains, after
months of time and miles of travel, recovered its powers, took root
and grew on as before. The western regions of this country offered
an even more striking example in the resurrection plan t,^ a native oi
New Mexico and the neighboring regions, specimens of which were
gathered from the plains, Carried to New York, thence to Cincinnati,
8t Louis, and to Kansas, as dry as dust, and, as was shown, could
be crumbled up as snuff, when placed in a vessel of water, with per-
haps a porous limestone rock, revived and lived and performed its
functions as if nothing had happened. No wonder it was called the
resurrection plant. Can we wonder at man believing in another life
or immortality with these teachings and illustrations of nature ?
A seedling apple tree was exhibited to illustrate the manner in
which the plant food for its future elongation and the development of
the fruit is stored up in the root, stem and branches of the tree ; how
the last-formed buds and young wood were most active ; how these
principles were to be applied to the pruning and the propagation of
plants ; how that not only seeds and buds , but leaves and other appen-
dages could be made, by supplying favorable conditions, to become
individual plants.
Specimens of hyacinth, resurrection plant, walking fern, etc.,
were kindly furnished for illustration by Kern and Michel of St. Louis,
and (J. Oonnon of Webster.
BBPORTS OP AD INTERIM COMMITTEES.
H. M. Tories, of St. Joseph, chairman of committee for the North-
em District, reported :
The past season, although it has, in some respects, been unfavor-
able, has in the aggregate been a successful season with horticultur-
ists throughout the Seventh Congressional District of the State, or I
may say throughout the northwestern portion of Missouri. Some por-
tions of the district, in the early part of the summer, suffered consid-
erably from the grasshoppers, or what are more properly called the
"locusts;'' but they disappeared in the fore part of July, after which
time the crops of fruit and vegetables did exceedingly well.
8TATK HOBTXCULTURAL 800IBTT. 25
The crop of apples was never better, either as to quantity of the
yield or as to the quality of the froit, in the past twenty years.
Peaches proved nearly a total failure. There were only a few in the
most favored locations, and they were generally seedlings. The buds
were generally killed in the fore part of the previous winter.
The cherry crop was better. The May duke, the early Sichmond
and other Morello varieties produced fine crops of fruit ; but, as usual,
the Heart and other sweet varieties proved almost an entire failure*
A few of the Yollow Spanish and Qovernor Wood varieties were ob*
tained, but not enough to make it an object to cultivate them, either
for family use or for market I believe it is almost, or quite, univers-
ally conceded that the cultivation of cherries (except as to the Ho-
rello or Kentish varieties) may as well be abandoned^in this portion
of Missouri.
The pear crop was entirely satisfactory last season, so far as
healthy bearing trees could be found ; but the blight has been so de-
structive upon the pear trees in this part of the State for the last few
years that but few bearing trees, comparatively are left, and it is now
beginning to be feared by many intelligent fruit-growers that unless
some remedy can be discovered for the blight, pear culture will have
to be in a great measure abandoned. Yet where trees can be pre-
served from blight, there is perhapfs no country where pear trees bear
larger crops, or more beautiful and delicious fruit.
Grape culture in this portion of the State the past season, as is
usual, has been entirely successful. The Hartford Prolific, Norton
Olinton, Ooncord, Ives and Delaware have proved entirely hardy anu
productive.
The Delaware, in some localities, dropped its leaves to some exy
tent This is the only exception to entire success in the culture of
the grapes above named in this locality.
The Ooncord in Mr. Jacob Maidenger's vineyard, at St Joseph
this season produced over twenty-two pounds of grapes to the vine,
this being an average for about one acre of vines, the fourth year
from planting.
This yield is not deemed to be extraordinary for the Ooncord
when well cultivated. There are a number of other varieties of
grapes which have been cultivated here to some extent, most of
which promise well, but it is not permissible to particularize further
in this report, or it would be too long.
The strawberry crop last season, where it was not destroyed by
grasshoppers, was very abundant, and the fruit most excellent The
Wilson's Albany is the leading variety cultivated here, but the Agri-
culturist did exceedingly well and is growing in favor. Quite a num-
ber of other varieties have been cultivated here in a small waj,
some of which promise well.
There have been but few raspberries or blackberries cultiyated
♦8— H B
io thid pilrt of the' State. The blackberries have not generally done
well, but last season the Doolittle and the Miami raspberries pro-
dnced finely, and it is believed tUat they may be profitably cnltivated,
and perhaps othel* varieties might do as well ; bnt they have not been
saflSciently introduced to speak with certainty of their auccess.
The Tegetable crop was entirely successful here last season, but
I will particularise no further than to say that the Early Roae potato,
as far as tried, has proved an entire success, and is rapidly growing
in favor.
In concluKiion, I will only add that horticulturists seem encour-
aged, fruit trees and grapevines are being rapidly planted all over
the country.
From the present prospect this will be a great fruit country ; in
fact, fruit is now becoming. one of the staple products of this part of
the State, and Horticultural pursuits are growing in favor among the
jpeople.
TUESDrAt EVBaiNG?.
Tbe report of the Committee on Yegetables was presented by the
(jliairman, Mr. 0. W. Murtfeldt.
What ^aH we eat, has probably been asked by the first pair, and
.we believe by all their descendants down to our day. Surely every
one present has asked the question. So important has this question
been considered by some men, that they have made it a life study.
Epicures in all ages have given to it much time and consideration,
even before we had Freneh cooks or acmee piquant Yet the question
is not settled, and we believe never will be, as long as this green
earth revolves around the 4iun. Every morning in every palace,
dwelling or hovel comes up the question, what shall we eat to-day f
One would infer that there was same choice in the matter of diet, or
else why ask the question ?
Your oommittee are of those who believe that there are lawful
pleasures of ihe tables, that some things are more toothsome as well
as wholesome than others, and that especially in food^Wariety la
the spice of life."
Why, sir, even in the well regulated households of the so-called
lower classes of Europe, especially on the Continent, where potatoes
are the great staple, and often the only attainable vegetable, and
where they appear on the table at least once a day every day in the
week, they are not offered in the same guise twice during that time,
even the poor would think that a hardship.
We believe, sir, as with fruits so with vegetables, there is ^ a sear
son and a time," when each is best, and that out of season, one has
little relish for that particular kind. In this latitude there itre some
vegetables that may be sown or planted in autumn, if it is desirable
8TATB HOUTICtrLTUEAL SOCIETY. 37
to have them early in the season. Among these we may name spi*
nach, lettnce, onions, shallops, cresses, &c.; if they spring up in the
fall, a little mnlch or covering may be needed, but generally most of
these will stand the winter.
During the cold or cool time of the year, men are disposed to
favor a strong meat diet ; this is apt to provoke, in many persons, an
abundant secretion of bile, which in turn is counteracted by partak-
ing freely of early vegetables. Scurvy, a disease to which sailors
are exposed when on long voyages and deprived of vegetables, is
readily cured by a free use of the same.
As the seasop advances man craves vegetables that are a little
more solid than ^'greens,'' lettuce, cresses, and the like. Asparagus,
green peas, beans and beets are relished by everybody almost, and
we long for the time when we can dig our first new potatoes or pick
ripe tomatoes. A well arranged vegetable garden should offer also
kohlrabi, May turnips, cauliflowers, beans in variety, cabbage, sum-
mer sqnash, &c. Oabbages and cucumber^ are not considered very
healthy nor nutritious, yet they are innoxious and harmless, if rightly
prepared; the latter are very cooling and refreshing during the warm
season.
Sweet corn, tomatoes and sweet potatoes are in demand in early
fall, and by a little care and repeated plantings, their season can be
very much prolonged.
Your servant, sir, had the honor to dine with that eminent and
veteran horticulturist, Chas. Downing, quite late in November last;
E very fine dish of sweet corn (eaten from the cob) graced the table,
and who does not know that tomatoes, quite equal to the fresh, can
be had the year round.
Oelery is a healthy and universally esteemed vegetable for fall
and winter, and this is not difficult to grow.
Aside from those enumerated, a good gar^pn should furnish egg
plant, endive, winter squash, carrot, parspips, Lima beans, Russian
or Swedish turnips, and'our pellars should be well stored with most of
these for winter use.
Our St. Louis public markets are but indiflferently. supplied
with first-class vegetables, and those offered are often stale, unwhole-
some and frequently flavorless. Our market 'gardeners, although
hardworking, frugal and industrious, pay too little attention to varie-
ties and quality. This is especially the case with lettuce, beans, peas
and potatoes.
Plenty of fertilizers and tTiorough constant cultivation^ are the
secrets of success in the growth of all vegetables.
The following list is submitted as comprising a good and tried
assortment.
The list was referred to a committee consisting of T.B. Allen,
Dr. L. D. Morse and T. W. Guy.
A paper was then read by Professor Forrest Shepherd, **0n soils
28 MISSOURI AGRIOULTURX.
resulting from the disintegration of particular rocks, and their adapt-
ability to particular crops."
Mt. President^ ladies and gentlemen: The field to be cultivated
is the world, and in the words of King Solomon ^ the profit of the
earth is for all, and the King himself is served by the field." II has
been very properly remarked that, when the business of agriculture
is active and flourishing, all the useful arts invariably prosper, and
on the other hand, when agriculture is neglected or declines, all those
useful arts proportionally decline and perish.
This being true, the art and science of agriculture may with rea-
son be considered the foundation of all arts, and an inquiry into the
properties and capabilities of different soils, and their relation to the
rocks on which they rest, is at on'ce of vital importance to the well
being of society. The prosecution of such an inquiry with reference
to the rocks and soils of Missouri, will for the present occupy our at-
tention.
It is now an established chemical fact, that water charged with
carbonic gas is constantly decomposing all alkaline rocks, such as
limestone, granite, syenite and various states in so much marked a
manner, that thereby we are enabled to account for the reduction of
the cataract of the Nile (as it existed in the days of Strabo and Sen-
eca), sinking the bed of the stream to a depth of twenty-six feet, and
at the present exposing only a rapid of about six feet fall, instead of
the former cataract.
In the same way many account for the rural cliffs along our
streams, and the vast gorges and canons of the Colorado and other
rivers. The wide spread chemical action, together with the attrition
of water and the expansive force of frost, is constantly employed in
forming the soils that rest upon these rocks ; subject, however, to the
agency of drifting or transporting currents.
In the State of Missouri, I am happy to say, that we are in the
main free from such hitherto transporting agencies. And that con-
sequently over millions of acres the soil may be traced immediately
to the decomposition of the adjacent and underlying rocks.
Here I take occasion to remark, that with reference to a large
portion of South and Southern Missouri one very important, and I
may say essential element of fertilization has hitherto been disre-
garded, or at any rate over looked.
I refer to the phosphate of magnesia in connection with our
Nfvidely extended magnesian lime stone rock .formation. liebig gives
^he analysis of a soil in Belgium remarkably fertile which contains
eleven ^er cent of magnesia, and further states that the seeds of dif-
ferent kinds of com contain phosphate of magnesia, and that they can-
not be formed without it Here then, in Missouri, over a wide spread
area,, We have an unlimited supply of lime and magnesia, two of
the most important and absolutely essential elements for maturing
and perfecting grain crops to the end of time. According to Lyon
BTAXI HOBTICULTVBAL 80CIBTY. 29
Playfair the ashes of wheat contain an equal amount of lime and
magnesia. The ashes of barley contain also ah equal amount of mag-
nesia, and the ashes of beans nearly the same. It should ever be re-
membered, says Whitley, that the inorganic food of plants is derived
wholly from the soil. I here take occasion to mention an indirect
fertilizer very abundant in Missouri, but so far as I am informed it has
never been applied. I refer to the sulphate of baryta in a state of
fine powder used on wheat crops as a substitute for gypsum or sul^
phate of lime. While visiting Rockbridge county, Virginia, some
time since, I found the farmers busy in mining and grinding this ma-
terial and sowing it broad-cast over their wheat crops, at the same
time saying it did not act as readily on the wheat as gypsum, but that
it lasted longer, and its good effects were manifest years afterward.
This material is the heavy spar or tiff of the lead, miners, and mining
districts of Missouri. The above is the only course of experiments I
have known in connection with its application to growing crops. By
the disintegration and decomposition of the granite, theaugitic, syen-
ites, basaltic, homblendic and trapeau rocks of South Missouri and
especially in Madison and adjacent counties, we find vast stores of
additional essential inorganic elements, continually adding fertility
to the soils reposing upon or near those rock formations.
The feldspar of the granite gives us from eight to sixteen percent
of potash. The albite of the granite gives eleven per cent. The sy-
enitic hornblende eighteen per cent of magnesia. By comparing the
analysis of these different rocks, with the ashes of our most important
crops, we discover a remarkable correspondence. It is around the
base of the syenitic hills that we usually find a durable 'soil of great
fertility, sufficiently open to allow the water and air to reach the
roots, and sufficiently tenacious and porous to retain the moisture
requisite for the growing crops. The analysis of some of the basaltic
and hornblendic rocks form a striking resemblance to the decomposed
lavas at the base of Vesuvius and ^tna, so wonderfully adapted to
the culture of the vine.
Among the great variety of rock formations in Missouri we may
also expect to find of apatite, or native phosphate of lime, a substi-
tute for bone dust, similar to that found in the granite of Johann,
Georgoustadt and Schoberg, in Germany, in the loose granite gravel
near Berlin, in the syenite of Messieu, and in the syenite of Freid-
richswerm,in South Norway, in the hornblende, at Elfololen, Sweden,
at Labau, in Saxony, atTuhlowitzin, Bohemia, at Meiches, in Vogels-
berge, where the crops of wheat in consequence are truly astonish-
ing. It is also found in the traprocks of Wickenstein, Oabode Gata,
and other places, among the magnetic iron ores of Sweden, Norway,
and New Jersey, and largely among the silicious limestones of Cana-
da East.
Phosphoric acid has also been detected in nearly all mineral
waters subjected tb careful analysis.
so MISSOOBI A8BICULVUBB.
Chlorine exists to some extent in oar limestone waters, and silex
in minute division by the constant disintegration of the bydrated sili-
cates interstratified with the magnesian limestone is already prepared
for the growing crops of many years. Aluminia and magnesia are as
extensive as the area to be cultivated, and in short, we have in the
State of Missouri a rich supply of the inorganic iood for most im-
portant crops, inexhaustible for centuries. Should the above enumer-
ated inorganic fertilizers ever become exhausted, and future genera-
tions be in want, they may, with advantage, fall back on two very ex-
tensive and no less valuable fertilizing resources for their crops. I
refer to the saltpetre earth in the innumerable caves distributed
through the great limestone region of Missouri, as one resource, and
the drifting mud held in suspension and annually transported by the
waters of the Missouri river, as another. The saltpetre earth will con-
tribute largely to the health and fertility of the peach trees, as well
as other crops, and the river deposit sifted over the meadows and up-
lands will entail perpetual Eden. The discharge of the Mississippi
river into the Gulf of Mexico is estimated to be 38,600,000 pounds of
water per second, and Messrs. Humphrey and Abbott (engineers) say
that this pushes along in the bottom of the river a body of mud and
gravel sufficient to increase the solid matter of the Qulf one-tenth in
volume. A large portion of this deposit is derived from the Missouri
river, and it will continue to be an immense fertilizing resource to
the end of time.
In view of all these vast fertilizing resources in the great State
of Missouri, we are led to ask in conclusion. What ought our farmers
and cultivators to know in order to raise the greatest crops at the
smallest expense and with the least ii^jury to the land ?
1. To effect this all-important object, should they not know the
composition of the crops they raise, the part that will burn and also
of the composition of the ashes after they are burnt ?
2. Should they not know the food their crops require for their
growth according to their composition ?
3. Is it not highly important that they should understand the
nature of the plants they grow, as well as the substances from which
they draw their nourishment ?
4. Should our growing crops entirely exhaust one or more elemen-
tary substances necessary for the perfection of the crop, and the
ground consequently become barren, should not our farmers then know
what additions to make in order to restore its original fertility ?
I can anticipate only one answer, the affirmative to all these
questions, and let me ask again, how is this all to be known without
the establishment of State or county agricultural schools, properly
endowed and fitted to diffuse scientific as well as practical instruc-
tion among the people ?
We apprentice our sons to the blacksmith, carpenter, to the
tailor, the shoemaker, the painter, the lawyer and Che doctori to spend
STATE HORTICULTURAL 600ISTT. 31
years in order to gain experience for their future occupation ; but
what provision has hitherto been made in Missouri for the sons of
the farmer ? — the proprietors of the soil, the bone and sine^ of the
society, who wield a large portion of the fixed capital, and whose
daily toil goes far to sustain the increasing millions of the great West
What agricultural schools have done in other countries they will
undoubtedly effect for Missouri with similar management.
The agricultural school at Hohenheim, four miles from Stuttgard,
it is said, has extended its beneficial influence throughout the whole
kingdom of Wurtenberg and ev'en into adjoining countries. It has
attached to its school-rooms and lodging houses farming and other
grounds to the extent of nine hundred and sixty acres.
It has, for the use of the pupils, a museum, a library, a chemical
laboratory, apparatus oi various kinds, a cider press, a vinegar manu-
factory, a beet-sugar manufactory, a brewery, a distillery and various
other appliances. Its grounds are divided into fifty acres of arable
land, two hundred and forty-two of meadow land, thirteen of wood
land, sixty-seven acres of nursery, two acres of hop plantation, four-
teen acres for a botanical garden, one acre lor kitchen and flower
garden, thirty-three acres for experimental ground and eighty-five
acres of reserved ground.
The institution is divided into two departments ; the lower, de-
voted to the practical training of the pupils for three years, the higher
intended for giving scientific instruction for one year or more. The
benefits resulting from thp systematic operation of this school have
been widely diffused through Wurtenberg. The farmers are every-
where found to be an enlightened class, ready to answer any ques-
tions relative to practical agriculture.
The celebrated institution of M. de Fellenberg, in the Oanton of
Berne, Switzerland, has connected with its building two hundred and
fifty acres for experimental industrial farming.
The famous agricultural school in Prussia, near Frankfort on the
Oder, commenced with one thousand two hundred acres of poor land
that commanded an annual rent of only three hundred pounds, and in
ten years the same ground yielded an annual rent of £1,800.
In this school the pupils board with the President, and have their
dormitories in the buildings, and receive daily instruction in various
departments of agricultural science. One professor lectures to them
on Mathematic, Ohemistry and Geology; another on Veterinary
Surgery ; a third on 2k>ology, Botany and Materia Medica ; a fourth
teaches them how to reduce scientific acquisitions to practical hus-
bandry. Much assistance is afforded by the laboratory for analyzing
soils, and the large botanical garden for explaining the nature of
plants. Here workshops are also established for fabricating all the
tools required on the farm.
Had we time we might refer to the French National Agricultural
OoUege at Grignon, for the benefit of plowmen, shepherds and others.
32 MISSOURI AGRIOULTURX.
It has connected with it eleven hundred acres of land. Also the
model farm of Rovills ; to the agricnltnral schools of Firassia; to the
department of agriculture founded by Sir Wm. Pulteny, Edinburgh^
but it would be only a waste of time.
The day has now arrived when the great State of Missouri is about
to take a stand for the development of her vast internal resources,
and from the working of the powerful and active minds we find al-
ready enlisted in this great object, we may reasonably conclude that
the time is not far distant when her agricultural schools, properly en-
dowed, shall be found in active operation in different sections of the
State, if not in every county, when her terraced hillsides shall vie
with the far-famed garden at the Gape of Good Hope, and with other
renowned gardens of the continent of Europe, whose crowning glories
are hills of Indian com^ overtopping the brilliant array of fruits and
flowers at a lower level. When the stranger and traveller shall be
delighted with the beauty of her flocks and herds — ^with the low
bending golden branches, and the heavy-laden empurpled clusters,
on her fruit- crowned hills — with her fields and meadows made to re-
joice in abundance, and Missouri, as a whole, shall have become the
brightest agricultural luminary on the continent.
H^PPJ) thrice happy, they who shall help and aid in thus restor-
ing primeval Eden, for in so doing, they will deal their bread to the
hungry, the blessing of him that is ready to perish shall rest upon
them, and when the sun shall have sunk beneath the horizon, poster-
ity will long be cheered by the bright track of his setting.
Dr. Morse inquired if the sulphate of baryta was not too expensive
to be used as a manure ? It is used in the manufacture of lead. X
have heard it said by farmers that have used lime, that it has not done
much good here. I would like to know how it is? I think that it
may be because our lime contains too much magnesia. Shell lime is
perhaps better for our soils. It does not follow that because we have
much limestone there is much lime in the soil in a condition to be
available.
Prof. Shepherd : It was in soils where there was limestone rock
harder than those here, where the baryta was used.
J. Hen wood : Has seen it used in slate formations.
Wm. Day said : In riding in New Jersey a few years ago, lobaerved
the slate was found in the one part, and the limestone in another, and
where the slate and limestone came together was the best soil to pro-
duce wheat in that region.
Prof. Shepherd : The sulphate of baryta is used in making white
paint, and is used to adulterate white lead. People are making a
good paint with it.
It takes ten per cent, of white lead, with dense, boiled oil, with-
out any drier. It is made into artificial * ivory, and is used in piano
cases. There are thousands of pounds of it that'are mixed with iron,
that may be got lor little or nothing. It is in this State in great abnn-
STATS HOBTIOULTUBAL BOCIETT* 33
dance, and they obtained good crops of wheat from it in Virginia. To
be used as a paint it must be very pure, it is scarce in this State, and
the impure article costs but little.
President Peabody: It is difficult to get it pure, it has to be
ground and washed with great care with chemicals to get it pure. In
usi^ for manure it would be a very common article.
J. Henwood: After being thus purified it goes through three sets
of burrs and is bolted like flour.
J. J. Squires : What would be the effect of calcining?
Prof. Shepherd : It would render it more caustic !
J. W. Guy : Why has the application 6f lime not been as success-
ful here as in other places ?
Prof. Shepherd : It would be necessary to go into an analysis of
the soil to determine that point
I>r. Morse : The post oak soils west of this do not seem to be ben*
efiied by the application of ]ime.
Mr. Stewart : Tried lime in Knox county with good results ; tried
it in Livingston county, and it did not do any good.
J. J. Squire : I remember when a boy my lather had a heavy clay
soil ; he dosed it heavily with lime ; he said the efiect was to render
the soil more friable. He had also, a piece of sandy soil on which he
used gypsum. It attracted moisture and had a tendency to render
the soil more solid. '
Adjourned.
WEDNESDAY^ Jakttart 12m.
The^meeting was called to order by President Peabody.
Prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr. Marshall.
The Secretary read a report of the horticultural exhibition at the
skating rink.
A special meeting of the officers and committees of this society
met in the office of President Peabody on the 3d (mT August, at which
was presented an invitation from the Missisdippi Valley Grape
CIrowers' Association to unite with them in a joint exhibition in St.
Louis, during the iall.
After due consideration it was deemed advisable to hold a
joint exhibition at the skating rink, on the 7th to the 10th of Sep-
tember,
The exhibition was accordingly held, and succeeded beyond our
esgpectations.
S4 MI880UBI AeBICULTURB.
AlthoQgh falling short, in many repects, of what such an exhibi-
tion may be made in the fatnre, as an educational experiment, aa a
test of the public taste in regard to the refining pursuits of horticul-
ture and floriculture, it stands out prominently, and furnishes abund-
ant evidence of the appreciation of the St Louis public, and of the
value of such exhibitions in furtherance of floriculture and pomology.
We cannot dismiss this part of the subject without tendering our
warmest thanks to the professional florists of the city and vicinity for
the warm, hearty liberal effort made by them to give grace and beauty
to the occasion. We cannot express how much is due to them for
their admirable efforts.
LIST OF EXHIBITORS AND VARIETIES.
Jas. E. Starr, Eminence, Illinois. — Ben Davis, Red Oanada, Borne
Beauty, Snow, Lady Apple, Pennsylvania Bed Streak, Large Siberian
Orab, American Golden Busset, Bawle's Janet, Yellow Bellflower,
Herefordshire Pearmain, Newtown Pippin, Maiden's Blush, Gilpin,
Willow Twig, Bambo, Sweet Nonsuch, Hubbardston Nonsuch,
Westfield Seek-no-further, Winesap, Unknown, Swaar, Fall Wine*
Fryer's Bed, Brown Sweeting, Northern Spy, Unknown, Smith's Cider.
D. Hall, Alton, Illinois.— Seckle, Howell, Duchess d'Angouleme*
Bartlett, Unknown, Brandywine, and Potatoes.
H. N. Kendall, Upper Alton, Illinois.— -Duchess d'Angouleme.
H. J. Hyde, Godfrey, Illinois.— Belle Lucrative, Bartlett, Flemish
Beauty, Seckle.
E. B. Mason, Webster Grove, Mo.— Seckle, Belle Lucrative, Win-
ter Nelis, Beurre Diel, Beurre Olairgeau, Louise Bonne, White Doy-
enne, Howell, Figue d'Alencon, Beurre d'Anjou, Duchess d'Angou-
leme—pears. Fallawater, Gilpin, Ortley, Newtown Pippin, Soulard,
Wine Sap, Bambo, Peck's Pleasant— apples.
A. S. Bedfield, Bunker Hill, Illinois.— Sangamon, Bed Streak-
apple.
G. H. Timmerman, Meramec, Mo. — Seventeen varieties apples,
unnamed.
Geo. R Hill, Eirkwood, Mo.— Bartlett, extra flne, Louise Bonne,
Seckel, two unknown. Swan's Orange, Vicar of Winkfield, Duchess
d'Angouleme, Henry IV. Orange, Quince and Persimmon.
W. T. Essex, Kirkwood, Mo.— Beurre Diel, Howell, White Doy-
enne, Bartlett. unknown. Belle Lucrative, Flemish Beauty, Louise
Bonne, Beurre d'Aiijou, Duchess d'Angouleme, Swan's Orange.
Hudson E. Bridge, Glendale, Mo.— Louise Bonne, Beurre Olairgeau,
Stephen's Genesee, Winter Nelis, Vicar of Winkfield, Howell. Duchess
d'Angouleme, Beurre Superfin, Urbaniste, Beurre Salat.
Dr. Edwards, Eirkwood, Mo.^Beurre Diel.
E. A. Biehl, Alton, Illinois.— Howell, White Doyenne, Louise
Bonne, Bartlett— pears. Old Hixon Cling— peach.
8TATA HORTICULTUaAL 80CIETT. 8B
T. L. Lyon, Bethalto, Illinois.— Fall Wine, Porter, Janet, Fall Rua-
set, Fallawater. Five varieties of pears. Early Rose Potatoes.
James Barclay, Victoria, Mo. — Peaches — Andy Johnson, Bar-
clay, three good seedlings not named.
Dr. Back, Glenwood, Mo. — Dried Sweet Oorn. Nansemond, Com-
mon Red— «weet potatoes.
John Nichols, Sulphur Springs, Mo. — Oayuga Redstreak — apple.
John Henwood, St Louis, Mo. — Seedling peach, not named, La-
grange ; Cherry currant ; two seedling gooseberries ; one English
gooseberry.
Thos. Moss, Sulphur Springs, Mo. — Plums, large, red, fine flavor.
Wm. Watts, St Louis, Mo. — Large black plum, unknown.
Jas. J. Kelley, Webster, Mo. — ^Romanite, Autumn Pearmain, Pry-
or's Red, Lady Apple, Janet, Fall Queen, Winesap, Maiden's Blush,
Dominie, Rome Beauty, Yellow Bellflower, Smith's Cider— apples.
Louise Bonne de Jersey, Summer Colmar, Buffum, Beurre Langalier,
Beurre gris de Hiver, Noreau, White Doyenne, Bartlett, Flemish
Beauty, Duchess d'Angouleme, Beurre Diel, Jackson's Elizabeth,
Echasserie, Fondante de Malines, Graslin, Des Nonnes, Andrews —
pears.
Stark, Barnett & Co., Louisiana, Mo. — Glout Morceau, Bartletti
Urbaniste, White Doyenne, Louise Bonne de Jersey, Beurre d'Aqjou^
Oswego Beurre, Buffum, Duchess d'Angouleme — pears. Northern
Spy, Maiden's Blush, Porter, Rome Beauty, Willow Twig, Cayuga Red
Streak, Esopus Spitzenberg, Tulpahocken, Rambo, Newkrk Pippin,
Horse, Roxbury Russet, Ortley, Fulton, King of Tompkins County,
Buckingham — apples.
N. B. Harlow, Eimmswick, Mo. — Bartlett, Duchess d'Angouleme,
Beurre Diel, White Doyenne — fine specimens. •
W. J. A. Smith, Ferguson, Mo. — Duchess d'Angouleme, Bartlett
— spears ; fine specimens.
N. J. Colman, St. Louis, Mo.-^Flemish Beauty, Duchess d'Angou-
leme, Bartlett, Louise Bonne de Jersey— pears. One plate Fall Pip-
pin apples.
M. G.'Kem, St. Louis, Mo. — Seckle, White Doyenne, Winter Nelis*
Duchess d'Angouleme, Swan's Orange, Bartlett, Louise Bonjie de Jer-
sey, Beurre Goubanlt, Stephens' Genesee — pears. Smith's Cider, Tul-
pahocken, Rome Beauty — apples. Late Admirable, Smock's Free —
peaches.
Henry Michel & Bro., St Louis. — Japan Quinces ; Bermuda, Bra-
zillian. Yellow and Red Nansemond,— Sweet Potatoes ; Early Rose,
Calico, Climax, Cherry Pink-Eye, Cusco, — Common Potatoes, fine
specimens.
Isidor Bush & Son, Bushberg.— Pears, White Doyenne, Beurre
d'Aigou, Beurre Langalier, Canandaigua, Dearborn's, Eirtland, An-
anas d'Ete, Duchess de Beurre d'Ete, Brandy wine, Henry IV, Figue
d'Alencon, Beurre Gonbalt, Ronselet Stuttgart, Winter Nelis, Fon-
30 XIS80ITRI AOBICULTUBE.
dante de Noel, Stephens' Genesee, Beurre Diel, Pardise d'Aatumne,
Nouveau Poitean, Epine Dumas, Benrre Bosc, Betrrre gris de Hiver,
Sheldon, Buffiim, Moyamensing, Jaminette, Kingsessing, Seckel,
Belle Williams, Passe Oolmar, Louise Bonne d'Jersey, Tyson, Law-
rence, Onondaga, Benrre Hardi, Howell, Benrre Easter, Napoleon,
Benrre Olairgeau, Flemish Beanty, Bartlett, Doyenne Panache, Belle
Lncrative, Duchess d'Angouleme ; Apples — Ortley, Michael H. Pip-
pin, Tnlpahocken, Unknown, Jonathan, Fall Queen, Fall Pippin, R.
L Greening, Rambo, Yellow Bellflower, Pryor's Red, Esopus Spitz-
enberg, Talman's Sweet, Rawle's Janet, Winesap, Ben Davis.
H. Olaggett, St. Louis. — Pears, White Doyenne, Seckel, Bartlett,
Hbwell, Louise Bonne de Jersey, Duchess d'Angouleme; Apples —
Rambo, Unknown. ^
B. Smith, Cuba, Mo. — Apples — ^Yellow Bellflower, Jonathan,
Rome Beauty, Ortley, Rhode Island Greening, American Goldenf
Russett, Fall Pippin, Winesap, Porter, Northern Spy, Rawle's Janet,
Newtown Pippin.
B. F. Lazear, Louisiana, Mo. — Apples — Rambo, Milam, Rome
Beauty, two unknown.
Park of Fruits, St. Louis county, 0. H. Haven, Superintendent —
Pears — Beurre Superfin, Bartlett, Beurre Diel, Swan's Orange, Glont
Morceau, Louise Bonne de Jersey, Duchess d'Angouleme, Seckel,
Des Nonnes ; Apples — ^Alexander, Northern Spy, Lady Apple, Rox-
bury Russet, five varieties not labeled.
Wm. Harris, AUenton. — Apples — Sweet Russet, Pryor's Red,
Tnlpahocken, Baldwin, Ortley, Pennsylvania Red Streak, Winesap,
Fall Pippin, Yellow Bellflower, Northern Spy, Janet, RaiUbo, Gilpin,
Black Gilliflower, Talman's Sweet, Maiden's Blush, two unknown.
Mrs. L. H. Baker, St. Louis. — Apples — Oolvert, Gloria Mundi.
Jas. Graham, Glencoe. — Apples — ^Fall Pippin, Ortley, Flushing
Spitzenberg.
Wm. Muir, Fox Creek — Pears-Stephen's Genesee, Vicar of
Winkfield, Beurre Diel, Buffum, Golden Beurre of Bilboa, Duchesa
d'Angouleme, Dix, White Doyenne, Grey Doyenne, Bartlett, Spanish
Bon Cretin, French Bon Cretin . Apples — St. Lawrence, Missouri Pip-
pin, Roxbury Russet, Easter Pippin, Winesap, Colvert, Northern Spy,
Ortley, Yellow Bellflower, Oblong Crab, Red Winter Pearmain,
Priestly, Smith's Summer, Herman, Oconee Greening, Clyde Beauty,
Flushing Spitzenberg, Julian, Maiden's Blush, Green Newtown Pip-
pin, Hewes V. Crab, Talman's Sweet, Lemon Pippin, Empress ol
Russia, Gothouse, Gloria Mundi, Fryer's Red, Snow, Lippincott's Sweet,
Camac's Sweet, Disharoon, Baldwin, Strawn's Harrison, Ewing, Cart-
bouse, White Winter Pearmain, Michael H. Pippin, Yellow Newton
Pippin, Ladies' Sweet, Hugh's.
The following is nearly a full list of the varieties of grapes ex-
hibited, with the names of the exhibitors :
James E. Starr, Eminence, 111. — Concord, Delaware, Hartford,
BTAIK HORTIOULTUftAIi SOCIETT. 87
Norton, Olinton, Taylor's Ballitt, Diana, Isabella, Rogers' No. 2, Sog-
ers' No. 4, Iona,OreveliDg.
J. J. Eelly, Webster Oroves. — ^N. Muscadine, Perkins, Concord,
Balander, Delaware, Catawba, Taylor's Bollitt, Diana, North Carolina
Seedling, Union Village and Norton.
Stark, Bamet & Co., Louisiana — Ives and Norton.
Lemuel Harrington, Kimmswick, Mo. — Concord, very large
bunches.
Hayden & Shelby, Alton, Illinois — Concord, display very fine.
John Yallee, Miller's Landing, Mo. — Concord, Clinton, Norton,
Minor^s Seedling, and Seedling from Concord, peculiar, good aroma.
J. D. Davis, Olarks ville, Mo^ — ^Delaware, Norton and Concord.
N. J. Colman, St. Louis — Norton, Hartford, Minor's Seedling,
Clinton, Concord, Vine of Norton, Delaware and Dracut Amber.
M. G. Kern, St Louis. — ^Yine, and display of Concords.
H. Michel & Bro., St Louis — Rulander, Creveling, North Caro-
lina Seedling, Dracut Amber, Perkins, Taylor's Bullitt, Aga warn, Clin-
ton, Norton, Cape, Anna, Merrimack, Martha.
Isidor Bush & Son, Bushberg, Mo. — Concord, Herbemont, Nor-
ton's, Minor's Seedling, Taylor^s Bullitt, Catawba, Bulander, Dracut
Amber, Mary Ann, Delaware, Martha, Cunningham.
' H. Claggett & Son, Gray's Summit, Mo. — Concord, Norton, Clin-
ton and Delaware.
D. T. Jewett, St. Louis, (grown in open air)— Black Prince, Gol-
den Chasselas, European Bulander, lona and Black Hamburg.
J. P. Edwards, Bailey's Station, Mo. — Bulander, Herbemont, Nor-
ton, Catawba, Concord, one unknown, and fine display of branches.
B. F. Lazear, Louisiana. — Concord, Union Village, Delaware, Ca-
tawba, Taylor's Bullitt, Isabella, and three varieties not named.
Park of Fruits — ^Norton, Taylor's Bullitt, Catawba, Herbemont,
Delaware. .
J. M. Jordan, St. Louis — Large vines and display of Concords —
very fine.
Daniel Hall, Alton, 111.— Delaware, Clinton, Rogers' No. 4, Crev-
eling, Hartford, Taylor's Bullitt, Isabella, Norton, Diana, lona, Rog-
ers' No. 2.
E. R. Mason, Webster Groves, Mo.— Vines of Concord, Delaware,
Dracut Amber, and baskets of varieties mixed, Franklin, Taylor's
Bullitt, Norton, Oporto, Concord, Alvey, Clinton, Rogers' No. 8, Blood's
Black, Rogers' No. 4, Elsinburg.
H. N. Kendall, Alton, 111.— Chasselas Rose des Indes, Black Ham-
burg, one unknown— foreign.
George H. Gill, Kirkwood, Mo.— Rebecca, Delaware, Diana, Nor-
ton, Catawba, lona, Herbemont, Ontario, Northern Muscadine,
Isabella, Israella, Maxatawney, Concord, Taylor's Bullitt, Clinton,
Rogers No. 1, unknown, Kirkwood Malaga.
&udson K Bridge, Glendale, Mo.-^Black Prince, Black Hamburg
88 lOBSODBI A0BIOULTT7BX.
and Qoldea Hamburg, grown under glass ; Black Hamburg, vine in
pot, three bunches.
Dr. B. F. Edwards, Kirkwood, Mo.— Rogers' No. 83, Rogers' No. 12,
Rogers' No. 4, Delaware, Rogers' No. 22, Island, Lacon, Ooncord.
S. V. Papin, Webster Groves, Mo. — Ooncord, Norton.
E. A. Riehl, Alton, 111.— Rogers' No. 1, Rentz, Ives, Delaware,
Oreveling, Rogers' No. 6, Maxatawney, Rogers' No. 9, Rogers' No. 2,
Diana, Rogers' No. 19,« Oynthiana, Rogers' No. 13, Rogers' No. 4, Rog-
ers' No. 15, Rogers' No. 33, lona, Norton, Rogers' No. 3, Olinton.
Cliff Cave Wine Company — Rogers' No. 4, Rentz, Concord, Ilogers'
No. 1, Norton, Delaware.
Charles Peabody, Glenwood, Mo.— Ooncord, vines of fruit, dis-
playing Delaware, Oreveling, Israella.
J. H. Tice, Cheltenham, Mo. — lona, Clinton, Taylor's Bullitt,
Naumkeag, Traminer, said to be parent of the Delaware ; German
grape, unknown ; wild grape (Sage), from Pennsylvania ; Garrigues,
Venango.
The Floral Department was made an entire success through the
indefatigable exertions of a few individuals.
A contemporary says in describing the appearance of the Rink,
lying at the feet of the observer, we observed two large beds of rare
flowers by H. Michel & Bro.
Four smaller but fine beds by E. R. Miltenberger, Chas. Beyer,
Louis Rindfliesh and H. Michel & Bro.
Two large commanding masses by M. G. Kern, of the St. Louis
Winter Garden.
In the centre a fountain, with a fine display of flowers by Koenig
and Gass.
Two fine beds by Ohas. Connon, of Webster Grove.
Two beds by Ohas. Beyer and Wm. Schray.
Three beds, two by Wm. Syred ahd one by Ohas. Connon.
At the end was the very fine collection from Henry Shaw, and a
minature forest scene by Colman and Sanders.
On the tables Ohas. Connon presented 20 varieties of Roses : 14
Coleus, 6 Geraniums, 6 Lantanas, 4 Neraim Oleander, 4 Oalladium, 3
Heliotrope, 6 Bignonia, 2 Varigated Hibiscus, 2 Tinea, 2 Centaurea, 3
Acuba Japonica; berries a great variety, Ficus, Trades, Cantica,
Oryptomeria.
G. Beyer had 20 Bigonias, 6 Phlox, 6 Celosia, 20 Cacti, 6 Tucca, 5
Oolens, 4 Oamias, 3 Ficus, 8 Achyranthes, and many other plants. •
Dr. E. S. Hull, of Alton, was called on to give some information
on the ^Incentives and drawbacks of fruit culture.'*
Dr. Hull said he had no article prepared on the subject but would
state a few i>oint6. I am afraid there are more drawbacks than in-
centives. If I had all my means at my command, and was seeking to
begin anew in business, I would not choose fruit-growing for profit.
8TATK fiORTlOULTUBAL BOCIBTT, 39
Not that there need be any want of success in itself, but because I
would be almost entirely controlled by the action of my neighbors in
regard to fruit growing, and all hope of success depends on combined
and energetic efforts towards the controlling of insects.
Two years ago, when at Oobden, I said that it would be fifteen
thousand years before they would get a full crop of peaches, it was
thought an extravagant statement. A year ago I was in the same
locality, and I am prepared to reiterate the statement, for I could not
find a sound peach in all that region.
I went to Chicago to see how they sold, the general run of the
fruit set the price of all. I got Gubbell & Co. to select some boxes
of perfect fruit, they were opened out and sold on their merits and
brought $3 50, while the run of them brought one dollar. By selling
the fruit as a lot, the bad fruit keeps down the price of the good.
The curculio is certainly one of the drawbacks to fruit culture,
but can be controlled. If you want fine, sound fruit, especially
peaches, you must be willing to spend time and labor. If my neigh-
bor is careless, I have not only to destroy my own, but am always re-
ceiving colonies from him, because at a tempjerature of 65 degrees
they will fly like house flies.
When the temperature attains this hight, they will come in from
the forest and are ready to lay eight or ten eggs a day.
Men have tried the curculio catcher and not found one, and yet
their crop of fruit was destroyed, and they get discouraged ; but it
should be understood that they fly in from other parts. They fly
against the wind, it would seem that the wind carries the scent, that
tiiey follow for food to their young as well as a place in which to de-
posit their eggs.
When I try early in the season I can get 99 out of every 100.
There are 22 days during which the curculio lays her eggs at tlie
rate of eight to ten a day.
It is as much a man's duty to take care of his insects as of his
stock. Some years ago I caught 60 curculios and whitewashed them
and took them to a neighbor's three quarter of mile distant, and
caught nearly all back.
Another difficulty is this scab on the apple. It is a fungus that
at first begins at a very small point. Last winter I called attention
through the "Entomologist," to a little louse, the eggs of which ate
found on the trees. They are the eggs of the Aphis Mali. The in-
sects were seen last season in large numbers.
Knowing the injurious effects of Bark-lice on the trees, I wanted
to know what injuries resulted from these. I marked some apples
while yet quite smaU, just formed from the bloom, watched the points
they made ; these became the foothold of a fungus, and with a pin-
point I inoculate oth« fruit with it, and it produced the same results.
This scab is seldom found on russet varieties or the Keswick Codlin.
40 lOSSOUBI AtfRIOULTUBS.
Where it takes hold of aa apple it becomes not only black and un-
sightly, but cracks and becomes worthless.
A remedy— Apply lime slacked with warm water, and with a
syringe throw this into the tree and it will kill these lice. This will
kill soft-skinned insects. It will not kill beetles ; would dust the tree
before the bloom ; half a pint to a tree. Dust from a perforated tin box,
on a long pole, j ust before and j ust after they bloom; would not try while
in bloom. The insects are always at the extremity of the bud. It is
calculated the curculio is traveling at the rate of about sixty miles a
year. It will reach California in two or three years ; will be sent in
fruit and old fruit packages. I think, from my own experience, they
will fly five or six miles. It is diflBicult to make a good curculio
catcher, to have it properly balanced. Mr. G. E. Porter, Ottawa, Illi-
nois, proposes to make them under my direction. They can be ob-
tained by a few small growers uniting to get one machine, and so on.
Another drawback is seen in this little point on the apple (show-
ing an apple). It is caused by another curculio. I received a spec-
imen from Dr. Walsh two years ago. I had noticed the little fellow
before ; he has four humps on his back. He makes a small hole just
through the skin, lays the eggs, which hatch, eat out a hole largo
enough to let out their body, and drop. In some parts of Michi-
gan the average has been forty holes in a fruit. At Villa Kidge
the average is about twenty. He has left the fruit and gone
into the ground; the fruit rots upon the tree; it is more difficult
to grow the apple perfectly than the plum; it is not easy to
shake or jar him down like the common curculio; likes the crab
apple best; if yon snap or jar a limb three or four times, he
will just look up. Mr. Jackson had two crab trees in a corner of his
orchard near the woods ; on these he got about a quart, and none af-
terwards. Entomologists say they hybemate in the ground, but I
rathe^ think they hybernate in the woods. They will thus be much
reduced by cleaning up the brush and leaves and burning them.
When we have done with the insects we have yet something to
do. There is the blight. Some eighteen or twenty years ago I root-
pruned a Dix pear tree, to throw it into bearing, and this tree had
no blight My unpruned trees blighted. Observing for some years that
those root-pruned did not blight, I have continned it from that time
to this. A tree root-pruned once in two years does not blight.
Trees will make twenty to tweiity-five buds on a limb that is mofre
than they can mature — more than can be exposed to the light, sun and
air. The vitality becomes impaired, and fungi take lOot and the tree
becomes exhausted.
A slow growth has a tendency to produce firm, well-matored
wood. If we can induce this character we can grow the fruit almost
anywhere North. This is why the Daohoss of Oldenburgh can be
grown where no other apple can. (He illnstrated the growth by the
^ll in the w&od and t drawing.) 80 by adapting root-pruning tb«
tree is rendered hardier.
Dr. Spalding : Wontd it not be well to plant plnm trees round
or among other trees, l^om which to gather the curculio crept
Dr. Hull : I thinl: so.
H. M. Tories : What is the time ^i^d mode of root-pruning ?
Dr. Hull : It is described full^ in the transactions of the Illinois
Horticultural Society ; also in the Prairie farmer. There is a plow
being made by Mr. Potter, of Ottawa, Illinois, for this purpose. It
will cost four or five dollars. Why the Seckle is generally exempt
from blight is that the cells are early matured. The roots of the
fungus have not time to penetrate throqgh the bark into the wood cel]t>
and root-pruning operates on the s$me principle.
The President called attention to the fact that many ladies were^
present, and invited them to participate in the discussion, and pro-
pose any questions that might arise in their minds.
The report of the Committee on Orchards was called up.
Mr. Hyde, of Alton, was requested to give his experience in root-
pruning. Had experimented with root-pruning against the blight for
four years. The first time I tried it, from not doing it thoroughly, Dr.
Hull told me I would have more blight next year than before. It was^
so. Next season it was done in the summer, and the blight stopped..
I have done it once since. I do it with the spade, but would like to*
have a cheaper way to do it. It would be dangerous in the hands or
every one. It costs about five cents a tree. I have trees two inches>
through, and leave a ball of roo^s six inches from the stem of the
tree. They have as good a growth as any other trees. I think six
inches is enough of roots to leave on trees planted seven years» Put
back the same soil into the hole; would leave the roots a little-
longer the next time. I take out a spadeful of soil, and cut down witk
a spade five inches wide, made for the purpose, and cut the roots^
below.
Dr. Spalding: Had tried root-pruning several years. First triaB
was on the BuiTnm; Trees had made six feet of growth by the 28th
day of May. Commenced root-pruning in August, but it was then
too hot; have since done it in the fall, winter and spring. To give an
idea'of refeulte: The blight had commenced on the Bofinm; the
roots were pruned, and the blight has not spread. Would not root
.prone at all till (he trees are of size to bear. In some cases would:
root prune to throw into bearing. The smallest trees I have root
pruned were two* inches in diameter. These I prune from twelve or
fourteen inches in diameter to a ball of roots; if the trees are three
inches, leave eighteen ipches. For every inch of diameter of the
fl^m, I would give a foot of radius in describing the circle round the
root ball to be left. If the. roots are badly balanced this must be
4*— u K
4hMXigH0 SEht effect is U0% on)y<to tkrow the tijee into bewiaci but tP
produce finer fruit In some cases haye cut off tbe tap reot
I noticed of a gentleman in the South who had a fine pear or*
chard. When his trees ceased to bear, when he ^^caught them nap-
ping," he took them vp and planted them again. He had by accidei^
discovered and practiced root-pruning without knowing it
Samuel Miller, Bluffton : I have grown pears fifteen years in Penn-
sylvania without any trouble, but here I have the blight
Has any one tried grafting on the ^white thorn f
Mr. Wood has tried it and succeeded.
Mr. Muir has tried it where the roots stood in the ground, and
fucoeeds.
H. M. Yories, St Joseph, Mo^: I would have large quantities of
pears but for the blight When I settled in St Joseph twenty six
years ago, I got some trees from Mr. Sigerson ; planted them in the
haael brush ; many of those trees are standing to-day. I cultivated
them many years, but they have been long in blue grass. I have
planted 600 and my partner 1000, but they have blighted badly. Some
have been replaced twice. I have noticed the Seckle does not blight,
and there is no Duchess entirely dead. In Oregon, Holt county, they
lay there is no blight
F. W. Braches, Franklin county : I wish to ask if the blight is
caused by insects or by the air. When I commenced twenty-five or
thirty years ago, there was no rot or blight As insects increased the
blight and rot came, and are now so bad we cannot have any good
fruit I think insects are the cause of the trouble.
J. J. Eelley, Webster Qroves : I have heard it remarked that the
Seckle is not subject to blight I have had it planted seven or eight
years, and some of the trees have blighted. "There are some of the
rows that blighted three or four years ago, and are gone. I am glad
to hear such good accounts of root pruning, but fear it may reduce
the life of the tree.
The President announced the following committees :
Fruits on the Tahle^Q^^o. Husmann, Bluffton ; W. B. lipsey, Ind*
W! F. Bowen, Yineland ; H. T. Mudd, St Louis ; Bev. John Montieth,
St Louis,
Fin««— J. M. Pearson, Alton; Dr. A. Furnas, Ind.; Dr.L.D.Moie6,
8t Louis ; Samuel Miller, Bluffton.
Flowers and Plants on the Table— 'itx%. F. Minor, St Louis ; John
Henwood ; Oarew Sanders.
Horticultural ImpUments—Dt. H. Olaggett, St Louis ; H. J. Hyde,
Alton ; H. N. Studley, Webster Grove.
Cider— N. J. Oolman ; W. S. Jewett ; J. W. Guy.
H. T^ Mudd referred to the desire of the President to obtain tb«
cooperation of the ladies. He understood that one of those present
STATE aOBTiOVI/TUBAL SQ0IB9T. MB
dented td tliank the President and Society fw tUl attentioii, Mn.
Minor. ^*
The President invited Mrs. Minor to take the stand. '
Mrs. Minor thanked the President for this kind xnyitatidn. Most
of the ladies thonght this meeting was got np ^nerely to increase the
membership. . Bat while I tender thanks for. this kindness, I notice,
gentlemen, that most of yon, wMle yon come here yonredyes, have
left yonr ^baggage" at home — not one has brought a wife with him.
Women feel that when they have a dnty to perform they will do it
I have read the reports of this Society, and think the snlijafiti it em-
braces eminently adapted to women, when we reflect that women
have often a great part to perform in this, that they have months Ho
£11.
The true idea of a happy country is when every man and woman
«faall have a home for themselves. Rome was best ruled by a man
fresh from the plow. Many house-wives in the country think their
lives hard, but if they saw the interior of much of the life of the city,
they would bless their lot She referred to the fact that in most public
meetings, inaugurations, etc., women were left out Here there is a
new era opened up to women.
CoL Oolman thought that it was mainly the fault of the ladiM
themselves that they had no part in the meetings. They had always
been invited.
Mr. Mudd, Dr. Spalding and the President thought that it arose
from not having had a proper place to meet in before. Now that
cause is removed ; they can come with comfort
The President in announcing the electionof officers as the special
.order for the afternoon, said that he was in favor of rotation of office,
and positively declined serving again.
H. T. Mudd, in noticing this fa^t, thought it desirable and moved
the adoption of the following:
Resolved^ That Article 3, of the Oonstitution of this Society be so
amended as to read ^the President shall not be eligible for the next
succeeding term.'^
The motion, receiving a constitutional mjgority, was declared
' adopted.
Adjourned.
WBDNXSDAT AFTSBKOOIT.
The session was begun by the appointment of T. W. Gay and
Ohas. Oonnon as tellers, when the following officers were elected
<or 1870 :
Presiden(r-Dr. H, Olaggett, of gt
mUOOBI JUKBKJULlinEE.
Vic6 Pi-etideiit8--Fint Oongressicmal Diatrict-N. J. Oolman, of
St. Loais*
Second Ooogteidoiial BUtrict— T. W. Ony, Sulphur Springs.
Third Ooogredsional Diatrieir-Qeo. B. Oliu^ Potosi.
Fonrth OongresBioaal District— D. & Holman, Springfield.
Bftb Ckmgressional District— F. A. Nitohy, Jefibrson City.
I^zth Oongressional District— Geo. S. ParlL, Park?ille.
Seventh Congressional District— EL M. Yories, St Joseph.
Eighth Congressional District-O. H. P. Lear, Hannibal
Ninth. Congressional District— Wm. Starke, Louisiana.
Becoiding and Oorreqponding Secretary— Wm. Muir, Fox Creek
' Poet, office, St. Louis county.
Treasurer— John H. Tice, St Louis.
John M. Jordan, of St. LcMiis, then read an essay on
rms PROPAOATION AND CULTURE OF IXOWERS.
Mr. President and Memhere of the Mieeouri StcUe HbrticuUurmi
Society :
It has been generally conceded that each member of this Society
should endeavor to perform the duties assigned him, and, as I haye
been assigned to the task of conveying my ideas of the propagation
and culture of flowers, I shall endeavor to do so very briefly.
To condense into a short address the necessary knowledge of
Floriculture^ to teach the unitiated how to propagate all kinds of
. plants, would be a laborious task. I shall, therefore, present a few
suggestions on the propagation and management of plants, directing
more attention to the cultivation of the tiMte for flowers, at the same
time giving a few lists of plants for garden and house culture, hoping
the other members will furnish the Society with their valuable expe-
rience in Floriculture*.
The propagation of most soft- wooded plants like Geraniums, Yer*
benas, Fuchias, Heliotropes, etc., is easily accomplished, by placing
the green cuttings in clean river sand heated to a temperature of
about 65 degrees Fahrenheit, with the atmosphere about the cuttings
at about 55 degrees. ^
The propagation of the hard-wooded plants, aside from layerini;
in the open ground, had better be trusted to a careful propagator
under glass, where he can control the heat, moisture and light, and I
would much prefer to take this Society through our propagation
hoases, and demonstrate to them there, many maneuvers in getting
roots and leaves to grow from the cuttings of hard-wooded and
resinous plants.
The preservation of pot-plants in the room through summer or
winter deserves our attention. Most plants that die in rooms, are
killed by too frequent watering. Plants should not be watefred nA-
less they show signs of being dry, which is first seen by the soil intbo
pot turning to a light color. .
Than the plant siwald hb wttoned enongk to kȴe the wmtiir pw*
eolate entirely through the pot Expose the i^aiitfl to :the ftk aad *
light at the sante time, do aot expose Ibem to the gas eifistfoag gafr> '
lights keep the soil on the snrfaoe stirred to admit the air.
The following list of plants I would recommend for fatonse cnltnres
Soses, Oomelias, Asaleas, Primroaes, Oallas, YioletSy Hignonetibeff
Geraniums, Heliotropes, SalTias, Begnoniss, Bonvoidiai GaloeolaiiaSt
Gineranias, Oarnations, Fuchias, Chrysanthemums, Enpkorbiaa^:
Fabiana, Archyranthus, Lopeeia, Oleanders, Pelargooiums, Fom-
granates, Seutelaria, Stenias, Tropoelums, DaetEias, Almond^ Daisies^,
and a general assortment of Liliums and Bulbs. And for a garden;
where two hundred plants could be grown, I would recommend the.
following list, which could be varied to suit larger or smaller gsir>'
dens: 12 Roses, 10 Oentaiums, 6 Heliotropes, 4 Petunias, 6 Tabroses,
80 Verbenas, 12 Dahlias, 4 Salvias, 6Lantanas, 2 Lemon Yerbeiitt,
AOoleus, 2Dielytra, 2 Adiyranthus, 4Gannas, 12Pansies, eyinc%.
tt Ohrysanthemnms, 6 Phlox, 4 Peonias, 4Delphiaiums, 6Sweet Wil*'
liams, 2 Plumbagos, 6 liliums, 1 Geranium, 6 Oapheas, 1 Ecythriaai
30 Oladioli^ 2 Nuerembergia, 1 Fritonia, 6 Irises.
The following list I would recommend for running plants : Oobea^
acandens, Passiilora, Mauraudla, Maderia, Morning 6Ioi*y, and Tro^
psBolums.
From this list, with the familiar hardy shrubs and vines, any onw
can have perpetual bloom, as well as beautifully decorated gardens^
and rooms.
Flowers are almost indispensable in every conditioa of life. We;
cannot estimate their werth in dollars and cents. Who can calculate:
the value of one lesson learned by the children as they gather Mrouad
a beautiful rose bush on a bright January morning, to see for the firsli
time in the winter the opening buds, and hesr the expvessicBis of
thankfulness, mingled with sad reflections, that all things are pastt&C
away f These bright flowers are pictures in the book of nature thai
we never tire of beholding.
We admire, and justly too, the magnificent lawn attached to thw
atately mansion of some millionaire, situated in the suburbs of ouif
large cities, dotted over with grass and rase flowers, mingling in one
glow of colors, plants from every clime. And as we stand spellbonnA
praising the adorner, our thoughts rise to the .Giver of all Good* and
we leave the sight refreshed, reproducing the gorgeous scenes many
times, jrears after in our minds.
Now let us. take another view, although not on so large a scale,
yet when weighed in the balance it is not found wanlsing. Behold
the dwelling of that poor widow, whose scanty means compel her to
live in netirement, almost to seclnsioii, wiA a few flowers as her comt
^anions. These are in perfect harmony with hei^ feiHngs. BtlU they
may be snch as would. be called very common, like the sunflowetanll
the hoUybock, with sn^id>an and lilac, the balswn and wild violekb
/
Ift* mm$ovm MammmmoM
thMe *f&w llawan io nmiai her in Uadiittff hi&f 4bSUix9h the irajr
tliey •bonld live, m well as cheer her lonely walk throni^ life ; •
fltmidiiiig fkywein to deeevate the soaDty hoard and the lonely
grares of lored ones long siaoe departed ; they cmnplete the widows
garden; and I d0 believe that thia lonely garden will paint on the
Mtfna of Heaven a brighter picture^ and will be pointed to in eontcm-
diction to the wide spread lawns, bedeeked with rooks and lills, gaiv
landed with neyer^fading flowers.
- The extent of the cnltiTation of flowers is an index to mark the
degree of eiviUisation mod refinement of any people or country. The
mde, nntntored minds seldom rise above things tiiat gratiiy appetite,
and can eee more beanty in a cabbage or potato than in a camelia or
primrose.
In the most refined parts of onr country, flowers are an indispen-
sable article on all occasioniH-^they play a very important part Qo
into the connting^'room of the merchant or banker, and yon will see n
bnnch of flowers decorating the desk, reminding him of home. Visit
the school room and see the flowers adorning the desks of teachers
and scholars. At church, where we are taught the way of life, as well
as at the: solemn court of justice, flowers stand as guardian angels, to
teach their lesson of mercy. Or go to the banquet, where Mrade-
meet to make glad their fellow friends, and while the festive board
will be spread with choice fruits and other products, yon will always
see flowers standing out in bold relief, in the form of bouquets^
wreaths and garlands. Now go to a wedding, where every ornament
Aat can add pleasure is fumidbed, and friends wish to compress into
a few brief hours the greatest amount of pleasure, and there see the
display in the arrangement of flowers ; diamonds may glitter, and
pearls mingle their mdlow light with other jewels that decorate the
loved ones, but it is reserved for flowers to outshine all other adorn-
Aents, to exert their hallowed influence and teach a lesson ol purity,
leve and friendship, never to be forgotten.
So it is when we wish to show our love for departed friends. We
wekve a wreath of flowers, as a token of our never-ending love. So
let us still cherish the planting of flowers, for we know that they wiH
repay us a thousand times in this world, and much more in the world
to come.
Mr. Oarew Sanders, St Louis, reported
A LIST or HABDT OKBTAMBNTAL SHRUBS ASJ> PtAITTS^
Were I to nmke out a list of all of the above that I would recom-
mend, or plant myself, under certain circumstances, I would name all
that I know and a good many that I don't know— 4ndeed I would ex-
haust the catalogue. If I bad grounds large enough, and means
stnough, I would have specimens of every kind, because I consider
there are none that are destitute of beauty or interest in some degree
Off another. All possess some measure, either of beauty, oddity o»
0tAm' WMRMMMUBdii' tMAiii. w
Mstorioal MBociation, and none but what are intimstiitlF^rteiii their
dmple homeliness.
Bat I presnme what this Sooietj wants to oensider, and what I
Ml expectM to poiitt imi^ is a list of thM6 most desirable for ns to
r^Mommend to dttkors, or «neh as we would pltfnft onrselTes nnder€er4
tain limited conditions ; and the qnallties te be embraced in Chose w#
wonld most recommend ^onld be :
Ist Hardiness and dnrabilit;.
9d. Beanty, either in form, flower or foliage, or all combined* .'
8d. Accessibility, that is, can these we recommend be obtained^
4th. Adaptabilily, that is, will they grow and flourish and sno*
oeM in the soil and climate we offer them ; Will they transplant easily,
grow rapidly, and be in all respects desirable. 1
Unfortunately, we can name no list that will be equally desirable
in every respect, as some of the very handsomest are either hard to
transplant, slow growers, .or hare some other defeat. Bnt none of
these should deter the embellisher of rural scenery from using theo4
most beautiful objects, and liberally too, but they must conform to
their habits and natures.
Trees that are hard to transplant, they must take of small aise.
Aees of slow growth they must stimulate and encourage, and wait
for them, but by no means reject them. I would give my coneent tA
no list, from which were thrown out some of our most beautifdl trees
attd shrubs, merely because they were a little hard to transplant ; at
the same time, under certain circumstances, I might select only thostf
that were easy to lire.
The Society m^r vary this list; others, doubtless^ would put iai
tnes, etc., that' are here emitted, but 1 would rather add, to than di^
minlsh. I could easier add to the following list than take away anjf
therein named* '
Still, if necessity competed, six, twelve or twenty could be se*
looted that 1 prefer above air others. If I could have my choice J
would take them all, and, like Oliver Twist, ^ want more.^
For six native trees of the largest dimensions, noblest and staAt--
liest forms, I would name :
Sugar Maple--A rather slow grower, easy to live from nurserjp.
Tulip Tree-^%ould be frequently removed in nurseiy, or set out
when small.
White Oak— Not found in nurseries.
White Elm— Easily transplanted ; rapid growth.
White Ash— Same remarks.
Deciduous Oypress — Should be transplanted when small.
Six Native TVess^ scarcely inferior to the abof^e' in size, and ot
rapid growth and easy removal.
Scarlet llaple-^oo well known to need any comm^nHt
- ttlver MapleMlame.
• «'Butto>iwo0d^-4lime» *
Box £lder--.8MEia
Hackberry-— No experience wiUi it.
Blue JLsh — Same.
Six Native Tr$es ansjaipasted in beaptf, but eitii#F hiosi to tiMf-
plant, or do not Mem to floarisb here, being indigeaeaa.to^a differenfc
iduiraoter of soil, thermal belt, ifce.
Sweet Gom succeeds well, but Tergr hard to tranapUHit.
Kentucky Ooffee Tree.— Succeeds well; seviewhait hani to tsana-
plant ,
, Sweet Obestont. — Not suceessful here4
Beech — ^A noble tree, but of unceirtain saiceess here*
Hickory— SacceedB well; npt found in nnmeriesri iMHrd te tofiu»
plant ; can be raised from seed whena waj^tod.
Pecan — Same.
Black Walnuts-Same.
Six Native Tree^ of smaller dimensions, but all Wi^cthy of attMe
lion.
Ked Bud— Exceedini^y handsome in eas^ sprias^
Dogwood— Flowers white ; a splendid coatiast to the aborei
Buckeye — Ayery handsome Utile tree.
Persimmon— -By no means destitoto <tf beaiity ; . eisuly xaiaedfipoit
wed.
Sassafras-^Distinet and ornamental, espee^aUyiiii tbeAklL
Osage Osange— Its large, gloaqr, heartHdiaped leame mslEe it aa
arnamental object.
Four Native Treee ricYi and rare in charaetor, jMUgenoas fir^m
W southward ; tbe oonnectingJipik between th# vecjetatwo ef the
tropics and tbe tempevato reglDM ; tbe laii^ fi^Uage parMtfuag moia
of the tropie^ oharaeter, aDd therefore ail ti^ more striking lieaa
among our smaUer-leaved trees.
Magnolia Aonminatar^-^uoumber tn^e*
Magnolia lltaorophyUat-I^rga leayeid Magnolia.
Magnolia Tripetolar^-Umbisella tree.
Yir^lia Lutta^ Yellow wood, to wluoh the ahow lenatrks do not
;apply.
Si» Common Tte49 that from ths^ rapid groirth, eai^ in Bolsing
;$|id transplantingf theiv adftP^ahility to soipp sitvationfi apd (their
iisefulness under some circumstances, I consider any list4iiQompIel#
nrithout them.
Lombardy Poplar.
.Silver-LeaTod Poplar.
Balsam Poplar.
Tremulous Poplar, or Aspen.
Weeping Willow.
Golden Willow, and acmie other Toigr omamtntal willoM.
The Oaks, although so common all about^^s^ eo»tldn^ nnvlber of
•nch handsome ,trees, that I do not like to omit ilientioiiRiw a Dnr of
STAtB BOKnODIiVimAL fOOlSTT.
tbB best as ornamental tcees, say six beside the White Oak already
mentioned.
Scarlet Oak*
Chestnut Oak.
Burr Oak.
Willow Oak.
Red Oak.
Spanish Bed Oak-^If these ave attempted they had better all be
riised from the acorn by the planter himself, either where they are
to stand, or be transplanted at one and not more than two years
growth ; they are notoriously somewhat slow, but like most things of
ilow growth, they are enduring.
Six Exotic Trees of first maeaitnde both as it regards size and
bMnt3%
European Linden — An exceedingly handsome tree, good in all
respects.
English Elm — A noble tree.
Norway Maple — Resembles our Sugar Maple ; a beautiful tree.
Sycamore Maple-^A splendid, broad-leaved, loffy, handsome tree.
European Horse Chestnut — ^A charming tree both in fbliage and
flbwer, with dense, round head.
European Larch — An elegant, tapering, light foliaged tree, vain*
ible for timber.
Six Smaller Exotic Treee^ hardy and do well here except where
noted.
White Birch-— Remarkably handsome tree.
Mountain Ash — Not a success here.
Eolrenteria — Does well, but hard to transplant.
Catalpa — Hardy, handsome, transplants easily, grows rapidly.
Chester — Hardy, transplants easily, fine silvery foliage.
Service berry — ^Not common ih nurseries.
Six or more SmaU Treea^ the connecting link between trees and
Arubs.
Euonymus— Several kinds, very handsome fruit in fall ; colors,
vose, red, white, &c.
Bird Cherry — ^Exceedingly beautiful small tree.
Snowy Mespilus — ^As above ; flowers a moss of snowy white.
White Fringe— Native ; beautiful foliage, handsome fringe like
flowers.
Silver Bell, Halsea— Native but rare here; wonderfully pretty.
Magnolia Glauca— Fine foliage, flowers of delicious fi^grance.
KvneRBni lansa A9n shkvbs.
Six of the Finest and Beet Everffreens^lkoldingi^iMbittaik
here.
Norway Sprue^-^Koble tree, gtowiag one lMui4r^ l^et high ;
best in all respects. . •
Hemlock Spruce — ^Native, handsome^ but not bo mach at home In^
the West.
White Piae«^Noble, beaatifnl ; a great timber tree.
AnstrianPiae— Stiff, stately tree; does well here.
Scotch Pine— Ragged, hardy, rapid growing, desirable tree.
Red Oedar — ^Not the handsomest, bat valaable.
Six EveTffT€en9 second only to the above.
Oorsican Pine — Hardy, fast grower, not so handsome as some.
Bentham's Pine-^Hardy, not in the nurseries.
American White Spruce— Native, fine foliage, sOrery hue, small'
<iones.
Black or Blue Spruce — Native, foliage glaucus, very pretty. '
Red Spruce-Somewhat resembles the Norway.
Balsam or Silver Fir — ^Yery erect, dark green, hamdsome wlulb
young.
OTHCB BVER61UEXN TRU8 AJU> 8HBUB8.
European Silver Fir-— Noble tree, hardy, but hard to get up here.
Nordman's Silver Fir — Undoubtedly hardy here, a splendid trea^
Several others of this beaatifol genus would unquestionably
inrove hardy here, as there are several of them hardier than the com-
mon Silver Fir, which is tolerably hardy; these are Pectinata Gran*
dis, P. Lassiocarpa, P. Nobilis, all wonderfully handsome trees.
. Oembram Pine— Small, compact, very handsome.
Mountain Pine — ^Dwarf^ valuable as a low evergreen.
Banksian Pine — Hardy, rugged, not handsome.
Norway or Red Pine — Quite handsome.
Many other pines might be added, but are either scarce, highi
priced not well proved or not desirable for lack of beauty, etc.
American Arbor Yitse — Hardy, desirable, as are all its varieties.
Ohinese Arbor Yitae — Handsome while small, not as hardy as the
preceding.
Siberian Arbor Yitae — Hardy, with glaucus hue, dense habit.
Lawson Cypress — Hardy here, a lovely evergreen.
Nootka Cypress — ^Will prove hardy, very distinct.
Silver Cedar — ^A recent acquisition, of singular beauty, hardy.
Irish Juniper.
Swedish Juniper.
English Juniper.
Savin or Dwarf Juniper^— These are all hardy, very handsome small
trees, indispensable in small gardens. Indeed, for garden scenery
nothing in the entire range of evergreens can be more appropriate,
producing the most complete effect in a small space.
Waepittg Japan Juniper— There are a number of other varietiea
equally hardy and valuable.
American Yaw*-Desiyable to mix witii the junipers ton a low
•vergreen.
0XATB flORficrainBU floeanr. BU
Tree Box— Be«Qtifal evergreeo, not eaoiigh appreeteted.
Mahonia — Spleadid for masses in the shade of other trees.
Pyrecantns— White berried, beautifiil dwarf evergreen.
Lut of Ho%o0ring Shrube^ with the color of the flowers, given
somewhat in the order or season of flowering :
Forsythia Yiridissima— Deep green color, yellow.
Forsythia Snspenta — ^Trailing, yellow.
Forsythia Fortnnii — ^New, not tried here.
Amygdalns Nana— Double Dwarf Almond, pink.
Amygdalus Nana Alba— White.
Pyrus Japonica-^apan Quince, qolte early, scarlet. There are
half a dozen varieties of this beautiful shrub.
Ribes Aureum — ^Missouri Currant, early, yellow.
Spirea Prunifoliar— Plum-leaved, white.
Spirea Ulmifolia— Elm-leaved, white.
Spirea Beovsii— Lance-leaved, white.
Spirea Keevsii plena— Double lance-leaved, white.
Wiegelia Rosea — ^Beautiful rosy red.
Deutzia Scabra — Bough leaved, strong grower, white.
Deutzia Crenata — Orenate-leaved, white.
Deutzia Orenata plena — ^Double white and pink, very handsome.
Deutzia Gracilis — Slender, very pretty dwarf shrub.
Viburnum Opulus— Snowball, large, showy, white. Of this old
favorite there i^e several new sorts, all doubUess hardy, as Nanum
dwarf, Plioatum, new and fine.
Magnolia Purpurea — Purple Magnolia, magnificent, purple tulij^
Hke flower.
Syringa Vulgaris— -lalac. The old purple, white, and a dozen new^
varieties, all hardy and desirable.
Syringa Persica — ^Persian Lilac. Several varieties, various colors.
Philadelphus Coronaria — ^Mock Orange. Several kinds, all good,
white.
Ohimanthus Yirginica—White fringe.
palycanthus Florida — ^Sweet scented shrub, or alspice, brown.
Halesia Tetraptera-^ilver bell, white, beautiful.
Lonicera Tartarica — Upright honeysuckle, red and white varieties.
Lonicera Ledebenrii — ^New from Oregon, crimson flowers.
Lonicera Xyloxteum — ^Fly honeysuckle, straw color.
Berberis Vulgaris — Barberry, yellow.
Berberis Purpurea— Purple-leaved, yellow.
Bnddlea Llndleyana — ^Neat, graceful shrub, Lavender flowers.
Gorchorus Japonica — Japan globe flower, yellow.
Colutea Arboreseers— Bladda Lenna, yellow.
Ool a tea Orenata — Bladda Senna, red.
Gomus Sangulnea — ^Dogwood, white flowers, blood red branchesC
Amorpha Fruiticosa — ^Indigo shrub, purple. '
Robinia Hispida^-Rose Acacia, pink.
I
Hypedoiim Kalmianiiin — St. Jofaa'fl wort, yellov.
Hypericum ProUficom — ^ProfoBe flowert* jeltow.
Spirea Sorbifoli»^Mountaiii Ash-leaved, white.
Spirea Donglafisii^-^lender dwarf, red.
Spirea Billardii-; ^ white.
Spirea Lindleyaaa^-Splendid spikes, white.
Spirea Bella — Beautiful, red.
Spirea Corymbosa — ^Large, showy, white.
Spirea Aurear-rGoldeQ-leaved^ pretty.
Paria Macrostacya — Dwarf horse chestnut, long spikes, white.
Eleogenns Argentea-— Pretty silvery foliage.
Eleogenus Parviflorus-^maii leaved.
Hydrangea Qaercifolia — ^Qak-leaved.
Yitex Agnus Oastus — Chaste tree, kills down, but eomes up every
year, blue.
Hallicarpa Oerulea— Elegant, violet berries..'
Hybiscus Syriacus-^Rose of Sharon, many varieties, various
oolors.
Hybiscus Yarigata — ^Yarigated-leaved, beautiful foliage, one of
the .plants we might select for ribbon work in foliage plants.
Idgustrum Yulgarus Privet — White flowers, black glossy berries.
Clethra Alnifolia — ^Pepper bush, white.
Tamarix Indica— Beautiful feathery foliage, pink flowers.
Sympboria Racemosa—^now berry, pretty, white fruit,
Syrophoria Glomerata — Our Indian Onrrant There is a beauti*
ful varigated-leaved kind.
Enonymus Europeas — Strawberry tree, handsome red and white
ikait.
Rhus Gotinus — ^Yeneticin Samac, or purple fringe mist tree.
Eglantine — Sweet Briar, fragrant foliage.
Wigelia Amabilis— Pale rose blooms nearly all summer.
Wigelia Hortensia Rubra — Deep red, strong.
Wigelia Nivea — A variety of roses with white flowers..
Wigelia Yarigata — Yarigated foliage, does not flourish first rate
here.
There is a number of new varieties of Wigelias that I have not
seen, therefore cannot speak of them to recommend*
Prof. Root, of Oolumbia, thought the report juetti^ad, complete,
and moved that a committee be appointed to make opt a short list of
those plants that could be recommended ^eaeraly for small places.
H. M. Yories has tried the planting of ornament^s for 20 years
in Missouri ; has succeeded with some, and feels the w^^nt of a short
list of those that can be recommended everywhere in the State.
Instanced a gentleman making out a list containiug most of the
fpruces. Suggested te him to visit some place «^httre they were
growing, took him to Mr. Shaw's. When be eaw this splendid collec*^
tion of plants, it changed his mind so much, he hardly tQ(dc one of
BTAn HOKTieiTtTITBAL 0OCISTT. 9
original list. He took some of the pines. We shonM plant such an
loeep green in the winter. The Norway Spmce^ Austrian, Scotch and
white pines. The Cedar and Arbor Yitie are bad in their color.
Dr. Spalding thought no time of the Society conld better spent
than at sneh a fist
J. Henwood : the Dr. hae overlooked the fact that no six er
twelve that we can select will snit every taste. Let us get a^ full list
as we have heard read, and let every one suit his own taste.
The following committee oh small list was appointed, with in«
structions to report to this meeting: Pro£ Boot, Care w Sanders, J.
M. Jordan, Charles Connon.
H. T. Mudd moved the following resolution :
Whsrbas, a proposition has been introduce^ into our State Lejgit-
latore looking to a diversion of the agricultural and mechanioal
grant of Congress from its intended nse ; and, whereas, for the im*
provement of our agriculture and horticulture we need continued
and extensive experiments, carefully organized instruction, and wide-
^read scientific information ; therefore,
Resolved^ That the State Horticultural Society, in behalf of the
horticultural interests of the State, most earnestly protest against
any such diversion, and urge upon our Legislature to perfect arrange*
ments for the opening of the college provided for in the Cougres-
-iional grant.
Prof. Root, Dr. Hull, Mr, Vories, and Col. Colman made a few re-
marks on the^ subject, when it was made the special order for the
evening.
Adjourned.
WBBNKSDAY EVBNINO.
The President called attention to the fact that Mr. Samuel Miller,
ef Bluffton, h^ kindly presented the Society with some packages of
the seed of the ^Bonnet Gourd," and of the ^Northern Kamie**
plant.
Dr. Morse wished it to be understood, especially by the ladlea^
that the Northern Ramie was a nettle, the Urtica Purp^iraoea^ and
was a coarse, stinging weed, found wild in many parts of the State;
thought the fibre very fine, and that it might be found available as a
textile fibre. The remarks of several gentlemen showed that it
was common on rich soils on the Missouri, Mississippi^ and Illinoia
rivers.
Prof. John J. Hodgen was then introduced and delivered a lea-
tare on ""The Diseases of Vegetation.'' He said: I will not discuss
cay particular disease, but will, in a general way, make some remarks
4lutt may lead to results that may be of value. To know disease
4K lUBIOimf AOMOULtUBS.
mvLst be familiit with the healthy condition, straetttre, and fanctioiit,
.and how these healthy conditions may be maintaitted and bnilt iq^
We must asfinme there was no disease ; ail was pexfect when it caise
-ffom the hands of its Maker; that there was a period of health; no
disease existed, and that by some circnmstance a change was effected,
"There are some things essential to vegetable life, as moistare, lights
mir. < Water gathers carbonic acid from the air. It descends into the
soil to noarish the plant. Water gathers nitric acid from the atmoi-
phere, and it is carried by the water to the roots of the plant Water
tarries the salt in the various formations, and prepares them for the
vegetable organisms. They can be used by the plant only when in
solution. Water is the great solvent, so that a proper supply of water
is essential. Seed will not germinate without water, and will remain,
if dry, at a temperature of 70° to 100° for a long time, but add knois*
tnre and germination at once takes place when along with the proper
degree of heat It does not matter what salts or other food is pre-
' sented, unless water be present with it In reference to the plant
itself, in most vegetable organisms there are distinct tubes that lead
up materials in solution, as in the trees of the forest. In other planta
there are only open interspaces, as in the sandy soil. Before the
materis can enter into the single cell, whether of fruit, or flower, or
leaf, or stem, it must be in a state of solution, or it cannot parter or
form a part of the cell wall. Cells grow by the process of expansion ;
crystals grow by deposit The materials may be in particles beyond
the reach of the microscope, but they have still the power of passing
through this porous membrane, the wall of the cell. They thus are
the particles of the wall, and become a portion of the livinfi: plant
While the water may be regarded as the drink of the plant, it is the
food also. This food must be obtained in proper quantity and proper
condition. We can determine by chemical analysis as to what is
wanted by the plant The soil may not contain the phosphate of
lime in the particular condition that tiie plant requires, and this may
not be recognized by chemical analysis. It might be present, but
required a change in its condition that the plant could not make, and
we could not determine by chemical analysis in what that change
consists. Thus in the case of gum, starch, or glucose; or in cane or
grape sugar the elements may be present and recognized, but the
causes that determine the form that the starch will assume as to being
^ane of grape sugar may not be appreciable. The air has supplied
the carbon, that is the base of all these several forms. We must aleo
have air to our plants, and this air must be in a certain condition. It
must not be too dry, or the atmosphere will absorb too much mois-
ture and the plant dry up ; nor too moist, or the moisture will remain
in drops upon the leaves, and the sap remain stagnant in the plant
The atmosphere must contain the proper chemical elements, and
these in a proper condition and in proper proportions. Heat or tens-
> yerature is of great importance to the plant The changes in tte
STATS HORXXCmiTUiaAI. SOOIRT. r^fi
Jbnnperature may be too sadden. Sunlight ia needed by tbe plu^
A few days cloudiness causes the young corn to become pale« Oar-
,^n is not taken in, and it lacks carbon. Look at the potato grown in
a dark cellar. They are etiolated^ and contain little of the material
that makes the potato. Without going back to ultimate causes, there
M something that determines and controls the forces that are in
.action, from the building of the cell all through its operations, that
regulates what it shall pass by and what appropriate from the com*
mon supply of material that is presented to the plant. It may be
,that the molecular form of arrangement of the particles has some-
thing to do with it There may be something yet unnoticed that con-
^Is it entirely.
, The cause of disease may be found in any one of the conditions
to which we have referred.
Changes in the air, heat, moisture, sqnlight, may cause changes
that will produce disease. There are also accidental changes which
may give cause to disease. Accidental causes may impair or destroy
the functions.
As to food, if the soil does not contain the food the plant requires,
it dies. The change in the quality may be very trifling, bpt it cannot
take its place in the organism, or it has not the power by which the
material has to be transposed. Too much fluidity in the body and
disturbed functional action, and dropsy will be produced.
A proper amount of air in a proper condition is neeessary to the
growth of the plant The air is like a stimulant, causing an increaaa
in the action of the forces of the plant, and may be too little or in
excess as in '^stimulants" in the human system.
Disease may be produced by accidental causes, as in the case of
the oak gall, which is produced by an insect acting on the leaf and
the boring admits the air and converts the tannin of the plant into
tannic acid, and the cells, instead of forming in parallel lines areund
.this centre, and furnishes ail that is necessary for the development of
, the insect's egg.
Different insects produce different results, in changing the direc-
tion of the forces in the plant, so that some destroy in one way and
some in another. So it is with smut Sometimes it is produced and
developes more rapidly than others ; sometimes consuming the entire
grain and converting the head of wheat into a thick black masi,
sometimes affecting only a few grains.
The seeds of the fungus are sown with the seed, pass up the
stalk into the grain, and circulates in the minute vessels to earry on
the process. The seeds or germs of this fungus are exceedingly
minute, about one*sixteenth-thousandth part of an inch. The rot in
the grape, the mildew on the leaf, destroy the substance of the frait
or leaf in a similar manner. The changes that take place in tbe
tissues of the plant is much like the chemical changes that take place
in the starch or sugar in fermentation. Starch changes into iuf ar
to fttSSMBt AOBIOULItTBS.
/
and alcohol and carbonic acid gas. We have a similar case in (fti^
potato rot
A reference to the conditions of regetable life| action and &^
ease will stimnlate to inquiry and discovery.
Mr. Riley wished to know if plants do not grow in winter?
Prof Hodgen : I think that they do grow. Prof. Draper show*
this point in secretion, a higher temperature is produced in the plaai
than in the atmosphere.
Mr. Riley referred to the fact that Mr. Meeham said that in the
Hyacinth it produced so much heat as to thaw out the frozen ground
in a ring around it in the winter.
Profl Root, from the committee on select list of trees and sbruba,
presented a report which was accepted and laid over till after the
special order.
Prof. O. y. Riley, as chairman of the committee on Entomology,
read a report, which will be found in his general report on Entomology
in this volume.
After the reading of the report, Dr. Hull said that in regard k>
the curculio he had data in regard to its appearance and changes.
Last year the first curculio was seen en the 20th of June, thh
year the 25th of June that the first insects left the peaches, twenty-
two days to transform brings us to July, eight days to perfect the in-
sect. One year the curculio delayed till June 20th, the other till Jnly
"because the weather was wet and cold. It was so this season ; we
had many days that were cold and damp, and our late peaches ha^ro
but few worms. They are badly stung, but very few worms are
found, because the peaches were not sufficiently matured. When
late peachesreach the period of stoning, they rest in their growth
fcr some time; while the early varieties rest only a very few days. I
think there is a mistake as to when the curculio lays the eggs in the
fruit and when they come from the fruit It is true that this year I
•find a few in August, but very few. This year I find them later than
ever, a few as late as the first of September. I think there is no two
broods.
Mr. Riley: I said that by the end of June and beginning of July,
the new brood came out, that a portion had wintered in our wood*
and the rubbish of our clearings. The brood which wintered ovei
Inroduced the brood that we have had this year.
The curculio winters over principally as a beetle ; these punctufe
'tte fruit to deposit their eggs, which hatch out into worms and fall to
the ground. There are always a few stragglers from the regulat
*brood.
Dr. Spalding : How can this late brood injure the fruit?
Mr. Riley : They do much damage in their desire for food, not in
'laying their eggs. They made round irregular gougings.
Dr. Htill : 1 find that there is no difi^renee of opinion between
tia ; this explains alL
V
STATE HOKTICULTURAL SOOIBIT. 6T
Mr. Sigerson made some inquiries as to the ^'weevil," bat as so
many insects that a£fect the wheat are called weevil, it is difficult to
get at the correct facts without having the insects referred to at hand
for identification.
Dr. Hull would like to ask Mr. Riley if the planting of crab
apples round an orchard, or among the trees, would be any protec-
tion to the cultivated varieties from the humpbacked curculio ?
Mr. Kiley : I think so.
Mr. Colman : Will it take the wild crab in preference to the cul-
tivated apple ?
Mr. Riley : I think so. I have found forty punctures in the crab
for one in the cultivated apple near it. I only answer from general
principles, I cannot speak as a demonstrated, practical fact.
President Peabody : I notice that in Europe they are much more
free from insects than we are, and yet Europe is the natural habitat
of many of our most troublesome insects.
Mr. Riley : It seems that they have the natural parasites of those
inaects. We have introduced these troublesome insects without the
natural parasite. I believe the insects of Europe are the younger
and more powerful race; that the European insects predominate
over the native as the European race is doing to the ^^ red man."
Dr. Hull thought that temperature had also an influence in this
case.
The English sparrow and the Apple-root aphis were hurriedly
noticed.
A4journed.
THURSDAY MORNING.
The meeting was opened by prayer by the President.
H. M. Yories : Wished that the place of holding the next annual
meeting be brought up, and desired to have it at St. Joseph, pledging
the active co-operation of the local Horticultural Society, and citi-
xezis of St. Joseph.
Postponed.
Special report of trees and shrubs was presented and accepted,
but gave place to the special order.
The Secretary then read an
KS0AY ON PfilHlTIVS SOILS, THEIR 6PK0IFI0 CHABAOTIB tOB EXOH GBADB
W1NB& — ^BT JOSEPH E. WABB.
In discussing this subject, I shall find myself unaided to a greater
ejLfc^x^^ ^^^ I bftd expected in the outset. In the preparation and
igement of the thoughts and facts herewith presented, I ofter
♦6— HB
have thought there were many subjects I could hare selected, so
much easier to treat than the present one ; where the task would
have been one of collation and amplification, rather than wandering
through paths so little trodden. I will, however, offer no apology, as
I have the monition before my eyes that I must not trench upon other
people's time. I consequently only hope to be able to direct atten-
tion to a district in Missouri, that is as large as the wine district of
France, and larger than that of Spain and Portugal combined. This
territory contains 6,300,000 acres of land, the soil of which is derived
chiefly from the decomposition of crystaline rocks. These rocks are
usually termed primitive, or first rocks ; hence, the soils derived from
such rocks are Aenominhtei primitive soils.
To understand the natural history of the substances that produce
primitive soils, and to make the subject plain and easy of comprehen-
sion, is to my mind almost an impossibility.
How can simplicity be given to a subject that involves the con-
crete sciences of Mineralogy, Botany and of Zoolojsry, together with
the abstract sciences of Chemistry and Physics ? When it is further,
considered, that the whole process of development of our earth from
its birth to the iKresent period, sustains a necessary and very impor>
tant relation to these sciences, which, when aggregated, become
grouped under one name. Geology.
Nearly as much has been learned of the constitution of our own
globe, by <>bserving through that marvelous instrument, the Spectro-
scope, the composition of the far-off extra*terrestrial matter of which
is made the sun, the planets, the fixed stars, and the farthest bodies
of the universe. Many things and points upon which but little light
could be thrown, on account of the impotency of the agents and the
means employed, are now better understood, and through the same
agencies, the career of discovery and investigation has been widened.
In the examination of the elements and substances composing our
own planet, modem science shows the existence in the sun, and in
the many other luminous bodies in space, of chemical elements pre-
cisely similar to those met with in our earth, and our own bodies, and
it is with something akin to intuition, that the poet genially
'* Seat alike in atari and flowers a part
Of the self same nniversal bein;
That is throbbing in his own mind and heart,"
As to the character of soils, and even waters and air, modern
chemistry has made known some curious facts, which will help, to
throw light upon certain phenomena and conditions in soils that have
hitherto been veiled in obscurity. Properties have been observed in
soils, in currents of water and air, that indicated the presence of ele-
mental matter that hitherto had not been revealed in the laboratory.
Who can account for the chemical relations that exist between the
v^ater in the Gulf Stream and the disseminated heated particles that
8TATB HORTXOULTUBAL BOOIKTT. 59
maintain an extra elevation of temperature in that mysterious ocean
river ?
Nor is there any satisfactory explanation regarding the phenom-
ena so-called isothermalisnu Is there any analogy in the causes that
heat certain zones or provinces, so easily termed ^4sothermal lines,"
and such heated lines of water as the great black river of the Japan
sea and the Gulf Stream !
These questions are at the threshold of the question. Still it is
interesiing to make the inquiry, whether belts or provinces of equal
temperature are not of necessity confined to the crystaline ranges of
rocks, and soils resulting therefrom ? as it is not at all a difficult task
to show why all primitive rocks, and the soils derived from them,
should possess qualities of heat that cannot be found present in more
recent stratified rocks and soils.
As this appears to me to be a strong point, it may be possible that
here lies an explanation of the noticeable circumstance that, almost
without an exception, the high grade wines of the civilized world are
produced upon primitive soils : instance, the Rhinegau, Burgundy
Lisbon, Cadiz, Madeira, Teneriffe, Oape of Good Hope, etc. From all
all these localities wines are obtained that range on a scale of quality
from^very good up to super-excellent
As temperature is another element in the production of wines of
high body, both in alcohol and sugar, deliciousness and odor, it is a
circumstance that is remarkable that a September mean temperature
of 67^ on the Missouri river bluff ranges, has at Pilot Knob 71^ While
the October mean of 49° on the Missouri river is only exceeded by 2^
at Pilot Knob. This comparatively low maturation mean is in a
measure compensated for in the dryness of the air and the amount of
heat in soil. It would appear from imperfect observation, that in Ar-
cadia Valley there are 153 days above a mean of 64°, not counting
any part of October.
The following grapes will fully ripen in Iron, Madison, Wayne,
Reynolds and Bollinger counties in 140 days, to wit : Delaware, Hart-
ford Prolific, Clinton, Diana, Concord, Isabella, Rebecca and Catawba.
The first three named will perfect themselves in 125 days from leaf-
ing.
In the Paris Exposition report of the committee on the cultura
and products of the vine, to the United States commission, we are as-
sured by a very competent committee, Marshall P. Wilder, Alexander
Thompson, William J. Flagg and Patrick Barry, '^That all that ia nec-
essary for us (the United States) to rival the choicest products of other
parts of the world, will ere long come with practice and experience.
We have already several excellent varieties of the grape borne on
American soil, and suited to it, a soil extensive and varied enough for
every range of quality and quantity. Who would discover a patch of
ground capable of producing ^Johannisberger,' a ^ Tokay' or a ^ Mar-.
geaux,' need only make dilligent search and, somewhere between ^* ~
80 MISSOURI A&BICULTVKE.
lakes and the gnlf and the two oceans that circumscribe oar vineyard
territory, he will be sure to find it"
There is bat little reputation hazarded in this latter assurance,
with 60 many thousands of millions of acres of territory to make the
discovery in. It is therefore all the more gratifying to me to believe
that the very desirable locality is to be found in our own State of
Missouri, and need not be limited to the dimensions of a ^ patch," nor
yet a good-sized county. No entire county is, however, exclusively
trapeau or primitive, as many of the valleys have sandstone, talcose
slates, laurentine and third magnesian limestone, to afford, with the
surrounding granite or trap hills, an almost incomparable soil for all
grades of wines, such as Liertenberg, the best Rhine wines, Vienna
and other still superior wines.
When the foot slopes of the hills that are largely augitic to the
elevation of 200 feet, are chosen, with a due regard to protection from
prevailing winds, I would not venture to say that ^^Lacrimae Christi'^
or anything so extremely luscious could be expected. Whereas, the
conditions with such varieties of grapes as the Kleiner Riessling, Her-
mitage, Pineaq and Muscat of Europe, and Ooncord, Oynthiana, Vir-
ginia and Rulander, of home varieties, will afford us all the rich,
sweet wines of Frontignac, Riversaltes, Malaga, Alicant, and possibly
the equivalent to the ^^ Pedro Xemimes." That all such wines will
have high alcoholic qualities is admitted.
Passing froqii products, I will assign reasons, that I hope will be
satisfactory, for the purpose of showing that primitive soils are un-
doubtedly preferable for the production of fine wines, such as will
gratify the general American palate, for it is a terrible mistake to
suppose that wines, such as emanate from Hermann or Cincinnati,
will ever be more than passably acceptable to the American people.
With all deference to the worth and successful industry of the
German vignerons of Ohio, Indiana and Missouri, there is something
better craved for. A dry wine will always stand secondary with the
American «nd English tastes.
Of what in France and Germany is called ^ basaltic soil," or vol-
canic, we have in Missouri fully one million acres.
Many imagine that all hilly land is necessarily volcanic ; far from
it There is not an acre of volcanic soil in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois or
Iowa.
Missouri is consequently the only State in the valley of the Mis-
sisippi that can possibly cope with Europe in the future wine market
against those famoua varieties of wines. Those marvelous combina- **
tions of rich flavor, delicacy and strength, that culminate in indescri-
bable qualities, more commendable to the organs of taste than to the
rational faculties.
No organic matter can form plant food, unless subjected to decay
and resolved back into inorganic elements and compounds ; these
are carbonic acid, water and ammonia» the final products of pntrefkc-
STATE HORTICULTUBAL 80CIBT7. 61
tion, bat with carbonic acid, ammonia and water, silica, potash, phos-
phate of lime, soda, sulphate and oxide of iron, must be associated,
and other ingredients that escape the keenest observation of the ana-
lyzer. .
The analysis of a plant gives the surest indication of the soil in-
gredients required for its perfect growth.
Five analyses by Liebfrauen and Oratz, as presented by John-
son, of grapevines : one, the growth of a limestone soil, and four
grown upon primitive soils, reveal the fact that the mean of mineral
ingredients demanded in the formation of a perfectly developed
grapevine cannot be found in a strictly calcareous soil, and cannot be
obtained by the vine, unless, as at Diedesbam, primitive soil is sup-
plied, and in fact the least favored parts of the Bhinegau, where ba-
saltic or primitive soil is used as a manure.
The mean of mineral ingredients demanded, as said before, di-
gressing, is in 100:
Potash 25.60
Soda \ ll.OT
lime 3486
Magnesia 7.64
Oxide of Iron 1.25
Phosphoric Acid , 15.37
Snlphuric Acid 2.36
Chlorine 0.68
Silica : J.22
10004
A limestone soil, at best, can scarcely exceed 7.30 as its mean of
soda, but, says a very voluminous writer upon every soil in Missouri,
but the soils of our primitive rocks, ^Mime may supply the place of
aoda and potash," it is very doubt fal if it does, though.
The equivalents to the basaltic soils of Europe are derived, in
Missouri, from augitic trap, toadstone, dolerite, clin to-stone or gray
basalt^ trachyte, &c. Not a soil or rock, in the high-grade wine dis-
tricts of Europe, fails in finding a congener in Missouri, and as this
subject is a new question in Missouri, I will show, from analysis, that
the primitive sub-magnesian rocks are more truly the source of in-
dispensable elements in a grape-yielding soil, than any calcareous
soils can he, when the object sought is excellent to super-excellent
wines.
ANALYSIS OF PRIMITIVE ROCKS
gives for Feldspar^ in 100 parts :
Silica 64.78
Alumina <^ 1838
Potash 16.84
Apatite (Phosphate of Lime) 92.1
82 MISSOUBI AGBIOTTLTUBB.
Fluoride of Oalcinm 7.^
Chloride of Calcium 0.9
Magnerite (Carbonic Acid) 52.4
Magnesian 47.6
Alumnite (Sulphuric Acid) 38.6
Alumina 87.1
Potash 11.4
Wavelite (Alumina) 88.8
Phosphoric Acid 34.9
Alhite (Silica) 68.5
Alumina 19.3
Soda : 9.1
Andersine (Silica) 69.6
Alumina 24-2
Lime » . . 6.8
Potash and Soda 7.6
I mi^ht follow on with the Schoris, Pectolite, Augite, Oligoclase,
Hornblende* Dutholite, Dolerite, Natrolite, Lepidolite, Lucerite, and
many other rocks rich in soil elements, all of which go to endow the
soils, resulting from their decomposition with qualities that may be
sought in Tain, in soils derived from strictly calcareous bases.
Primitive soils are absorbents in the highest degree, in propor-
tion to the greater number of ingredients that invariably belong
to their composition ; not from the attraction of moisture by delique-
sent salts, but the power of withdrawing moisture from the atmos*
phere, by absorbing or sucking it into their pores as a sponge does
water. However inherent this property is in those soils, nothing of
the sort will justify less thorough cultivation than for any other soil^
and, admitting that the fertility of a soil chiefly depends upon its ca*
pacity for imbibing moisture, consequently the more a soil is divided
by labor, the greater is its absorbent power and superior fertility;
hence the advantages to be found in the cultivation of our primitive
soils are, that the same labor and attention that other soils mmi have
to assure a good result^ will, no doubt, be decidedly a superior one in
the other case.
Lest the foregoing remarks should have the appearance of unsnp*
ported assertion, I will introduce the experience of two very truthful
and respectable gentlemen, Mr. A. W. HoUowman, of Arcadia, and
Mr. G. F. Yan Hees, of the same vicinity.
Mr. Hollowman has had eleven years' experience upon the east*
em slope of a whinstone trap hill, both rocky and gravelly, and wi|ib
a thin, though good soil, has, with the disadvantages of exposure and
want of attention, a small vineyard that is remarkable for the deli-
cious and delectable flavor of the fruit. Of the wine product I had
hoped to have been able to speak advisedly, but failed in getting reli-
able information.
The vineyard of Mr. Van Hees is but seven years old, and con-
BTATB HOBTIOOLTURAL 800IETT. 6S
tains 4,000 vines, it is situated on the side of an augitic bill, fully 700
feet above the gulf, with a very thin and poor soil. In a letter he
says : ^Tbe yield per acre on my farm is not very large, bat cannot
be a criterion of as to what it could be under other circumstances
(proper attention.) The wine of the Oatawba is of a very fine quality.
The Oatawba does well. The Diana and Rebecca are also hardy vines,
and do well on my place. The Delaware is a splendid bearer. The
Ooncord is very hardy and has a beautiful growth. The berry id^large,
of a fine flavor, it is also an excellent bearer, and in every respect I
consider it the most profitable and the best suited to our soil. 1 have
never seen a rotten berry on the Delaware. I have no doubt it makes
a fine quality of wine. Last years' wine (1868) was not of good qual-
ity, the vines having suffered so much from the ^^custs,'' the grapes
did not ripen well. This year (1869) wine will be fine when made, it
is still fermenting. I shall be happy to send you samples of it as soon
as practicable."
Under circumstances that completely demoralized both of the
small vineyards cited above, this much appears to be made, particu-
larly by Mr. Van Hees : any graded or quality of wine can be produced
on his or other analagous soils, with greater exemption from disease
than elsewhere in Missouri.
There are many localities in view at present, and hundreds are
to be found, vastly preferable to the two brought to notice. With
but limited time and space, I find myself quite unable to do this
subject justice. Materials, un wrought, must bide their time. Par-
ticularly with regard to such as require width of space, as ^^ Spectral
Analysis, as a means of detecting certain properties, that may have a
bearing in giving grapes and other fruits special qualities.
Also, ^ the sources of heat in chrystaline rocks, and soils derived
from such sources."
If in this, I succeed in turning attention to the claims of this part
of our State, upon the careful investigation and patient vigneron, I
•hall be repaid most amply.
President Peabody here called the President elect. Dr. Glaggett,
to preside over the deliberations of the society, thanking the same
for their kindness to him during the past two years, during which he
had been President and expressing an earnest hope in the progress and
welfare of the society.
Dr. Claggett, on assuming the chair, said :
Gentlemen of the Missouri State Horticultural Society :
Before entering upon the discharge of the responsible duties you
have devolved upon me, allow me to tender you my sincere thanks
fo^ the honor you have been pleased to confer upon me.
This honor, gentlemen is the more gratifying because it was un-
expected, and especially from the spontaneous and almost unanimous
voice by which it has been confirmed.
\
M HI8S0UBI AGRIOULTUBB.
For the interests of horticaltare I could have wished you had
committed the important duties of this office to other hands. Bat
the unanimity with which you have called me to this responsible as
well as honorable position is the best assurance that my lack of abil-
ity will be supplied by your able support and cordial co-operation in
carrying forward the objects of this organization.
Confiding, therefore, in your strength and support, I accept the
situation with less diffidence on account of my own weakness.
Esteeming the honor, I shall endeavor to appreciate the responsi-
bility, and bring to the discharge of the duties assigned me my best
exertions, trusting that my short-coming will receive your generous
forbearance.
Allow me, in conclusion, to say that, in all our deliberations^
however we may differ in our opinions in the twilight of our progress,
as we advance in the sunlight of truth, we may show by our mutual
forbearance and courtesy a unity of purpose, to the advancement of
horticulture, the elevation, adornment and happiness of our race that
we manifest to all who come within our circle, ^^how beautiful and
how pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity ; it
is like the oil that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard,
which ran down the skirts of his garments; as the dew of Hermon
that descended upon the mountains of Zion ; for there the Lord com-
manded the blessing, even life forevermore." To achieve this we will
now proceed to our work.
A paper was then read by Mr. Geo. Husmann :
VARIETIES OF GRAPES IN MISSOURI, DURING 1869.
You have requested me to give you my experience and observa-
tions of the last summer, and I will try and do so in as concise a form
as possible.
I need not tell you that the last season, with its superabundance
of rain, was one of the most trying ones to the grape grower as well
as to the varieties he cultivated. But such seasons have their advan-
tages as well as their disadvantages ; they are the stern teachers of
the observing vintner; they will show him better and more clearly
what locations are preferable, what varieties can be depended upon,
than ten summers of continued fair weather, and he knows that the
varieties which have withstood such trials must have constitutiona
like the oaks of our forests, and he can trust to them in future. They
also show him that the grape, if judiciously selected and properly
managed is a more reliable crop than any other we grow, for they
naturally lead him to the conclusion that if a fair crop can be made
in a season like this, he can depend upon it always. They are the
unrelenting task masters of the negligent, as they clearly demon-
strate the necessity of taking advantage of every hour, which can be
snatched between showers, to perform the necessary work, and show
plainly that a lazy man cannot choose a profession less adapted to his
8TATB HORTICULTUBAL SOOIBTT. 65
natural propensities. Therefore, let tis thank Him who sendeth
them, for the storm as well as for the sunshine, for all bring their
blessings and their encouragements if we will but receive them in
the ri^ht spirit and profit by their lessons.
Concord has rotted considerably, we think on an average about
cme-thifd of the crop. As our crops at Bluffton are nearly gathered,
we can form an estimate of the average yield per acre, and find ii
about 4,000 lbs. Most of this was, however, on vines in their third
summer, and not by any means a full crop. It has rotted least with
long pruning on spurs or laterals, and on that kind of river bottom
soil commonly called '^ gumbo," a tenacious black soil underlaid by
sand, where the Norton's do not succeed well.
Clinton has suffered much from the gall-fiy, and is almost devoid
of leaves; the frnit ripens unequally in consequence. Very little
rot on sandy soil but presents rather a sorry appearance.
Cunningham looks well in fruit and foliage, and we are satisfied
of its value here.
Catawba has rotted and mildewed badly here and at Hermann;
probably three-fourths of the crop, and the remainder ripen very un-
evenly.
Cynthiana, perfectly healthy, as usual, and shows a full crop of
well-ripened fruit.
Delaware, the foliage mildewed badly, and the leaves dropped
early in the season, consequently the fruit did not ripen well. Free
from rot, and yielded with us at the rate of four thousand pounds to
the acre.
Goethe, this has stood the season remarkably well, with sound
foliage and little rot in fruit. We are glad to have our early predic-
tions of its value for the West so fully verified by all who have tried
it We expect to see it take the place of the Catawba, of which it
possesses all the good qualities for wine and the table without its
diseases, and we can now fearlessly recommend it for general cul-
ture.
Hartford Prolific produced very well, and rotted but little.
Herbemont lost some of its fruit by a kind of blight or dry rot,
but still has an abundant crop, with healthy foliage.
Ives is not an early bearer, consequently had not much fruit the
third summer. Seems to be healthy and vigorous ; no rot, or very
little.
Maxatawney is also not an early bearer, but the little fruit it had
was healthy, also the foliage ; and at Hermann it produced well on
older vines. We think it can be safely recommended.
Martha rotted much less than Concord ; is reliable and uniformly
productive.
Norton's Virginia, no rot worth mentioning; some mildew on
foliage ; has an enormous crop here, the largest we ever saw, and
seems to be particularly at home on the sandy lands of our river bot-
66 MISSOURI AGBIOULTUEK.
torn, where the fruit is larger, finer and more abundant than we over
thought it possible to be. It has again proven that it is one of the
most reliable grapes we have.
Rulander has a fair crop of fruit, sound in foliage, and can also
be relied upon. What the fruit may lack in quantity, it will make
up in quality for wine. Should be planted on Southern exposures.
Taylor, we hear good reports of it from Hermann ; and what few
Tines we have here on the hills did moderately well ; in the bottom
it dropped its leaves badly, foliage blighted and very little fruit. It
has rotted some everywhere, we believe, and altogether the summing
up does not seem to be very favorable.
Telegraph, this has stood the summer remarkably well, with
clean, vigorous foliage and healthy growth, and but very little if any
rot of fruit. It seems not to bear very young, but after the third
year may be relied on for a full crop, and its fruit is certainly the
best of all the very early varieties, and will make a very good wine
we think.
Autuchon (Arnold's No. 5), some mildew on foliage ; has made a
fair growth the first season.
Adirondac, slow grower and poor bearer ; hardly worthy of fur-
ther trial.
Agawam (Rogers' 15), mildewed and rotted badly ; has always
been subject to disease as long as we have had it.
Allen's Hybrid, only an amateur's grape. Fine quality, but ten-
der and subject to disease.
Anna, unworthy of culture here. Poor grower ; subject to rot and
mildew.
Alvey, has mildewed baldly in the river bottom, where it did
well last year. The grape is so good that we shall give it further
trial, and yet hope to succeed in finding the proper locality and soU.
Brant ( Amold^s No. 8) ; fair growth ; some mildew on leaf.
Barry (Rogers' 43), rotted and mildewed badly here.
Black Hawk, healthy in foliage. We have not fruited it here,
but have good hopes of it.
Blood's Black, tolerably healthy, productive, and very early. For
an early iharket grape, it is very desirable, though not very good in
quality.
Berks, or Lehigh, suffered from the same diseases as the Catawba,
but is of better quality. We will test it further.
Oassady dropped its leaves on southern exposures, but did well
on eastern and northern slopes. No rot but some mildew on foliage.
Olara, only an amateur's grape, but better than Allen's Hybrid,
and more healthy. One of the best in quality, but too tender for gen-
eral culture.
Canada (Arnold's 16), very good grower, and tolerably healthy.
Oreveling— Has done well on southern exposure, but behaved
BTATB HORTICULTURAL 800ISTT. 67
badly in the bottom and on eastern and northern slopes. We cannot
MB yet, form a conclusive opinion of its merits.
Cornucopia (Arnold's No. 2) — Strong grower, and healthy.
Diana — Mildewed and rotted like its parent, the Catawba.
Devereux — Mildewed considerably, though we are loth to give
it up, on account of its superior quality.
Golden Clinton — Besembles Taylor closely in fruit, but seems to
set better foliage like Clinton. Subject to the gall fly.
^ Hermann — Healthy, vigorous and productive again. We think
it can be safely recommended as a wine grape for this latitude and
further South.
Hettie — Much like Isabella, but at least not better than it. Un-
worthy of culture here.
Huntington — Set an abundance of fruit, but rotted and mildewed
badly. We think it decidedly a poor stick.
lona — Suffered from mildew and rot, but not quite as bad as the
Catawba. Is very unreliable here.
Israella — A very poor bearer, and suffered a good deal from rot
and mildew.
Louisiana — Sound in foliage and fruit here, but mildewed some-
what at our former vineyards, at Hermann. Bore splendidly at Mr.
Munch's vineyards in Warren county, Missouri. Should be exten-
sively tried, as it will make a splendid white wine.
Lenoir — Poor bearer, as usual.
Lindley (Roger's No. 9)— Suffered from mildew and rot, more
than we have ever seen before, but ripened its wood well, aud will
behave better, we trust, next season, as it has always been healthy be-
fore.
Marion — Mildewed and rotted badly.
Mary Ann — Healthy and productive, as usual. Valuable • as an
early market grape, as it ripens before the Hartford.
Massasoit (Rogers' 3) — Rotted and mildewed some here, on new
rich soil. In our former vineyards at Hermann, it did well, was
healthy, and is of excellent quality. It will, no doubt, make a very
fine wine, and as it ripens with the Delaware is a much larger berry,
very productive, and of very fine quality; it woqld also be an attrac-
tive market fruit. Should be generally tried.
Merrimack (Rogers' 19) — Vigorous grower, but showed rot and
mildew. It is a very handsome grape and of fine quality, but we
think Wilder (Rogers' 4), which is of the same size and color, and of
even better quality, preferable to it.
Miles — Has no fruit on yet, although the vines were very strong
and in their third year. General characteristics of the vine much
like Ives ; foliage healthy.
North Carolina Seedling— Some rot, but a very large crop in our
former vineyard at Hermann. It can be depended on, with long
pruning to tame down its excessive growth.
1
<I8 mSSOUBI AGRIGULTUBB.
Othello (Arnold's Hylbrid No. 1) — ^Vigorons grower in this, its
first 3*ear. Some mildew on foliage, but it seems to have ripened its
wood well.
Perkins — Always reliable ; a very early grape, productive, and a
good market fruit. Most too foxy to suit our taste, but very sweet
Pauline — ^Tbis seems to be a failure here, however, fine it maybe
at the South. Mildewed and rotted badly.
Paxion — ^The only vine we have of it made a wonderful growth
its first season ; foliage much like Hartford, healthy.
Rebecca — Badly defoliated, and, we think, belongs to the varie-
ties that ^^have been."
Rentz — Foliage healthy, vigorous grower, but has not yet fruited
with us.
Salem — Did not bear here as yet. At Hermann it rotted and mil*
dewed, and we hardly think it reliable enough in our climate, though
of very fine quality.
To-Ealon — So much subject to disease that it is not worth culti*
vating here.
Union Village — ^Rotted badly, and is in every respect inferior to
Wilder, which is equal to it in size of bunch and berry.
Wilmington — Proved to be a Oatawba. Whether there is a dis-
tinct variety of that name, we do not know. We have tried it twice,
(rom different parties, and found it Oatawba both times.
Walter — We are sorry to say that this variety has utterly failed to
warrant its eastern reputation here, the first season of its trial. We
were induced to plant liberally of it in the experimental vineyard
here, as we were convinced that the originator, Mr. Oay wood, was fully
satisfied of its merits there, and sold us the vines with the express
condition that they were not to cost anything if they did not grow
entirely healthy and reliable. The plants arrived in good condition,
and were planted carefully, on an excellent piece of ground, well
prepared. They started finely, but lost their leaves after the first spell
of wet weather, and we fear the most of them will not survive the
winter. It is only another illustration of what we have asserted long
ago, ^'that there is n(^ grape, as yet, nor do we think there ever will
be one, which can be relied upon in all parts of this country ."'
' Weehawken— This, strange to say, although it shows its foreign
<Migin in every leaf, branch and tendril, has stood the summer re-
markably well, with foliage remarkably healthy. We are anxiously
waiting its further development. Our vine is only one year old.
Wilder (Rogers' No. 4)— Fine in every respect ; fruit ripened well,
with little rot, although it lost some of its leaves. This promises to
be our most valuable market grape, and does honor to the venerable
pomologist whose name it bears.
Rogers' Hybrids yet unnamed — No. 2 has suffered from rot at
Hermann. No. 5 has not borne yet, but has healthy foliage. No. 8
was healthy again, and promises to be valuable. No. 12 has rotted
8TATX HORTICULTUBAL 80CIETT. 69
snd mildewed considerably. Other nambers are too yonng yet with
us to say much about them.
When we sum up this experience, we find among the varieties
which can be depended upon, of black grapes for red wine, the Gyn*
thiana, Norton, Ives, Telegraph, and Concord ; of white or light col-
ored grapes for white wine, the Goethe, Martha, and perhaps Maxa-
tawney ; these, I think, may now be recommended with safety for
general culture.
But the general want now seems to be a grape for white wine to
take the place of the Catawba, which seems to have been a genera}
failure~-a variety which will produce a wine equal to or better than
Catawba, without its diseases; uniformly productive, and which can
therefore be produced and sold at low rates. Have we found such a
grape? I think I can safely answer yes to this question, and I think
I need only go back on old records to prove that I do not form con-
clusions hastily, or on evidence too flimsy to be relied upon. I refer
those of our old members to the first meeting of this Society, then
called the Missouri Pomological Society, at Jefferson City, and to
every meeting held since ; I will remind them of my predictions that
the Catawba was too unreliable, and must^ therefore, be discarded.
My opinion was scoffed and laughed at then^ what do they say now!
That opinion was not formed hastily, but founded upon experience
and observation, and I am not in the habit of recommending any
YBiietj (or general cultivation unless it haci been tested and fruited
at least four or five years. I happen to have with me the first de-
scription of the Goethe, Martha and Maxatawney, which I noted down
in 1863, while on a visit to my friend Miller, and after reading it, I
will leave you decide how they have fulfilled the expectations I then
entertained of them. I have fruited them since 1865 in this State^
found them always reliable, have made wine of them repeatedly, and
now have no hesitation to recommend them for general culture in
this State. I would refer again to the reports on grapes from all sec*
tions, as contained in last three numbers of the Grape Culturistj and
which will show clearly how they stand elsewhere.
The past season, though in many respects disastrous to the grape-
grower, has also not been without its benefits, and its lessons will be
of lasting influence. Such summers teach us, better than anything
else, what varieties we can rely upon, and which we should plant, to
count upon a sure crop every year. It has also convinced us again,
that with the large list of grapes at our command, and a judicious
selection, there need be no total failure, and consequently that the
grape crop now is a surer one than that of any other horticultural
or agricultural product, where the soil and climate is at all favorable.
The last season had also given me some lessons in pruning, but
these may more properly eome in at the general discussion on that
subject.
£. A. Biehl, Alton : Fonnd the fruit of Sogers' No. 19 retained its
TO MISSOURI AaHIGULTaRS.
flavor well and kept long. Wilder and Goethe will do well ; not hav*
ing a proper cellar for keeping them, they shriveled. I have seen
California irnit much shriveled when it came here, and dipping it in
hot water and honey they came out again.
Dr. Hull : Simply dipping in hot water will do well.
H. M. Vories : Is Ives later than the Concord f
Dr. Spalding : Ives colors earlier, but is later in getting ripe.
Mr. Husmann : The Ives has been perhaps undervalued by some^
and myself among the number, from the specimens seen from Cincin-
nati. My own this season pleased me much better, and I think this is
generally the case. As a wine, it will take place between the Con-
cord and Norton. Higher than Concord ; not so high as Norton. As
to its bearing, there is no doubt about it« It does not bear so young.
Dr. Spalding : Cincinnati is about 200 miles north of us, not in
fact, but in " thermal lines." It is a very different climate from this,
and there is a difference in the wine produced. So it is wit'h varieties.
I am glad to hear Mr. Husmann on the Ives. He has just placed it
correctly.
The Secretary then read a volunteer essay, by Dr. J. Stayman,
Leavenworth, Kansas, on
BOIL AND SITUATION FOB ORAPES.
In successful vineyard culture, much depends upon the soil, loca-
tion and climate, as may be seen in the quality of wine from different
districts and vineyards; but in garden culture we have but little
choice to make, for we have to plant vines where our gardens are, or
do without them. Although there is a difference in soil, location and
climate, yet the grape is adapted to a wider range of country than
any other fruit.
We have found it growing wild and bearing profusely on the river
bottoms overflown by the high spring and summer freshets ; in the
ravines and clefts of the rocks, on the gentle slopes, on the hills and
mountain ranges variously exposed ; in a humid and arid atmosphere;
in the forests, climbing the highest trees, and in the groves and thick-
ets, running over the brambles and bushes, and on the border of the
open prairie, without any support except the tall grass.
What other fruit can we find 'growing wild so luxuriantly over
such a vast range of country and diversified soil and climate as from
Maine to California, and from Canada to the Qulf of Mexico ? Indeed,
it may be said if any fruit is adapted to general cultivation, it is the
grape, seeing its extensive natural range.
Although the grape is adapted to a diversified soil and climate,
there is much difference found in the quality of the fruit, depending
upon local conditions, therefore we should select the most favorable
situations we have. Any soil that will grow wheat will grow grapes,
within the range of sufGlcient heat; but it should, however, be remem-
bered that all locations are not equally adapted to the same varieties,
for it requires a certain length of season to mature each variety.
8TATB HORTICULTURAL SOOIBTT. 71
•
I^or garden cnltnre, plant on dry, well-drained soil, if yon have
8ttch, if not, it will pay to drain it. If flat, elevate the ground about
one foot high and four feet wide, and plant on the elevation, reelect
an open exposure towards the east, south or west, if you have such,
but if other conditions are favorable, any exposure will produce
grapes abundantly.
While we admit garden culture successful in almost any soil or
location, it is very different in vineyard culture, either for market or
wine ; for, if we do not seleet a good location, we catinot expect to
compete with those who do, either in fruit or wine.
A location that will produce good wine may produce good mar-
ket fruit, but it does not always follow that a location for market wiU
also be equally good for wine, for early maturity. Large size and
beauty are more important for market than late maturity and fine
quality.
In selecting a situation for market, it is necessary' that we are in
proximity to a good and permanent market; at such points we have
not always good locations, but where there is railroad or water facil-
ities for transportation, fifty or even a hundred miles distant, with a
superior location, would be preferable to a nearer market with a me-
dium location.
In planting, particularly for market, we should aim to have a
warm situation, that our fruit will mature early, evenly and perfectly,
for the earliest good fruit commands the highest price ; therefore, a
few days in advance will very much enhance the value of our crop.
This being a natural advantage will soon pay for the best location,
and be a permanent value thereafter.
We should also guard against sudden and excessive changes of
temperature, as they subject us to early and late frosts, wl^ich may
very much injure our crops.
By locating in proximity to large bodies of water, we obviate ex-
cessive changes, and are not subject to early or late frosts, therefore
our crop is more certain, but if it does not mature so early, is conse-
quently not so valuable for market. But if we select high elevations
with east, south or west exposures, in proximity to deep ravines and
wide valleys, we both hasten the maturity of our fruit and guard
against excessive variations of temperature.
That there are natural advantages in locations may be seen in the
early maturity and superior quality of the same variety of fruit at
different places.
It is a well established fact that southern slopes of high hills or
elevated benches, with a light soil, well drained and clay subsoil,
whether the surface is composed of humus, sandy loam or calcareous
earth, are the best locations, and if the soil is rich enough to produce
good wheat, it is sufSciently rich for grapes, and that lime, mar).
72 * lOSSOURI AQBICULTURB.
ashes, bone dust and leaf mould are good fertilizers when the land is
not rich enough. But very few locations in the West require such
applications, and a very large proportion would be materially injured
thereby, particularly in Kansas and Missouri.
It may be expected by some that we point out the best situations
to produce a good vine, but this subject embraces so many important
considerations that we do not feel able to do the subject justice in a
short essay like this.
It should be remembered, to make wine successfully and profita-
bly, we should be able to compete not only with our own neighbor-
hood, but also with the best wine districts of this country, as well as
Europe.
It may, however, be observed that it requires a specific amount
of heat to elaborate and develop a due proportion of sugar in the
grape, and that whatever tends to the thorough ripening of our fruit
will add to the strength, quality and aroma of our wine. That the
best condition are warm soils, sunny hill sides, in a temperate cli*
mate, within the z!>ne of sufBcient heat and sufficient moisture, par-
ticularly from seeding time to the maturity of the grape, and one of
more importance than the early maturity of our fruit or proximity to
market
It may not be generally understood that the grape requires a
mean temperature of fifty-two degrees before it foliates, and a defin-
ite amount of heat from thence to maturity; that all the variation in
ripening depends upon location and moisture, or in other words, the
difference in ripening of the same variety depends upon the amount
of heat, light and moisture the grape receives ; and that the richness
and quality of the fruit depends upon the concentrated heat and di-
minished moisture from the commencement of seeding to maturity.
That the Concord grape requires from foliation to maturity about
90.00 degrees of heat.
To illustrate these facts, we will give examples of observations
made in different seasons and locations. ^
We have the Concord grape growing on different elevations— one
about two hundred feet above the other, on a bluff, On the high ele-
vation, the Concord has ripened from eight to ten days earlier than
below.
To ascertain the cause of this difference, we kept a thermometer
and observed the difference in the temperature of the two points,
and found a daily mean of three degrees, and at sunrise six degrees
higher temperature on the bluffs than below. We herewith annex a
table of five years observations, in which a careful examination will
show a great uniformity in the amount of heat required in ripening
the Concord grape at Leavenworth, Kansas :
8TATK. B^imCCSSnBAL •OCUITX*
#
rBOK roLiATtoa to x ATURirr.
FROM SBXOnrO TO XATUBITZ.
Taat.
ir
ii
a
B
c
1
r
t
s;
g-
•
fi5
0
B
r
o
•
if
if
0
o
e
1
•
B-i*
: o
u
: ?
!
S
o
1
•
1 WW«««4«« Aio««
I860
67.9
67.2
67.1
68;0
07.5
71.0
70.5
days.
188
188
184
188
144
127
182
•
beat
90.70
98.19
90.44
90.72
97.84
90.70
98.55
days.
45
40
45
45
45
48
48
degreei.
75.2
74.7
76.7
77.8
77.2
80.8
80.2
beat
84.59
84.76
84.53
84.96
84.74
84.52
34.48
Ani^et.
15
20
17
15
25
8
15
Bain.
21.00
28.88
1867
20.84
1868
18.41
1809
81.62
On «• bluff.
1868
15.91
•
1869
81.02
From the above table it will be seen that in seasons of the great-
est rain, it required a greater amount of heat to mature the grape..
Had the rain and sunshine been the same, we have but little doubt
the results would have been very nearly alike.
If we examine the temperature from seeding to the maturity of
the grape, we find considerable difference, but little in the amount of
heat, because at that period there was but little difference in the
rain fall and sunshine.
But the most marked difference was in the quality and perfectioi>
of the grape, and the strength and aroma of the wine, corresponding
exactly with the high temperature of the record at that period.
Many more facts and figures might be given, but time and space-
will not permit.
H. M. Vpries had noticed this point of elevation, and found dif-
ferences extending to twelve days in favor of high positions.
J. J. Squares had made the same observations on the Joachim»
river. In the case of Mr. Christian's place, it was seven to ten days ;
in the case of Mr. Herrald it was six weeks, but Mr. Herrald sold for
market; he (Mr. Squires) kept to make wine.
Mr. Vories : This is most important, it sometimes has made a dif-
ference of ten to twenty-two cents in the value of the pound of
fruit. .
Mr. Peabody introduced delegates from the Indiana, Illinois and
Kansas Horticultural Societies. The delegates being invited to the
platform,
Mr. Lines, of Kansas, spoke cheeringly of the horticultural pros-
pects in his State. He had been in that State fourteen years, and be
♦6h R
74 MUMUBi ABMummmt.
had devoted his time partially to hortienlture, and he had lived to see
the fact settled that Kansas was an excellent fruit growing country^
He hoped to see the time when apples would be as plenty as pota>
toes, and advocated a fruit diet He thought we should advance to
that primitive condition when fruit in the Garden of Eden was the
only source of food. He believed the elements in man's nature which
tended toward growing fruit and flowers was one which would not
die when the nuin died, but would be a source of enjoyment in the
life beyond the grave — be a sort of pleasurable occupation. Hit
theory was that of Dicks in his ^^ Essay on the Immortality of the
Soul"
Dr. Spalding : There are a few points brought forward by the
essay read that have not been responded to. In regard to the point
made by Mr. Tories as to elevation. Perhaps as much is due to the
character of the soil as to the mere elevation. It is more than pos-
sible that the same points hold in regard to the Iron Mountain dim
tricts referred to. It may be quite as much on account of the soil
and subsoil as to any other circumstance.
Mr. Husmann : The question of early Tipening may be attributed
to many causes. Cultivation, soil, elevation, reflection, protection,
pruning, all exert an influence. If in pruning you load the vine too
much it will take a long time to ripen the fruit
The President urged the importance of observing these facts in
regard to the ripening of the fruit
W. Sigerson: The influence of the quality of the soil on the
ripening of fruit and grain is well understood. A bare knoll in a
wheat field wil) ripen the wheat some days earlier than in the richer
soil.
Mr. Day inquired as to the productiveness of the Delaware aa
compared with the Ooncord.
Mr. Oolman : You can raise five of Concord for one of Delaware.
Isidor Bush : I think the Delaware a very productive variety.
It will, perhaps, bear as much to the acre as the Concord. But il
does not ripen its fruit well, because of its foliage.
Mr. Colman : I think it will be found that Mr. E. B. Mason growa
not only from three to five pounds of Concord to one of Delaware,
but ten or twenty pounds to one.
Will it pay te raise Delaware for market here at all !
J. J. Eelley : It can be planted so much closer that it becomes
quite productive by the acre, but the difficulty is its maturing the
fruit
Mr. Husmann : Where the Delaware finds congenial soil and
other conditions— but these spots are few and far between— it is more
productive than the Concord. It is productive to a fault We have
had it produce at the rate of four thousand pounds to the acre ; Nor-
ton, four thousand pounds ; Concord, four thousand pounds. It is not
that it is deficient in pounds of firuit that it is not a profitable variety.
STATS SOmnOULTUftAL SOCnBTT. TS
The Agricnltaral College resolations were then bronght up, and
mfter some discussion were referred to a special <3ommittee, consisting
of Mr. Tice, Dr. Morse, and Mr. Mnrtfeldt, with instruction to report
in the evening.
AFTEBN005 SESSIOK.
The special order being called, Mr. Wm. Porter, of St Louis, read
the following paper on
"hokticultukk fob woMur:"
What shall be done with and for the women! Ibera is scarcely
apaper or journal in the land that does not derote more or less space
to this question. A foreigner might well conclude that the women of
this land had become a burden upon the body politic not much
longer to be endured.
Various expedients are proposed for placing woman in a more
independent position — ^giving her more and better facilities for self-
support Some would put her into the store or the counting-room.
The school-rooms are already largely under her supervision, and very
properly so ; and many women occupy clerkships of various kinds.
But still the cry is for a larger sphere of labor and influence. Some
propose a remedy for all the disadvantages to which women are ex-
posed by giving them the right of suffrage, thinking, no doubt, that'
by the aid of this they will work themselves into a more appropriate
and independent position.
I come here to-day not to discuss or express an opinion upon any
of th^se methods, but to suggest that the truest remedy for all the
disabUities of which woman has so much reason to complain is that
she return to her original status.
When God created man he placed him in a garden to *^ dress it
and*tQ keep it," and eigoy the fruits thereof. He was not burdened
with care and toil, and yet he was lonely and longed for some one to
share his labor and his pleasure ; and so, we are told, God made
woman to be a helpmeet for him— i. e., a companion adapted to his
nature and condition. She was not to be a companion in consuming
the products of the garden merely, but a help in producing them— a
help in cultivating the garden.
Thus it appears that they were natural helpers, mutual counsel*
lors, and mutual participators of the fruits of their labor. These rela*
tions between man and woman were divinely appointed, and, there-
fore, conducive to the highest happiness of both.
But these relations have been, and to-day are, extensively disre-
garded, and the result is in every way disastrous. Let the original
•
n 1II08OUBI AflUOUHIIW.
Ofder be restored and the world will again exhibit 8ome(biQr of
its primitive purity and happiness.
The great object to be gained is to bring woman into a more
hearty sympathy and a more full companionship with man in his toiU
as well as in his recreations.
Ilorticalture opens a most appropriate field in which to realize
such a result.
Under the name of horticulture I mean to embrace all that per-
tains to the raising of fruit and vegetables, as well as floricnlture and
landscape gardening.
. It may be observed that when the original pair were placed in
the garden, the man, who was the stronger of the two, was to perform
the severer labor — ^block out the work as it were — whilst the woman
with her more delicate and skillful hands could give the finishing
strokes, adding such adornments as her keener perception and more
refined taste should dictate, and such as would give beauty and com-
pleteness to the whole.
Such, industrially, was the position of woman at her creation,
and in this arrangement there was an obvious fitness growing ont of
the nature of the case. It is affirmed by those who have the best
right to be heard on the subject, that there is a constitutional differ-
ence between the intellectual and aesthetic endowments of men and
those of women, and that these are supplemental, the one to the
other, so that in many of the affairs of life completeness is attained
only by combining the two.
In speaking now of horticulture for woman, I remark that it is
peculiarly adapted to her capacity. The larger part of the work is of
a kind requiring only a moderate degree of strength, but a large
stock of perseverance. Woman has not the muscular power of man,
but we all know that ^ithin the liihit of her strength she has a power
of endurance equaled oply by her patience and perseverance. These,
added to a love for the occupation, are just the qualities needed in
the successful horticulturist.
We may single out any variety of fruit, or we may class them
all together, and show that woman has the strength, the skill, and
every needed qualification to cultivate them successfully. In Ihe
whole process, from the planting of the seed or the cuttings, till the
fruit is ready for the table, or for market, the strong and vigorous
Hrm of man will seldom be called into requisition.
. And then the labor of drying, canniAg, or even making wine, can
nearly all be performed as well by woman as by man, and, moreover,
women, by a little practice, may comprehend as fully and become as
skillful in conducting this whole process of fruit raising as men.
So of the vegetable garden. After the ground is prepared for
the seed, strength is not bo much required to carry on the work as
cooetant care and good judgment, and the whole process, both of
BTATl HOEnOULTURAL SOCOBTT. 77
labw and management, is entirely within the sphere of Woman's
capacity.
It is an interesting fact, in this connection, that in some parts of
oar country the kitchen garden is almost entirely cnltivated by the
good honsewife and her datighters, thereby supplying the family
table with a large amount of healthfiil diet, and ei^oying the satis-
faction of having done something useful — a satisfaction not enjoyed
by all women, or men either.
But it appears to me that horticulture and landscape gardening
presents a particularly appropriate field for woman's labor. In the
successful management of these, just those mental qualities and that
peculiar tact in doing things are required vtrhich are more fully de*
veloped in woman than in man.
In matters of taste and in quickness of perception woman excels.
She may not possess those powers of invention by which she can
devise new forms for the landscape, but she is quick to notice the
beauty or defects of any that are spread out before her. As a florist,
woman may easily excel, both in the general arrangement and super?
vision, and in the blending of colors in the parterre, and I will add,
in the manual labor required, also.
00 into the green house, the propagating house, or the floral
garden, and notice the simple operations there performed by the
brawny arms and clumsy hands of slow-moving men, and say if womai
with her natnral tact in doing tilings, her quickness of motion and
her nimble fingers might not easily become mistress of the situation.
1 hope it will not be long before our florists will have an oppor-
tunity of testing the comparative capacity of men and women as
operatives in their green houses and gardens. A large portion of this
work is within doors or under shelter from storms and the sudden
changes of weather, and all of it is near home, so that at the worst
only a brief exposure to the extremes of weather need occur.
This thought leads me to remark that horticultural labor is emi-
nently healthful.
Setting aside every other consideration, I would, on this account
alone, urge women to engage in horticultural pursuits, both as a re-
creation and as a regular employment.
Many a woman goes to the springs, to the mountains, or perchance
to Europe, in quest of health, when she might find it much more
speedily and effectually by cultivating a few beds of flowers or vege-
tables in her own garden. ^
In nine cases ont of ten those whose health is improved in travel-
ing are benefitted, in spite of the travel, purely by exposure to sun-
light and by exercise in the open air.
The indoor life, and the sedentary habits of American wpn^en
are unnatural and in the highest degree destructive to health. Multi-
tudes of them are dragging out a miserable existence in darkness,
and as near as possible, in air-tight rooms, when by a few honrs mod-
98 MSBaMBl AWfimaUKL
erate exercise daily in the open air they might eigoy robnat health
and become a blessing to all aronnd them.
Herticnltnre famishes both the opportunity and the stimnlos for
this kind of exercise. Numerous cases might be cited of women
whose health was declining, but who turned their attention to the
cultivation of flowers in the open air, merely as a recreation, and un-
expectedly found themselves speedily recovering.
But I have one other point to make, which is that women may
pursue horticulture for a livelihood and as a source of profit
Probably three-fourths of the labor in the floral garden, including
the green house, could be performed as well, and some of it better
by women than by men, and of coarse, the florist could afford to pay
them as much as he pays the men and boys now employed.
Let the florist systematize his work so that while the more la-
borious part of it is allotted to men, the larger but ligjiter portion shall
be given to women if they will avail themselves of and be found com-
peting for it And let those women who are committing suicide by
slow degrees by plying the needle sixteen hours a day, go 'into the
garden and the vineyard, and help to dress and to keep them, as the
mother of the race did, and was most happy therein, till she under-^
took to carry out some plans of her own without first cousulting her
husband.
The purifying, the refining, the elevating and the moral influences
of horticulture, I have not touched, because these are not peculiar to
woman — being the same to men.
Nor have I dwelt upon the cultivation of plants in the parlor, for
this is a mere recreation, and I leave it for more poetic minds to dis-
cuss. I have viewed the subject in a practical light in answer to the
question with which I started.
Mr. Peabody : I have always taken a great interest in this depart-
ment of our labors. We do well to* consider the subject that is now
BO well brought before us by Mr. Porter. There are some practical
questions that should be solved that it may take decmdes of time to
solve, and the employment of female labor is one of them. Horti-
culture opens up an excellent field for them. We know one estim-
able woman in the State of New York who manages a large nursery
business. She walks through the blocks of trees, sees to everything
and conducts the whole business herself. He concluded by calling
for the opinion of Dr. Post on this subject.
Dr. Post was in the act of leaving the room to fill a special en-
gagement, and remarked that he concurred entirely with the views
taken. He reg^ded with great favor everything that will extend
good, healthy, remunerative employment to women.
He found in the art of horticulture a fine opening for female
labor. It would do woman much good in every respect to extend
her labor in this direction.
J. H. Tice thought this subject should be fully discussed. Among
RAB BoumnumuL monar. 79
lloiv«r gtrdens Mid in greeB ttnd ptopagalang houses iroHisii would
And a fitting place. Mrs. Blow related to him how, in the sudden and
seyere fireeae in December, 188Sv and 1st of January, 1864^ that Mrs^
Stansberry, all that cold night, attended her green honses, kept np the*
fires and saved the whole. Her gardener had gone tfway on a visiti-
the very mild weather suddenly changed, she found it becoming cold
Tery rapidly, watched the fiilling thermometer, got up the fires and<
staid with them during that long cold night that destroyed forest
trees, and saved all her plants.
Mr. H. M. Yories agreed with all the former si)eaker8 on this sub*
jeet, insisting that the cultivation of flowers was the peculiar province*
of females. Instead of being shut up in a close room, eating arsenic
to make her skin white, a girl should be out in the garden, getting
God's pure breath and winning health and vigor. Mr. Y. inveighed
against faahion^ which seemed to taboo people who were devoted to
agricultural pursuits.
Mr. Porter spoke of lack of education on agricultural and horti-
cultural matters. Children of both sexes were taught nothing of sub-
jects of snch great importance. The rising generation should be
taught "plant physiology.**
Col. Colman, of the committee on flowers, read the following re-
port:
The committee on flowers and floriculture cannot refrain from
expressing a heartfelt acknowledgment of an ever increasing and
silently working progress in our midst, of a full realization of that
which is beautiful in nature. The trees of Paradise are reported by
ancient tradition as pleasant to look at, and their fruits good to eat
We know, also, that man liveth not by bread alone, but not less by
the gratification of the wants of the mind.
Floriculture, throughout all ages, has stood before mankind with
a beautiful garb of fragrant flowers, asking the modest question, "will
you accept of them, tend to them kindly, and e^joy them properly T
We are happy to state that this fairy gift of nature is being very
fireeiy accepted in our midst Horticulture means not firuits and wines
alone, but its sound conveys also the idea of that which is beautiful,
refining and worthy of the inward soul of man. The reign of th^
stomach is past, we most sincerely hope, and a better day is convte^^.
To illustrate this sanguine hope let us i>oint you to that pleasant^
harvest home gathering of St Louis and Western Horticulture, held i
under the auspices of your Society in September last, in this- city. .
Remember those beautiful groups and masses of the choicest flowers, ,
side by side with tables loaded with the finest products of the orchard
and the vineyard. Without those flowers, and their tasteful eflect,,
what would your exhibition have been, and what would have beeU)
thought of it t Ignore that which is beautiful and refining in horti-
oslture, and your honorable society may as well join hw49 with U^^
so maidinp jmuoioml
kookstoiB, and hold Vbmix earning exhibition in the hall of the Unien
Market. •>
The calling of a profemional florist is a laborious and painstaking
one, followed in onr midst at least, by hardworking, modest men, not
given np to r practice in horticultural speech making. With the
small amount of encouragement tendered heretofore in your proceed-
ings, to this class of working horticulturists, is it to be wondered at
that the sound of the name of the finest flower is seldom heard at
your yearly meetings ? Is it to be wondered at that your annals are
so sadly devoid of any idea of floriculture or ornamental gardening ?
May we hope that flowers and beautiful groilnds may be as lively
debated on this floor ks wines and apples* And as we see the decrease
of the grape, the peach and curculio fever, may we not hope that*
society representing the horticultural intelligence of the city of St.
Leuis and the State of Missouri, will throw out ita influence and au-
thority to encourage the cause of floriculture, and the cause of land-
scape gardening, to help to beautify the thousands of homesteads
rising up daily in our suburbs, along our rivers and throughout our
State.
Floriculture, as a profession or a trade, is making rapid strides in
advance. Every returning spring brings new and increased demand
on the florist, and forces him to enlarge his facilities to supply this
demand. Our florists are constantly increasing their collections,
adding from year to year all the novelties of the day to their lists.
Our markets abound in the spring with a variety and perfection of
flowering plants not excelled by any city of the land. We have, it
is true, no overflowing establishments, and no Yershaffetts and Hen-
dersons in our ranks, but we know also that Rome was not built in a
day. Keeping even pace with the growth of our city and our State,
eur horticultural establishments may some day be large enough.
In n# less promising condition do we find, on the other hand, the
advance and progress in ornamental gardening; in the beautifying of
•grounds surrounding the cottage and the mansion.
it cannot be denied that the art of landscape gardening should be
better understood in the many attempts made in this direction. A
woeful lack of correct and sensible taste is to be seen in ][)ut too many
instances. Professional landscape gardening has often proved an i|p
hill business in our midst. ^
No one engaged in this direction has, to the knowledge of your
committee, or to that of the oldest inhabitant, made a full competency
:for his time and labor, yet we see the indication of a better day before
us. Ideas of taete^ long exploded in Europe and the Eastern States,
will finally, also, be dropped and forgotten by the people and by the
authorities of the city of St Louis.
In conclusion, your committee begs leave to congratulate the Ifis-
Muri Horticultural Society on the great and flattering success of tke
liorticultural exhibition held at the Skating Rink, in September last ;
STAfl UdmOUlAOBAL 0DOIITT. 81
and wish to say to the Florists, indiyidnalty aad ooUectively : Well
done, friends : let ub try again.
M. a KERN,
NORMAN J, OOLMAN,
Committee.
The report of the special committee on select list of ornamental
trees and .shrubs, reported :
TBBES.
Magnolia Acuminata, European Larch (fall transplanting.)
8VXB6FRBBNS.
Large. — Norway Spruce, White Pine, Austrian Pine, Scotch Pine.
Small. — ^Irish Juniper, Siberian, Arbor Vitse, Savin Juniper.
SHRUB&
Pyrus Japonica, Wigelia Rosea, Althasa, Almond (Dbl. flower-
ing), Deutzia (Corenata, fl. pi.), Oalycanthus, Purple fringe, Persian
Lilac, Spirea Billardii, Spirea Prunifolia, Snowball, Deutzia grancilis,
Philadelphus, Mock orange.
O. ROOT, Jr.,
J. M. JORDAN,
CAREW SANDERS.
Committee.
Adopted as a whole.
y BBPORT OF COMMITTEE Olf FLOWERS ON THE TABLE.
Tour committee find on the table, from Messrs. Kern and Michel,
a centrepiece, consisting of a rustic pyramid, forming a handsome
design, of three baskets or vases of dried flowers, grasses and mosses.
The flowers comprising many bright colors of immortelles, some 20
varieties of grass and bright green moss. The whole tastefully and
elegantly arranged.
From J. M. Jordan: A beautiful basket of choice natural hot-
'house flowers, artistically arranged. Flowers consist of a large red
Oiammelia in the centre, surrounded by Dbl. White Chinese Primrose,
Blue Sweet Violets, Heliotropes^ Pansies, Bonvardias, etc., Fern, Ger-
anium leaves and Moss. Very elegant design.
From Oharles Oonnon : Two large plants of the Otaheite or Dwarf
Orange, in full fruit The plants were healthy, bushy, handsomely
grown, with a dozen or more oranges, ripe, half ripe on each ; very
fine plants.
From E. K. Miltenberger : One double white Hyacinth in full
bloom ; a rery handsome plant.
^ Mrs. FRANCIS MINOR,
JOHN HENWOOD,
OAREW SANDERS.
Committee* '
HEFOBS or OOHMimS OM irivi0.
Jfr. President and Gentlemen :
Tour committee appointed to examine samples of wine on exhi-
bition, beg leave to report that they have performed that doty, and
are glad to congratulate yoa upon the general good quality of all the
wines on exhibition. We find upon the table thirty-three samples,
which we have endeavored to grade, as in former years has been the
custom of the society, with, in a few instances, ^ome special remark
as to quality. In accordance with resolutions adopted yesterday, we
grade new wines as such, and not in comparison with older wines. We
also feel safe in saying that not one sample of poor wine has been
placed before us.
We also wish to say that the quality of all these new wines may
change materially before the coming fall, and we are by* no
means sure that a subsequent examination might not give a different
result
No. 1. Catawba of 1869, from Chaa. Pa&ath, of Melrose, Mo.; very
promising, good flavor and aroma ; grade 85.
No. 2. Concord of 1869, from same party ; grade 75.
No. 3. Concord of 1869, from same party ; very fine and best new
Concord on exhibition; grade 85.
No. 4. Concord of 1869, from Cliff Cave Wine Company ; very at-
tringent; grade 75.
No. 5. White Concord of 1868, from same party ; grade 90.
N o. 6. Concord of 1869, from same party ; grade 80.
No. 7. Concord of 1869, from same party ; very good and promis-
ing with age to equal the best ; grade 88.
No. 8. Hartford Prolific of 1869, from same party ; is excellent for
thkt variety of grape.
No. 9. Rentz of 1869, from same party, is a stranger that we
gladly welcome as possessing qualities that please, and if the vine
maintains its present good character, will be a great acquisition. As
compared with a fine article of Concord, we grade at 85, and think that
when made in large quantities it would be dven better.
!fo. 10. Norton of 1869, from same, is very fine, and we grade at 90
as new wine.
No. 11. Catawba of 1867, from J. J. Kelley, is the best of this vari-
ety on exhibition, and we grade at 87.
No. 12. White Concord of 1867, from J. J. Kelley, was considered
the best of all Concord on exhibition, new or old, and we grade at 87,
and would like to meet it often in our daily pilgrimage.
No. 18. Concord of 1868, from J. J. Kelly ; very fine, 85.
No. 14. Concord of 1869, from R Braches, of Gray's Summit ;
graded 75.
No. 16. Delaware and Catawba mixed of 1869, from F. Braches.
We judge to have been left on the husks in fermentation, and tba
quality to be thereby improved ; at any rate, it can hardly be ex-
celled ; grade 90.
No. 16. White Ooncord of 1869, from F. Br aches ; pure jaice, and
similar to No. 5 ; grade 7&
No. 17. Norton of 1869, from F. Braches ; g;rade 85.
No. 18. Norton's of 1869, from F. Braches ; very palatable and
tweeter tlmn most samples of this variety ; grade 80.
No, 19. Concord of 1868, from H. M. Yories, St. Joseph, Missoari ;
grade 70. *
No. 20. Norton's of 1868, from same ; grade 82.
No. 21. Ooncord of 1867, from O. L. Dletsch, Waterloo, Illinois ;
grade 75.
No. 22. Clinton of 1868, from £. R. Mason, Webster, Mo.; very
good. We think will still improve ; grade 80.
No. 23. Norton's of 1868, from same ; is best of the Norton's, and
grade 92.
No. 24. Hartford Prolific of 1868, from Blnfiton Wine Company,
like No. 8, is a very fair wine, but we cannot think it a good invest-
ment to make wine of this variety of grape when we can do so much
better.
No. 25. North Carolina Seedling of 1868, from Blnffton Wine
Company, compared with good Catawba grades at 80; is a very nice
i^hite wine.
No. 26. Clinton of 1868, from Bluffton Wine Co.; grade 77; will
yet be better.
No. 27. Delaware of 1868, from BlufFton Wine Company ; grade
8S; although so good, is not, we think, quite equal to what No. 15
will be.
No. 28. Norton's of 1868, from Bluffton Wine Co.; grade 80 ; was
probably injured by a musty bottle.
No. 29. Catawba of 1868, from Bluffton Wine Co.; lacks in flavor;
grade 77.
No. 30. Catawba of 1868, from J.J. Kelly; grade 82.
No. 31. Concord of 1869, from J. J. Kelly ; grade 81.
No. 32. Concord of 1869, from J. J. Squires ; grade 78.
In closing this report we ask special attention of the wine-growers
to the manufacture of white Concord, which is rapidly growing in
favor, and may yet be the white wine of the country.
^ JOHN M. PEARSON,
S. MILLER,
L. D. MORSE,
E. S. HULL,
Committee,
The Cider Committee submitted the following :
The committee appointed to test the samples of cider on exhibit
tign, respectfully beg leave to report that they have had the same
84 MISSOURI AQRIOULtUBS.
\inder eondderatioii, and in their opinion tiie best sample was exhib-
ited by W. F. Bowen, of Yineland, Mo. ; the second best sample was
exhibited by Mr. Nanson, of Allenton, Mo.
There were several samples of champagne eider on exhibition,
but, as the corks had been started a day or two before, the committee
were nnable to pass an opinion npon theit merits.
The committee beg leave to make favorable notice of a sample of
catsnp manufactured by John J. Squire & Go., of De Soto, Mo. The
committee think it is eqpal to any manufactured anywhere, and rec-
ommend to our citizens the patronage of home manufactures, where
articles of equal quality can be obtained.
NORMAN J. OQLMAN,
% W. Gur,
W. S. JEWETT,
Committee.
VSOBTABLBS.
»
The committee appointed to report a list of vegetables to be
recommended for general cultivation, respectfully submit the follow-
ing:
Asparagus — (Strictly only one variety.)
Beans (Dwarf)— Early Valentine, Six Weeks Yellow, Refugee, or
One Thousand to One.
Beans (Pole) — Large White Lima, Horticultural Cranberry.
Beet^Early flat Bassano, Early Blood Turnip, Long 31ood Red.
Cabbage— Early York, Large York, Premium Flat Dutch, Stone
Mason, Red Dutch.
Cauliflower--Early Paris, Erfurt, Large, Early White.
Carrot — Short Horn, Long Orange, White Belgian.
Celery— White Solid, Red Solid.
Corn — Adams' Early, Early Sugar, StowelPs Evergreen.
Cress — ^Curled.
Cucumber— Early Frame, Early Cluster, Long Oreen.
Egg Plant — Early Long Purple.
Lettuce — ^Early Curled Silesiai Early White Cabbage, Large
Curled India.
Muskmelon — Jenny Lind, Green Citron, Persian, for South.
Watermelon — Mountain Sweet, Mountain Sprout, Black Spanish.
Okra — Long White.
Onion — Silver Skin, Weathersfield, Yellow Danvers.
Parsnip — Hollow Crown.
Peas — Landreth's Extra Early, Tom Thumb, Champion of England,
Blue Imperial.
Potato — ^Early Rose, Ashleaved Kidney, Peachblow.
Sweet Potato— Nansemond, St. Louis Red.
Radish— Long Scarlet Short Top, Scarlet Turnip, Chinese Rose.
0TAn mwatmxwRML Boatn. W
Salsify.
Spinach.
Sqnask— White Bosh Scollop^ Summer Orook Neck Bush ; Boston
Manrow, Hubbard.
Tomatoes — General Oranti Feejee, Lester's Perfected.
Turnip— White Top Strap Leaf; Bed Top Strap Leaf, Skirving's
Biita Baga.
Beoommend for tnal-*-Parple Gape Broccoli, Swiss Ohard, or Sil*
Ter Beet
Giant Wax Bean, American Newington Wonder Bean.
Orimson Cluster Bean.
White Japan Melon, excellent on gravelly or sandy soils.
T. R. ALLEN,
T. W. Qur,
L. D. MOBSE.
The report of the committee was adopted as a whole.
Dr. Spalding : Why omit the Early York potato, which is far su-
perior to the Ashleaved Kidney ? As to Bhubarb, I think the Lin-
neus is superior to the Victoria.
Jdr. Murtfeldt, from Oommittee on Gallizing, reported :
Mr. Prbsidknt : Some years ago, the New York Tribune employed
a Tery sharp reporter to look up ^^myaterioua doings^^ in the great city
of Oetham. This reporter first did the fortune tellers and witches.
After that the nostrum venders were taken to task, and a good many
laughable and readable articles were the result.
Among the many who, in so large a city as New York, attracted
attention, was a noted and learned chemist, or alchemist, if that is a
higher grade, named Lewis Feuchtwanger, who proposed, for a con-
sideration, to instruct people how to put age on wines and brandies.
The writer knew the man well, and, by the way, the present firm, L.
Feuchtwanger & Son, are still doing business in valuable chemicals,
as was evidenced by the fact of their goods (dye-stuffs for cottons and
woolens) being placed on exhibition at Oincinnati during the Textile
Fabric Exposition last summer.
Well, Mr. President, the reporter above referred to did show,
among other things, in a long and labored article, tbat, for the sum of
five dollars, a preparation could be obtained from said chemist that
would add, within twenty-four hours, ten years of age to a cask of
wine. European wines are said to improve by age. The oldest, being
considered the best, brings the most money.
Further, that, for a like sum, a preparation could be had that, in
an equally short space of time, would convert a barrel of rectified
whisky into the best Oogniac brandy, and so through the whole cat-
alogue of liqueurs. But, sir, just what produced such marvelous re-
sults was known to Mr. Feuchtwanger only; that was his secret.
That was a chemical truth he did not propose to dispose o£
8f MlitOUM ACUOOUOIX.
Very much like the efforts of the New York THhune^n thoM of
the Missouri Horticultural Society, in trying to find out to what ex-
tent (if any), and how, gallizing is practiced. We know that the gen-
erally accepted meaning of the term is : adding sugar and water in a
certain ratio to the must or new wine before fermentation ; that is all
we know. There are, according to intimations of oertain gentlemen
engaged in the business, ^^secr^a in the toiais cellar*^ that no commit*
tee need try to fathom. Mr. President, I, ior one, have no dispoeitiim,
eitiber as a committee-man or private individual, to pry into other peo*
pie's affairs.
It has been asserted by certain Englishmen, that if one riionld
buy a barrel of port wine at Oporto, straddle the barrel and ride it into
England through all the custom-houses, it would be found adulterated
by the time it arrived there ; and I am inclined to believe it
Let our native wines, like every other commodity, sell upon their
merits, and let us not try to instruct people in the process^of ^^mta?iiv
thinffs^^^ nor attempt to find out the ^^eecrets of the wine cellar*^
Mr. President, if I may be allowed a suggestion, I hope this so-
ciety will never appoint another committee like the 6ne of which re*
spondent is an humble^ member.
On motion of Mr. Peabody, the ^ gallizing " report was received,
and the committee discharged ^ foTover and ever."
REPORT OK GARDEN PRODUCTS
By A. E. Trabue, chairman, Hannibal, Mo.
Our season the past summer proved uncommonly wet, more ao,
indeed, than some of our oldest inhabitants have ever observed.
Our truckers are generally located in the bottoms, and many of
them were greatly disgusted when they found their days and months
of work swept off by the floods of a single night.
Potatoes — ^The Early Goodrich proves good as an early ^nd late
variety ; more productive than Neshannock or Peach Blow. Early
Rose did first rate wherever tried in this section.
Oabbages — ^Early York and Early Ox Heart are found best for
early, and Flat Dutch for late cabbages. We imported the Champion
Ox direct from England, but it did poorly, and proves unsuitable for
this climate ; has remarkably large leaves, but will not head.
Onions — ^Do first rate, where well cultivated. The Red Globei
Silver Skin, and Missouri Multiplier answer best for late and early.
Melons — Succeed well here ; best on the bottoms.
Squash — ^Boston Marrow, Hubbard, and other kinds tried here
often, but never succeed to any extent; too buggy; even, with the
best attention, failure is the rule.
Peas — Early succeed well. Late sown are liable to mildew, and
often fail.
Beans — Such kinds as Red Valentine, Horticultural Cranbeny,
Butter and Lima beans do well if not put in too early in the spring.
Lettuce— Succeed well when properly cultivated. Okra, do.
8TATI HMMOOUirftJL (KMlRr. 87
Tomatoes— The niden proves inost yalaable here, all tbrngs con-
sidered. The Feejee is larger, but hardly ao prodttctiTe, and not near
as- sweet or as early. Pear shaped is best for preserves. Key's Early,
obtained dkect from Hovey, is a patent right hambag all over«
Celery — Does very well with great attention and high caltiva-
tion. Dwarf proves best Both Bed and White Solid not so good.
The above selecti<ms are baaed on the experience of the past sev-
eral seasons, by the most experienced gardeners of this section.
Adijotened.
THURSDAY EVB^ONG.
The meeting being called to order, Mr. Hnsmann offered the fol-
lowing:
Resolved^ That the reading of all essays or papers sent in by ab-
sent members be dispensed with, and referred to a committee of
three, who shall examine them, and if they think them of sufficient
interest, they shall be published with the proceedings of the Society*
Adopted.
TflS STBAWBER^T
Was, on motion, taken np.
H. M. Vories, St. Joseph : Have been trying the cultivation of
the strawberry. Planted several kinds ; Wilson is the standard vari-
ety. Agriculturist does well. Have had the best results where I
gave a coating of lime in the winter. Soil is very free and too rich.
Samuel Miller, Bluffton: Has tried a number of varieties. Agri-
culturist was a failure. Jucunda poor. Ida is good, fine quality and
flavor, too soft. Downer, fair, finerquality, soft. Peak's Emperor has
done well. Oolfaxis certainly very productive, but that is its only
recommendation. Metcalfs early is worthless. I plant three feet
apart each way and keep clean. Cultivate all during the season, ex-
cept when fruiting. Have got one hundred and fifty bushels to the
acre. A quart to a stool is considered a small yield.
Wm. Day : I had a patch of five roMjp, forty-two stools to the row,
and these forty- two stools produced one bushel to each row. Wilson's
Albany. I market We have to gather before being quite ripe. For
the family I gather eight to twelve hours before using. Has any one
tried the Mexican ?
Mr. Bowen, Vineland, Mo.: Have tried the Golden Queen, think
it equal to Wilson for market, better for table. Green Prolific has
done worse than the Jucunda. Agriculturist does not do welL
Golden Queen ripens about a week before the Wilson.
Dr. Hull : We have all been telling hard stories of the Jucunda.
I paid a visit to Mr. Knox's farm to try to discover the cause of his
success with the Jucunda. With his permission I took up a stool
about thirteen moths old, and found that it would set eight trusses of
88 lofifloTTBi Awiinsu^um.
fruit. Took a Wilson ; it had thirteen ; Longwortib Prolific had ton,
bat this had some runners, I then took up some plants that had the
spring runnerB ; one had two trusses, the other, Wilson's, four, and
Longworth's Prolific five. This is the key to how Mr. Knox has sue*
ceeded with the Jucunda^ and if you will adopt the same course, yoa
will succeed as well.
The plant stores up material, and if this material is expended in
the production of young plants, it cannot produce so much fruit
I planted an acre of strawberries, Longworth and Wilson. I cut
off every runner of part, and left the others, and they varied from tBn
to fifteen times the quantity on the runner plants. The Macavoy is
eue of the best varieties we have, and by this treatment will become
one of the most productive. If we put qpt and cultivate our straw-
berries the way Mr. Miller says, it may cost twenty dollars extra, that
is all, but it makes the returns.
H. M. Yories has planted three feet by fifteen inches.
Dr. Hull: If you plant at too great a distance, the borers may
get into the plants and leave them too thin on the ground.
Samuel Miller : A simple plan to cut off the runners is to have
two thin iron wheels that are just run along and cut off the runners
close to the leaves. You can go over a half acre in a few hours.
PEAKS
Were then, on motion, taken up.
Mr. Furnas, Indiana : We have little er no pear blight We do
not grow many pears. In variety the Bartlett is hardy and healthy,
but comes in with the peaches. Then comes the Flemish Beauty. I
received an account, in a letter, of a tree eight inches thick produc-
ing fifty dollars worth of pears a year for several years.
G. Husmann : I have grown pears some fifteen or sixteen years.
I had a good deal of pear blight for several years. I tried the no
cultivation, no manuring plan for several years; the trees have made
a good growth of wood, well ripened, early in the season, and after a
few years the blight disappeared almost entirely. Would plant upon
high ridges, on poor soil. I suppose this acts like root pruning.
Among varieties Bartlett,'^eckle, White Doyenne, Beurre Bosc,
Napoleon, and a few others do well.
Mr. Miller : This is just about what we want We want to hear
how Dr. Warder and Dr. Hull and Mr. Husmann, and others do, and
how they succeed in doing it.
Dr. Furnas : Dr. Warder's pear orchard has blighted badly. I
went to see Mr. Shaw's garden ; Mr. Qurney, the gardener, was there,
I asked him about root pruning. The trees were eight years Qld.
Two years ago he root^pruned them. In a tree four to five inches
through, he cut off all the roots five feet from it, and there has Ijeen
no blight He says he will do the same again in two years.
Dr. Hull gave along and interesting account of a visit to the Jar-
STATB HORTIOULTUAAL BOOUBTT. 89
dis Des Plantes, in Paris. There under the very careful treatment
of Mr. Capias, the Donahess was raised double and treble the usual
size, and sold easily for five francs a piece, when the same variety
could be bought in the Paris markets at five francs a bushel. He re-
ferred to the fact of trees producing more buds than the trees could
mature, and there was both a waste and an inj ury. Koot pruning
prevents this.
The report on the Committee on Fruits on the Table, was then
read. «
As a general thing we find the fruit in good condition.
From Geo. S. Parks, Parkville, Missouri — ^Fryer's Red, Ben Da-
vis, Yellow Bellflower, Rawle's Janet, Newton Pippin, Oampbellite is
White Winter Pearmain, Limbertwig is Nickigack.
New apples of Mr. Parks — Lawver, beautiful, large, dark red, with
fleshrstained red; think it will prove very fine ; Missouri Superior, is
striped Pearmain.
Ella Park — A seedling, medium size, dark red, rather tart, fine
grained and juicy, a very late, keeper, one specimen fifteen months
picked from the tree.
Park— Identical with the Macafee's Nonsuch. -
Goodyear — Seedling from Ben Davis, medium size, red, glossy
skin, promises well, evidently a long keeper.
From T. R. Allen, AUenton— Rambo, Janeton, Yellow Bell-
flower, Ortley, Swaar, Rome Beauty, Esopus Spitzenberg, Talman's
Sweet, Smith's Cider, Michael H. Pippin, Wagner, generally good,
Baldwin, poor. Wanting names — ^No. 1, Jonathan ; No. 2, Westfield
Seek-no-further; No. 3, Sweet Romanite.
J. Adams-^Seedling, medium, yellewish white flesh, flne grain,
juicy, nearly sWeet, promising.
From Dr. Dyer and others, Vineland, Missouri— -Yellow Bellflower^
Newton Pippin, Willow Twig, Rhode Island Greening, Pryor^s Red,
and Ben Davis' small White Pippin, Northern Spy, Rambo, Winesap,
twenty ounce, very fine.
Dr. Edwards, Jefferson county— Winesap, Rome Beauty, Red Ro-
manite, all very fine.
J. M. Jordan, St. Louis — ^Fall Pippin, Northern Spy, Pryor's Red,
Esopus Spitzenberg, Jonathan, King of Tompkins county. Willow
Twig, Janeton, Wagner, Peck's Pleasant, Ortley, Rhode Island Green-
ing, Pennock, Smith's Cider, Vandervere Pippin, Talman's Sweet,
Harrison, Romanite, Baldwin, Dominie, Ben Davis, Yellow Bell-
flower.
Some samples were in bad condition from .being kept in a ware«
room* Also, Orange Quince, and Chinese Mammoth Quince, remark*
ably large.
From Richard Barron, Franklin county— Janeton, Newton Pip-
pin, Ortley, Baldwin, Long Green, FstUawater, a monstrous specie
men, all in good order.
7*— H B
90 MISSOUBI AOKIOULTUBI.
From W. S. Jewett, Jefferson county — ^Pennock, Janeton, Lady
Apple, White Winter Pearmain.
From Q. P. Wood, Springdale, Iowa — Grimes' Golden Pippin^
small, but a fine specimen.
From A. J. Stewart, Chillicothe, Missouri — Janeton, Winesap,
Esopus Spitzenberg, Swaar, Willow Twig, Newton Pippin, lied Can-
ada, Ben Dayis, Peck's Pleasant, Koman Stem, White Winter Pear-
.main, Jonathan, Macafee's N'onsuch, Winter Sweet.
From 0. B. Lines, Kansas — Northern Spy, Red Winter Pearmain,
*flay?s Winter Wine, Winesap, Janeton, all fine specimens, highly
colored and free from blemish.
FromiH. M. Vories, St. Joseph, Missouri — ^Winesap, Ben Davis,
Broadwell Sweet, Newton Pippin, Janeton, Roxbury Russet, Baldwin,
Swaar, Northern Spy, Yellow Bellflower, Missouri Pippin, Louden
Pippin, Red Canada, all very fine specimens, but little scab or marks
of canker.
From Thomas C. Gay, Pisgah, Cooper county, Missouri — Specimen
for a name, .a. jfin^ looking apple, but rather dry.
• GEO. HUSMANN,
W. B. LIPSEY,
H. T. MUDD,
Rkv. JOHN MONTIETH,
W. F. BOWEN.
A short disciififiion was paid on Macafee's Nonsuch and its nu-
-^merous synonymes. A€(journed. ^
FRIDAY MORNING.
The meeting was opened by prayer by the Rev. Dr. Porteus.
The report of Committee on Horticaltnral Implements, was pre-
aented :
REPORT OF OOMHITTEB ON HORTICULTUBAIi IKPLElOElirTS.
The Committee on Horticultural Implements report that they
•find on exhibition three sizes and modifications of hand lawn ntoweth
by Mr. J'ulius Morisse. Judging from their construction and appar*
•ent adaptation to the purposes designed, the committee believe them
well worthy of the attention of those who desire well-kept lawns.
We also find on exhibition an implement called the New Jersey
cultivator, presented by W. M. Day. This implements consists of a
strong frame, with two distinct forms of tools, which may be alter-
nately changed to suit the particular kind of stirring of the soil de-
rfred, from the improved harrow tooth to the hoe. All of any one set
of the stirring tools, or a single one, or a mixture of both may be
STATB HORTICULTURAL 600ISTT. '!^ ;': 91
readily applied, either to open a narrow drill, or drills at the same
time, or harrow, or hoe the whole surface two feet in width, and may
be adJQsted to run close to small plants without covering them, and
having a rolling wheel in front. The depth may be guaged from one
to five inches. This implement we think worthy the attention of both
the farmer and' horticulturist
H. OLAGGETT,
Chairman Committee.
Mr. H. M. Vories offered the following:
Resolvedi That the next annual meeting be held at St. Joseph.
In doing this he gave the same pledges of support by the Horti*
cultural Society and citizens of St Joseph given before*
Mr. Jordan thought that a movement should be made in the Leg-
islature to obtain two to three thousand dollars for the purpose of
paying the expenses of those committees, etc., that are doing so much
to advance the interests of the State in horticulture, and thus induce
settlement and aid in bearing taxation.
Mr. Muir thought that the question of co-operation on the part of
the several railroad companies would do much toward the success of
the next meeting. The short-sighted policy by the North Missouri
Railroad did much to prevent the usual attendance at the Columbia
meeting.
Mr. Murtfeldt said that the question of loss of time was one of
itself an important consideration with most of the members, but
when traveling expenses and hotel bills were added, it was felt as too
much of a sacrifice for the public good from private individuals.
Some two months ago, in Illinois, he had to travel two miles on foot
at the end of a long journey, to private entertainment, to be told to
go to the hotel.
Dr. Hull thought it was asking too much from any private in-
dividual to work for this Society as its interests demanded. There
should be a properly qualified individual, a State Horticulturist, paid
by the State, to devote his whole time to this work. It would be
proper to go to the Legislature for this purpose.
H. M. Vories thought that there would be no fault found after the
8t Joseph meeting on the subjeet of railway travel or entertain*
iment
After considerable dis<^ussiott, participated in by Col. Park, Mr.
Peabody, and Mr. Eelley, the resolution to meet at St. Joseph was
adopted; the time to bo fixed by the President and Secretary.
OAKVINCI OR PBBSBBVINa 03f FRUITS AND VR0BTABIJC8.
Mr. John J. Squire, of Fruit Dale Vine and Fruit Farm,. De Soto,
Missouri, read the following:
92 MISSOUBI AOBIOULTirBK.
Mt, Preaidsnt^ Members and Friends of the Missouri State Hbrit-
cultural Society :
In appearing before yon by the kind invitation of your Freaidont,
I do so with considerable diffidence, because I feel that, although I
have experimented much and operated very considerably in the pre-
serving of fruits and vegetables, I find much yet to learn — much yet
to discover, to meet all of the difficulties that present themselves «
The secret conditions and mysterious combinations in the domain of
nature, are ever a fruitful field for the scientist, be he geologist,
chemist, botanist or naturalist ; and no matter how deep the research
or how practical the discovery, each research or discovery leads to
further mysteries and difficulties, and as these are developed and un-
derstood, others again present themselves, and so on ad infinitum.
While I present my views in this paper as an expert^ in the hope of
advancing something for the public good, I do not claim to be per-
fect, nor yet to have fully exhausted the subject
For the economy of the farm, the orchard, or the vineyard, it is
not merely a question of how shall we realize the largest amount of
product for the means used, but how shall that product be best ex-
pended, or in what manner can we turn it to a practical results The
wealth of the farm, orchard or vineyard does not consist merely in
large crops, but in realizing the largest equivalent of means from
such crops. Now, such is the nature of the result in the cultivation
of the soil, that the problem of taking care of, and turning into
wealth, is the one of all others to be solved. As our subject is one
that leads to the interest of the orchardist, as the producer, we shall
address ourselves more particularly to that branch of agriculture
first, and second to the housekeeper, as the consumer, viz : ^^ The
Preserving or Canning of Fruits and Vegetables."
The experience of every one engaged in fruit growing, especially
in seasons qf great abundance, will suggest the importance of some
method of taking care of, or preserving for future use or demand
that portion of their surplus crop for which they can find no market
in the immediate season of maturity ; and the housekeeper, as a mat*
ter of economy, will realize the importance of being able to store for
future use from the bounties of the season those fruits which, in
themselves, are from the delicacy of their natures confined to a very
brief season. Nor is the importance of this matter simply centered
in its economy, but in the gratification it affords to the cultivated
taste, and the regaling of the festive board, for it is fast becoming a
just and commeqdable pride with our best housekeepers as to which
can excel in this department.
It may not be out of place here briefly to describe some of the
various methods heretofore used, and their various merits in rela-
tion to success. The great aim in preserving fruits and vegetables is
to retain their natural flavor and condition. In this, until quite re-
cently, most, if not aU, efforts have failed. The universal idea has
8XAT£ HORTICULTURAL BOCDETT. 93
been that sugar or other foreign means are necessary to this end,
while the reverse of this is actually the fact. We do not deny that
fruits are and may be preserved with the use of sugar, etc., but we do
deny that it is necessary. On the other hand, we venture the asser-
tion that, when to preserved, the natural flavor and condition is more
or less impaired or destroyed, and, in the light of economy, it is quite
objectionable.
To preserve fruit, etc., and retain the natural flavor, various
means have been triad, but as yet two only have been successful, and
but one thoroughly practical or convenient for domestic practice.
Aside from the various recipes for preserving fruits, etc., in sugars,
which are more strictly conserves than preserves, we find various at-
tempts to preserve fruits and vegetables by placing them in rooms,
cases or vessels, from which all air is exhausted, and for a short time
it was thought to be a success. In its outline the fruit seemed per-
fect, but, on being used, it was discovered that the flavor was entirely
gone — a mere pulpy substance, having neither taste nor flavor was
the result. Others have placed fruits in cellars or houses so con-
structed as to exclude all circulation of air, and lowering the tem-
perature so as to preclude decay or decomposition, and by placing in
the rooms chemical agents to absorb all moisture, produced by the
escape and condensation of the gases, set free by the fruit so condi-
tioned. This has been more successful, but only practical where
large quantities are needed, involving large capital in the invest-
ment; and even in this, we believe, little or no success has been at-
tained in preserving the more delicate fruits, whose lives, so to speak,
are naturally brief and confined to the season of maturity — for in-
stance, the peach, the strawberry, raspberry, etc., the cuticle or
epidermis of which is so porous and receptive of oxygen from the at-
mosphere. Had there been any success in their preservation, it
could not have extended beyond the preserving room; for as soon as
exposed to a higher temperature, the loss by decay being so rapid,
destroys the profit. The question naturally arises, Wherein lays the
cause of these failures? This we propose to explain as we proceed.
These methods failing (because in the matter of economy and
convenience impracticable), it follows that to be successful other
means must be used. The end to be accomplished necessarily re-
quired chemical science combined with mechanical application ;
chemical, in order to expel those elements or properties producing
or assisting fermentation or decomposition ; mechanical, that when
these elements are expelled, to protect from further contact and
anion. In furtherance of this object, it was found that heating or
cooking ac9omplished the first, and the use of ajar or can the second.
The fruit jar or can is, therefore, a necessary article of commercial
and domestic economy; and these have been produced of every con-
ceivable construction, and of almost every kind of material, all of
which have some merit ; many are good in the hands of experts, but
94 laSSOURI AeBICULTUBX.
most are deficient in the general requirement of domestic nee, in
ease and convenience of operation, and in general excellence as per-
fect fruit preservers.
The tin can, with soldered joint, has perhaps beoB the most sac-
cessfu], and perhaps more extensiveljused than any other, onaecouat
of the durability of the material and its adaptation to transportation*
For domestic use, however, it is very objectionable, because it re-
quires the aid of a tinner to solder up, and the contents cannot be
seen to know whether they are good or not ; and again, tin imparts a
flavor to the fruit which (to some tastes) is objectionable, if not of*
fensive ; and especially when fruits are used which contain more or
less of oxalic acid, tin is very pernicious, rendering the contents de-
leterious to health. In view of this, and especially as people gen-
erally are not conversant with, or skilled in the chemical analysis of
fruif, it is highly important that glass should be used, and these should
be free from all metallic or other substances that would either impair
the fruit or endanger the safety of the jar.
The jar that is free from these objections, and in all other respects
convenient for use, should be selected* A glass j^r, to be convenient
as well aa secure, should have eveiji requirement within itself, and
be properly made, of good material and workmau3hip. The require-
ments necessary for a convenient and efficient fruit jar are : ^ .
1. A jar and cover wholly of glass, and capable of secure sealing
by atmospheric pressure.
2. The cover should be secured by some fastening, to provide
against any undue action of the contents from improper preparation
and cooking, or any lack or insufficiency of the same, and still pro*
vide for the safety of the jar.
3. It should be supplied with means of protection against break-
age when used in cooking, or transferring from a hot to a cold medium.
And last, but not least, easily opened and capable of being used in
succession from year to year, without additional expense. Having a
jar of this description, all that is necessary is good fruit, a little pure
water, and a proper understanding of the nature of the fruit to be
preserved, and success is certain.
Having said this much about a proper preserving vessel, I may
be pardoned if I here introduce one which is the legitimate offspring
of my own experiments, and which fills every requirement cited,
which I use in my business to some extent, and would more fully, was
it not that its cost debars from an equal competition with others. For
domestic use, however, it is unsurpassed, and afforded at the usual
rates of other first-class jars.
We now come to the chemical consideration of this subject^ or in
other words, why is it necessary to heat or oooh to be successful ? This
involves, in the first place, that we should look a little into the nature
or organic structure of fruits and vegetables generally. I class fruits
^d vegetables together, not because they are alike in their character-
STATE HOBTIOULTUBAL 80CISTT. 95
istics, but because the elementary principles are essentially the same,
and these being understood, will apply to all, differing only in the
degree of manipulation during the preserving process.
Gray, in his Botany, informs us ^'that fruits and vegetables in their
organic structure are composed of solids and fluids. The solids are
composed of an extremely delicate elementary memhrane of an ele-
mentary fibre of extreme fineness and of organic mucus. From one
or all of these are formed five classes of tissue, well defined in their
characteristics: cellular, pitted, woody, vascular and lactiferous tis-
sue.'' Our object, however, is'not to enter into minute botanic defi-
nitions, only so far as is necessary to our purpose ; hence, we shall
only consider the first part, viz : cellular tissues, which is vegetable
fabrics; as this embraces all we need to consider in the matter of or-
ganic structure.
Cellular tissue may assume a variety of shapes, varying with the
oircumstances of its connection. Its most common form is that of
minute cells taking the form of hexigons when in contact or under
pressure ; when not in contact or under pressure, that jof minute
spheroidal bodies. This form of cellular tissue comprises the pith of
plants, and the succulent part of fruits, as apples, melons, peaches,
etc., and in general all the sdft^arts of the vegetable structure. In
short, cellular tissue is to vegetables what flesh is to animals, and
constitutes the basis, physically considered, of the vegetable king-
dom. This tissue also assumes every variety of consistence, from a
soft, mucilaginous, pulp to that of hardened wood, varying much in
different vegetables and in different parts of the same vegetables.
These changes are produced by a variety of circumstances consistent
with the multifarious varieties of the vegetable kingdom. The hard-
ening of the cellular tissue is strikingly illustrated in the gritty cells
of the quince and pear, and in the stone of the cherry, the plum and
peach. This tissue is in general the depository of all the materials
which in vegetables and fruits administer to the sustenance of man,
and which afford such gratification to his appetite, and is made up of
certain elementary principles or organic constituents. We now come
to inquire what these are.
The substance of which vegetable tissue is made is by chemists
named cellulose. It is just the same thing in composition of wood
and in soft cellular tissue — in the tender pot herb and the oldest tree.
It is composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen (twelve parts of the
former to ten each of the latter), and sometimes nitrogen. These ac-
cordingly are necessary materials of vegetable growth and must be
received by the young plant. Vegetable food must contain the three
first elements in some shape or other. Let us see from whence they
come, and their office in the fabrication of vegetable structure. It is
an important fact, also, that these three elements are the base of all
decay or decomposition, (which, by-the by, is growth, only in a new
form); hence, there is a close relationship between growth and decay.
96 imSOUBI AGBIOULTURB.
between the stnictnre of vegetable fabric and its change to new
forms. This is why we allude to the organic structure and coiutit-
uents of vegetable fabric to illustrate our subject
Water is the substance, more than anything else, that goes to
production or support of vegetable life. Water is composed of hy-
drogen, and oxygen 8 ; and these are two of the three elements of
cellulose or vegetable fabric, and are exactly of the same proportions
in the one as in the other.
The third element, carbon, is the same as pure charcoal. Char-
coal is the carbon of a vegetable left after charring; that is, heating
it out of contact with air until the oxygen and hydrogen are driven
off. This will explain, in part, why the preserving of fruits in vessels
in houses where all air is excluded, proved to be so unsuccessful, and
why the outline was comparatively perfect, while the flavor was all
exhausted. The charcoal of wood not only makes up the bulk, but
preserves perfectly the shape of the cells after charring, but its
weight is scarcely one-half of the original. Gray says : ^^Oarbon it-
self is a solid, and not at all dissolved by water ; as such, therefore, it
cannot be absorbed into the plant" — only liquids and air can rarify
through the cells. Carbon, therefore, must come to the plant in some
combination of fluid form. This combination is in the form of car-
bonic acid. This is a gas, and one of the components of the aUnos-
» phere we breathe, but only in a minute proportion, sufficient, how-
ever, for the food of plants, but not enough to be injurious to animals ;
but when mixed with a considerable proportion of the air we breathe is
very poisonous. Carbonic acid is composed of carbon combined with
oxygen. Carbon and oxygen possess a very powerful affinity for each
other, when the temperature is sufficiently raised ; but under the
usual atmospheric temperature they do not combine. It is produced
when charcoal burns in contact with air; also by respiration and by
fermentation and decay. In breathing, animals form carbonic acid
by uniting carbon from their lungs with the oxygen of the air; they
inspire oxygen into the lungs ; they breath it out as carbonic acid.
So with breathing, animals diminish the oxygen of the air, and in-
crease its carbonic acid. And plants breathe or absorb carbonic
acid — taking up the carbon, and returning the oxygen again to the
air ; hence, we observe in this a perfect round in the economy of
nature, wisely arranged by the Infinite Mind, for the sustenance of
all organic life. Carbonic acid is also formed by fermentation and
decomposition, but only continues so far as in contact with air or
oxygen. If oxygen becomes exhausted, and the supply Ncut off, fer-
mentation or decomposition is arrested, and nature's operations are
frustrated. Applying this, then, to our position, the case stands thus :
Without water, or hydrogen and oxygen, cellular or plant fabric can-
not be fed. Without carbon in the shape of carbonic acid, plant
fabric cannot be sustained ; and without oxygen, carbonic acid can-
not be produced ; hence oxygen is the ruling or controlling element
STATS HOBTIOULTURAL fiOOIBTT. 97
in all organic life. Without oxygen animals cannot breathe ; plants
cannot grow, and fermentation and decomposition cannot he main-
tained.
Applying these facts to the effect of placing fruit, etc., into con-
ditions where all air is exhausted, and no oxygen other than that in
combination with the organic constituents of the fruit itself, it would
at first sight be quite reasonable to suppose that all action would be
arrested, but this is a mistake. So long as oxygen exists in any ex-
cess, or even at all in any position, is is never dormant or inactive,
and its office seems to be the ever producing and increasing new
forms and new growths. As soon as the fruit or vegetable is matured,
its action is in combination with hydrogen, to produce decomposition.
Now, in decomposition the temperature is increased, and oxygen then
acts upon and combines with the carbon, comprising the bulk or
fabric of the fruit. This combination generates carbonic acid, which
goes to feed new growths, which, in these conditions, are of the
lowest order of plant life, viz : Mold or fungus. This goes on until
all the forces are exhausted, and there being no supply of air or oxy-
gen from without, it follows that all action is arrested ; but not before
the whole constituency is changed.
The flavor which is made up of the acids becomes absorbed in
the change, and what is left corresponds to that of charcoal, and
would remain so as long as kept in that condition. Hence, " in either
case, whether in vacuum or not, with oxygen in the ascendant, change
must take place, and be alike detrimental to preservation. Here,
then, we have the key to solve the question of how to preserve fruits
and vegetables. This does not, however,^ answer our question, Why
do we heat or cooTc^ to he eucceaafult But before we can do this, we
must further consider other constituents of fruit and vegetables,
which are combinations of the above named elementary principles.
In the analysis of fruits, &c., we have that which goes to make
up their different characteristics, viz : malic, citric, tartaric, oxalic,
and other acids, also sugar and starch ; and it is in the consideration
of these that we gain the requisite knowledge of manipulation, while
in the consideration of the elementary principles we gain the knowl-
edge of control.
As malic acid the principal acid of fruits, &c., we shall content
ourselves with its description, and pass on. Malic acid exists in the .
juices of many fruits alone, but moBtly in association with citric, tar-
taric and oxalic acids, and occasionally combined with potash and lime.
We find it in apples, peaches, quinces, sloes, barberries, raspberries^
blackberries, strawberries, whortleberries, cherries, ananas, (pine ap-
ples,) and the berries of the mountain ash. This acid has no smell,bat a
sour taste ; it deliquesces or melts by absorption of moisture from the
air ; it is soluble in alcohol, fuses at 150^ F. ; is decomposed at a heat
of 348'' F., and affords by distillation a peculiar acid, the pyromalic.
98 KIfi80UEI AGRICULTDRB.
It consists, in 100 parts, of 41.47 carbon, 3.50 hydrogen, and 55.02 ozj-
gen — having nearly the same composition as citric acid.
Starch and sugar are also constituents, elaborated in the vegeta*
ble fabric by the foregoing elementary combinaticms, and are stored
up for purposes of future use, to meet the necessary requirements of
the animal kingdom, for the elaboration of new forms, and for repro-
duction.
Starch is an important element of food, alike for animals and veg^
etables. Leibig says : ^^ Its ready convertibility, without change of
composition, into soluble forms, such as dextrine and sugar, adapts it
admirably for carrying on the changes which occur in the juices of
vegetables.'' Starch is one of the most abundant constituents of veg*
etable products. It is found in the seeds of most plants, in roots, and
in some fruits before being ripe, as apples and pears, but in the pro-
cess of ripening it is changed into dextrine and sugar. Starch beings
that principle in the vegetable structure that holds so important a
part in all change, it is an important matter in the consideration and
elucidation of our purpose to note its action. In ripe fruits we have
very little of it to contend with, and this will account in a measure
for the ease with which we can control or preserve them, as compared
with vegetables.
With vegetables, however, the case is different. In the process
of change from old to new forms, whether in decomposition or fer-
mentation, it is so acted upon by the elements, hydrogen and oxygen,
that a peculiar substance named diastase is formed, which possesses
the remarkable property of converting the starch into sugar, and it
is in proportion to this property of readiness to form sugar^ that we
find the principal difficulty in the preserving of vegetables, particu-
larly corn, peas, &c. When it is changed into sugar, fermentation is
at once commenced, and continued until arrested by a suspension or
separation of the controlling elements. Diastase has no remarkable
action on other vegetable principles ; but on starch its action is spe-
cific, converting it first into dextrine and afterwards into sugar. Tom-
linson says: "The change of starch into dextrine by action of dias-
tase, takes place in gelatinous starch even at the freezing point of
water; but the conversion into sugar is most powerful between 150^
and 160^ F. At the hoiliny point of water diasUise oeaaes to act on
starch. So powerful is the action of diastase at proper temperatures,
that 1 part is said to be sufficient to saccharify 2000 parts of dry
starch, and the larger the proportion of diastase the quicker the
change.^'
Here then we have the answer to the question, " Why we cook
or heat to be successful ?" At 212^ of heat we arrest the action of
diastase on starch; at from 160° to 212 we throw off the element ozy*
gen from the organic constituents of fruits, as malic and other acids;
and if this be effectually done and the fruit or vegetable, as the caaa
may be, is thoroughly protected from all contact of oxygen after-
STATE HOBTICULTURAL 800IETT. 99
wards, no action or fermentation can ever take place, or, as Liebig
has it, ^^ its condition is eternal. From this discovery of the proper*
ties of heat to emit, or separate oxygen from kindred elements, it
becomes an important question as to how this can be best accom-
plished, and in what manner the heat can be best applied ? It is in
the proper understanding and application of this that constitutes all
the success of packing or preserving fruits or vegetables on a large
scale, but, which is understood by a very few.
Boiling water and steam are found to be the only practical and
convenient means to produce this result. All fruits and vegetables
do not require the same degree of heat alike ; nor the same continued
application of heat. That degree and continued application of heat
necessary for the peach would destroy the entire character of the
strawberry; and the degree, and continued application of the heat
necessary for corn or peas would be impracticable to the peach.
Fruits of delicate texture, such as the strawberry, raspberry, black*
berry, gooseberry, currant and some others, should not have heat
applied to them quite up to boiling point, but should be retained in
the hot water bath sujQSciently long to set free all oxygen contained
therein. Active or rapid ebullition tends to macerate and soften the
cellular tissue or plant fabric without hastening the process. Fruits
having their tissue of a more hardened texture, such as stoned fruits,
pears and quince, may be brought up to the boiling point, but not so
rapidly as to soften or macerate. For vegetables, as corn, peas, beans,
&c., the opposite is the case. The boiling should not only be rapid,
but continued a long time. Although diastase, as previously stated,
is deprived of its power over starch at a heat of 212^, still the cellular
tissue in which the starch is stored is of so close a character that a
heat of 220^ is necessary to digest the mass and free the oxygen.
The domestic practice of cooking fruits in open vessels and trans-
ferring them hot to the jars is wrong. The fruit is necessarily over-
heated, is soft and macerated in appearance, and, withal, adds largely
to the labor, while the assurance of success is at the best doubtful.
All iruits and vegetables should be well matured and properly pre- •
pared, then packed firmly in the jars or vessels they are designed to
be preserved in ; water should then be added, which assists in the ex-
udation of the juices in proportion to the dryness or juicy character
of the fruit or vegetable to be preserved. Experience here is the
best guide. After this the cover should be secured to the jar or ves-
sel, leaving a vent for the escape of the gases. These then are to be
placed in a larger vessel containing cold water and this water brought
to the boiling point. For delicate and juicy fruits the ebullition*
should be very low, the aim being not to start ebullition in thejar or
vessel containing the fruit. If the jars be glass, the degree of heat
will be fully two degrees below boiling point, and here is another
valid reason why glass jars should be used in domestic practice.
For fruits such as apples, pears, quinces, stone fruits and tomatoes,
100 laSSOUBI AeRICULTUSS.
the ebullition, may be increased, which can be done by covering the
larger vessel. iPor vegetables : as com, peas, &c., the ebullition
flhonld be quite rapid and uniformly maintained during the whole
time of cooking, and if the temperature could be raised to two hun-
dred and twenty degrees, or higher, the result would be more cer-
tain of success.
To particularize further, we here append a formula for boiling as
a guide to general practice.
For strawberries, let the water boil 1^ or 2 minutes, then stand to
cool 30 minutes.
For cherries, let the water boil 5 minutes, then stand to cool 30
minutes.
For raspberries, blackberries, whortleberries, currants and goose-
berries, let the water boil 6 minutes, then stand to cool 30 minutes.
For peaches, plums, pie plant, apples, pine apples and grapes, let
the water boil 10 minutes, then stand to cool 40 minutes.
For quinces, pears and tomatoes, let the water boil 20 minutes,
then stand to cool 40 minutes.
For green corn, peas and beans, let the water boil hard 5 or 6
hours, then stand to cool 40 minutes.
The end gained by allowing to cool down is to give time for the
oxygen to all escape tiirough the vent. The contents will still be suf-
ficiently hot to thoroughly secure or seal down, so as to produce a
vacuum in the vessel. Closing too soon is the fruitful cause of spoil-
ing by fermentation, as fermentation is due to the oxygen being left
in the contents, and not always by air gaining access into the jar.
Should, however, the solid contents of the jar be above the fluids,
any access of air would endanger the contents. Fruits should always
be submerged by their fluids, then any access of air would only form
mould. Air or oxygen cannot descend through fluids only under
pressure, or by capilliary attraction. Should such jars, however, be
inverted, the air would ascend through the contents, and fermenta-
tion at once be produced ; it is, therefore, important that vessels,
containing fruits preserved, should not be inverted, where there is
'any contingency as to the security of the vessel.
The preparation of fruits and vegetables for preserving or can-
ning is a matter of some Importance, and should never be done in a
wasteful or careless manner, and cleanliness should have paramount
attention.
4
Berries of all kinds should be relieved of all stems and leaves,
decayed fruit picked out, and if dirty or gritty, should be washed or
rinsed in clean water, then well packed in the vessel as before di-
rected.
Stone fruits, as cherries, plums and peaches, may have their
stones removed or not, as desired. Peaches, however, should be
scalded to remove the skin, then halved, and the stones removed ; and
as fast as prepared, dropped in a vessel of clean water. This will
STATS fiORTICULTUBAL 80CIETT. 101
prevent the atmosphere from staining or coloring the Irult. As fast
as sufficient are prepared to fill ajar, they should be packed at once»
water added, and the jars closed. K allowed to stand too long in
water, they become soft and difficult to handle.
Pears, apples, pine apples and quinces should be pared, quar-
tered and the seed cells removed. These should also be kept in wa-
ter, as directed for peaches.
Tomatoes, scald, remove the skins and cores, pack the jars as full
as possible of solid fruit Tomatoes require no water ; in fact they con-
tain too much, and the juices should be poured off and made into
catsup.
To scald tomatoes and peaches, take any vessel having holes in
the bottom, fill with fruit and dip in boiling water, remove occasion-
ally and try the fruit; if the skin will slip, they are sufficiently
scalded. Being retained too long in boiling water, the fruit becomes
soft and more or less impaired.
Peas and beans are shelled from the pods, placed in jars or cans,
and well packed. The vessel is then nearly filled with water, sealed
as directed for fruits, and rapidly boiled as per formula.
String beans are cut in slices, then managed as directed above.
Green com is cut from the cob, the cob scraped with the back of
the knife to secure the milk, then packed as directed for beans, and
boiled as per formula.
Sugar not being a necessary adjunct to preserving or canning,
we have purposely avoided any remarks thereon in our formula. To
govern those who may desire to use it, we here remark that it should
be applied as follows : Take water and add sugar so that the saccha-
rometer will show five, ten, fifteen or twenty degrees, as taste may
dictate ; add the syrup to the fruit in the jars in the place of water,
as previously directed. Weak syrups are usually the best, as then
the fruit wiU be more perfect in appearance. Heavy syrups have a
tendency to shrink the fruit.
In closing, we would also state that light has a deleterious effect
on some fruits, as strawberries and cherries. It does not appear
to impair the quality so much, but changes the color, which
spoils the appearance. Such fruits should be kept in dark rooms, or,
which is better, wrapped in dark colored paper and packed away in
a uniform temperature. This last is also important for all fruits and
vegetables.
Mn Jordan: When East paid considerable attention to this
question of canning fruit. He watched with much interest all the
process, and tried to learn as much as possible. He ielt convinced
that there were some secrets in the process.
In one establishment he noticed a long box or steam bath that
was in use in putting up tomatoes. There are some pointy in regard
to the shrinking of the fruit,
Mr. Squire : Should the vent-hole be left in the can f This is left
102 MISSOURI AaBICULTUKS.
open in the preparing of the fruit, and is sealed up when the process
is finished.
Mr. John H. Tice presented along report to the Legislature upon
the subject of Agriculture Colleges, which was received.
THE AGBXCULTUBAL COLLEOS FUND.
Professor John H. Tice, chairman of the committee to whom was
referred Mr. Mudd's resolution respecting the Agricultural Oollege
grant, reported the following, which, on motion, was ordered received
and printed with the official proceedings — the length of the ^^ memo-
rial" rendering its presentation to the Legislature impracticable in
the opinion of the Society :
Mr. Prbsidbnt : The committee to which was referred certain res-
olutions relating to a proposition, now pending before the State Leg-
islature, respecting the diversion of the Agricultural College fund,
to the Common School fond, respectfully beg leave to report the fol-
lowing memorial to the Legislature, as containing the views of this
Society, and as a solemn protest against the contemplated proceed-
ing:
To the Honorable the Legisldture of the State of Missouri in Oen*
eral Assemhly convened :
The memorial of the Missouri State Horticultural Society show-
eth that it is with extreme pain and regret that the members of this So-
ciety have seen that a proposition has been introduced into the State
Legislature looking to a diversion of the Congressional land donation
for the purpose of aiding in the establishment of an Industrial Col-
lege in this State, to the Common School fund. The members of this
Society view with alarm the aforesaid proposition, as from every
point of view they can see nothing in it but disaster to the ednca-
tional interests of the State if adopted. Certainly there is not even
a plausible pretext that it will be of any material benefit to the noble
cause of common school education.
The law of Congress proYides, and if it did not, the Constitution
of the State does, that the proceeds of the sales of the Agricultural
Oollege lands shall be invested in United States bonds, bearing five
^ per cent interest. Now supposing that these lands should sell, and
nobody pretends that they will sell for less than five hundred thon-
sand dollars, this sum^inrested in five per cent interest bearing bonds
will amount annually to twenty-five thousand dollars. It is known
that the children of educable age, as fixed by statnte, is about six
hundred thousand, so that the amount realized annually, with onr
present population, will be just four cents per capita of children, and
annually decreasing with the itiorease of population.
To the school fdnd it is a mite so infinitely small as not to be
appreciable. It is not pretended in any quarter that the State Legis-
lature has any power to make this diversion, but that it must obtain
6TATB HORXIOULTUBAL 800UTT. 103
the consent of Congress before it can do so. Now it is well known
that these lands were located as near as possible, and some within
what is known as the Railroad belt, where the railroad is now being
eonstrncted; and it is also known that there are hundreds of persons
engaged in chopping wood, and especially railroad ties, upon these
lands, thus despoiling them of nearly all their intrinsic value.
Now, an appeal to Congress to ask and obtain the privilege of
making the contemplated diversion would necessarily consume a
year or more; and then after refusal, as refuse it will, the State will
have these lands depreciated from fifty to eighty per cent by the
continued spoliations, to start the Agricultural College, or to aban-
don the project entirely.
The law of Congress is plain and specific : there is no room for
misunderstanding its purport either as to its object or conditions.
The object of the grant is expressed in the title of the act to be " to
establish colleges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic
arts." The conditions are : ^^ No State shall be entitled to the benefit
of this act, unless it shall express its acceptance thereof by its Legii*
lature within two years from the date of this act." The Legislature
accepted the grant as early as the year 1863, and is therefore morally
and legally bound to the nation to carry out in good faith the trust
assumed ; or if it chooses not to do so, to let the time elapse as lim-
ited in the act, without establishing such a college, when the whole
grant will revert to the donor. These are the alternatives presented
by the act, and there is no reason to hope any exception will be made
for Missouri.
Of all the national grants, none is more munificent and honorable
to the grantor, and for a purpose so noble as this, "For the purpose of
establishing colleges wiiose leading object shall be to teach such
branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic
arts.^' It is a grant in conformity to the aspirations of the age, and an
outcrop of that spirit of immense progress in science, industry and
art, which has made the first half of the nineteenth century illustrious
for all time to come. Since the beginning of this century, the work-
ing man, for the first time in history, has become a thinking man ;
and, as a thinking man, has every day become more and more im-
pressed with the conviction of the insufficiency of the ordinary rudi-
mentary education for qualifying men to discharge the diversified du-
ties and and employments of modern life. The beginning of this cen-
tury saw but three learned professions, now there are thirty ; and the
toiler so long kept in subordination to other pursuits though the pro-
ducer of all the material wealth of the nation, demands that all hon-
orable pursuits and employments of life be made learned professions*
Three professions, because learned, were alone regarded as honorable ;
the men that kept society from sinking again into barbarism, the
workers, now demand that all professions alike shall be honorable*
Science is the sole foundation of skill and snccefis in every active
104 MISSOURI AGRICULTURB*
employment of life, and skilled trades and professions are the de*
mands of the age. Hence there is a demand for special, that is tech-
nical education, and for means to establish technic, or if you will,
polytechnic schools. The grant originated from the persistent de-
mands of farmers upon Congress for aid to establish farmer schools.
You cannot repress this rising demand ; and if you could, you should
not. It is the aspiration of men sighing for enlightenment, elevation
and refinement. It is one of those irrepressible conflicts, innate to
man, which gather strength from every effort at suppression.
Freedom's batUe once beg^n.
Bequeathed from bleeding^ sire to aon,
Thonifh baffled oft, ii erer won.
We therefore urge upon you to look at this matter from the stand-
point of the thinking and reflecting men of all conditions, pursuits
and professions in active life. The number of such is rapidly on the
^increase, and ere long will be strong enough to enforce their de-
mands. And after considering the right and justice of the measure
demanded, and its influence upon the future welfare of the State, to
to carry out the letter and spirit of the law of Congress by establish-
ing an Industrial College.
JOHN H. TICE, CTuiirman.
Mr. Murtfeldt thought that, while the paper was clear and ex-
haustive, it would fail in its object because being too long.
This view was taken by several members, and finally the original
resolutions were adopted:
Whereas, A proposition has been introduced into our State Leg-
islature, looking to a diversion of the agricultural and mechanical
grant of Congress from its intended use ; and
Whereas, For the improvement of our a^culture and horticul-
ture, we need continued and extensive experiments, carefully organ-
ized instruction, and wide spread scientific information : therefore.
Resolved^ That the State Horticultural Society, in behalf of the
horticultural interests of the State, most earnestly protests against
any such diversion, and urges upon the legislators to perfect arrange-
ments, at once, for the opening of the college provided for in the Con-
gressional grant.
Col. Colman offered the following additional resolution :
Resolved^ That tJie Secretary of this Society is hereby instructed
to send, immediately, a copy of this preamble and resolution to the '
presiding officers of the Senate and of the House of Representatives,
at Jefferson City.
Which was adopted.
The following resolution was handed to the Secretary and read:
Whereas, The aims and objects of the society for the prevention
of cruelty to animals are of peculiar and direct interest to the agri-
culturists of Missouri, and all possessed of humane instincts ; there-
fore,
Resolved^ That the Missouri State Horticultural Society heartily
sympathizes with and will unite in the efforts of the Humane Society
8TATB HORTIOBLTURAL 800ISTT. 106
to protect otir beasts of burthen, and all other which add to tber pleas-
ure or the profit of the homan family.
Adoptedi
It was, on motion,
Resolved^ That the thanks of this Society are hereby warmly ex-
pressed to the Iron Mountain and Pacific Railroads, for returning our
members ; also, to the hotels of St. Louis, who have received our
members at reduced rates ; to the Press of the city, for the reports of
our proceedings they have ffiven from day to day; and especially to
the worthy janitor of the ^^ Temple" for bis attentions.
Resolved^ That the Secretary be allowed 850 for preparing the
proceedings of the Society for publication.
The Committee on Canned Fruit report:
One glass jar of Chickasaw plums, in perfect condition.
One glass jar of green field corn, in excellent preservation, ita.
original flavor well preserved. Two years old.
One jar of May Duke cherries, good and well preserved.
One bottle tomatoes, considered most excellent.
One jar of peaches, not quite as well preserved, owing to the inr
ferior quality of the peach itself.
The whole presented by John J. Squire, of DeSoto, Mo.
A^ourned, to meet at St. Joseph, Mo.
[Owing to not rsceiving the report of the Ad Interim Committee of Sonthem Missouri, antil »
Ute day— After the first portion was printed— it Is glTsn below.]
REPORT OF THE AD INTERIM COMMITTEE FOR SOUTHERN
MISSOURI.
About the 26th of May last, the chairman of the committee, in
company with Dr. Hull, of Alton, visited several fruit farms in tho
vicinity of Kirkwood and Webster, in St Louis county. It had been
reported that apple trees in these localities were to some extent
dying, and the visit was for the purpose of inquiring into the facts^
causes, etc.
THX BOBER.
Our first visit was to the orchards of £. Morrison, Esq., near
Kirkwood. Many of his trees were dead, and many others were iu a
Bickly condition. On examination it was found that the injpry was
♦8— HB
106 XI880UBI AeuouLToms.
done by the borer (Saperda hivittata). Six to a dozen of them coald
be found in one tree in some cases. They were actually girdling the
trees at the surface of the ground. Dr. Hull had never seen them so
plenty. He recommended digging or cutting them out, an applica-
tion of hot soap, and banking up at least sufficient to completely
«cover the injured part
These trees were about ten or twelve years old, and had been
uach neglected since they were planted. At one time the orchard
was sown to wheat and seeded down to grass. Sinoe Mr. Morrison
lias owned the place, the trees seem to have been well cared for, ex-
cept that he had not looked for the borers. Many of his peach trees
had died, but this was attributed to the roots having been uncovered
and left exposed in February, water standing in the excavations.
The peach trees were nearly free from borers. It was thought they
had been kept away by putting ashes around the trees.
Mr. Morrison is now planting grapes quite extensively^ and has a
thrifty young vineyard.
The next morning we were joined by Dr. 0. W. Spalding.' A brief
call was made upon Dr. B. F. Edwards, the veteran horticulturist in
Eirkwood. Here we found a great variety of fruit in a very flourish-
ing condition. A bed of Agriculturist strawberries, four years old,
looked remarkably well and had on an immense crop of fruit. It was
remarked that they make but few runners. They nearly accomplish
for themselves what is necessary to be done for other varieties, name-
ly, cutting off the runners, in order to make large and productive
stools. A patch of Nicanors, and another of Durand, new varieties,
looked very promising— blossoms perfect, and plenty of fruit The
Qreen Prolifics were dying out Drs. Hull and Spalding averred that
it was caused by worm or borer that perforates the roots. Although
some old perforations were found, we were not convinced that this
was the cause of their dying. Only this variety was thus affected.
We saw the same variety in another locality in a similar condition.
Dr. Edwards has a portion of his grounds in orchard grass and red
clover, and thinks very highly indeed of the orchard grass and the
combination.
At Mr. Geo. H. Gill's, some plum trees, loaded with fruit, wete
examined. The plums were nearly all stung by the curculio, many
of them several * times, but it was found on examination that bnl
yery few of the eggs had hatched. Dr. Hull said this was on accoanl
of the recent cold weather. This gives encouragement for a crop of
plums.
APPLS-BOOT PI.ANT-L0U6B.
Our next visit was to the orchard of Wm. Groshon, near Webster,
where it was reported the root-rot existed. Upon an examination of
the' trees it was found that they were badly affected by the Woply
Plani-loase, which had been upon the roots. The lice were almost
GITATB HORTICULTURAL SOCIETT. liYt
totally destroyed now, as it was thought, by the application of ashes
to the base of the tree which had been made some time previously.
The result of their work was plainly visible on uncovering the roois,
in their knotted, clubbed condition, many of them being but a mass
of excrescences. These so check the circulation of the sap that the
tree finally dies.
In the American Entomologist^ for January last, is a lengthy
article upon this and allied species of plant lice, with illustrations.
It is there stated, that ^^although this insect usually confines itself to
the roots of the tree, yet a few may occasionally be found on the
Buckers that spring up around the butt of the trunk, and even on the
trunk and limbs, especially in places where a branch has been for-
merly amputated, and nature is closing up the old wound by a circle
of new bark. Where it works upon the naked trunk it often causes
a mass of little granulations to sprout out, about the size of cabbage
seeds, thus producing, on a small scale, the same effect that it does
upon the roots. Wherever the insect works, small as it is, it may be
easily" recognized by the peculiar bluish-white cottony matter which
it secretes from its body, and which is never met with in the case of
the common Apple-tree Plant-louse that inhabits the leaves and the
tips of the twigs."
Many, doubtless, have noticed more or less of the knobby, warty
roots referred to, on trees obtained from the nurseries for planting,
without knowing they were caused by, and perhaps contained, an
insect so injurious to the health and even life of the tree. The best
plan with such roots would be, probably, to dip them in hot water
and ashes before planting. The same article from which we have
already quoted says :
The best mode to get rid of the Apple-root Plant-louse is to
drench the roots of the infested tree with hot water. But to render
this process effectual, the water must be applied in quantities large
enough to penetrate to every part of the infested roots. There need
be no fear of any ii\jurious result from such an application of hot
water ; for it is a very general rule that vegetable organisms can, for a
short time, stand a much higher temperature than animal organisms,
without any injury to their tissues. For example, hot water has been
from time immemorial employed to scald the borer in peach trees ;
and there is good evidence that it will kill the onion-maggot without
iiVJuring the young growing onions.
The ashef in Mr. Groshon's orchard, though not applied for that
purpose, seems to have proved effectual in destroying the lice. Wa
believe that unleached ashes would in all cases prove quite as effec-
tual, probably, as the hot water, and otherwise benefit the tree by its
manurial effect
Dr. Hull would perhaps recommend hot soap. Salt or gas lime ia
proper quantities, not too much, would probably prove effectuaL We
have not been aware of so strious injury from these little insects aa-
108 laSttOUBI AftRICULTORI.
til withia the past two years. Many of Mr. Oroshon's fine trees, a
dozen or more years old, are beginning to saociinib to their influence.
By checking wood growth, they induce fruitt'ulness ; the tree over-
bears, and thus becomes more enfeebled. We have frequently seen
quite small trees thai were affected by root lice, loaded with fruit.
We advise those who have apple orchards, to look for these lice, and
if found, adopt measures for their destruction*
JEFFBBSOH COUNTT.
On the 6th of June, in company with Mr. 0. V. Riley, State En-
tomoloij^ist, the chairman visited a few fruit farms in Jefferson county.
From Sulphur Springs station we passed through large peach orchards,
belo*iging to Dr. Silas Reed, Mr. T. W. Guy, Rev. Cl^as. Peabody, and
one or two others. These orchards are bearing a good many peaches.
The trees of Hale's Early are full ; some other varieties have a fair
crop; others none. At a subsequent visit, we found that the Dale's
Early all rotted. Several of these orchards had been seeded to red
clover, producing a fine crop, which had nearly all been cut. We
presume this is a very good plan, to seed orchards of peaches or ap-
ples in clover, when old enough to bear, and then after the clover is
cut we should wish to turn in the hogs to eat up the fruit that falls
from the curculio and other like insects.
The opinion seemed to be general among the fruit-growers here,
that the curculio was less abundant than a year ago, yet on the ground
under the peach trees there was a large quantity of worm eaten fruit
In the vineyard of President Peabody, we found the grapes un-
usually large for the season, larger than in other vineyards not far
dist^ant The cause of this is said to be its nearness to the river. Vine-
yards near the river, we are told, are always earlier, and it is found
quite convenient to have one vineyard near the river and another
ftirther back, so that the crop of the first may be ripe and disposed
ot before the other suffers for want of attention.
The farm of Major E. S. Foster, on a bold river bluff, was visited.
This was all forest three years ago. On a bold bluff nuar the river^
Mr. F. has erected a very beautiful stone residence, in the favorite
Btyle of Downing, and commanding some most magnificent river views,
lie has ten acres in vineyard, nearly all Concord, now in the third
year, and bearing a very good crop of fruit. These vineyards are
well grown, neatly cultivated, and very even. The Entomologist
found very little in them of interest in the bug line. One pestiferons
little striped bug, about one-quarter of an inch in length, was occa-
sionally found in the vineyard, and in large numbers in an adjoining
potato patch. It is called Caps^is lineata. Its bite or sting is said
to be poisonous to vegetation, and tlie tops of the potatoes were con-
siderably withered from its effects. As the little rascal flies readily,
no remedy was suggested except the application of a solution ot
cresylic soap or something of that sort.
8TATB HORHCULTUEIL BOOUTT. 109
A row of grapes was pointed out to us in the vineyard which
showed a much more vigorous growth and deeper color than the oth-
ers. This row had been planted over a gully which had been washed
out down the slop'e to the depth of several feet, and filled up with
stumps, roots, old logs, etc., and covered over with earth. Mr. F. said
he thought the grapes would not grow there when he planted them,
and was surprised to find that they had outstripped the others adjoin-
ing. This seems to show that underdraining would be quite useful.
BOOflVILLE.
About the middle of June, a visit was made to Boonville, which
bas a reputation for producing excellent wine.
The soil in this vicinity is of a superior character. It is of the
bluff formation, what is called loess, much resembling that at Alton,
Illinois, varying in depth from 80 to 100 feet It is well adapted to
grape culture and to other fruits. We saw at one place several trees
of sweet cherries, amone them the Black Tartarian, of good size,
healthy growth, and bearing full.
THE VINEYARDS.
In the vicinity of Boonville there are about 100 acres of vine*
yards. Mr. R. D. Perry claims to be the father of grape culture here,
He says that about the year 1845 Mr. G. E. Budd and Rev. Dr. BuUard,
of St. Louis, were in attendance at a Presbyterian Synod at Boonville.
While at the house of Mr. P., these gentlemen recommended him to
plant grapes, as the soil seemed well adapted for them. Both offsred
to send cuttings. Mr. Rudd had the Isabella and Dr. Bullard the Oft-
tawba. The latter maintained that his was the proper variety to
plant, and sent Mr. P. cuttings which he planted at the end of hik
house. They grew finely, and Mr. Haas, a German, was employed to
prune them. Mr. H. became enchanted with the Oatawba, and ob-
tained cuttings of Mr. Perry, with which he planted a vineyard;
and this led to the formation of the Boonville Wine Company, which
18 still pursuing the business of grape growing and wine making. It
is doubtful whether, without the apprecia^ve taste of the Qermani
the Oatawba would have attracted the immediate attention that it
did, and perhaps Mr. Haas is entitled to quite as much credit for the
early establishment of grape culture here as Mr. Perry.
In company with Capt. Stephens, Judge Eeil, Mr. Harley and Mr.
Perry, we visited the vineyard and wine cellar of the Boonville Wine
Company. The vineyards are mostly on an eastern slope, much of it
rather steep and terraced, with two to five rows on each terrace. The
walls of the terraces are blue grass sod. The vines are planted 5 by 6
feet, and trained to trellises of stakes aud slats. The cultivation is
clean, the vines healthy and bearing a good crop. They have 20
acres in grapes, 18 of which are bearing. The Catawba is the chief
variety cultivated, though of late some other varieties have been
110 MISSOURI AGRICULTURS.
planted. The Norton's Yirgiaia is thought highly of. Oaly two men
are at present employed. A week ago they bad aboot ten women
engaged in tying up vines.
The wine cellar is of dressed stone, neatly arched, 75 feet long,
with four ventilators starting from the floor. Over it is the press
room, and rooms occupied by the employees. One of Miller & Moore's
Kentucky cider mills is used for crushing the grapes, and they are
pressed in a vat by a large iron screw. An extension of the cellar is
contemplated by building on to the front.
In the cellar we tasted Catawba of 1866 — ^rather high colored —
more acid than usual at Hermann — really good ; Oatawba of 1867, paieiy
slightly smoother ; Oatawba of 1868, not quite clear, but of best qual-
ity. We were assured by Judge Eeil' that these wines were abso-
lutely pure juice, and we found not the slightest room for doubting
it. Said Judge K.: ^^these wines are not sour/' and probably they are
not, as most people would understand the term ; and yet the Catawba
contains a good deal of acid, and these wines contain the acid of the
grapes unchanged and in its purity. There is not the slightest vine-
gar sour, which shows that the wines have been well made and well
handled. Catawba more agreeable to the popular taste may be made
by gallizing, but we doubt whether it could be made more wholesome
or really better.
We next visited the vineyard owned by R D. Perry, and under
the management of a German tenant, whose name we did not learn.
We found here a greater number of varieties, more largely cultivated
and in a remarkably flourishing condition. In the wine cellar, we
found very excellent Catawba, Delaware, Concord and Norton's Vir-
ginia. The latter very valuable variety, we thought exceedingly fine.
The condition of the two vineyards we have mentioned, and the
good character of the wines, show very well the excellence of the lo-
cality for grape-growing. Many of the grape growers here adhere
with great tenacity to their first love, the Catawba, notwithstanding
its frequent failure from rot We do not deny that the Catawba merits
(heir affection ; but whei^ we hear a man say that Delaware wine is
not at all equal to Catawba, we cannot help thinking that he is either
too much prejudiced, or that his education in regard to American
wines has been slightly neglected. And here we wish to say, in all
kindness, that we think the grape- growers of Boonville have not been
sufficiently wide awake to their interests. They have kept them-
selves too isolated. We have seldom, if eTer,seen them or their wines
at the meetings of the State Horticultural Society, or of the Missis-
sippi Valley Orape Growers' Association. Hence we suspect many
of them are not as well informed in regard to what others are doing
in the same line aB they might be, and we are confident that the mer-
its of their wines, and of their locality for grape-growing, are not as
well known as they deserve to be.
With a little more enterprise, grape-growing at Boonville might
8TATB HOBZICULTIiBAIi 800IRT. Ul
t
to-day have been of doable the importance that it now is, and grape-
growers would have met with better sales and better profits* For the
best success in any business, a man must not only take the papers,
but he must associate, to some extent, with others in the same husi<
ness, if he would be well posted. If our inferences are erroneous, we
shall be glad to be informed of it, for our suggestions are made with
utmost friendly feelings.
VINE GROVB PLACE.
On the 20th of July, the chairman visited the residence of Dr. H«
Olaggett, neai St Louis, and noted the following :
THE YINETABD.
This was planted three years ago last spring, being now in the
fourth year. Here we saw a well digested system well carried out;
And if systems are to be judged by the results, this certainly claims
attention. Everything has been done in accordance with a precon*
eeived plan or end, and the end has been admirably accomplished
Therefore, a brief account of the principles and practice here adopted
may interest our readers.
The varieties are chiefly Concord, a few Hartford Prolifics, Dela-
wares and Taylor's Bullitt— planted 8 by 8, and trained upon trellis of
posts and wire, nearly on the Thomery plan. The posts are eight feet
long, set two and one-half feet in the ground, one in every second
space, except at the end of the rows, where a post is set in the first
space for the purpose of extending a brace from its foot to the top of
the first post, which is set three feet outside of the first vine. Upon
these posts are stretched four wires, the first twenty inches from the
ground, the next twelve inches above, and the others at distances of
seventeen inches. Two arms from each vine are trained in different
directions upon the lower wire. From these upright canes are grown
to the top of the trellis, every alternate one being allowed to bear.
The proprietor holds that the roots and leaves are the chief work-
ing organs of the vine, and that the art of grape culture consists in
surrounding these organs with the conditions best adapted to the per*
feet performance of their functions. The ground being kept clean
and mellow, and slightly ridged at the rows, the roots are well cared
for.
As to the leaves, the object is to develop the largest amount of
leaf-surface that can be freely exposed to air and light, especialh on
the bearing portion of the vine. As the object can be best accom-
plished on the bearing portion by a few large leaves, rather than
many small ones, the canes are pinched off at one leaf beyond the
last bunch, in order to develop large leaves. The other canes which-
grow above the top of the trellis are pinched off before the attain suf-
ficient length to hang down and shade the leaves of the bearing pop-
IIS MBBOUBI AfUOULTDHX.
tloD, and thus injure them. This pincfaing is done when the Tines
have grown to about the distance of two feet beyond the top of the
trellis, and has the effect to mature and strengthen this part of the
vine, develop side shoots and a mass of leaves, three or four feet in
width, along the top of the trellis, the o£Sce of these leaves being to
store up material for next year's crop. There seems to have been,
however, a previous pinching off of the canes for next year's fruiting
at about the sixth or seventh leaf, or just above the third wire.
We found the Delawares bearing a large crop of handsome
bunches, healthy in fruit and foliage, except that the leaves of one
vine were covered with galls.
Hartford Prolific, a full crop, and healthy; bunches quite large,
and more than usually compact
Taylor's Bullitt, as vigorous as usual, with but very little fruiL
Concords bearing abundantly.
I>r. C. says the crop is not as large as it would have been, but for
the fact that -some of the canes that are bearing this year are those
that bore last year, and that the hail storm, early in the season,
knocked off some of the buds or young shoots. We think, however,
the crop is large enough, and there is more than enough good bearing
wood for next year. There is no rot worth mentioning.
ASPABAGUS.
Dr. Olaggett has a reputation for growing fine asparamis, and we
saw here his original patch of one-third of an acre, which, he says,
yields over 9300 a year, gross. There is upon it now a very dense
and heavy mass of green foliage, which is storing up and manufactur-
ing (so says the Doctor) material for the roots for next year's growth.
In the fajl this immense mass, having performed its office, becomes
very light and dry, and may then "be cut down and burned. We
noticed that the stalks were not bearing seeds, except rarely a few,
and asked the reason. The Doctor says that is a part of his plan. He
does not set out his plants until they are two years old, when he is
able to tell the male from the female plants. He discards those which
bear seed, and selects those which do not, so that the forces of the
plants may not be needlessly expended in producing seed,
CULTIVATION.
We noticed that many of the Doctor's crops were quite cleanly
4»]ltivated, considering the unusually wet season. He says he can
4Siiltivate any hoed crop once a week more cheaply than he can once
da three weeks, and the advantage to the crop is double* Many will
S9f they do not have time to give frequent cultivation. Then only so
Aiueh should be planted as there is time to cultivate well, as it will
give more profit than the larger quantity half cultivated. We think
this is sound doctrine, not put in practice by more than one-third of
our farmers.
8TATB HOBTIOULTUBAI. SOCIETT. US
nvrt esowiM« ik jewsbbon couhtt, mo,— vibit of thb ad istebim com*
HITTEE.
Within the past half dozen years Jefferson coanty, especially thai
portion of it through which the Iron Mountain Kailroad passes, has
become noted as a superior fruit growing region, a large number of
farmers having engaged extensively in the business, and produced *
fruits of remarkably fine character. At the American Pomological
Oonvention, held in this city two years ago, the peaches from Jeffer>
tfon county attracted a marked degree of attention, on account of
their remarkable size and hdndsome appearance. Peaches from the
aame region took the first premium at the St. Louis Fair last fall.
Five or six years ago the chief products sent to market from that
county, aside from minerals, were hoop-poles, cord-wood and char^
coal. Now, at every station from Kimswick to Vineland, large quan-
tities of fruit are shipped daily, amounting in the one item of grapes
just now from 2,000 to 3,000 boxes a day, and the business is rapidly
increasing.
On the 23d instant the etd interim Committee of the State Horti-
cultural Society for Southern Missouri, consisting of Dr. L, D. Morse, C,
W. Murtfeldt^ and Isidor Bush, accompanied by Dr. £. S. Hull, of Al-
ton, and Mr. J. W. Cochrane, of Chicago, started on a tour of observa-
tion among the fruit growers of Jefferson county, making the first
•top at Glenwood station. For several miles along the river and rail*
mikI in this vicinity are to be seen many very beautiful residences,
situated on high ridges or bold bluffs, commanding magnificent views
if the broad river.
PAKH OF RBV. 0HA8. PSABOnY.
The farm immediately at Glenwood belongs to Mr. Peabody, Pres-
ident of the State Horticultural Society, and this was the first place
Tisited. It embraces over a hundred acres, and the owner has har*
vested large crops of oats, hay, etc., in addition to his fruit crops. Hit
Vineyard consists of one acre in the fourth year. His mode of train-
ing is different from that usually practiced in this vicinity. The vines
are planted six by eight feet. A stake is set in each space, and on
the stake is nailed a slat about eighteen inches above the ground.
Along the top of the stakes, or about six feet from the ground, is
stretched a strong No. 10 wire. Small galvanized wires, No. 18, are
then attached perpendicularly to the slats and large wire, at about ten
inches apart. Mr. P. stated that this mode of making trellis is not
more expensive than the ordinary mode of making post and four
wire trellis, and has the advantage that the vines will readily cling
to the wires by the tendrils, and thus save tying.
The vineyard is yielding a good crop, though it has suffered to
some extent this year from rot, perhaps to the extent of one-eighth.
The lonas have nearly all rotted, and the foliage is too defective to
npen what fruit remains. Israella badly rotted— two-third gone.
lii MISSOURI AGRICULTORK.
Oreveling, one-half rotted — ^foliage good, and fruit excellent. It is a
wonder that the superior quality of this grape, which ripens early,
has not been more generally recognized. Hartford Prolific, no rot;
Union Village, winter killed. Delaware is losing its foliage so badly
that it will scarcely ripen the large crop of green fruit which it has
% on. Last year both Delaware and lona produced well in this vine-
yard. Concord, which constitutes about two-thirds of the vineyard,
is yielding a good crop, though it has rotted to some extent. Bunches
were ripest, and had been most alSected with rot nearest the ground.
There was most rot also along the edge of the vineyard next to the
forest, indicating that a free circulation of air is an advantage.
Mr. Peabody has a fine young orchard of pears, peaches and
apples, tolerably healthy, and commencing to bear. The apple trees
•bowed that they had been badly infested with borers, as the marks
of the knife, where they had been hunted out, are to be seen in almost
every tree.
FARM or T. W. GUY.
Adjoining Mr. Peabody 's on the north is the farm of Mr. Guy^
who has a large peach orchard, most of it in very flourishing condi*
tion, and yielding a good deal of very fine fruit. There were some
long rows of peach trees, of the Hale's Early variety, foil of rotted
and dried-up fruit. Mr. Guy, Mr. Peabody, and other peach growers
in this vicinity are quite discouraged with this variety, and propose
to dig it up and abandon it on account of its tendency to rot. It has
shown this tendency every year, and this year, although the trees
were loaded with fruit, much more so than most other varieties ; it
rotted so badly that scarcely any sound fruit could be marketed.
The Alton large nutmeg melon has been grown this season by
Mr. Peabody and many other fruit growers in this vicinity. Most of
them condemn it, some of them in unqualified terms. They say it is
a mixture of several varieties ot melon, with a touch of squash. The
flesh of some of them is yellow, some green, and some neither. Wa
did not meet with any specimens in a condition to test, and therefore
only give such opinions as we heard expressed.
Night came upon us before we had time to see much of Mr. Guy's
farm. The party, however, partook of a sumptuous supper at his
house, the table being loaded with luscious grapes, peaches, ete.
Most of the visitors spent the night at Mr. Peabody's, and next morn-
ing, Tuesday the 24th, visited the
FARM OF DR. BOWMAN.
Here we found a large peach orchard bearing considerable fruit,
but a good deal affected by rot. Dr. Hull thinks the peaches would
not rot if they were not stung by the curculio. Others are doubtfal
upon this point. Dr. Bowman's Delawares are very good, losing
foliage to some extent, but will ripen the fruit. In fact most of it was
already in good eating condition. A few Concords above the hoaee
8TATB HOBTICULTURAL SOCIETT. IIS
had rotted to the extent of one-half. Below the house, on open
ground, sloping towards the river, is a vineyard of two acres, mostly
Concords, and only about one-eijghth had been lost by rot. There is
a good crop left, which the owner was gathering and sending to
inarket daily. There were some tall weeds in this vineyard, for
which Dr. B. is presumed not to be responsible, as he had quite re*
cently purchased the place and moved there from the city. Occa-
•ionally a vine was found with its leaves dried up and dead, the work
of the grape-root borer, a large white grub which bores through the
roots ten to twenty inches below the surface of the ground. Grape
growers should be on the watch for this enemy and exterminate it,
for if it is allowed to increase it will do serious damage. It is most
common in new ground.
A patch of Norton's Virginia in the lower part of the vineyard ii
doing well, with little or no rot
The apple orchard is bearing well, and the trees look thrifty.
BUSnBBRG.
Our next visit was made at Bushberg, a mile below Glenwood*
The propagating houses of Messrs. Isidor Bush & Son, though not
very extensive, are perhaps the best built and most complete that
can be found in the State. At this season but few vines can be found
in them — they have all been planted out in the adjoining ground and
have made a fine growth. The houses are now used for forcing straw*
berries, the fruit of which the owners expect to bring into St. Louis
about New Years. This we understand to be rather an experiment
in this region, and it will be an interesting one. We doubt whether
strawberries can be forced and brought into market in January with
good success, but think they may be brought forward in March or
April with better success. The Triomphede Gand and Golden Queen
are the varieties adopted for the purpose.
We then went to their pear orchard No. 1, containing about 500
standard and 1,000 dwarf trees, the standard placed twenty feet
apart, and the dwarfs intermediate, embracing 80 varieties. It was
planted four years ago, and bears its first crop this year. The ground
bad been cultivated during the first three years in root crops and is
now in clover. The trees look all very thrifty; no blight; about 18
trees however had been destroyed by the Gigantic Root Borer
(Priofms laticollis). About 200 ^"^ Duchease^^ are loaded down with
their magnificent fruit. The Bartlett, Belle Lucrative, Howell, Beurre
Bosc, Flemish Beauty, Louise Bonne, as fine as we ever saw them.
We were also shown some very fine specimens of Beurre Hardy and
other varieties less known. The Belle Williams cracked badly.
Adjoining this very pretty pear orchard, on the eastern slope, is
their vineyard No. 2, about four acres. The Delaware hangs too full
with fruit, which cannot ripen on account of the loss of foliage. The
Concords on the contrary have a dense mass of healthy foliage, but
lis MISSOURI AGRICOLTURI.
one-half of the fruit rotted. The Hartford had been all picked — gave
a good crop.
The Taylor Bullitt, four years old, has borne as yet scarcely any
fruit. Herbemont and CuDningham, look fine and promising. Nor-
tons did not rot, but having been layered, yields but a small crop of
fruit.
Vineyard No. 1, of Messrs. Bush & Son, is on another ridge.. In
it we found the Goethe (Rogers' No. 1) and Rulander thriving beau-
tifully, their fruit clusters being handsome and free from rot. The
Delawares also carried their foliage here much better, while the Con-
cords rotted worse than in their Vineyard No. 2. The Clinton was
covered with the gall, so much so that Dr. Hull advised cutting them
down. This vineyard fronts the Mississippi river, is protected by a
still higher hill on the north ; the soil is excellent, mellow, sandy, not
too rich, and here Mr. Bush made an experiment with a few hundred
European vines, of many different varieties, but only to confirm the
well established fact that the vitis vinifera will not succeed here in
open air ; after growing luxuriantly for two years they became sick
during the third, mildewedjost their foliage, the fruit rotted, and Mr.
Bush never intends to try them again, nor does he advise others to
try them. West of the vineyard we saw about three acres in grape
cuttings, perfectly matting the ground with their luxuriant foliage.
Their principal propagating grounds, however, with hundreds of
thousands of Concords and Ives are on the opposite island, where the
Pacific railroad lately gathered thousands of visitors. The European
orchard contains several hundred pear, plum and cherry trees, mostly
imported from Vienna, Austria. They succeed better than the vines,
but not as well as their peach orchard No. 1, and none are yet in
fruit. Between the rows of fruit all varieties of small fruit are
planted.
Our time did not permit us to examine the cultivated grounds
and various improvements which Messrs. Bush & Son have made. But
we have seen enough to recognize a judicious system and indefatiga-
ble zeal. Mr. Bush intends to sell his surplus land and apply the
proceeds in the improvement of Bnshberg, which may then become
one of the finest and most interesting fruit gardens in the Stat«.
Adjoining the fruit farm of Messrs. Bush & Son on the south, is
that of Major E. S. Foster. The place is new, consisting of 80 acres,
with about half the amount in cultivation. On a bluff which seems
almost to jutout into the river, the Major has erected the neatest and
most tasteful residence that we know of in the State. It is built of
magnesian limestone, obtained in the immediate vicinity, of an agree-
able drab color. It is in the pointed Gothic style, after Downing, and
of which many examples may be seen along the banks of the Hudson
river above New York. The dwelling is surrounded with forest trees,
through which openings have been cut, affording grand vistas up and
down the river. This is a good example of what may be done in the
STATB flOBTICULTUBAL 80CISTT. 117
way of creating elegant residences along these beautiful riyer bluifs^
and the time is not far distant when every desirable point in this lo*
caUiy will be similarly occupied.
Major Foster has ten acres in vineyard, bearing the first crop^
which is a moderate one. Owing lo the extreme heat of the day, lack
oi time, and the Major's absence, we saw but little of this large vine-
yard. The portion which we saw, and which we were told was the
woift part, had suffered to the extent of a quarter or a third loss from
rot. The vines are trained upon stakes, two to each vine, which are
insufficient to sustain the mass of canes and foliage which has been
permitted to grow. Pinching, at the proper time to prevent exces-
sive growth and overhanging foliage which is generally prejudicial
to the fruit, has been neglected. The fruit, however, looks very well,
and the yield — not a bad one for the third year — will probably amount
to $2,000, even at the present low prices. A few Delawares here were
doing very well.
After returning to the house of Mr. Bush and partaking of refresh-
ments, good cold water, Herbemont and Norton's Virginia wines,
fine pears, etc., the party was taken in charge by Mr. W. S. Jewett
who conveyed us to Flatin Rock by boat About a quarter of a mile
from the landing, on the bluff, in the midst of a large orchard of
peaches and apples, is the home of Mr. Jewett, where we found a
most excellent dinner in waiting ; and never was dinner better en-
joyed. The heat was excessive, and we had taken during the morning
a long walk, considerably exhausting our energies. For a No. 1,
good and wholesome dinner, commend us to the kind offices of the
thrifty farmer's wife. French cooks may do for fancy dinners for
city folks. A better dinner than Mrs. Jewett gave us could not be
desired.
Mr. Jewett's oriihard consists of about 100 acres, chiefly peaches.
Nearly all appeared to be in quite a thriving condition, bearing only
moderately. Dr. Hull, who is always on the lookout for breakers,
thought he discovered in one tree something like incipient yellows.
We advise Mr. Jewett to watch that tree.
Mr. J. did not seem willing to appropriate a very large portion of
our time to his orchard, for he had us driven through in wagons rather
hastily, making a visit to a remarkable pond or small lake, situated
a hundred or more feet above the river, with clear water, and an
abundance of water lilies with leaves a foot and a half or more in di-
ameter, and large white flowers four of five inches broad.
After a drive ot a few miles over a rough country, we called at
Mr. B. F. Smith's, who is rather a new settler here from the fruit re-
gions of Southern Illionois. He has several acres in vineyard, mostly
Concord's and Hartford's. The former in the third year, trained on
stakes, bearing a good crop, bunches large and fine, only a trifle of
rot Hartford's nearly gone. He has a very fine young patch of
strawberries of three acres, in good condition ; also a very thrifty
.118 UISSOITItl AGRIOUI.TURS*
young peach orchard, which Dr. Hull told would make a poor
man of him. As we understood the trees were mostly Rale's Early,
we think they will not make him rich unless that variety quits iti
habit of rotting.
THK FARM OF COL. COLHAN.
Col. N. J. Colman has a farm in this vicinity of about 600 acres.
It is said he has expended 940,000 on this place. He keeps here most of
his fine trotting and racing stock, chiefly the young animalft-^if was
vaid $20,000 to $30,000 worth. Portions of his land are leased to fniil
growers, and other portions under the care of competent men em-
ployed. He has an interest in 100 acres or more of peach orchard,
has thrifty young apple orchard of 600 trees, a pear orchard of 500
trees, 1,000 cherry trees, nearly all Early May, and 500 plum trees,
chiefly Chickasaw, Damson and Lombard. There is some 30 or 40
acres in vineyard, a large portion of which is under the care of Mr.
Geo. Long, who feels a pride in his clean culture and splendid crop.
The vineyards are thus far trained upon stakes — varieties, Concord,
Hartford and Norton's chiefly. This is the first year of bearing, there
is no rot of any consequence, and a very fine crop.
We had not time to see much of this farm. It would be interest-
ing to the public, and probably to the owner, to know whether it is
beginning to pay, or what the prospects are that it will pay. Per-
haps some figures may be obtained at the end of this season*
Our next visit was to, probably the
LARGEST P£AB ORCHARD IN THB STATE.
It is owned at present, as we were informed, by A. S. Burrill, and
contains 10,000 trees. The cultivation has apparently been quite neg*
lected this season, and the weeds are high. There is a good deal of
very fine fruit upon it, and some blight was seen, but not yet very se-
rious. There are large peach orchards adjoining the pears, bearing
very well. We did not see the owner, and could not gather any im-
portant facts, but could see no reason why, with thorough manage-
ment, these orchards should not pay.
Having an appointment at Victoria for the evening, we had le
push forward to meet the down train at Bailey's Station.
BANQUET AND DISCUSSION AT VICTORIA.
Word had been sent to this place that the Oommittee would like
to meet the horticulturists of the vicinity in the evening for discuss-
ions upon the subject matter in hand. . After supper, the party of
visitors was conducted to the school building, which, to our surpriBe,
we found filled with ladies and. gentlemen, the former evidently pre-
dominating. There was a long table across the room, completely
covered with fine specimens of fruit, bouquets of flowers, frosted cakes
and bottles of native wine.
The President of the Oounty Horticultural Society sooft called
BTATB BOBTXCULTURAL SOCISTT. lU
the meeting to order, and a very neat address of welcome was made
by Mr. Whitney. Two young ladies, Misses Benson, then favored the
company with a song, accompanied by a parlor organ.
The Chairman of the Committee then responded briefly to the
address of welcome, expressing his surprise at the splendid horti-
culture entertainment and cordial welcome with which wo were
greeted.
. Addresses were made by Mr. Peabody, Dr. Hull, Mr. Cochrane,
Mr. Murtfeldt and others.
Mr. Cochrane, of Cook county, Illinois, said : "As a delegate from
the State of Illinois, I will say that in my locality we have had a very
bad season for fruit growers on account of excessive rains. I have
come down here to see how you do things. You have at least taught
me one thing, and that is that you have learned to combine the beauti-
ful, the useful and the refined. We have here the old and the young,
ladies and children, music, splendid fruits and beautiful flowers. I
am glad to be with you and make your acquaintance.
Dr. Hull gave a short lecture on the structure and growth of
plants, with illustrations on the black board.
The condition of fruit culture in the locality having been asked
for, Mr. Walker said the Catawba was a perfect wreck ; Norton's Vir-
ginia and Herbemont sound and healthy ; Delaware had lost its foli*
age badly ; Taylor pretty good ; Ives perfect. Everything this sea-
son had grown too fast — run wild. Concord had rotted some, but wai
generally good, bunches fine — ^they were not discouraged with it.
Apples, an abundant crop — ^the trees were too full by more than
half.
Peaches with him were a failure. Locusts had injured the trees
badly, which he thought was principally the cause. Pears had been
a failure with him ; and also the finer kinds of cherries. He was dis*
satisfied with his Clinton grape vines, and thought of grafting them .
Dr. Hull asked if he could succeed in grafting on the Clinton.
Dr. Morse said Mr. Biehl, Dr. Spalding and some others had had
bad success in grafting on the Clinton.
Mr. Bufih said he had bad luck with the Clinton as a stock.
Mr. Cochrane said he grafted 500 Clinton two years ago, and did
not succeed in making one grow.
Mr. Heine said fruit here is very fine this year. Grapes have rot-
ted in some localities and not in others— thinks it may be owing to
hills and hollows. Some soils will do better in some seasons than
others. Norton's has not rotted at all— Concords some. Where b«
took the foliage off, grapes had rotted most Peaches were remark-
ably fine.
Mr. Christian said his Delawares had lost the foliage and were
not ripening the irnit. Norton's sound ; Concords had rotted some.
Thinks it is owing to bad cultivation and improper pruning. Hii
vineyard was not staked and tied as it should have been.
120 MISSOURI AGBICULTURB.
Oa the morning after the meeting at Victoria, previously de-
scribed, we visited the farm of H. S. Christian, near Victoria. He
has quite a large and superior vineyard. We probably saw none
better — some thought that this the best His Concords are bearing
as good a crop as could be desired. Norton, good, no rot; Herbe-
raont, some rot, some portions remarkably fine ; Oatawba, lost by
rot; Delaware, losing its leaves, and will not ripen the fruit. This is
the first year he has failed with the Delaware. The vines are lUl
trained on stakes, probably designed to be temporary, and many of
them are breaking down by the load of fruit and winds. The cultiva-
tion is very good. Mr. Christian makes very good wine, unusually
80, considering the fact that he has no cellar to keep it in.
On our return we visited Mr. Heine, one of the original settlers
of the place, where we found a very thrifty vineyard in its third
year, with very little rot; fruit not so ripe as in most other locali-
ties; slope, eastern, considerably shaded, and potatoes grown be-
tween the rows. He has a very fine young apple orchard, bearing
well, and fruit beautiful.
APFUE OBCHAEDS
In this vicinity are nearly all young— five to eight years old — and
nearly all are remarkably healthy, and are bearing abundant^ of
very fine fruit, showing that this region is eminently adapted to apple
growing.
ROADS.
After our return to the hotel we found carriages in readiness to
convey us to Hillsboro, a distance of three miles or more. We found
the way rough, but a macadamized road is in process of construction
between these two villages. We wish here to say a few words in fa-
vor of good roads. We had during the morning driven over exceed-
ing rough roads, full of stumps, and showing the want of work badly.
How fruit can be hauled over such roads to the railroad depot without
serious damage, is more than we can understand or believe. Farmers
should spend the necessary time, or pay taxes, to obtain good roads,
cheerfully. They will save money by it. It enables them to haul
their products to market at any time with safety and comfort to them-
selves and teams. If the roads are bad, you either cannot haul al
all, or you must take half a load, at the risk of injuring your pro-
ducts, breaking your wagons, and distressing the teams. It donH
pay.
MEETING AT HILLSBORO.
At Hillsboro we were driven directly to the court house, where
we found a goodly company ready to receive us, and the large upper
room well filled with tables of fruits, bouquets, etc., and one long
table covered with eatables. Fruit growers, their wives, daughters,
and sons were present.
The meeting was called to order by Mr. P. 0. Whitehead.
BITATK MMfiCIWr 0BAL gOClBVT. 3S||
A very neat adddress of welcome was made by John H Thomai^
ISiq., It lawyer and fruitgrower of Hillsboro.
It was responded to by several members of the visiting party«
A discussion upon hdrticrultural subjects followed.
Mr. Murtfeldt said, borticulturists have large hearts. It is impoK
tdible for a bad man to be a good horticulturist The horticulturist
ihould love home and its adornments. His aims and his associations
are refining and elevating in their character. The horticulturista i^
bor for others.
Dr. Hull said horticulturists have gone into the business free^,
not knowing the discouragements they would m^et with. They haT^
found so many insect enemies to contend with, that many have be*
eome discouraged. If we had known at the beginning the difficulties
we should have to contend with, we would not have planted moM
than we could have taken good care of. By large plantings, insecta
are fed and increased.
Committees were appointed to examine and report upon tti#
i|>ecimens on the tables.
Of wines, there was fair Catawba, a little too sour, by filias HU<
p^rhauser.
Concord, not clear, of good body, by Tom Walker.
Herbemont, white, a good article, by the same.
Also about a dozen bottles of Tom Walker's splendid Catawba^
of the same that we had at Victoria.
Among 80> many, we did not learn the names of all the exbibiton
of fruit. Prominent among them were Mr. Whitehead, J. P. Booth, J.
L. Thomas, Samuel Wright, Tom Walker. Hon. J. H. Morse had a
large show of very fine apples, mostly winter sorts.
The peaches exhibited were very large and fine. Among them
were many seedlings, several so nearly resembling the Heath cling,
that the committee thought they should not be named as distinct
Dr. Hull stated that the Heath so nearly reproduces. itself thai
it is thought best not to give new names.
Dr. Morse said most of the yellow-fleshed varieties are likely to
reproduce themselves from seed, or so nearly so as to give good vari-
tie& This is especially the case with the Columbia.
Mr. Wright, who has taken several premiums/or fine peaches,
was asked about his culture. He said in his pruning he endeavors to
maintain uniformity, but wMild aim to get the southwest side of the
tree the heaviest, as a protetfte from the sun. When the fruit is too
abundant, thins out Jars his trees, and uses a curcnlio catcher.
Such a machine as he has costs about ten dollars.
CODLING MOTH.
Dr. Hull spoke of the codling moth, which is considerably qi^
the increase. In the month of May the perfect insect lays an egg p^
♦J>~H B
in" MUtflMIJIt AMMATCM*
tike calyx t/t the apple. It hatebea, and the worn eats its way into the
core, attains its growth, comes ont, and lets itself down by a web tcr
a limb of the tree or the ground. In early frait, it may come ontin a
few weeks. It crawls under the rough barh of the tree, or into some
Ctevice, and makes its cocoon. In about twenty days, on an average,
it will transform into the perfect insect or moth, to lay eggs again.
As remedies: The first brood may be caught by lights placed i«
djfeihes of water. A strong decoction of tobacco may be thrown into
the trees to kill the moth. If an old cloth is placed in the crotch of
the tree, the worm will crawl under this or between ite folds to make
its cocoon, when they may be destroyed. They will breed in the
cellar where apples are placed, under the barrel hoops, and in other
crevices. The hay band, recommended by Dr. Trimble, may be made*
of any fine hay twisted into a band^ and put around the trunk of the
tree in three coils. This may be raised up from time to time, and the
cocoons destroyed. It is considerable work, and we are apt to be
lazy. Thinks woolen cloths in the crotch of the tree are better. Hogs
are the best protection in the orchard. They eat up the fallen fruit,
and destroy the insects.
The Keswick Codling, Golden Russett, and Duchess of Oldenbiftg,
are the only varieties that have escaped the work of the apple-louse
of late. The lady bug destroys these lice, but of late the parasite of
the Colorado poUtto bug has eaten up the lady bugs*
For peaches, he advised growers to catch the curcuUo, and unite te
do it — that is all should do it ; and not plant more largely than can
be managed*
BORERS.
For the apple-tree borer. Dr. Hull recommended soap, applied to
the tree in the latter part of May. He uses it hot, applied with a
paint brush to the trunk of the tree, especially neav the ground, and
has found it effectual.
After enjoying the excellent and abundant dinner, and spending
an hour or two more in social chat and the discussion of horticultural
affairs, we bid adieu to the Hillsboro horticulturists, having had a
very pleasant and profitable season. We returned to Yictoria, tbenca
by train to De Soto, where we passed the night.
VIKEIaAND.
Thursday morning we went to Vineland, four miles beyond De
Soto, where we were met by a number of the enterprising fruit'
growers of that vicinity.
Mr. Chester Lyons' orchard was the first visited. The trees are
ydung, thrifty, and heavily loaded with very fair and handsome fruit.
Aei^as ten acres of vineyard, newly planted.
We passed next into the vineyard of Mr. E. P. Child. He has ten
siATB ]io«iiCfnanmA& sooonnr. Itt
meres in the first bearing year, chiefly Ooncoids* The crap is very
fine, and no rot Where none had been gathered, there was twenty
to twenty-five ponnds per vine, and frequently even more. At the
time of our visit he was shipping two tons per day to St. Louis, and
had received, up to that time, twelve and a half cents per pound.
The vines are trained to temporary trellis of stakes and twine, an-
awering the purpose but poorly, as the owner has found. In this
vineyard, like the majority of the others we had visited, crab grass
was abundant Mr. Child has a large orchard of peaches and apples,
about one hundred acres, which we did not go through.
Dr. W. 8. Dyer, one of the original fruit-growers of this locality,
was next visited. He has, in all, about twenty acres in vineyards
His oldest vineyard of Concords has suffered badly with rot He
thinks it was caused by too close planting — six by seven feet we think
is the distance. He intends to remove alternate vines, and where
this has been done in a small portion, there was little or no rot The
vines removed were bearing well, and no rot The young vineyard
was thrifty and healthy. Nortons,in the third year, had been layered
and cut back, consequently were not bearing. Delawares, healthy
in foliage. The Doctor made 3,500 gallons of wine last year. We
found a cool, breesy place in the packing room above the wine cellar,
ttnd felt greatly refreshed by the cool wine which was brought up in
liberal quantities from the regions below. The cellar is an excellent
one, deep, cool, and tidy.
We took a long walk through the Doctor's extensive young apple
orchard, in its fifth year, and were surprised to find it bearing, at that
age, so much fine fruit Some trees had been lost by the borers and
replaced.
From Dr. Dyer's we passed through a very fiourishing young
orchard belonging to Judge Newcomb, and found further evidence
to confirm the opinion expressed by more than one of the visitors,
that this region is a No. 1 for apples. Judge Ne wcomb's vineyard
•hows neglect in cultivation, and the fruit has rotted nearly as bad as
Dr. Dyer's.
The next place adjoining.is Mr. Brachvogel's. We saw evidence
at once of German taste in the good garden and the quantity and
variety of flowers surrounding the dwelling. Mr. B. has twenty acres
in vineyard, a portion of which is bearing its first crop of fruit The
cultivation is thorough, and the German system of close pruning has
been followed — many of the leaves even have been taken off. Con-
sequently the fruit is not so ripe as in other vineyards about here, but
the bunches are large and fine. It will be very interesting to see
this vineyard in future years, to note the effect of the system of prun-
ing adopted.
Mr. Wm. F. Bowen, one of the most intelligent horticulturists of
this neighborhood, accompanied us in our visits. Only a few of the
party had an Opportunity to see his orchard. Our visit to Vinelacd,
114 iaB0O9it AnKmsvnu
in fact, was short and nntaliffactorj, Arom the Uet that the weather
was too hot to enable us to yirit carefully the extenaiTe orchardt
with safety. It happened to be in the hottest week of the year.
A CANRIHe HOUSI!.
After oar return to De Soto, we went out about a mile to visit the
canning establishment of Mr. John J. Squires. It is a good, substan*
tial building, new, well constructed, and supplied with a steam en-
gine. Mr. S. commenced canning about three weeks before the time
ef our visit, and was then putting up twenty-six dozen cans a day of
sweet corn. He informed us that he took a premium against the
world for his fruit preserving jar, at the Paris Exposition, and also for
preserved fruits and vegetables. Samples of com put up in glass
looked well. Also, Lima beans, pie plant, green apples, peaches, cur-
rants, huckleberries and strawberries were shown, put up in glass^
without sugar, apparently in good order.
We regard this establishment as an important one to the fruit-
growers of the vicinity, important to Western trade, and one in which
the proprietor ought to reap a rich reward. To have our markets sup-
plied with canned fruits and vegetables irom Baltimore, New Tork
and Boston, while we have a fruit region unsurpassed, is not credit-
able to Western enterprise. This canning house is a beginning. The
end will be, doubtless, that the East will be supplied with fruit from
the West within ten years.
FRUIT DALE FARM AKD VI9BTARD.
This is the name which Mr. Squires has given to his place. He
raises his own sweet corn, etc., for canning ; has a fine young orchard
and a large vineyard. The latter is five years old, most of it; trailed
on trellis of stakes and wire. Portions of it had suffered a lose of one*
third by rot Altogether there was an average good crop. The Glin^
ton had lost its foliage to some extent, an unusual thing; while the
Delaware, which is so subject to leaf blight, was doing well. Mr. &
has a good many varieties.
H0 treated us to excellent Concord wine, of his own make. His
wine cellar is new, under one end of the canning house, and IS by 36
feet ih siee,
MEETING AT BE 80T0.
in the evening a meeting was held at Masonic Hall. No notice
had been sent, or appointment made for this place, and the meeting;
was hastily summoned by a few citizens, yet there was a very good
attendance, except that there were no ladies present Horticultur-
ally, De Soto is behind many other towns in the county. About two
hours were spent in what seemed to be a highly interesting discus-
8IAT1 HOBSfOOLVDEAL aOOBTY. IBS
don of the hozticiiltural interests of the yicinity, and the citizens pres-
ent resolved upon the formation of a horticultural society.
The visiting party were not permitted to pay anything at the as-
cellent De Soto House, of Mr. Douthet, but we do not know to whom
acknowledgments are doe.
VINBTABDS OP THE OLIFF CAVB WIKB COKPANT.
On the 28th of September, in company with Mr. Markham, of St
Louis, the chairman made a brief visit to the lands of the Oliff Gave
Wine Company, thirteen miles below St Louis, on the bank of the
Mississippi river.
We found the vineyards, consisting of about twenty-two acres, in
a flourishing condition. The Concords had rotted to some extent —
perhaps one-sixth or more had been lost— but still there is a large
crop left It is a question whether, if grapes were thinned out to a
reasonable crop, the rot would not be, to a great extent, prevented.
When they are allowed to bear more than a hundred bunches to the
vine, is it any wonder that some of them rot, or that the vines are so
enfeebled as to induce rot in subsequent seasons f No doubt rot may
and does exist independent of overbearing, but we believe that nine*
tenths of our vinegrowers permit the Concord to greatly overbear,
and it is quite probable that this has an influence in producing rot
We found Dr. Spalding, the chief proprietor and manager, in his
working dress, aiding in the gathering and wine-making. He thought
that nearly a quarter of the whole crop had been lost by rot This
estimate seemed to us quite too high.
The Nortons, of which there are several acres, are bearing their
first crop, a good one for the first, and nx> rot ; the vines very thrifty
and healthy. There were two or three acres of the Ives in a very
promising condition, and will be ready for bearing next year. A few
rows of the Oreveling were in a most pitiful condition — almost en^
tirely destitute of foliage. This locality is evidently unsuited to the
Oreveling.
The Hartford Prolifics, of which there is nearly an acre, will all
be rooted out this fall.
There are several acres of plants, layers and cuttings in a very
thrifty condition. These vineyards are under the care of Mr. Cham-
bers, who was formerly with Mr. Mason, of Webster Uroves. The cul-
tivation is thorough, and the pruning, we think, a little too much so.
To look through the rows, a quarter of a mile long, straight, cleanly
cultivated and closely pruned, with a fine crop of fruit, is a beantiful
flight; but we believe in summer pinching rather than summer prun-
ing. When we see young canes, the size of our pencil, or larger, cut
off with the shears or knife, we cannot help thinking it wrong.
The fruit of the Concord and Norton's in particular, we thought
■nusnall^ sweet and rich here.
About a quarter of a mile from tke Tineyards there is a laiga
eave, which it is proposed to oonvert into a wine cellar. The moutli
0[ it is undergmng improyement, and is nearly ready to reoeive a por-
tion of this season's riatage.
L D. MOBS£» (7A«tmM OmfkmiU0$.
^.
■ < M.
7»
*1'
OFFICERS AND MEMBERS FO?. ,1870.
}
PRBSIDEHT. ,
Dk. ^H. Claqobtt, 8t LoQiS) Mo.
TICB PRBSIDEIITS. -
First GotigressioiuJ Distfict— N. J. Oolman, St Louis.
Second ** " T. W. Qur, Sulphur Slpripga.
Third " ^* G. R Clark, Potosi.
Fourth " " D. S. HoLMAN, Springfield-
Fifth •* « P. A. NiTOHT, Joffersoa Oiky.
Sixth " ** G. S. Park, Parkville,
Seventh " ** H. M. Vorieq, St Joae|)h.
Eighth « ** O. H. P. Lear, Hannibal.
Ninth "" ^ Wk. Stark, Louisiwa.
BBOORDINa AKD COBRBSPOlTDnrQ 8E0RETARY.
Wm. Muir, Fox €reek Post office, St Louis Coaiity,'Me.
TRBA8URBR.
John fl. Tiob, St Louis, Mo.
OOlOflTTBBS.
Budness^—B. H. Vories, H. T. Madd, 0. W. Murtfeldt
Entomology. — O. V. Riley, Dr. J. Q. Norwood, Dr. E. S. Hull.
Flowers.— VL G. Kern, Ghas. Oonnon, J. H. Tice, Prof. O. Root
Vineyards. — Saml. Miller, L Bush, E. R. Mason. ,
Orchards.— BXchdixdi Barron, I. Snediker, J. J. Eelley, F. W.
Bowen.
Vegetahles.-'DT. Spalding, F. F. Fine, Wm. Harris.
Bees.— A. E. Trabne, T. R. Allen, A. A. O. Gardner.
Ad /n^^rtm.— North District— A. J. Stewart, Geo. S. Park, RF»
Lasear.
South District— Dr. L. D. Morse, N. J. Oolman, F. A Nitchy.
IM
III880IJBI A0BI0DLTUBS.
8PSCIAL ooMiirrrEi
To.procure members and report to Treasurer at once
H. M. Yories, St Joseph.
Dr. £. 8. Hull, Alton, Illinois.
O. Connon, Webster.
Wm. Stark, Louisiana.
John H. Tice, St Louis.
H. T. Mudd, Eirkwood.
F. R Allen, AUenton.
Geo. Husmann, Bluflfton.
Isidor Bush, Bushberg.
Wm. Muir, Fox Creek.
MBlfBBRS.
F. F. Fine,
J. S. Marshall,
e.W. Forder,
J, H. Pierce,
Edward Reed, .
R. B. Price,
Prof. Orin Root,^ ,
J. H. Shields,
Prof. J. Q. Norwood, .
A.Willis,
Dr. L. D. Morse,
Elder J. M. Robinsbn,
J. M. Douglass,
R L. Todd,
O. A. A. Gardner,
D. H. Hickman,
M. P. Lentz,
J. W. Harris,
Richmond Pearson,
G.M. Dewey,
Wm. Stark,
Jacob Studley,
A.KTrabue,
O. H, P. Lear,
T. W. Guy,
J. M. Ward,
Dr. J. N. Stewart, .
E. F. Bennett,
£. R Mason,
0. W. Murtfeldt,
0. W. Spalding,
N. J. Golman,
Oh as. Peabody,
B. M. Yeatch,
J. B. Turner.
••< <"
'• . v^
■"wl*-* »X
3C
<!■ *■»
M^MA«»*«MIM
■r-f-
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE. ,
ANNUAL MEETING
OF THE
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY GRAPE GROWERS"
ASSOCIATION.
^mmtm^m^tm
ANNUAL MEETING
OP THE
mississippi valley
Grape Growers' Assox:i ation
The meeting was held at Meroaotile Hall, in Alton, Illinois, April
13, 1869, and was called to order by the President, Dr. O.W.Spalding,
at 10 o'clock precisely.
James E. Starr, Esq., President of the Alton Horticultural Society,
gave the Association a hearty welcome to the hospitalities of the cit-
izens of Alton, as follows : .
Mr. President and (Gentlemen :
At your last session, held in St. Louis, an invitation was tendered
you by the Alton Horticultural Society, requesting you to hold yout"
next convention in this city. In response to that invitation you are
now assembled. Tour mission, the extension of vine culture, white
it is stimulated by the hope of personal reward to its votaries, is not
without the noble and high incentive of good for your fellow men.
At present the, circle of your influence is comparatively small, but
when the capabilities of the great Valley of the Mississippi shall b©
understood and developed, when the banks of onr noble river shall
be adorned with vine clad hills, and teeming thousands shuUfind both
profit and pleasure in the culture; when the population that shall fill
the land shall find solace, health and pleasure in the wine cup rather
than the stupefying lager or the intoxicating whisky, then you will
have accomplished a great work, and your influence will have become
as wide spread as the name of your association indicates. To be
allowed to gather knowledge from your deliberatiolis, and wisdom
from your councils ; to add our mite, humble though it be, to the gen-
eral stock is our privilege at this time. The Alton Horticultural
Society, for itself and the citizens of Alton, desire to welcome yea
•?
U2 X^ US80URI AGEiOITfiTUR&
heartily, honestly. They bid yon God speed in yonr noble work. Their
sincere desire is tKat no elTort shall be spared, no word unspoken^ thai
•hall add to yonr con^forL while among us.
President Spalding accepted the tendered hospitality on behalf
«f the Association in an approjHriate manner, stating that onr Asso-
ciation, although small in pumtiers, had a large mission, namely, the
good and progress of the grape growing interest in the great Missis-
•ippi Valley*,
A letter from William Muir, Secretary of the Associatioi^, wap
read, stating that he was still confined to hi^ bed by indisposiUoo,
•ocaaioned .by ihe accident, of which he was the unfortunate sub-
ject. ;
Mr. John M. Pearson, of Alton^ was chosen Secretary pro tetn.
T^e President then announced the following business committee;
JVmes E. Starr, B. F. Lazear and J. H. Tice. ^
Time was then allowed- for the payment of fees, etc., after which
the business committee reported the following order of exercises :
, Ist. Hours of meeting, from 9. A. M., to 12 m., and from 2^ to !H
P.M.
. 2d. Selection of Wine Committees.
3d. Special order for Tuesday: President's address at 2^ o'clock,
F. M.; election of officers at 8, p. m.; elidction of Executive Com-
mittee.
The President made the announcement that if any member wished
to compete for the premium for the best collection of wines he should
hand in his name to the Secretary; and stated there was no monej
premiam offered for this class of wine, but an article valued at $35
WottM be awarded. Considerable discussion was had upon the sub-
ject of exhibitors acting on committees to award premiums, for which
Aaid exhibitors were competing, Dr. Claggett taking the ground that
this course at the last meeting caused much dissatisfaction^ and de-
terred many from attending this meeting, and from sending specimeni
of their wine for competition.
Mr. J. £. Starr remarked that he was astonished that any shoald
have entertained spch an opinion, as he believed it was impoesibk
for those whd Were not acquainted with the merits of wine to judgt
«f its quality, and was sure whoever might be appointed on commit-
tees {even if they were competitors for the same premium) would act
W an honorable manner;
Mri Eisenmeyeir then moved that no exhibitors shall act on Um
tame cdm'niittee in which his owti wine is placed.
After further discussion, the motion was anHnimously adopted
The regular order of bnsinees-^being that of appointing commit-
toefs on airarding premittmf to the best specimens of wine — ^wat
Hken up.
8TATB HOKTIOULTUIUL SOCIETT. 1£S
The President stated that exhibitors of the different wines woald
choose the awarding committees.
Exhibitors of Concord were then requested to select the commit-
tee for that variety, with the following result: Adolph £ngleman,
chairman, Wm. Stark and Dr. Hermann Boesch.
Norton's Virginia was next in order, and Dr. JL D. Morse, chair-
man, G. 0. Eisenmeyer and G. Mariot were chosen.
The Ives and Clinton varieties were referred to the committee on
Norton's Virginia.
Best Red Wine — Dr. C. W. Spalding, Louis Winter and E. A. Riebl
were chosen.
Best Catawba — Exhibitors, after consultation, nominated John M.
Pearson, Dr. Spalding and Dr. £. S. Hull.
Best Delaware — A. Starr, G. Mariot and A. Engleman.
Herbemont was referred to same committee.
Best White Wine of any variety — Committee, Dr. Morse, Dr. Hull
and Mr. E. M. Veatch.
Best Mixed Wines— F. Berf man, C. V. Riley and F. Starr.
Sparkling Wine— Dr. H. Claggett, H. J. Hyde and C. W. Murt-
feldt.
Best Collection — Dr. G. M. Dewey, Capt. D. Stewart and Dr.
Hall.
Dr. Hall moved to change the hour of meeting from 2^ o'clock to
S o'clock, p. u., which was carried, and the meeting adjourned to 3
•'clock, p. M.
AFTEaNOON SfiSSION.
The Association met pursuant to adjournment.
President Spalding then read his address, making such recom^
nendalions in regard to cultivation and varieties of the grape as be
thoaght were for the best interests of the grape grower:
ADDRESS BT DR. W. 0. SPALDING, PRESIDENT.
Gentlemen of the Mississippi Valley Or ape Growers^ Association:
In the Providence of God we are again permitted to assemble U}*
gether for the purpose of interchanging views and comparing our ex-
perienees relative to that most enticing branch of horticulture which
It is the object of this society to encourage and promote. Custom
ctomands a few opening remarks from your presiding officer, but in
eonforming to this usage, I shall on this occasion be very brief, be-
lieving that your time will be more profitably occupied in the dis-
cussions and other regular business which will oome before the
meeting.
184 ltI!»OnRI AaRIOULTORB.
The number of intelligent growers present at this, the fifth meet
log of our young society, serves to confirm its founders in their previ-
ous conviction that the progress which the culture of the grape was
making, and the proportions which it had already attained, demanded
an organisation devoted entirely to that particular speciality; Our so-
ciefy may rmw besaid to have passed the period of infancy, and to
have entered upon the more aetive period of youth. May it soon at-
tain the vigor and strength of manhood, a»d may it long maintain
among the permanent institutions of our time aueeftri and influential
position, which shall enable those who have labored for its establish-
ment to look back with pleasure and pride upon their early efforts m
its behall I
The grape is one of the oldest and noblest of fruits. Secular his-
tosy, in its earliest periods, contains interesting accounts of the vine
and its culture. Indeed, in all latitudes where it successfully thrives,
its history is co-extensive with that of civilization and refinement
Even in climates too rigorous or congenial for its open culture, and
where the product of the vine is regarded as a luxury, the gratifica*
(ion of a refined taste has led to a resort to artificial means for iu
production.
In our broad and noble valley the culture of the grape has bul
just begun. Its various soils and its diversity of climate afiTord an
ample field for the introduction of kinds both new and old, and it
may safely be predicted that the time will come when our wines shall
equal in variety and quality those of any portion of the world. Al-
ready what has been accomplished is sufficient to solve the problem
of success, and what is more to establish the fact that in certain
classes of wine we can now compete successfully with the producti
of foreign countries. At no distant day the consumption of foreign
wines will become the exception as it has heretofore been the rule,
and we shall then have demonstrated to the American public that all
which we have claimed for American wines will have been realized,
and the millions of dollars that now go abroad annually for the pur
chase of the wines of other countries will be retained at home.
The efforts of this society should be directed towards the accom-
plishment of this stupendous result in the shortest practical time.
The question naturally arises " How can this be done ?" There
are just two important things to accomplish, and the work is done:
first, the production of wines in such great variety as to compete
with all the foreign sorts ; and second, to bring them to market at so
cheap a rate as to displace the imported article. With red wines, this,
to a considerable extent, has already been accomplished. Mach tlie
largest proportion of the red wines now impiorted belong to the Bor-
deaux and Bungundy classes.
Our Concord, Ives, Norton^s Virginia and Cynthiana ar^ being
tapidly substituted for these wines ; and when we shall have done
for the white wines what these four varieties have done, and are now
8TA9B fi<>ll!rtOtTLftntAt/ SMtlM. IW
doing for the red, we shall have talcen a long stride towards the end
we are seeking to realize.
Our markets are supplied with wines from France, Germany, Por-
tugal, Spain, and the islands and shores of the Mediterranean. Onr
people are accustomed to the use of all these different kinds, and to
possess ourselves of the American market, we mustfumish wines sim-
ilar to all these, or substitute for them other wines which shalL jufvw
equally acceptable to the tastes of consumers. That we are in a fair
way of doing this with red wines, I have already stated. But what
can be said of our prospects for substitutes for the light-colored wines,
which are now so largely imported f
The old Catawba can not be relied on to supply this want to any
considerable extent, for it is evidently failing even in localities where
it has heretofore succeeded. Where, then, are the new sorts that are
to yield these light colored wines? I can at this time name but a
•ingle variety of which it can be safely said that it has been suffi-
ciently tested to give a fair promise of being equally hardy and pro-
ductive with the four kinds named above. I allude to the Martha.
There are other varieties, as the Maxatawney« several of the Rogers^
Hybrids, etc., for which this claim is asserted, but up to this time they
are still on trial, and no one could feel safe in planting them exten-
sively. The same may be said of the Delaware, excepting in a few
fhvorable localities where it is now doing well. Yet even at these
points the vineyards are still too young to give entire assurance of
ultimate profit.
The southern ^Estivallis, of which the Herbemont will serve at
the representative, is not wholly suited to our climate. Tlie more
ikillful and painstaking will grow them with success. Yet the win -
ter protection necessary for this class of grapes is against their gen-
eral introduction. The American grape grower demands something
that will alike endure our summer's heat and our winter's cold.
For the production of a fair assortment of white wines, we must
still look to the further introduction of new varieties, possessing the
hardihood and productiveness of the Concord and Norton.
It becomes the members of this asaooiation, therefore^ to test, in*
dividually, all new varietiea which appear to have any just claim to
iSiling this evident want Several years are required to deflnitely de*
tennine the merits of any new grape« and if we w<)re in possession of
•tie or more sorts, at this time, which had all the requisite good points^
a good deal of time must elapse before we could prudently recom-
mend it for general cultivation.
In this connection, there is one point relative totltefDrlginatioB
of new varieties, to which I wish to call attention. It is the almost
nni versal custom of crossing our native species with the vitis vinifera
or European grape. None of this species have Ibund a home on the
eastern slope of our continent, but all of them have proved more or
leas liable to disease, and their cnltivatf on for viikeyard parposi^s has
been wholly abandoned. Why then seek to jnihsd thrs sickly. bk>bd
into our species? The best and most successful grapes we WVe iaie
thoroughly native, and the four or five distinct species indigenoos to
onr country certainly cover all the points of excellence that can poe-
sibly be wished for. Why not, then, endeavor to combine these na-
tive excellencies by the crossing of our native species? lam confi-
dent that the highest success attainable from' systematic cf Osa-fertili-
nation lies in this direction, and he who leads in the development of
the latent resources which exist in this almost nnexplored field will
confer a lasting benefit npon the ptiblic, and reap for himself an ampla
reward. •
Mr. Husmann, of Missouri, took the floor in opposition to -ona
point in the President's address, namely, the statement that the Mar-
tha seemed to be about the only grape that conld be generally relied
upon to make a white winB that would compare favorably with fo^
eign white wines. He thought that Rogers' No. 1 and 9, the Maxa-
tawney, and for some loc^alities, the Oassady^were equal* to tile Martha
for white wine. The idea that we must have a grape that will snit
all locations, is one of the fallacies of the age. Eogers' No. 9 is mncli
like the Oatawba, has done well so far. No. 8 has not been so well
tested, but promises well. Of all he had cultivated, no grape had paid
him better than the Herbemont. Every grape grower ought to h%
witling to take the little trouble necessary to Becnre a crop by winto
covering. The Taylor he thought had not been snfficiently tried.
The past year it had yielded him a good crop^ It does better as it be-
comes older. From these varieties we can make good white wine,
and enough of it *
In answer to a question, Mr. Husmann said the Taylor vines he
had just referred to were not impregnated by any other variety. Bs
had come to the conclusion, now, that the Taylor will produce ehongk
when it gets old enough to admit of spur pruning.
The hour for it having arrived, the Association proceeded to the
ELECTION OP OFFICERS.
Mr. Biehl and Mr. Hyde were appointed tellers.
The President declined a re-election, and gave what he deemed
^ood reasons, and thought that the interests of the Assiciation de-
manded a change in the office of President, as he had filled it for the
past two years.
Ballots were distributed to members, and then collected and
oonnted at the Secretary's desk with the following result :
President — James E. Starr, of Alton.
Vice President — Geo. Husmann^ of Missonri
Secretary — Dr. L. D, Morse, of St. Louis.
Treasurer— J. H. Tice, of St Louis.
Executive Oommittee--Dr. 0. W. Spalding, Dr. B. S. Hull, H. O.
M'Pike, Oeo. Hnsmann and E. A. Biehl.
FitOCKBBlirGS 09 QBAPK.QROWSRS' ASSOCtATIOK. 137
The newly elected President was condacted to the chair. He
'thanked the Association for the h^nor conferred, and pledged himself
to do his utolost to adv&noe the ^rape jgrowinje: intetelit in the Mis*
«issippi valley.
Tiie other oS^cers took their respective positions.
QRAFTINO THB aRAP£i.
Mr. Laze ar, of Pike county. Mo., moved Intake up the silbj'ettl Kjf
i^railtin^ the grape. Carried.' '
Mr. La^ear: Can we take up vines and graft them in the h^dude
during winter, And set them out in the spring with silccess t
Mr. Husmann said he had practiced grafting old i&t5ckd in the
vineyard with good success, but had Buccefed^d Very poorly in the
way proposed. Mr. Miller^ of Bluffton^ bad succeeded better on
pieces of roots, forwarded ^nder glass^ He puts them closely in a
box, and then puts them in a hot bed. Thinks it has a tendency to
promote a more vigorous growth in alow growers to graft them on
vigorous grawers. . Some varieties are probably better adapted to
each other than others, but he has succeeded very well with all.
Mr. Richmond, of Ohio, said he had practiced grafting, the grape
in the way proposed, and failed. Had tried them in hot bed with
good success.
Dr. Dewey, of Chariton county. Mo., said he has some grafted
grape vines packed aw^y iu sawdust now; so tar they look well; will
be able to report -at the end of the season.
On motion, it was resolved to meet at half-past seven o'clock in
the evening.
Mr. Pearson, of Alton, askeid what grape shall we plant? What
is the variety that in three years from now. will be most in the^ mar*
ketl
Mr. Eisemneyer said, if you plant Hartford Prolific, Codoord,
Herbemont and Taylor's Bullitt, be. thought it best not to plow very
deep — twelve to fifteen inches— -and put them on the poorest soil.
For slow growing varieties plow twenty inches deep. This was best,
according to his eg^perieyice. Wherever you can raise Delaware, ott
oob bottom^ raise them, ^e did not praise the Clinton mnch, bat
tliought it well enough to have a few qf (hem. Itis a strong, healthy
grpwer. , . . .
Mr. Flagg said, we should cultivate grapes that will both sell and
make wine. He should plant early, medium and late sorts; is in*
clined to choose Ives, Concord and Catawba.
.'Dr. Dewey said he had fruited Bogers'Ko.l two years; it is
healthy and does not drop. Does, not tUink Ives makes a geod maz^
ket grapok In his localil^ (Chariton co«nty, Mo.,) the Delaware does
finely, makes a vigorous growth and has no fault
Mr. Peabo4y said, if pli^nting largely lar matket^ Mr. Flagg's sng-
*10— H B .
133 nSSOURI AOBIOULTHU.
gestiou is good. Concord cracked badly in Jefferson county, Ho^
last year. The Creveling is a delicioas grape, next to Delaware — ^not
quite so compact — same luxuriance as Concord ; has borne abund-
antly two years; delicious, high flavored and sweet. Kogers'No. 1
does well on our blaffs ; more prolific than No. 4. What would do
well on Mr. Flagg's soil would not probably do so well on mine.
Every locality must experiment for itself.
Mr. Richmond, of Sandusky, Ohio : The Rogers' Nos. 4, 15 and
19 are our best grapes. Catawba is still considered one of our best
grapes.
Mr. Eisenmeyer : The Concord sells better than Ives.
Dr. Claggett, of St Louis : The most saleable grape is the Dela-
ware, next the Concord ; believes more buyers will take the Concord
at the same price in preference to the Delaware, but Delaware will
command the highest price.
BBPOKF ON WIHB BXHIUTID.
Concord— ^Q give the names of those to whom the premiums
were awarded, and also the name of each exhibitor, with the figures
sbowing the grade, in the* scale of 100, at which the sample wae
'marked:
First premium to A. & F. Starr, Alton, 111., grade 89 ; second pre*
mium to same exhibitors on another sample, grade 87 ; third premium
to J. J. Eelly, Webster Grove, Mo., grade 82 ; sample from Cliff Cave
Wine Company, St Louis, grade 80; A. Eberhard,* Portland, Mo., 71;
Foeschell & Scherrer, Hermann, Mo., 71 ; S. H. Long, Alton, 111., 72 ;
Jacob Madinger, St. Joseph, 79^; F. Mueller, South Point, Mo., 72;
Dr. 6. M. Dewey, Keytesville, Mo., 77 ; James D. Davis, Clarksville,
Mo, TO; James D. Davis, Clarksville, Mo., 71 ; E. A. Thompson, Cin-
cinnati, Ohio, 77 ; James E. Starr, Elsah, 111., 76 ; G. Marlot, Bear
Oreak, 111, 71; B. F. Lazear, Louisiana, Mo., 66; F. M. Redbarn,
Keytwville, bad cask; BInfffcon Wine Company, Bluffton, Mo., 78; J.
h Kelly^ Webster Grove^ Mo., 69.
N0H€m?9 Virginia.— ¥mt premium to Poeschell & Scherrer, Her-
flMnin, MOb, grade 91f ; second premium to F. Mueller, South Point,
Mo., grade 88|; third premium to Dr. G. M. Dewey, Keytesville, Mo^
«a; H. Q. MePike, Alton, HI., 76f ; H. G. McPike, Alton, II!., 75J; K.
A. Thompson, Cincinnati, Ohio, 74; Bluifton Wine Company, Bluffton
dUU>., 81 i James £. SUxr, ZU., 81f ; Christian Bicklen, Burlington,
lowii, 77i
<72«'n^on.— First preminttt to James Ek Starr, S^sah, 111., 88^; sec-
^di to Bluffton Vnne Clmipftiiy, Bluffkon, Mo , grad6 7S; third to J. L.
^oofia ^ Bro.4 Wiitohaflteiv 111., Mf.
. if^MrT-Fimt premilita to^ fi. A. Thompson, Oinoinnatif Ohio, grade
86} ; second to Bluffton Wino Oonqiany, 76iv
iMm xMiLmmM am wtms st oitb ifixHtBiroii.
Tour committee, to whom was referred the above tiamed samples
nOCXXDINeS 09 aKAn QMWBBS' ASfiOCIATION.
IM
of wine, report that they find two competitors for the premiom, J. E»
Starr, of Elsah, III., and the Bloffton Wine Oompany, Mo., the former
with five samples, as follows :
Catawba, graded, 77; Clinton, 83^; Concord, 76; Delaware, imma*
ture ; Norton, 81}.
The Bluffton Wine Company presented twenty samples, two of
which have been mislaid, the remaining eighteen we grade as foh
lows:
Cynthiana (very fine), grade 93J; Catawba, 85; Clinton, 80; Her»
bemont (white), 88; Devereaux, 86f ; Norton, 84; Ralander, 86; Con-
cord, 78; Creveiing, 80 ; Maxatawney and Martha, in equal propor-
tions (best of all), 96; Ives, 81}; Delaware, 77; Taylor's Ballitt, 88;
Rogers' No. 9 (extra), 93^; Rogers' No. 4, 85; Missouri Port, equal to
any Commercial Port; Herbemont (red), 81 ; Cunningham, 82.
We award the premium to Bluffton Wine Company.
JOHN M. PEARSON,
E. S. HULL,
L. D. MORSE,
Committee,
BEST BBB WD7S.
Catataba. — ^The Committee on Catawba Wine presented the fol-
lowing report, with lists of all the samples presented, and figures
showing the grade at which they were ranked :
Your committee, to whom was referred the samples of Catawba,
beg leave to report that they have had set before them twenty-one
samples ior competition ; have examined them with as much care at
possible, and beg leave to report the following list, with accompany-
ing remarks and grade of each :
Ho.
1
21
I
4
6
%
T
8
]1
12
13
14|0
u
ITiJ
18
IfUr
SOU
21
Maker.
F. Braches, Oray's Summit.
it
it
It
Poeschell k Scherrer* tlermaniii Mo.
H. O. McPlkt, AltoB, lU........
J. C. Saxton, Bast ClcTeland, Ohio.
Otto Monin^
Dr. 0. Lnmacbi, CoUinsville, Dl....
44 44 44
lOUohn Baaer, Nanvoo, Dl
P. Mne11«r| Sooth Point, Mo
A. Snrif man, Bhiloh, St. Clair Co lU
E. A. Thompion, Cincinnati, Ohio...
\ Marloty Warsaw, Dl...... »..
B. F. liacear, Lonisiana, Mo
a It
. L. Coons k Bro., Wincbetter, lU.
Bluffton Wine Company....
. K. Starr, Elsab, Jersfy Co., 111...
. J. KeJley, Webster, Mo
C. Bicklen, Barlington, lows
Vintage.
1860.
1807.
(868.
1868.
1868.
1862
1«63.«.«».
1867.
1868.
1868.
1867.
1868.
Qn4»
95
80
80
68
60
58
.«.
72
T7
78
70
83
76
77
72
77
78
73
77
82
58
J
Bemarks.
Vny superior, fine bouquet.
Contained vnfermented near.
li it 7r
Bottle accidentally broken.
The must weighed 930 and reduced to 910t
Spoiled by acetic fermentation.
U9
iiiaaa0ju
n* Tbey alio have examined eight samples entered for gra^Ationf
aad submit separate. liat of same :
Ko.
Maker.
1
t-
3
4
5
6
ii
8
"I —
Adolph Engleman, Shildh, 111 .
A. A F. etarr, Godfrey, 111
B. L. Mott, Jersey coanty, 111.
Or. J. 8tuder
Lotfis Winter
I/. Stiiis, Alton -...•
Wm. Elliott Smith, Alton
88
60
77
50
69
78
75
50
Remarks.
'Too sweet.
* ' We also graded one sample of Ounninghani, from A. £ngleman,
grade 82.
We also take occasion to congratulate the Society qpon the great
improvement in the average quality of those wines over those of for-
mer exhibitions. We call attention to the second list, and would like
to impress upon the minds of our members the importance of thus
bringing these wines together, in order that each may know the rela-
tive value of their own manufacture.
The committee award" the first premium to F. Braches, Gray's
Summit, Mo., second premium to Adolph Engleman, of Shilob, St.
Olair county, III; third premium to J. J. Kellv, Webster, Mo.
JOHN M. PEARSON,
C. W. SPALDING,
E.S.HULL,
^ Cornmitlce,
DcLAWARK. — First premium awarded to James D. Davis, CI arks-
ville, Mo., grade, 85; second preminni to E. A. Thompson, Cincinnati,
Ohio, grade, 83^; third to BIufTton Wine Company, Mo.; grade, 78^.
Sample by Dr. G. M. Dewey, of Keytesville, grade, 63^; samples by
James E. Starr, of Elsah, Hi., was marked immature.
Hbrbemont. — First premium awaided to Dr. G. M. Dewey, of
Keytesville, Mo., grade, 81|; second to the Bluffton Wine Company,
grade 76. Sample from G. C. Eisenmeyer, of Mascoutah, HI., broken.
Taylor's Bullitt. — Fir?t preminin awarded to the BIufTton Wine
Company, grade, 86f.
Best White Wink. — The premium was awarded to the Blufiton
Wine Company, for wine from Taylor's Bullitt. The committee graded
the samples submitted, relative to each other, and the figures are as
follows: Cunningham, 80; Catawba, 8o; Taylor^s Bullitt, 91; Dela-
ware, 88^; another sample of Catawba, 88; Herbemont, 88; Diana,
70; new variety (unnamed), 90; Hartford Prolific, 75. The new
variety was from Mr. Glaser, of Hermann, Mo. It was eousidered a
wine of excellent character, delicate aroma, pale reddish or crimson
color, said to be a seedling of the LaJ)rusca class.
PBOCEEDINGS 09 GRAPK CfROWSltS' ASSOCIATION. 1#1
Best WIse of Mixed Vahietiks.— Premiam awarded to ' John
Bauer, of Nauvoo, 111., for samples marked "Norton and Burgundy,"
grade, b7J. The other samples were as follows : One from H. ti;
McPike, Alton, III, grade, 74; H.J.Hyde, Alton, Concord, i, and
Clinton, i, grade, 78; A. Engleman, Shiloh, III., 86; £* A. Thompson^
Cincinnati, Ohio, Concord, Ives and Creveling, 84; Q.O. Eisenmeyer,
Mascoutidi, 1)1., 84; Bluffton Wine Company, Concord and Norton;
79 ; James £. Starr, Elsah, HI., Concord and Delaware (mixed after
fermentation), 84; G. Marlot, Bear Creek, HI., Norton, Delaware,
Herbemont, Clinton and Diana, 68.
Sparkling Wines. — Your committee to whom was referred the
sample of Sparkling Catawba, declare it to be very good, grading 90
in the scale of 100 points; worthy of the first premiam.
H. CLAGQETT,
H. J. HYDE,
C. W. MURTFELDT,
Committee,
Mr. Lazear, of Pike county, Mo., said he had shipped grapes to
St. Paul, Chicago and St. Louis, It has not paid well to send to St.
Paul and Chicago.. Thinks he can make more money by selling Con-
cord at five cents than Delaware at fifteen cents.
Mr. Mason thinks he has prevented the Concord from bursting,
and prolonged the season of ripening, by stripping leaves* from the
vines. To plant understandingly, you should visit the nearest yines
in your locality and see what is doing best. Thinks no man in the
Mississippi Valley can yet recommend the Ives. This, as w«ll %»
others, mnst be better tried.
Mr. Cay wood had visited Pike county, and had recommended the
Walter in such a way that it gave him confidence in it. The Catawba
liad succeeded well with him. Vines in yellow clay had done better
than those on limestone hillsides. His Oatawbas are six years old
this spring; has had no mildew on the leaves, but spmetUing like it
on the fruit.
Mr. Eisenmeyer was opposed to stripping the leaves from vines
— thinks it will impair the vitality of the vines.
Dr. Claggett said Mr. Mason had the finest Concord vineyard thai
he knew of; but he (Dr. C.) would not recommend pulling off the
leaves; thinks Mr. Mason's vines have been enfeebled by it.
Mr. Peabody had been told that Mr. Mason does not pull off
leaves except from the bearing wood.
Dr. Edwards confirmed that information, and thought it was not
likely to do damage ; thought Mr. Mason's vines had been injured by
over- cropping. Dr. E. said he had tried over one hundred varieties in
Jefferson county, Mo. Nothing has succeeded so well as the Herbe^
mont One severe winter'had killed down some, but bore next year.
Bogers' No. 15 has stood well.
142 lOSflODBI A0ftIOULTOKS*
Mr. Eise&meyer endorsed what Dr. Edwftrde said akOQt the Her-
bemonts; but it is difficult to propagate. He offered the following
resolution :
Resolved^ That it is the opinion of this Assoeiation that more
vineyards are iivjured from over-cropping than from anything else.
Mr. Tice said he would not advise any one to crop as heavily as
Mr. Mason has done. The fruit will be insipid. Mr* M. had over-
cropped one year in particular, and had a light crop the next year.
Mr. Lazear asked, what is over-cropping ?
Dr. Edwards said, the resolution is a general declaration ; is satia-
fled his own vineyards have been ii^ured by over-cropping. The evil
effects of an over-crop are not regained in years ; thinks no vineyard
ought to be allowed to bear 10,000 pounds to the acre.
Dr. Claggett thought the resolution good as a caution to new be-
ginners. We should aim to err on the safe side. Resolution adopted.
SECOND DAY.
W£DKES]>AT, April 14, 9 A. M .
Association was called to order at 9 a. m.
President Starr in the chair.
The several committees who had not yet acted upon the wines
placed in their charge were called upon to take action immediately,
and make their report
The first hour of the session was taken up in this manner, and
then regular business was brought forward.
The President stated several matters of importance should be
decided before adjournment, among which were the next place of
meeting, and time thereof, and whether a premium grape exhibition
should be held in connection with it
Dr. G. M. Dewey offered the following resolution:
Resolved. That those exhibitors who receive premiums from this
Association shall furnish a statement of themanufactureof the wines
on which they receive premiums, and that the statements shall be
published with the proceedings.
Dr. Edwards spoke very forcibly in favor of this resolution ; that
it was the duty of members who made good wine to let the mode of
manufacture be known.
Mr. Husmann thought the resolution could not be carried out in
■pint
Mr. Siehl said he deemed the resolution rather arbitrary in its
nature; thought this was not the time for such a rule to be estab-
lished.
Dr. Edwards remarked that if members were unwilling to give
raOOEKDIVOB OF QRAPS GHOWERS' ASSOOIATIOIT. 143
th« i9ode of the manufacture of their wine, he was opposed to giv-
ing premiums to such persons. Said a statement of the manufacture
of the wine should accompany each sample for competition for pre-
miums.
Mr. McPike coincided with Mr. Riehl's views, as to the resolution
being arbitrary, and moved as an amendment, that members be re-
quested to give such statement
Mr. Lazear thought that there couIdHbe no objection to telling the
manner of the manufacture of premium wines.
Dr. Olaggett said there was much prejudice existing in regard to
gallizing wine ; some persons would spit out wine made in this wi^,
if they knew it ; when, if they had not known it, would have decided
it to be good wine.
Mr. flusmann objected that no one could give a correct state-
ment which would apply in every ease, or in a majority of cases, as
grapes one year are quite different from those of another, hence
needing different treatment The Catawba of 1867 and the Catawba
of 1868 were very dissimilar.
Mr. Snediker, of Jcerseyville, thought the Society's object was lo
teach those who did not understand wme-making; that no narrow or
contracted views should be held by any on this subject ; if a member
knew how to make good wine, he should give that knowledge to the
Society.
Mr. Husmann remarked that by discussing the making of wine,
more practical results would follow than from taking up precious
time with the resolutions.
A vote was then had upon the passage of the resolution, which
resulted in its defeat by one majority.
Mr. Lazear offered a resolution that a committee of five be ap*
pointed to prepare a prexniam list for grapes at the fall meeting. Car-
ried.
It was decided to hold the fall session at St Louis.
Mr. J. H. lice submitted the following :
Resolved^ That hereafter this Association will devote one session
to the discussion of the mode of treatment of the ^^must," having
particular regard to its condition, as affected by the seasons, as well
as to its normal condition generally. Adopted.
Eev. Mr. Peabody submitted the following :
Resolved^ That the President of this Association be authorized
to confer with the officers of the Missouri State Horticultural Society;
and if, in their judgment, such a combined exhibition is praticabie
and promising useful results, they be authorized to make such a
plan, or such arrangements, and the President be authorized to do so
if it is thought expedient. Passed.
Mr. Lazear moved that the Society meet in St Louis on the sec-
ond Tuesday in September, 1869, which was amended and passed by
giving the President and Executive Committee power to fix the date
144 MISSOURI AeRICULTURK.
at such time in September as will be for the best interests of tbe
Society.
Dr. Hull moved that members (only), at the fall meeting, be al-
lowed to post up notices of wines, which they had for sale, in the halt
of exhibition.
Committee on Final Resolution presented the following as their
report, which was adopted without dissent:
Resolved^ Ist, That the thanks of this Association are due and
hereby tendered to the citizens of Alton for the very cordial manner
with which they have received us, and the munificent provision made
for our accommodation during our stay amongst them.
2d. That to the Alton Horticultural Society many obligations are
due, for its generous accommodation in providing for us, free of
charge, the Mercantile Hall for holding the sessions of this Asso-
ciation.
3d. That we are indebted to the publishers of the Alton Telegr^tph
and the 8t. Louis Democrat for publishing our daily proceedings in
their enterprising and influential papers.
4th. That we are under continued obligation to the liberality of
the managers of the several railroads in Illinois and Missouri, for the
kindness extended to the members of this Association — the 8t Louis,
Alton & Chicago and the Terre Haute railroads returning the mem-
bers for one-fifth regular fare^ and all the railroads in Missouri free
of any charge. The Ohio and Mississippi being the only one that bad
tlie illiberality of refusing the usual facilities asked for.
5th. That to the Alton Packet Company we are also indebted for
the o^er to return free of charge our members on their boats.
John H. Tice,
0. w. mubtfeldt,
Committee,
Key. Mr. Peabody introduced the subjoined resolution, which
passed unanimously :
jResolved, That the thanks of this Association are due, and are
hereby tendered to its late President, Dr. C. W. Spalding, by whose
labors and under whose management the Mississippi Valley Grape
Growers' Association has acquired a standing as an institution, prom-
ising important results in the future.
A motion to adjourn sine die was then adopted.
E K R A r A
Tha date *it the killiag: froat iu Uctoler wah th^ 24th und 2i>tli, on siaCfd u* tli» leviev. uud not
tLf at first |;ivon, on )iajg;f> OS.
INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS.
FKomspiBCM — "KiRBr " as a Mowkh.
Vasditsk Oomr Plaxtsr «• ^
Moitbob's Rotakt Harrow M
WiBBt' CoBx Plow W
M^^BAWK Vaubt Clippkr P1.0W - tli
VfCTOV (ChMtor Whito)...2. M*
If ODBL PlOOBRT ............... W
BiflBABK (Percberoa RUUion) ^........ IK
Taa Vajc Wtck Svbbt Orab J'?
Patbr Nostkb Pbab .......•...•..•...••.•••.•....... )!'
[HI
INDEX TO AGRICULTURAL REPORT.
AddrMS of Norman J. Coleman, befort the Missoari Bditon and Publiihen 12|
liz to Minee and Mining ^of. C. D. IHIfter,
Bee Cnltnre T. Jl, iillM, 1t»
Boti— translated from the French Fn^. Sptnetr Smith, 1S4
Breeds of Swine Chtu. W. MurtfHdt, US
Brief Reriew of the Tear 1869 Corrttpondia^ Stcntcrf, 37
Bj-lawiof HiMonri State Board of Agrienltvre (
Combing and Delaine Wooli A, P. MUU, 155
Cooking Food for Stodu... ^ it. £. Tfbue, 167
COUNTY BEPORTS.
Cape Girardeau Hon. J. U. Hinen, 87
Cole Connty Agricultural and Mechanical Association /. CkrUly WaUon, 93
Henry and Adjoining Counties H. P. Sloan, 94
Holt Connty Agricultural and Meclianical Society.... 0» Jt. Cu'mming9, 97
Jasper County £. P. SoarU, 99
Jeffinrson Connty Agricultural and Mechanical Association LouU Jom. Rankin, 100
Lafayette County Agricultural and Mechanical Society /. Af. McQirk, 101
Lawrence Connty „..Jokn D. Allen, 103
North Missouri Agricultural and Mechanical Association, Hannibal .....Geo. H. ShieldM, 115
North Missouri Stock Agricultural and Mechanical Association, Salisbury.... Laciut SalUburf, 117
Phelps Connty Agricultural Society £. W. BUhop, 104
▼emon County Agricultural and Mechanical Association... .....•••.. C, R. Scott, 104
Washington County Qto. B. Clark, 111
E88ATS AND OTHER PAPERS
Breningat the Farm— " Poem" /. T. Trowbridge, 19$
Farmers' Clubs — Introductory C. W. Jif., 107
Farmers' Clubs Geo. T. Walton, 179
Field Trial of Plows, Seeders, Corn-planters, Rollers and Harrows.... Corrs^ondia^ Secretary, OS
Imported Percheron Stallion Bismark 185
Iron and Coal Prof, C. D. JVUber, TM
JeFerson County Farmers' Club J. /. Sfuire, 18$
Hickory Grore Farmers' Club G. FT. Kinney, 177
Laws Relating to State Board of Agriculture ........•..^...........^ t
fiu]
]NDBX TO AGRICULTURAL REPORT.
Meteorological HemorMida and Brief Notes Carreiponding Secretmrjf, 48
Mines and Mining Edacation » Prof, C. D. WUbmr, 221
Model Piggerj '. Practical Farme'^, 165
Nozioos Weeds ^ By tha Ediiar, 74
Of County Agricultural and Mechanical Societies 4
» »
Proceedings of the State Board of Agricultnre *John 0. Tiee, 7
Proceedings of New Board John H. Tice, 33
Small Fruits and VegeUblee B. Frank SwUtk, 187
Southwest Missouri Corretponding Seeretaryf 78
St. Louis Agricultural and Mechanical Association O- 0. Kaib, 1S)2
The Dairj , CAM. VK. MmtfeUl, 197
The Honey Bee and its Gains Day by Day A, B. Trcbue, 2(lo
The Honey Emptying Machine W. G, Chwxh, 209
The Object of Plowing StUcted, 2U
The Textile Fabrie and Wool Exposition at Cincinnati Carretponding Stcretmnf, 76
The Reaper and Mower Trial at Sedalia^ Mo .,,C9ir€ipor.ding Sicrttarg, iS
Treasurer's Report r. •-. Wm. T. E$ttg, 13
tiv]
INDEX TO HORTICULTURAL REPORT.
Address of Welcome Hon. Mayor ColCt 3
Aericnltttral Colle^^e Fund ...« John U. Tier, Chairman, 102
Ad Interim Committee, Korth t)iitrict .' 21. 3/. VoHts, 24
Ad Interim Committee, Sontti I)i9trict 7>r. L, J), ^torsc, Chairman, 105
A list of Hardy Ornamental Sikrubs and Plants 46
^naal Address President Chariet Pcabody, 4
Gftoning and Preserving; Fruits and Vegetables J, J. Sq^tire, dl
DI8TBICT BKronTB.
First Concessional District « J. M, Jordan^ 10
Second Congressional District T. W. C7«y, 10
Fonrth Congressional District F. T. FInr. 11
Fiftli Congressional District F. A, Sitchy, 12
Sixth Congressional District Geo, M. Dewey, 17
Eighth Congressional District. O. H. P. Lear, 20
Ninth Congpressional District • A. £. Tvabvr, 23
Erergreen Trees and Shrubs * « 49
Essay on Primitive Soils Joteph E, IVarr, 57
Fruits on Exhibition '. 34
Horticulture for Women W, Porter, 75
Incentives atod Drawbacks of Fruit Culture Dr. E. S. Hull, 38
Propagation and Culture of Flowers J. >/• Jordan, 44
Remarks of President elect Dr. 11. Claggett, 63
Report of Committee on Flowers Mr». F. Minor, etc., 81
Report of Committee on Wines and Cider John M. Peanon, etc., 82
Report of Committee on Galliiing (minority) Chat. W. Mtirt/eldt, 95
Report of Garden Products A. E. TrcHiie. Sri
Report of Committee of Fruits on Table ■ !^9
Report of Committee of Horticultural Implements 90
Report of Committee on Vegetables Chat, W, Murifeldt, I'ft
Report of Treasurer i>
Report on Soils Prof, Forrett Shepherd, 27
Varieties of Grapes in Missouri^ 1S69 Geo. Hutmann, 64
VegeUbles, list of T. R Allen, etc,, 84
[V]
INDEX TO GRAPE GROWERS' PROCEEDINGS.
Addreu of welcome • •*.. , Jame$ C Stmrr, 181
by th« PretidMt. • C IT. Sp^ldUig, lU
AA\onn%d Hn€ dU ^ « ,... ........ 144
Bleciion of oflctrs » »».................* ...•••••......•.. ISI
Qraftini^ th« grMfi% ».»».... m............. • IS?
Baport of eommittoo on b«it collcctton of winM by one ezhibttor » 13S
*« " " Bad winM 1J«
" " " Delawur* 14«
'« " " Herbemont W
" " '< Taylor'i Bttllitt 141
" " " White wine ^ Ur
" " " MUed rarioty ♦ 14«
" " " fiparklini: wines 1«
Boport of eommittef on final reiolafion ».» »..* •..«•»•• 1^
[^]
n
SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
ON THB
^tU%1l^t
BEaSTEFIOIAX, ^ND OTHER
OP THB
STj^TE of MISSOURI,
MABB TO THB STATB BOABD OB AGRICULTnilB, PURSUANT TO AN APPBOPRIAIItN
FOR THIS PUBPOSB FROM THB LBGISLATURB OF THB STATB.!
BY CHARLES V. RILEY.
STATE ENTOMOLOGIST.
t
JEFFERSON chy: i
Honioe vrUoox, Publio PrintMw^ ^
1870. i
PREF^OE.
To the Members of the Missouri State Board of AgriGulture :
Gbnxlembn: — I herewith submit, for publication, my Second An-
nual Report on the Noxious, Beneficial and other Insects of the State
of Missouri.
For my First Report, I prepared two lithographic plates, a cer-
tain number of which were colored. Such plates, when well exe-
cuted, are an adornment to any work, but they are expensive; and.
upon conferring with different members of the Board, it was thought
best to furnish two such plates for one-half the edition, rather than
one plate for the whole edition. The plan has not worked well, how-
ever, since many of those persons most interested in the Report, and
for whom it is more especially designed, failed to get copies which
had plates.
For this Second Report, therefore, I have confined the illustra-
tions to wood. Most of these wood-cuts are executed in the best
fltyle of the art, but they cannot possibly show to good advantage
on such paper as was used in last year's Report; and the pains taken
in the preparation of these cuts, and in hiring the very best engrav-
ers the country affords, seems too much like waste of time and means,
when their effect is so spoilt by poor ink and poorer paper. If it is
in the power of the Board, by proper action, to secure a better qual-
ity of paper for this Report, I sincerely hope that such action will be
taken ; for a clear impression of an insect cut is often absolutely
necessary, to enable the general reader to recognize, in the field, the
living form of the particular species which it represents.
The cause of Economic Entomology lost one of its greatest
champions, and the farmers and fruit-growers of the West, and espe-
cially of our sister State, Illinois, suffered an irreparable loss, in the
sudden deathmen November 18th, 1869, of Mr. Benj. D. Walsh, of
Bock Island. At the time of his death, he was State Entomologist of
Illinois, and my Associate in the Editorship of the American Ento-
mologiet^ published at St. Louis; and I hardly need say that this sad
and unexpected fate of my friend has very much increased my own
labors. When I add to this the fact that Mr. Walsh was prostrated
for over three months last spring and summer, and that Mr. Wilcox,
our State Printer, was ready for this Report at an earlier day than I had
4 PBXFACB.
anticipated; 700 will not be aarprised to leani that Bereral sobjects
which I had contemplated treating of^ have been nnayoidably de-
ferred another year.
In order to make the sense of the text plain to everj reader, and
at the same time to insure scientific accnracy, I shall continue to con-
form to the rules laid down in the introduction to my First Report—
namely, to print all descriptions of merely scientific interest in small
type ; to use as far as possible a common name for each insect, always
adding the scientific appellation in italics and parenthesis, so that it
can be skipped, if necessary, without interfering in the least with the
sense of the sentence ; and to give the Order and Family to whidi
each insect belongs, in parenthesis under each heading.
The reader will also bear in mind that the dimensions givai, are
expressed in inches and the fractional parts of an inch, 0.26 thus im-
plying a quarter of an inch ; and that the sign d* is an abbreyiation
for the word male,the sign 9 for female, and the sign 9 for neuter.
My grateful acknowledgments are due to the Superintendents
of the Missouri Pacific, South Pacific, Iron Mountain, Hannibal aud
St Joseph, North Missouri, and Illinois Oentral Railroads for free
' passes oyer their respective routes.
AH which is respectfully submitted by
CHARLES V. RILEY,
State Entomologist,
St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 3, 1869.
ICOPYBKBT BICDMID TO THB AVTHOB.]
NOXIOUS INSECTS.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ENTOMOLOGY.
READ BSFOBB THB MISSOUBI 8TATB HORTIGULTUBAL BOCIBTT, AT ITS BLBVflNTH
ANNUAL MBBTINO, BY 0. V. BILET, OHAIBMAN OF
THE COMMITTBB.
In the preparation of my Annual Rex>ort, I have dwelt in detail on
fnany insects that have attracted attention during the year, either by
their ii^juries or benefits. In that Report numerous illustrations will
be used to appeal to the eye of the reader, and as it will be published
in the same volume with your transactions, I deem it superfluous at
the present time to dwell on the natural history of any one insect
Permit me, therefore, to oursorily refer to a few of the prominent en-
tomological events of the year, and afterwards to make a few gener-
alizations, which it is hoped will prove of some little interest and
value.
The year 1869 may be set down as one in which our crops, as a
general thing, have suffered less than usual from insect depredations.
At least such has been the case in Missouri, and, judging from ex-
tensive correspondence, the same statement woald hold true of most
of the northern and middle States of the Union.
True, the Army- worm {Leucania unipuncta^ Haw.), andr the Grain
Plant-louse {Aphis avence^ Fabr.), appeared in many parts of the State
in sufficient force to do considerable damage, and these two insects
may always be expected in a tolerably wet year that was preceded
by a very dry one. Bat most insects, and especially those which
af9ict you as horticulturists, have behaved exceedingly well, though
it is difficult to say whether we are to attribute this good behavior
on their part, to the increased knowledge of their habits which has
6 SSCOKD AHNUAL RKPOBT OF
been disseminated among those who have to deal with tbem, or to
the more potent and unalterable workings of Nature.
The Chinch Bug, which in the dry summer of 1868^ committed
such ravages upon our grain crops in many portions of our State, and
especially in the southwest, was scarcely heard of in 1869, after the
copious rains which characterized the past summer commenced to
shower down. The Apple Worm, or Codling Moth has been alto-
gether less injurious than it was the year before, and in Adair, Bn-
chanan, Cooper, Callaway, Cass, Lewis and Polk counties, especially,
and probably all over the State, our orchards have been loaded with
fair fruit. This result was predicted by the writer, and may be at-
tributed principally to the scarcity of the insect, resulting from the
partial failure, of the apple crop in 1868 ; but in some part to the im-
proved methods of fighting the foe. For, as in our civil strifes, we
introduce improvements in the machinery which is to slay the oppos-
ing armies, so in this progressive age, we believe in introducing ma-
chinery to battle with our liliputian insect hosts, whenever it is avail-
able. And the experience of the past year proves, that to destroy
this insect, old pieces of rumpled rag or carpet placed in the crotch
of a tree, are to be preferred to th^ hay-bands wrapped around it, be-
cause it requires altogether less time to place the rags in their place
than to fasten the hay-band ; and the worms which spin up in them
can be killed by wholesale, either by scalding the rags or by pressing
them through the wringer of a washing machine.
Owing to the severe drouth of 1868, which was unfavorable to its
successful transformations, that dreaded foe of the fruit-grower, the
Plum Curculio, was scarce in the early part of the season, and oar
plum and peach trees set a fuller crop than they had done before for
years ; but the subsequent moist weather was favorable to the under-
ground evolutions of this little pest, and the new brood appeared in
great numbers about the end of June and beginning of July, when
they did much damage to stone-fruit and some damage to pip-fruit
by the gougings which they made for food. As stated in an essay
read before the State meeting of our Illinois horticultural friends, 1
have discovered a little cannibal in the shape of a minute yellow
species of Thripsj which destroys vast numbers of the " Little Turk's"
eggs ; and let us hope, that by attacking the Curculio in its most vul-
nerable point, this Thrips may in the course of a few years reduce
the numbers of the Curculio, as the ladybirds have done with the
Colorado Potato-bug, or as the minute mite {Aoarua mali) is known
to have done with the common Oyster-shell Bark-louse of the Apple.
The eggs of the Apple-tree Plant-louse {Aphis mali) which last win-
ter so thickly covered the twigs of the apple trees in many orchards,
hatched and produced a prodigious number of lice as soon as the
buds commenced to burst. In this immediate neighborhood they
were soon swept away, however, by their cannibal insect foes, and by
insectivorous birds, such as the warblers, etc. ; but a physiological
THB 8TATB KRTOMOIiOeiST. 7
•
fact' connected with this insect has been developed this year by Dr,
E. S. Hall, the able Illinois State Horticulturist, which is of such im-
portance that I cannot pass it over eyen in this brief report. He has
ascertained that we suffer from the injurious punctures of their little
beaks long after the lice themselves have disappeared. In fact, he
has proved to his own satisfaction that the so-called ^^ scab" in apples,
which prevailed to such an alarming extent last year, and rendered
thousands and thousands of bushels valueless for market purposes, is
actually caused by the punctures of these lice. I said that the doctor
had proved this matter ^' to his own satisfaction," because I believe
that caution requires that we should not consider it as an established
fact until all objections to it can be dispelled. Personally I have
made no observations on this matter, but the facts in the case all add
weight to Dr. Hull's theory, if such it can be called. Hitherto the
cause of the '^scab" on apples has been involved in mystery.
It was supposed to have a fungoid origin ; yet an examination will
show that the scabby appearance is not caused by any live fungus,
but by arrested growth of the cells which have become corky and
cicatrized. The importance of this discovery of Dr. Hull's, should it
once be firmly established, cannot well be estimated ; for when we
have once ascertained the cause of a disease, it need scarcely exist
any longer. By destroying the lice we shall prevent scabby apples,
and experience teaches that they can be destroyed by a good syring-
ing of tobacco-water. We may expect, in this immediate vicinity,
an almost total exemption from ^^ scab" next year, for the apple trees
are remarkably free from the minute black bead-like eggs of the
Plant-louse with which they were so thoroughly peppered a year ago.
The Tent Oaterpillar ( Clisiocampa Americana) was more abund-
ant than usual in our orchards, and the Tent Oaterpillar of the Forest
( Clisiocampa sylvatica) also appeared in great numbers both on our
orchard and forest trees.
A worm which I have called the Pickle Worm, (Phaoellura niti-
dalia^ Oram.) and which had never been publicly noticed before, ap-,
peared in immense numbers, and did great damage to our cucumbers
and melons by boring into the fruit, but as this insect, with others,
will be fully treated of in my forthcoming Eeport, I will pass on to
a more general subject.
"The pebble in the streunlet scant,
May tnm the conne of many a river;
The dew-drop on the infant plant,
May warp the giant oak forever."
In no department of science does the old proverb " prevention is
better than cure," apply with such force as in that of Economic Ento-
mology. In my studies and observations I have often been struck
with the fact that many of our very worst insect enemies have been
introduced from abroad, and that if this subject of Economic Ento-
mology had been better understood and appreciated fifty years ago,
8 8X00HD AHNUAL * BXPOBT OF
and the proper measures had been takeh to prevent the introduction
of these pests, we should at present be free from the curse of the
great majority of them. liV e have, indeed, plenty of Native American
insects, which have become great pests to the cultivator of the soil, on
account of the artificial state of things which he induces. In a state
of Nature, a given species of plant, in its struggle for existence, is
scattered promiscuously over a certain extent of country, and the
particular insect or insects which feed upon that plant, have to search
for it over a comparatively extensive surface, and their multiplica-
tion is consequently restricted* But the pursuit of horticulture, for
instance — which may be succinctly defined as the assembling in tracts
of greater or less extent, of one species of plant at the expense and
exclusion of others — causes the particular insects which feed upon
that plant, to multiply unduly, and we have to use that same intelli-
gence in subduing these insects, which we employ in producing the
artificial results which caused their increase. In the normal state of
things insects never increase unduly ; but, on the contrary, always
act as Nature's most faithful servants, and accomplish a most impor-
tant work in her economy. Yet, for reasons explained above, they
naturally become our enemies, and we should suffer from the depre-
dations of our indigenous species, even though no foreign ones had
been imported. But we have altogether more than our share of these
insect depredators, and so truly is this the case, that insects
which attract universal attention, and are considered as very serious
evils in Europe, would not be deemed worthy of notice in this coun-
try. There, if they lose one-fifth of a given crop, the whole commu-
nity becomes alarmed ; but here the cultivator sometimes considers
himself fortunate if he secures the half of his crop from insect rava-
ges, and each State loses annually from fifty to sixty million dol-
lars from this cause alone, though but four States have as yet made
any attempt to prevent this serious loss. In order to bring this fact
home to you, and to show why we sufifer more than do our foreign
brethren, I will read a paper, which I have prepared for the Ameri-
can Entomologiati on
IMP0BT£D INSBCT8 AND HATIVB AMXRICAK INSKOTS.
If we examine into the history, as detailed in a recent number of our
Magazine, (pp. 15-22) of the imported Currant Worm and the Native
Ourrant Worm, we shall find a very curious state of things. These
two insects both produce Sawflies, which are so closely allied to each
other, that although they are referred to distinct genera by Entomol-
ogists, it may be doubted whether the genus (Prisiiphora) under
which the native species is classified be not a mere subgenus of that
under which the imported species is classified. Reasoning6^^rt(7n,
therefore, we should expect to find a very great similarity in the de-
structive powers of these two worms, especially as each of them in-
fests the leaves both of the Red Currant and of the Gooseberry. But
IHS BTATE BNT0M0L0GI6T. 9
^hat are the actual facts ? On tbe one hand we see a Native Ameri-
can species — which must have existed here Irom time immemorial,
feeding on our wild Gooseberries and perhaps on our wild Red Cur-
rant, and which yet has troubled our tame Gooseberries and tame
Ked Currants so very slightly, that it cannot be proved with abso-
lute certainty to have ever done so at all, except in Rock Island
county, Ills., and in Scott county, Iowa.*
On the other hand we see a species, only introduced into this
country, from Europe, some twelve years ago, which has already
almost put a stop to the cultivation of the Gooseberry and
Red Currant throughout a large part of the State of New
York, the northern borders of Pennsylvania, and the whole of
Canada West, and is slowly but surely extending itself in all
directions from the point where it was originally imported. What
can be the reason of such a wide difference in the noxious powers of
two such closely allied insects, feeding on exactly the same plants,
but one of them indigenous to America and the other imported into
America from Europe ? Nor is this the only case of the kind. We
can point out at least three other such cases. The Imported Onion-
fly (iln^A^m^ymc^j^an^m), is a terrible pest to the onion*grower in
the East^ though it has not yet made its way out West On the other
hand, the ^ative American Onion-fly (Ortalie arcuata^ Walker),
which is a closely allied species and has almost exactly the same
habits, has only been heard of in one or two circumscribed localities
in the West, and even there does comparatively but little damage.
Again, the Imported Oyster-shell Bark-louse (Aspidiotus conoMfor-
mis) is a far worse foe to the Apple and certain other fruit trees than
our indigenous Harris's Bark-louse, (Asp. Ha/rridi)^ though each of
them infests the same species. Finally, the imported Meal-worm
beetle {Tenehrio molitor) swarms throughout the whole United
States, and is a great pest ; while the Native American species ( Tene*
brio ohscurtus)^ which has almost exactly the same habits, belongs to
the same genus, and is of very nearly the same size, shape and color,
is comparatively quite rare among us, and is scarcely known to our
millers and flour-dealers.
On a careful and close examination, it will be found that almost
all our worst insect foes have been imported among us from the
*Iii Volume 16 of tiie PrairU Farmer, page 504» a correspondent from Jefferson conntT,
Iowa, statee that aa earty ai June 11th, in the year 1865, "a small grefu worm had taken the
lion's shHre of his cnrrants and gooseberries." This may possibly refer to the Native Currant
Worm, which feede upon gooseberry and currant leaves, but it more probably meane the Goose-
berry Fruit- worm (PempetU gnwmldria, Packard,) which feeds upon the rooeeberries and currants
^emselves, and which may be found figured and described in our First Blissouri Beport, page 140.
What a vast fund of information is scientifically unavailable, simply because correspondents aft
so atin^ with their pen, ink and paper. Again the editor of the Farmtrt^ tTiaioN, published at Min-
neapolis, Minn., says in a recent number of that paper» that several gardens in that vicinitv have been
for the past few years infested with the Currant worm, and that last year they visited bis own gar-
den for the second time, having, the previous year, made sad havoc with the foliage before they
were discovered. Now, as there are three perfectly distict worms which attack the leaves of cur-
rant bushes, and as the editor contents himself with r«ferring to "Tan Ourrant Worm," the infor-
mation be imparts is perfectly valueless to the Entomologist and the practical man may be M
astray by the remedies suggested.
10 SIOOND AllNUAL SEP6BT OF
other side of the Atlantic. The Hessian Fly* was imported almost
ninety years ago; the Wheat Midge about half as long ago ; the Bee
Moth at the beginning of the present century; the Oodling Moth, the
Oabbage Tinea, the Borer of the Bed Oarrant, the Oyster-shell Bark-
louse, the Grain Plant-louse, the Oabbage Plant-louse, the Ourrant
Plant-louse, the Apple-tree Plant-louse, the Pear-tree Flea-louse, the
Oheese-maggot, the common Meal-worm, the Grain Weevil, the House
Fly, the Leaf-beetle of the Elm, the Oockroach, the Oroton Bug, and
the di£ferent Oarpet, Olothes and Fur Moths, at periods which cannot
be definitely fixed. Even within the last few years the Asparagas-
beetle has become naturalized in New York and New Jersey, whence
it will no doubt spread gradually westward through the whole United
States, while the Rape Butterfly was introduced about a dozen
years ago, and is rapidly spreading over some of the Eastern Statea.
And only a year ago the larva of a certain Owlet-moth {Hypogymna
dispar)^ which is a great pest in Europe, both to fruit-trees and
forest-trees, was accidentally introduced by a Massachusetts entomo-
logist into New England, where it is spreading with great rapidity.
It is just the same thing with Plants as with Insects. We have looked
carefully through Gray's Manual of Botany^ and we find that — ex-
cluding from consideration all cryptogams, and all doubtful cases,
and all cases where the same plant is supposed to be indigenous on
both sides of the Atlantic— no less than two hxtndrei) and thirtt-
THREE distinct species of plants have been imported among us from
the Old World, all of which have now run wild here, and many of
which are the worst and most pernicious weeds that we have to con-
tend against. In the United States Agricultural Report for 1865
(pp. 510-519) will be found a list of ninety-nine of the principal
" Weeds of American Agriculture," by the late Dr. Wm. Darlington.
Of this whole number no less than forty-three, or nearly one-half, are
species that have been introduced among us from the Old World.
Among these we may enumerate here, as the best known and the
most pernicious. Butter-cups (two species). Shepherd's Purse, St
John's Wort, Oow-cockle, May- weed or Dog-fennel, Ox-eye Daisy,
Oommon Thistle, Oanada Thistle, Burdock, Plantain, Mullein, Toad-
flax, Bind-weed, Jamestown ( Jimson) weed, Lamb^s Quarter, Smart-
weed, Field Garlic, Fox-tail Grass and the notorious Oheat or Ohess.
And to these we may add the common Purslane, which, through some
strange oversight, has been omitted in Dr. Darlington's catalogue.
It will be supposed, perhaps, since there are about as many voy-
ages made from America to Europe as from Europe to America, that
we have fully reciprocated to our transatlantic brethren the favors
*For the a ike of the scienttflc reader, we sabjoin here, in their rernlur order, the scientifte
BMaee oC the tadects catalo^aed by their Ea|^Ush namei in the text of thie paragraph : CuUm-
myia dettntctor, Diplo$i9 tritici, (hUlerUk ctrtaAa, Carpoeapta pomofulla, PluteUm eruciftrmmm,
Mgeria Hpuliformtt, Atpidioiut coi^h^ormU, Apkit avinm, A. trattiem, A, ribu, A. mttU, Ptylte
pifH* PiophUa caatit TentbHo moiitor, SiiopkUua granariut, Mutca domuHeOf OaUruca c«iin«rit»-
H9, Blaita orientali; £cloW« ggrmanUot Tiiuu tapttztUa, v$iHan§lla, pelUoMlla, 4rc.i Cri^ufit
Mp^ragi, PUritrapm tnd B^fpogymnm ditpmr*
THE STATE BNTOMOLOOIST. 11
which they have conferred upon us, in the way of Noxious Insects
and Noxious Weeds. It is no such thing. There are but yerj few
American insects that have become naturalized in Europe, and even
' these do not appear for the most part to do any serious amount of
damage there. For example, on one or two occasions single speci-
mens of our Army- worm Moth (Leucania unipuncta) have been cap-
tured in England ; but the insect has never spread and become ruin-
ously common there, as it continually, in particular seasons, does in
America. Our destructive Pea-bug {Bruohus pisi) has also found its
way to Europe ; but although it is met with in England, and according to
Ourtis has become naturalized in the warmer departments of France,
Kirby and Spence expressly state that it does not occur in England
^^to any very injurious extent," and Curtis seems to doubt the fact of
its being naturalized in England at all.* Again, the only species of
White Ant that exists within the limits of the United States, ( Termes
frontalis)^ has been known for along time to be a guest at the Plant-
houses of Schonbrunn, in Germany; but is not recorded to have
ever as yet spread into the surrounding country. As to our American
Meal-worm {Tenebrio ohsourus)^ Ourtis states that it has been intro-
duced into England along with American flour, and that it is some-
times abundant in London and the provinces;! but Eirby and Spence
say not one word about it, and it seems to be confined to the English
sea-ports and the places where American flour is stored, without
spreading into the adjacent districts.
A very minute yellow ant, however, {Myrmica molesta)^ which is
often very troublesome with us in houses, has, according to Frederick
Smith, ^'become generally distributed and naturalized" in houses in
England ; and Eirby and Spence state more specifically, that ^4t hs»
become a great pest in many houses in Brighton, London and Liver-
pool, in some cases to so great an extent as to cause the occupants to
leave them."J As to our Ohinch Bug, our Ourculio, our Plum Oouger,
our two principal Apple-tree Borers, our Oanker-worm, our Apple-
tree Tent-caterpillar, our Fall Web-worm, our Peach-tree Borer, and
our other indigenous pests among the great Army of Bad Bugs,
nobody ever yet found a single one of them alive and kicking on the
other side of the Atlantic, And with regard to Plants, the only two
American plants that we know to have become so firmly established
in Europe as to be a nuisance there, are an American aquatic plant,
the common Water- weed (An<ioharis Ganadensis)^ which has choked
up many of the canals in England, and our common Horse- weed, or
Mare's tail as it is called in the We&tjiErifferoncanadense)^ which has
spread from America nearly over the whole world.
Since then, it Can Ke demonstrated by hard, dry facts, that Amer-
ican plants and insects do not become naturalized in the Old World
*Kirb7 A Spence Inirod, Letter 6th ; Guitis Farm imeeti, p. 368.
"fFarm Uutcti, p 334.
ismith In Stainton'i Entom. Annual 1862, p. 70, and 1863 pp. 69-62 $ Kirbj & Spence Znfrotf^
Letter 8th.
1
12 SSOOHI) AHNUAL REPOBT OV
with anything like the facility with which the plants and insects of
the Old World are every day being naturalized in AmericiE^ there
mustbe some cause or other for this singular state of things. What
is that cause f It is, as we believe, a simple fsLCt which is pretty gen*
orally recognized now as true by modem naturalists, namely, that
the plants and animals of America belong, as a general rule, to an
old-fashioned creation, not so highly improved and developed as the
more modernized creation which exists in Europe. In other words,
although this is popularly known as the New World, it is in reality a
much older world than that which we are accustomed to call tiie Old
World. Consequently, our plants and animals can no more stand
their ground against Bnropean competitors imported from abroad,
than the Red Indian has been able to stand his ground against the
White Caucasian Race. On the other hand, if by chance an Ameri-
can plant or an American animal finds its way into Europe, it can, as
a general rule, no more stand its ground there against its European
competitors, than a colony of Red Indians could stand their ground
in England, even if you gave them a whole county of land and an
ample supply of stock, tools, and provisions to begin with. For
throughout Animated Nature, as has been conclusively shown by
Charles Darwin, there is a continual struggle for existence, the
stronger and more favorably organized species overpowering and
starving out from time to time their less vigorous and less favorably
organized competitors. Hence, it is as hopeless a task for a poor
puny, old-fashioned American bug to contend against a strong
energetic, highly-developed, European bug, as it would be for a fleet
of old-fashioned wooden ships to fight against a fleet of our modem
iron-clads.
Let not **Young America," however, be altogether discouraged
and disgusted at hearing, Uiat our Animal and Vegetable Creation is
more old-fashioned than that of what is commonly known as the Old
World. The oldest geological formations, in which the remains of
Mammals occur, contain the remains of such mammals exclusively
(Marsupialea) as bring forth their young only partially developed,
and carry those young about with them in a pouch, till the day of
complete development and physical ^second birth" arrives. In Amer-
ica we have a single genus — the Opossums — ^that belongs to this ante-
diluvian type. In the three ancient continents they have absolutely
none at all. But if in this respect America is more old-fashioned than
Europe, Australia is still more old-fashioned than America ; for there
almost all their mammals possess this remarkable peculiarity; so
that if the American creation is somewhat old-fogyish, that of Aus-
tralia is the very concentrated essence of old-fogyism itself. Conse-
quently, if Europe crows over us as altogether ^behind the times,''
"Young America'' can take its revenge by crowing over Australia, as
the land of the Kangaroo and the Wombat and other such exploded
absurdities of the Mesozoic epoch.
THK 8TATB BHTOMOLOeiST. 18
The theory advanced in the above paper, may meet with some
objectors, althoagb I confidently believe in the inference there stated
of the relative advancement and improvement of the flora and fauna
of the two continents. Bat there is another reason why the insects
which are imported into this country multiply at a prodigious rate,
and soon acquire herculean power of doing harm, though they may
never have stepped beyond the limits of propriety in their own native
home-— a reason too palpable and evident lo savor of the theoretical.
It is, that whenever an injurious insect is introduced in our midst, as
a general rule the particular parasite or parasites which kept it in
check abroad, are not introduced with it In consequence, the for-
eigners, unaccompanied by the usual gens WcmiMB^ throw off all re-
straint and play the deuce with our crops; just as the rats and mice
will take possession of, and overrun a house, if not restrained by hu-
man or by feline agencies.
Sometimes, as in the case of the Imported Currant-worm, the
noxioub insects introduced from the old world are attacked by native
American parasites, but as I believe the parasites of European na-
tivity to be, as a rule, more energetic and vigorous than our indige-
nous ones, it would be advisable even in such a case^ to imi)ort in
addition such species as prey upon it in Europe. But in the case of
the Wheat Midge which has actually flourished among us ior almost
half a century without a single parasite of any kind whatever infest-
ing it from one end of the country to the other, it is sheer folly and
cupable shiftlessness not to import among us from the other side of
the Atlantic some one or all of the three different Chalci% flies which
are known to check it throughout all Europe. And so with other
insects which are known to be unaccompanied with the parasites
which attack them abroad. Years and years ago Dr. Fitch demon-
strated in print the policy of such a step; but bugs and bug -hunters
are so very generally the subject of festive ridicule among the high
and low vulgar, that hitherto the recommendation of the State Ento-
mologist of New York has met with no practical response.
Now no one will fail to understand the force of the old proverb
already quoted, after listening to these facts. Let us profit by ihe
experience of the past, and while battling with those foes which are
already in our midst, let us keep a watchful eye, and be on our guard
ready to crush any new plague that may threaten us, before it gets
beyond control. Yes, but say you, how is this to be accomplished 9
pan it be done by the government ? Yes, in some cases ; as for in-
stance in the importation of parasites, government aid should be so*
licited. If, in I860, when the Asparagus Beetle ( Oriooeris asparoffi^
linn.) was first introduced on to Long Island, the Legislature of the
State of New York had taken proper actioil in the matter, the insect
might have been stamped out of the islaud at the trivial expense of
a few hundred dollars, instead of being allowed to multiply, as it did,
to sueh an extent as to oecnuon a dead loss of some fifty thousand
14 BUOHB ANNUAL BBPOBT 09
dollars in a single county, and of spreading from the island into the
adjoining country. Quite recently a weevil (Bruchua granariua)
which does immense damage to peas and beans and some other
plants in Europe, was introduced into New York in some pods which
a certain gentleman presented to the New York Farmers' Club, and
if the proper steps are at once taken, it may yet be prevented from
spreading through the country.
In Europe vast sums have been expended in founding professor-
ships of Economic Entomology in the various agricultural colleges,
and in conducting elaborate experiments on the best means of check-
ing and controlling these tiny foes. But the entire sum expended by
Congress or by our various State Legislatures for this purpose, from
the Declaration of Independence to the year of our Lord 1869, can-
not exceed ninety or one hundred thousand dollars, or about one
thousand dollars a year. Yet the annual damage done by insects
within the limits of the United States cannot be less than three hun-
dred million dollars. Indeed, it is but quite recently that the people,
from necessity, have awakened to the importance of the subject
We now have an Entomologist connected with the Department of
Agriculture at Washington, and, with proper care, he can be of in-
estimable service to the country, in preventing the introduction of
noxious insects. It is not noxious weeds alone, such as the Canada
thistle, which are sent broadcast over the land by the distribution of
uninspected seeds ; but noxious insects are very frequently distri-
bated in the same way. We have the highest authority, Dr. J. L.
LeConte, of Philadelphia, for the statement, that before the Entomol-
ogist received his appointment, a noxious beetle^ Bhizopertha pusillay
which has now become naturalized here, was originally introduced
into this country in wheat from the Patent Office.
Therefore, there can be no doubt that much may be done at
headquarters. That government aid cannot be of any avail in the
great mtgority of instances, however, is equally apparent to those
who have studied this question; and we must trust to a more
thorough dissemination of such information as will enable each in-
dividual to protect himself. Much is being done in this direction by
means of State Keports, through the American Entomologist^ and
through our various agricultural and horticultural journals ; but much
yet remains to be done. We must bear in mind that by enlightening
our neighbors, we are helping ourselves, and, as horticulturists, we
should urge that more attention be paid in our colleges, and es-
pecially in those of an Industrial nature, to the study of the Natural
Sciences.
In my First Report, I have shown how the Oyster-shell Bark-
louse, though perfectly able to live in the northern part of this State,
is yet unknown there ; and I tremble, lest some one in carelessness or
ignorance should, introduce this dreaded plague of the apple grower
into that section, from some Eastern or Northern nursery. E^ery
THB STATX ENTOMOLOGIST. 15
tree reoeived from a distance should be examined from "' top to
gtem," as the sailors say, before it is planted, and all insects, in what-
ever state they may be, destroyed. There can be do doubt that many
of our worst insect foes may be guarded against by these precautions.
The Oanker-worm, the different Tussock-moths or Yaporer-moths, the
Bark-lice of the Apple and of the Fine, and all other scale insects
(^Coooid(B\ the Apple-tree Root-louse, etc., are continually being
transported from one place to another, either in earth, on scions, or
on the roots, branches, and leaves of young trees; and they are all
possessed of such limited powers of locomotion, that unless trans-
ported in some such manner, they would scarcely spread a dozen
miles in a century.
In the Pacific States, fruit-growing is a most profitable business,
because they are yet free from many of the fruit insects which so in-
crease our labors here. In the language of our late lamented Walsh,
^although in Oalifornia the Blest, the Chinese immigrants have al-
ready erected their joss houses, where they can worship Buddha with-
out fear of interruption, yet no ^ Little Turk ' has imprinted the cres-
cent symbol of Mahometanism upon the the Oalifomian plums and
the Oalifomian peaches." But how long the Galifornians will retain
this immunity, now that they have such direct communication with
infested States, will depend very much on how soon they are warned
of their danger^ I suggest to our Pacific friends that they had better
^ take the bull by the horns," and endeavor to retain the vantage
ground they now enjoy. I also sincerely hope that the day will soon
come when there shall be a sufiScient knowledge of this subject
throughout the land, to enable the nation to guard against foreign in-
sect plagues; the State against those of other States, and the indi-
vidual against those of his neighbors.
TBE OHINOH B\iQ—Mioropu8 leucopterua. Say.
(Hetaroptera, I^ygaudaB.)
[fig. L] ^ Few persons will need to be introduced to this
unsavory little scamp, but, lest perchance, an occa-
sional reader may not yet have a clear and correct
idea of the meaning of the word Chinch Bug, I repre-
sent herewith (Fig. 1) a magnified view of the gen-
tleman. The hair-line at the bottom shows the nat-
ural size of the little imp, and his colors are coal-
black and snow-white. He belongs to the order of
Half-winged Bugs (Hbtbroptbba), the same order to
which the well known Bed Bug belongs, and he ex-
_ hales the same loathsome smell as does that bed-pest
of the human race. He subsists by sucking, with his sharp-pointed
16 8KC0ND ANNUAL KSPOBT OF
beak, the juices of oar cereals, thereby cansing them to shrink and
wither, and not by gnawin^i; or biting their substance, as many per-
sons suppose. Insignificant as is the minute puncture of a single in-
dividual, yet these insects often appear in such countless numbers as
to bleed to death whole fields of grain by their myriad beaks.
If the Western Fruit-grower is asked, what particular insect is the
most dijSicult for him to combat^ and the most destructive to his crops,
he will probably answer ^ The Ourculio." If the same question is put
to the Western Grain-grower, he will infallibly reply ^ The Chinch
Bug." And he will be in the right. The Wheat4nidge — ^popularly
known in the West as the "Weevil " or the **Red Weevil ''—does a
considerable amount of damage, in particular years and in particular
localities, by its little legless orange-colored lava sucking away the
sap from the growing kernel of wheat The Hessian Fly — often called
simply ^^ the Fly "— iiqures the wheat by the maggot that produces it
living between the stem and the sheath of the blade, and intercepting
the sap before that sap can reach the ear. The Grain Plant-louse, easily
distinguished from the above two little pests by its long sprawling
legs, has in certain years somewhat injured the small grain in the West
by accumulating, first on the growing stem and afterwards on the ear,
and abstracting the sap with its long pointed beak. There are ako,
in all probability, several minute Two*winged Flies, which do more
or less injury to the growing grain by their larvae breeding in the
stem, the natural history of one of which, the American ^Meromyza,
was given for the first time in my First Report (pp. 169-61). The larva
of an unknown moth, which burrows upwards and downwards in the
stem of oats, and probably of wheat also, causing the ear to become
prematurely white and the kernel to be entirely blasted, also in some
years does considerable damage. The White Grub, the Wire- worm,
and certain Out- worms take a certain per oentage of the young grain,
almost as soon as it peeps out of the ground. But undoubtedly the
meanest bug, out of the whole crowd of the multifarious insect-foes of
the grain-growing farmer, is the Chinch Bug. He is not satisfied with
taking a field here and a field there, and sparing the remainder. But
when his time comes — and in mercy to the Western Farmer we are
not cursed every year with this little savage— he sweeps the whole
country with the besom of destruction. The Wheat-midge^ the Hes-
sian Fly, and the Grain Plant-louse, destractive as they are to small
grain, yet spare our eosn. If they take the good white wheaten bread
out of our mouths, they yet leave ns an ample supply of corn-dodgen.
But the Ohinch Bag makes a clean sweep, whenever he gets the up-
per hand of us. He ^ goes the entire hog.'' If othing in the way of
grain comes amiss to him. He is not dainty, not he i Whenever he
gets a chance to spread himself^ he first of all at one fell swoop de-
stroys the small grain, and then ftwtens his Uqiuctrish beak upon the
com and takes that alsa
THE STATE BKI0M0LOai6T« IT
PAST HISTORY OF THE CHINOH BUG.
The first record we have of the prevalence of the Chinch Buj
was in the old Kevolntionary times in North Carolina, where it was
confounded with the Hessian Fly, an insect just then imported from
Europe into the United States. Ever since those times it has been
an epidemic pest, in particular years, in North and South Carolina
and in Virginia. The great American entomologist, Thomas Say, in
1831, when he had been residing in Indiana for six years, was tha
first to name and describe it scientifically. He states that he " took a
single specimen on the Eastern shore of Virginia;" whence we may
reasonably infer that it was then either unknown or v^ry rare in Indi-
ana, and probably also in the other Western States. In Missouri U
did considerable damage as early as 1854, for Jas, Pleasant of Fox
Oreek, St. Louis county, informed me that he had known it since that
year, and that he had been previously acquainted with it in Virginia.
Wm. M. Beal of Edina, Knox county, writes that it has existed and
done more or less damage there since 1856, though it has scarcely
been heard of since 1865. Mr. A. H. Roberts of Gray's Summit,
Franklin county, informs me that it has not been in that neighbor-
hood more than eight or ten years, and Mr. C. S. Jeffries, of Boles'
postoflBice in the same county, never heard of it till about fifteen
years ago, though he has lived there for the last fifty years.
If pj*oper records existed, we Aiould doubtless find that it at-
tracted attention in Missouri at a much earlier day, for in Illinois it was
noticed as long back as 1840, in Hancock county, where it was
absurdly supposed to have been introduced by the Mormons of Nan-
▼00, and was called the "Mormon louse"
In 1868, owing to the great drouth, this insect, as I have stated
elsewhere, was quite injurious in many sections of our own State,
and especially in the southwest. In the extreme northern portion
they began to attract attention about the first of May, but the wet
weather that occurred about that time caused them to disappear. In
the more central counties the earliest sown wheat suffered but little
from their depredations, though that which was sown later, was re-
duced about one-third. The conditions being favorable, they rap-
idly increased during the Summer, and in the fall, the second brood
was 80 numerous that great fears were entertained for the safety of
the crops of 1869. Let us be thankful, however, that the excessive
rains of last spring and' summer, though deplored and regretted by
many, had the effect to so thoroughly drown out these little pests, ae
to make them comparatively harmless ; for the only place in which I
heard of their doing serious harm was at Tinney's Grove in Ray
county. Seeming misfortune is often a blessing in disguise, .and
though the corn crop was lessened by the heavy rains, the wheal
crop in all probability would have suffered far worse, had the eeasoii
18 SBOOKD A3SVAL BBMRT 07
been dry and favorable to the increase of this, the greatest iasect foe
of the wheat-grower.
We may safely conclude that the Chinch Bag has always existed
in Missouri, in small numbers; but that it-did not multiply to air in-
jurious extent until the grains began to be cultivated on sai-^exteD-
sive scale. At all events, we know from the evidence of I>r.' Harris
and Dr. Fitch, that it existed long ago in exceedin^y small numben
in New York, and even in Massachusetts. What the causes maj
have been, that thinned out the numbers of this insect in fonner
times in the West, is another question. In fornter- timres^ the great
bulk of these bugs were probably destroyed every wiater-^y the
prairie fires, and, as cultivation has extonded * in ^^onsequeni^ of the
country being gradually settled up, and less and less prairie has been
annually burnt over, the number that has survived through the win-
tor to start the next year's broods has annually become greater. If
these views be correct, we may expect them^ unless more pains be
taken to counterwork and des^oy them, to become,' on the average
of years, still more abundant than- they, now are, whenever piairie
fires shall have become an obsolete institution : until at iast We^t-
ern farmers will be compelled^ as those of North Oarolina have
already several times been compelled, to quit gfowing wheat alto-
gether for a torm of years.
It may be very reasonably asked, why the Ohhich Bug does not
increase and multiply in Massachusetts and New Yoris:, seeing that it
existed there long ago, and that there are, of course, no prairie fires
in those Statos to keep it in check. The answer is, that the Chinch
Bug is a Southern, not a Northern species ; and that hundreds of
Southern species of insects, which on 6the Atlantic seabaaisi onlj
occur in southerly latitudes, are found in profusion in quite a high
latitude in the Yalley of the Mississippi. The same law, as has been
observed by Professor Baird, holds good both with Birds and with
Fishes.*
■
NATiTRAii HI8T0KY OF THB CHINCH BV4.
In the four great and exteasive Orders^f Insects, namely, the
Beetles {Ooleoptera), the Clear- winged 'Flies (Symenoptera)y the
Scaly-winged Flies (Z^jpi^jo^era), and the Two- winged Flies (Dip-
tera)^ and in one of the four small Orders in its restricted sense,
namely, the Net-winged Flies (Ifeuroptera)^ the insect usually lies
still throughout the pupa state., and is always so far from being, able
to eat or to evacuate, that both mouth and anus are closed up by
membrane. In tfiiQ^^emaining three, sniall Orders, oa the contraiy,
namely, that of the Si^aight- winged Flies in its most extensive senss
^ ( Orthoptera mQlu^ng^ Pseudo-neuropterai^y..^%^ Bug»
{HeteropteroL) and the.lJSJhole- winged Bugs {Bom(^tmu\^%:pTi^^'n
* just as active and just as ravenous as either the larva^^rttL^-. perfect
* SiUiman'i Jonrulf zU, p. 87.
«*■•■
TH& 8UATE JBKTOMOIiOeiBT. 19
insect and the little crealttre never quits eating as loag as the warm
weath^^ lasts^ except for a day or so while it is accomplishing each
p4 Ito^successi ve threey;f(Hir ^, &ye moolia^ As the Chinch Bag be-
<;.lbT)^s to the Half-WLngedBug&, it ^therefore Continues to take food,
-with a few short intermissions, from the day when it hatches oat
from the egg to the day of its unlamented death.
Most insects — ^irrespective of the Order to which they belong —
require l^mpnihs ta go through the complete circle of their changes,
fromthe,daytfaatrtheeggis laid to the day when the perfect insect
peri^es of eld age and decrepitude. A few require 3 years, as for
example the Round-headed Apple-tree Borer {Saperda bivitiata, Say)
and the White Grub which {H-odttces the M.eij'heetle (ZdchnoHema
. ^t^reincii "Knoch,), One species, the Thirteen-year Locust (Cicada
trecbcim^ Riley), tetually requires 13 years to pass from the egg to
the winged state; and another, the Seventeen-year Locust ( ^^^od^c^a
septemdeeim^ Iani;iL.X the s^ longer period of 17 years. On the other
hand there are not a-few that-pass through all their three states in a
few months, o;r even is a few weeks ; so that in one and the same
. year^^eVd may^xie 2^3 or even 4 or 5 broods, one generated by the
other and one succeeding another. For example, the Hessian Fly
iVeoidomyia destr%ctor^ §ay), the common Slug-worm of the Pear
{Selandria eerad^ PeckX the Slug* worm of the Rose {Selandria rosm
Harris), the Apple- worm and a few others, produce exactly two gen-
orations in one year,, and hence may be termed ^Hwo-brooded."
Again, the Colorado Potato^beetle in Oentral Missouri is three-brooded,
itod not improbably in more southerly regions is iour-brooded. Lastly,
the common House-fly, the Cheese-fly, the various species of BIow-
flies;4md Meat-flies, and the multifarious species of Plant-lice (Aphis)
prodae<^ an indefinite number of successive broods in a single year,
eometimes amounting in the case of the last-named genus, as has
been proved by actual experiment, to as many as nine.
As long ago as March, 1866, 1 published tiie fact that the Chinch
Bug is two-brooded in North Illinois (Practical Entomologist^ I, p.
45), and I find that it is likewise two-brooded in this State, and most
probably in all the Middle States. Yet it is quite agreeable to anal-
ogy that in the more Southern States, it may be three-brooded. For
instance, the large Polyphemus Moth is single^brdoded in the North-
ern and Middle States, and yet, two broods are sometimes produced in
this State, while in the South it is habitually two-brooded. Again, the
moth known as the Poplar Spinner, (Clostera jlmmcd^no, Harris), is
stated by Dr. Harris and Dr. Fitch to be only single-brooded in Mass-
achusetts and New York, the insect spinning up in September or Oc-
tober, passing the winter in the pupa state, and coming out in the
winged form in the following June. But Dr. Harris — no doubt on the
authority of Abbott — states that ^ in Georgia this insect breeds twice
a year ;"* and I have proved that it does so breed in Missouri, having
*Ii^wrioma HneU, p. 4S4.
no SKdOKB ANNUAL REFOKT Of
now (Dec. '69) a nnmber of cocoons which were formed by a second
brood of larv8B. It is quite reasonable, therefore, to infer that the
Ohinch Bug may produce even more than two broods in the more
Southern States.
It is these two peculiarities in the habits of the Chinch Bug,
namely, first, its continuing to take food from the day of its birth to
the day of its death, and secondly, its being either two-brooded or
many-brooded, that renders it so destructive and so difficult to com-
bat. Such as survive the autumn, when the plants on the sap of
which they feed are mostly dried up so as to afford them little or no
nourishment, pass the winter in the usual torpid state, and always in
the perfect or winged form, under dead leaves, under sticks of wood,
under flat stones, in moss, in bunches of old dead grass or weeds or
straw, and often in corn-stalks and corn-shucks. In the fall and win-
ter of 1868, 1 repeatedly received corn-stalks that were crowded with
them, and it was difficult to find a stalk in any field that did not re-
veal some of them, upon stripping off the leaves. I have even found
them wintering in the gall made by the Solidago Gall-moth (^GeUchU
gall(B8oUdagini8)^ described in the First Report.
In the winter all kinds of insect-devouring animals, such as birds,
shrew-mice, etc., are hard put to it for food, and have to search even
hole and corner for their appropriate prey. But no matter hov
closely they may thin out the Chinch Bugs, or how generally these
insects may have been starved out by the autumnal droughts, there
will always be a few left for seed next year. Suppose that there an
only 2,000 Ohinch Bugs remaining in the spring in a certain field, and
that each female of the 2,000, as vegetation starts, raises a family of
only 200, which is a low calculation. Then — allowing the sexes to b«
equal in number, whereas in reality the females are always far mors
numerous than the males — the first or spring brood will consist of
800,000, of which number 100,000 will be females. Here, if the speciei
.were single-brooded, the process would stop for the current year;
and 200,000 Ohinch Bugs in one field would be thought nothing of bj
the Western farmer. But the species is not single-brooded and tht
process does not stop here. Each successive brood increases in num-
bers in Geometrical Progression, unless there be something to check
their increase; until the second brood amounts to twenty milliona,
and the third brood to two thousand millions. We may form soiim
idea of the meaning of two thousand millions of Ohinch Bags, when
it is stated that that number of them, placed in a straight line hea4i
and tail together, would just about reach from the surface of the eartb
to its central point — a distance of four thousand miles.
According to the reasoning of Dr. Henry Shimer, of Mr. Carroll
Illinois, who published an interesting paper on this insect in the pro-
ceedings of the Academy of Natural Science of Philadelphia for May,
1867, the Ohinch Bug takes wing only at its love seasons, which occur
in his locality in May and in August His views on this subject an
THE STATE BNTOM0L0OI8T. 21
well set forth in the following paragraph taken from the paper above
alluded to:
May 16, 1865, was a delightful, mild, bright, sunny, sumraer-Iike
day : and 1 again, for the last time, observea the same highly inter-
esting phenomena, which I have noticed above as occurring after the
harvest of 1864 — the atmosphere swarming with Chinch Bugs on the
^wing. This is their spring ; that was their autumnal nuptial season —
their season of love. These remarkable little creatures prefer to conduct
their courtships under the searching gaze of the noonday sun, instead
of at the midnight hour. They were so numerous, alighting on the
pavements in the village, that scarcely a step could be taken without
crushing many of them under foot. In a few days, they had all disap-
peared ; their breeding grounds were chosen, where they could be found
in great numbers, often in pairs. I first noticed this disposition of the
Ohinch Bug to take wing under the promptings of the love passion,
about six years ago, in their autumnal love season. At no other time
save their love season, twice a year, have I ever seen one Chinch Bug
flying. It is quite remarkable that the winged imago, under no other
circumstances will even attempt to use its ample wings. No threat*
ening danger, however imminent, whether of being driven over by
grain reapers, wagons, or of being trodden under foot, etc., will prompt
it to use its wings to escape. I have tried all imaginable ways to in-
duce them to fly, as by threshing among them with bundles of rods or
frass, by gathering them up and letting them fall from a height, etc.,
ut they invariably refube entirely to attempt to use their win^^s in
escaping from danger. The love emotion alone makes them conscious
that they are in possession of wings.|
I agree entirely with Dr. Shimer as to the facts mentioned in th«
paragraph, but not as to the conclusions which he deduces. There
are many objections to his theory, some of which may be found in the
American EntomologisU (Vol. I, pp. 172-3).
It is a notorious fact that Chinch Bugs do not all mature at once,
and if they took wing only when making their courtships, some of
them would be flying during a period of several weeks; and as will
be shown presently, there exists a dimorphous short- winged form of
the Chinch Bug, which cannot possibly make any such aerial love
trips. It seems more agreeable to analogy that they take wing only
when they have become so unduly numerous that they are in-
stinctively aware that they must either emigrate or starve. Be this
however as it may, the fact of their being as a general rule unwilling
to use their wings is well known to every practical farmer.
It has long been known that the Chinch Bug deposits its eggs un-^
derground and upon the roots of the plants which it infests, and that
the young larvss remain underground for some considerable time after
they hatch out, sucking the sap from the roots. If, in the spring of
the year, you pull up a wheat plant in a field badly infested by this
inpect, you will find hundreds of the eggs attached to the roots ; and
at a somewhat later period the young larvae may be found clustering
upon the roots and looking like so many moving little red atoms.
The egg is so small as to be scarcely visible to the naked eye, of an
oval shape, about four times as long as wide, of a pale amber white
33 BBOOHD AinnJAL KBPOBT OF
color vhen first laid, bat sabseqaoDtly'saflateiDg a reddfah color from
the yoDQg larva ebowing^ lluoagh Uie .,^raBflpar«Qt, .shelU* -As-tBe '
mother Gbinch Bog has to work her way QndergroiiBd: in t^e spring of
the year, in order to get at the roots upoq vhich-she }>xop<^s to lay
her eggs, it becomes evident at oiice,.tbat^e fooser the -soiH^-at this
time of the year the greater the facilitiee' which are t^red^ll^ 'ihie
operation. Hence the great advantage of ylonghiitg laifll for sptfng
grain in the preceding autumn, or, if pIoi]gbed in m? spring, roljiog
it repeatedly with a heavy roller after seed! qg. And hence the re-
mark frequently made by farmers, that wheat harrowed in apon old
com-gronnd, without any ploughing at all, is i&t lert fnfested by
Chinch Bng than wheat pot in upon land that has been ploughed.
There is another fact which ha^ been i«p,eate3ly'n6ticed by pzactical
men. This insect cannot live and thrive and multiply in Itmd -that i»
aopping with water; and it generally commences its <^ratiois in
early spring upon those particular parts irf every fidld VBere thtfaoil
is the looBeet and the driest.
The female occupies aboat tbree weeks in diepositii^ b^r -eggs,.
and, according to Dr. Shinier's estimate, she deposits abeirt 500. Tlie
egg requires about two weeks, to hateb; and the bng becomee fH&
grown and acquires its wings in from ^ to 50 days after hafcEifig.
tKK->l There are, as is well kftown t© Enton^olo^ipts,
many generat of the Half-wing«d Bugs, which in
Europe occui<it1^j?a4i^i^ w4*diflWHSfMǤ"^*^
with no intermediate- gi%del;'^>0^vtfSB':tBfi'' %^o;
namely, a short-winged or sometimes even a com-
pletely wingless type and a loitg-winged^pe.^ Fre-
quently the two occur premdscaoq^-together, and
are found prpmiacBoualy eo^i^^ting so-that ihey can-
not poflsiblybe distinct 8pe<^'s. Sometimes the long-
-|- winged type 'occurs in particular, seasons, and es-
-L pecially in very hot seasons, Sj^ve rarely the-ahort-
winged type occurs id a different locali^ hwsi the long-winged type,
and usually in that case .in a more northerly locality. We have a
good illustration of this latter peculiarity in the case of the Obinch
Bug, for a dimorphous short-winged form (Fig. 2.) occurs in Canads*
and Dr. Fitch describes it irom specimens received -from th« States,
as a variety, under the name-ef apterasr -'- ■
DE8TBUCTIVX POWBBS OF THE CBINCB BUS.
Few persons in the more Northern States can fprm a just concep-
tion of the pTodigioua numbers and redoubtable armies in which this
insect is sometimes seen in the Sonth and Southwestern States,
'■ Paper tb* dimniaiaRi of tb* en, h " determinrd ynOi jlne ■u,tb«mi
re >ud to b» "(.M inch Iodk uif O.ll inch wide," (p. fl».) Tbii it eitlx
1 JDdi lone ud 0.001 isch wide." Otberwae the e(
lericAl or a tjpogrBpbicBl error for "0.004 JDdi lone aod 0.001 isch wide." Otberwat the fgg
onld be DHrl7 one-tUrd ■■ long u the Infect ifKOli ud u Dr. SMper tUoka thatererj n-
Ala la;i abont 600 tggt, thii would be aomethins like (etfinf a bdabal 6t abaataat of i qaatt
" THB 8TATX INTOM0L0GI8T. 23
mi^ching from one field \A anothei*. ^^Th6 ioUoiHng extracts — the first
onerwntten in June, 1865; by Dan. F. Ro^^ef a to th6 JStew York Far-
mers' Olnb, and the second from an olcl nnm^ber of the Prairie Far-
fne7^rr'X[x^y.^'^^m.9!'^S^ Ijut. I have no doabt that both
accoUht&are substantially correct:
Th^re never was a better "show'* ^or wheat and barley than we
had hero the lOth of June, and no more paltry crop has been harvested
since we werQ a town. Many farmers ilid not get their seed. In
passing by a field of barley where the Ohjnch Bugs had been at work,
for a week, I fonnd thefh movin/z: in solid column ucro^s the road to a
coni field on ^he opposite dide,in such numbers that I felt almost
afraid- to. ride my h^i^^e- iMnong them. >The<roadfand fences were alive
with tbeic^ Some teams were at work mending the road at this spot,
an4^th^ bugs covered men, horses and scrapers till they were forced
to quit work for the day/ The bug.^ tojok ten acres of that corn, clean
to tne ground, before its hardening stalks'— being too much for their
tobls^cfaecked their progress; ^Another lot of them came from a
wheat field adjoining my. wm into a piece of corn, stopping now and.
then fQjT a bite, .but not long* Tl\en they crossed a meadow 30 rods
into a l6-acre lot of sorgo, and swept it like a fire, though the ciane
was then scarce in tassel. From wheat to s<>rgo was at l^ast sixty
rods. Their march was governed by no discoverable law, except that
thav were infernally hungry, and. went where there was most to eat
Helping: a, neigMor harvest one of the few fortunate fields, early
Bow?k— and so lucky I — we found them moving across his premises in
such numbers that they bid fair to drive out the family. House, crib,
stable, wcjil-curb, ttees, garden fences^ — one dreepin^ mass of stinking
life. In the house as well as outside, like the lice of Egypt, they
were everywhere ; but in blc single day they were gone.
If any Weet em rustics are verdant enough to suppose that Chinch
Bugs cannot be out-flanked, headed off and conquered, they are en-
tirely behind the times. The thing has been effectually done duriog
the; past:5ea80B(,i4)y; Mr.: S^isifiSxfper visor of the town of Scott, Ogle
county, Ills. This gentleman had a cornfield of a hundred acres,
growing alongside of an extensive field of small grain. The bugs had
finishea up the latter and were preparing to atta<!k the former, when
the owner, being of an ingenious turn, hit uipQn a happy plan for cir-
cumventing them. He surrounding the corn with a barrier of pine
boards set up edgewise, and partly buried in the ground, to keep
them in position. Outside of this fence deep holes were dug, about
ten feet apart. The upper edge of the board was kept constantly
moiat with a coat of -.Qoal tar« w)iicti was renewed every day.
„.Xhe .hugB.;iM5(e^r4«igvsto iltheir .jtegultor tactifis, advanced to the
assault in solid columns, swarming by millions, and hiding the
ground. They easily ascended the boards, but were unable to cross
the belt of the coal tar. Sometimes they crowded upon one another
so -as to bridge over the barrier, but such places were immediately
covered with a new coating. The invaders were in a worse quandary
than that of Butler and Weitzel at Fort Fisher, and, in that state of
mind crept backward and forward uifitil they tumbled into the deep
hole aforesaid. These were sdbn filled, and the swarming myriads
were shoveled o»tot them ■literally by wagon loads, at the rate of
thirty or forty bushels ja dcay — and buned up in other holes, dug for
the purpQse, as required. This may seem incredible to persons un-
acquainted with this Kttle pest, but no one who has seen the count-
less myriads which cover the earth as harvest approaches, will feel i
X SECOND ANNUAL UPORT OF
inclined to dispute the statement. It is an nnimpeachable fact. The
process was repeated till only three or four bushels could be shovelled
out of the holes, when it was abandoned. The com was completely
protected, and yielded bountifully.
HEAVY RAINS bESTRUCTIVE TO THB CHINCH BUG.
As the Chinch Bug, unlike most other true Bugs, deposits its
eggs underground, and as the young larvae live there for a consider-
able time, it must be manifest that heavy soaking rains will have a
tendency to drown them out. The simple f$ict, long ago observed and
recorded by practical men, such as Mr. B. E. Fleharty of North Prairie,
Knox county. Ills., that this insect scrupulously avoids wet land.
proves that moisture is naturally ipjurious to its constitution. Hence
it was many years ago remarked by intelligent farmers, and we had
an illustration of it the present year (1869), that very often when the
spring opens dry. Chinch Bugs will begin to increase and multiply in
an alarming manner I but that the very first heavy shower checks
them up immediately, and repeated heavy rains put an almost entire
•top to their operations. It is very true that nearly all insects will
bear immersion underwater for many hours, and frequently for a
whole day, without suflfering death therefrom; for although animation
is apparently suspended in such cases, they yet, as the phase is,
•* come to life again." But no insect, except the few that are pro-
vided with gills like fishes and extract the air out of the water, in-
stead of breathing it at first hand, can stand a prolonged immersion
in water without drowning. And it must be obvious to the meanest
capacity, that an insect, such as the Chinch Bug, whose natural home
is the driest soil it can find, will have its health iiyuriously affected
by a prolonged residence in a wet soil'.
In fact the whole history of the Chinch Bug, from the vert
earliest records which we have of it, points unmistakably to the fact
that a wet season afiects it iujuriously, and often almost annihilates lu
In Carolina and Virginia, during the dry years which preceded 18w,
it had become so numerous that the total destruction of the cropi
was threatened ; but fortunately, unlike its predecessors, the samme'
^f 1€40 was quite wet and the ravages of t^ie bug were at once ar-
rested. In Illinois and in this State it had increased to an alarming
extent. during the latter part of the late Rebellion; but the excessive
wet summer of 1865 swept them away to such an extent that it ^^
difficult to find any in the fall of that year. So it was again in 18^^
70, aud so it always has been, and doubtless always will be. W^
be well therefore for farmers to bear in mind, that in a hoU ^'^ f^
$on Chinch Bugs are always the worsts and that in a wet iSason t
impoasihle for them to do any considerable amount of dafnag^-
Dr, Shimer, however, is not satisfied with this simple t^^®^^',..
has gotten up and expounded to the world a new and ^®^^^.L
theory of his own, namely, that in the terrible wet season of 1 »
vben the Obinch Bug, although in early spring it had appeared ^
THE STATE ENTOMOLOeiST. 25
Tery great numbers, was almost annihilated in the coarse of the
summer, it perished, not as others had foolishly supposed, from the
direct operation of the rain, but indirectly through a certain myste-
rious epidemic disease analogous to the Cholera or the Yellow Fever
among human beings. He fully allows that the mortality among the
Ohinch Bugs was contemporaneous with the wet weather; but he
will have it that it was not the wet weather that killed the Bug,
as we common folks have always hitherto believed, but that
it was his newly-discovered Epidemic Disease. But as in the con-
joint article in the American Entomologist (I, pp. 174-6) this Epi-
demic theory was fully considered by my late associate, Mr. Walsh,
in his own peculiar style, I shall not dwell upon it here.
CANNIBAL FOES OP THE CHINCH BUG.
As long ago as 1861, Mr. Walsh, in his Essay upon the In^jurious
Tnsects of Illinois^ published facts which tended to show that four
distinct species of Ladybirds preyed upon the Chinch Bug.* The
first of these four is the Spotted Ladybird {Hippodamia maculata^
C^ig- 3.] DeGeer, Fig. 3), which also preys upon a great y^fs- *•]
^^^^ variety of other insects, attacking both the eggs
jjMM o* the Colorado Potato Bug and those of certain T,
^P^^K}- Bark-lice ; and which is further remarkable for-^^
being one of the few insects found both in Europe and in North
America.
In corroboration of the fact of its preying on the Chinch Bug,
I may state, that the Rev. Chas. Peabody, of Sulphur Springs, inform*
me that he has repeatedly found it so feeding on his farm. The second
species is the Trim Ladybird (Coocinella munda^ Say, Fig. 4), which
is distinguishable at once from a great variety of its brethren by
having no black spots upon its red wing-cases. The other two are
much smaller insects, belonging (o.a genus {Soymnus) of Ladybirds,
most of the species of which are quite small and of obscure brown
colors, and hard to be distinguished by the popular eye from other
beetles, the structure of which is very dilTerent, and which therefore
belong to very different groups and have very different habits.
In the autumn of 1864 Dr. Shimer ascertained that the Spotted
Ladybird which has been sketched above, preys extensively upon the
Chinch Bug. In a particular field of corn, which had been sown thick
for fodder, and which was swarming with Chinch Bngs, he found, as
he says, that this Ladybird, "could be counted by hundreds upon
every square yard of ground after shaking the corn ; but the Chinch
Bugs were so numerous that these hosts of enemies made very little
perceptible impression among them."
In the same autumn Dr. Shimer made the additional discovery,
that in the very same field of fodder-corn the Chinch Bugs were
preyed upon by a very common species of Lace wing-fly, which he
*S«e TVanf. Ill, St. Agric, Society, IV, pp. 846--9.
26 SECOND ANNUAL BBPOBT OF
\ . .. - - . .
described in January, 1865,* as the Illinois Lacewing ( Chrysopa Uli-
noiensis). The description wa» repobliisbed, together with the sub-
stance of JJi r. Shimer's observations in the Prairie Farmer^ of Chicago,
IlL, accompanied with a non-characteristic w'ood-cnt of the lafva,'
cocoon and iinago. At this time Mr. Shimer* fq^TOred me with fwe "
specimens of the perfect insept, and he likewise flirmshed Mh WaTah
with additional specimens. From these speciinens^^lt is evident that
the species is the same as that described long before^ l^iy Br. Fitcb,
as the Weeping Lace wing ( (JhryBdj>a ploTohuiida) . In 1868, I found
the same species quite numerous in a wheat field l)elonging to Mr.
T.R. AlleiU, of Allenton, whe^e its larvdB were perhaps feeding on the'
OMnch Bugs, artliey were found to do ib North Illinois, bylDif. Shither.^
Piff- 5-] . , -ffitj Lt^cfwing flies alf TjeiBd* a striking resBmbl^iioe. ;,
to <ine another^ bothin size^ shs^e and color ; a&d to . ?.
convey a. correct idea of their appearance, it i»
'only .neqessary to repei^t. the annexed drawing .
(Fig 5.). from my First Report, where a sketch of ^.
their naturied histoi^ infl be found (pp. 57-8).t IJ^cgr
almost all of them, in tfaie^y state, have a charaov
te'ristic smd disagreeable o4or,xesembiing not much as hnmai^ -
ordure. ' . • . . ■- ... a '\ >
According . to Pr. Shimer^ the Weeping Lace wing-fly wasjio^
quite as abundant as the Spotted Ladybird among the fodde^-^j^jan^
but 8t#ll there were so many of them, thatbe-th6Ugbt'i©ft*i'**'^tSperewa»
one oj more of them for every stalk of that thicUy sown coru^
" E very ^stroke of the cutter," he adds, "would raise three or four
dozen of them, presenting quite an interesting spectacle as.thej
staggered along in their ^wfewaifd, unsteady flight.'^ And be not only
actually observed the laryi9B preying ve^y yoraciously on the Chinch
Bugs in the field, but hi* reared^^^^ numbers of themi to the mature
Fly Jb^y feeding thenpi iipon tJhm^ His account of the opera-
tions of the larva when in'<5aptivity is sq interesting that 1 quote it in
I placed one of the larvae in a vial, after having captured it in jjbi
field in the very act of devouring Chinch Bugs of all sizes, and sub-
sequently introduced into the vial a number of Ghittth Bugs. They
had hardly- reached the bottom before it seized one. of. tlv9::<^lar£^t ^
ones, pierced it with its iolfi'g jkws, held it altiadst fdo'tlonlessib/about
a minute while it was sucking the juices from the body of its victim,
and then threw down the lifeless shell. In this way, I saw it destroy
in quick .succession, about a dozen bugs. >To wards the last, as itji
appetite was becomting satiated; it spent five or more minutely in suck-
ing the jjuices irom the body of one bug. After this bountiful repast,
it remained motionless for an hour or more,. as if asleep. Never for
*Proc. But. Soi:. Phil., IV, ppr 208-aif .
* fill that aoconnt I ttaied aB.a fact whiofei^rso far as I was Aware^-faad not bMn recbtied hy
Any previous writer k.U)at.thaii^*ji^cti8jiaea from the small cocoon in an actire snb-ima^o- state,
from which, after a few nonrs, the win^eilfly emer|^B, learing; behind it a flxie eilVery-^^itii trans-
parent skin. I have since fonnd-that Dr. Bnimer/ in tb8.MmiA.ti#c -pi^per already referred to,, had
preTionsly recorded the yery. same fact.
THB STATB BNT0M0L0M8T. 27
a single moment, "durin|f the feast, ili* it •pTO#^^ work. Wh«n
nptin possession. of. a bug, it was on the aeareh fof^'^ i§ .th« pur»«it ;
of others.^ It manifested much eagerne^ss in the pnrstujiiiisrf its pr^y^-.
yet iibt with a Ii0n4ike boldness ^ for on several occasfeus J oteerved
a manifest timOronsness, a halting in the attack, as if cohSdoqs of
danger in its hiinting expeditions, althongfa here there was ftdb^.
Sometimes, wbeu two or more btig^ were approacbingra^^idly, it •
would shrink back from the attackvaid turtiing a«ide go iq the fiu:i^-
Buit of others. At length, awakening, ij would ^enew the assaiilta^,
befor^. On one occasion, when ft was Ibn tfie side of the vial^two
inches up, with a lar^e bug in its mouth, I jarred the vial, so that i^ -^
fell to the bottom and rolled OTer. and over across the bottom, but^
holding on to its prey, it regained its foolin/e: and. mounted up to- its .
fofi^er position, . Occasionally the Chinch Bugs would 'hasten to es-
cape when pursued, as if io sooie degree conscipus ojp danger, . -/f
.. ^*«^-** . TheIn8i(Uous.FloiKrerBua.{-4»M^$^«W«^^
pmi^ Say), of which I riSi)re8ent%ereWitJi a highly
magnified ^gure, (.Fig.-: 6), may ^ften ^be ibuni in
company with theChin^hBug^ixn^er.tbe.hiisks. of
ears of corn. It is ftuite ^^mmou in . JlSijsouipi,
where I have .found it nn several, different .galls,,
and especially i^ the Orape-vine .ILeaf-gim, ;i?^her(B .
it was greying oii the lice. {PJiyllox€Tavitifolio$)y, ,
which are the architects o(. the gall. It has
often been mis tak (Bill for thieChiuiAiJI^ was
upon one occasion sent to Br. Fitch, by ^igte'^bf 'bis
correspondents, jFbif thai; vefitSrble Bug/; Yet it ^undoubtedly preys .
upt)ri the Chinch Bug," aff Weil as lipon'fi variety of other jilant-f^ed-
ing insects, arid it therefore beiDomes very necessary that the iFamer '
should learn to recogniise it iand dMiriguish it froni the; true culprit.
Ifris tery true that, practically. It will Jbe found almost impossityle to
separate the shdep from the goaf s^ and sjparerj the liYes of the forftier
while cotideihiiihg to destrtictiotf th^ uhsavory little carcaiwes of the
lattei*; Still, it 'will be sonie comfort to the grain-jfrower, when ^t
some' future day he may discover hiis small grain or his corn to "be
alive with Chinch Bugs, to perceive the bright' orange-colored larvae ^"
of 'the Insidious Flo w;er-Btfg dodging about "among the ^lood-red or
blood-bfown larvsB of his bitter foes^ iifi^ siickihg out their life-blood
with ravenous avidity ; or to discover the little slow- going larvae of
lh%^Sopmnu9 gronpof-fcadybirds; With such ♦ dieifd^ arid leVetily-Shoni -^^ '
masses of short milk-white cottony threads growing out of their en-
tire bodies that they look like little ikhimated flakes of cotton wool,
crawling about among the stinking:crowd and making many a hearty,
meal off them, stink they n^ ver so badly ; or, J|aaJly , to watch tl|0^
lizardUijke black and yellow larvsEi of the Spotted Xadybird, and tfie.
Trim Ladybird, with their short, robust .jaws, or the greeniph'-brown
larv» of the Bace wing-fly, with their iojug. slender sickle-shaped
jaws, running, rij^pidly about among the host^.of thek ^i>e<piefi^ akd
smiting them hip and thigh without any mc^e mercy than th^ Amale:-
H»
•v«
88 SECOND ANKUAL REPORT OF
kites of old experienced at the hands of avenging Israel. He will
then know that, even if he is himself powerless to make head against
a host of minute foes, as numerous as the sand on the seashore, and
as destructive and irresistible as the waves of the great ocean itseli^
Providence has provided a check upon the unlimited increase of his
enemies ; and that a Power which is above us all and provides for us
all, and which alloweth not even a sparrow to fall to the ground un-
less by His especial permission, has said to every vegetable-feeding
insect, through the mouths of the various Cannibal and Parasitic spe-
cies which He has appointed to do His work : ^^ Thus far shalt thou go,
and no farther; and here shall thy proud hosts be stayed."
The common Quail of the Middle and Western States {Oriym
Virginiana) otherwise known as the Partridge in the Northern States
has long since been known as a most efficient destroyer of Chinch
Bugs, and the fact was some time ago published by myself in the
Prairie farmer^ and by others in various Agricultural Journals and
Reports. We also have the corroborative testimony of Dr. Shimer,
who is a good ornithologist In the winter time, when hard pushed
for food, this bird must devour immense numbers of the little pesta
which winter in just such situations as are frequented by the Quail;
and this bird should be protected from the gun of the sportsman in
every State where the Chinch Bug is known to run riot.
AHOnUT OF DAMAGE DONE B7 THE CHINCH BUQ.
According to Dr. Shimer's estimate, which may be considered a
reasonable one, in the year 1864 " three-fourths of the wheat and one-
half of the corn crop were destroyed by the Chinch Bug throughout
many extensive districts, comprising almost the entire Northwest."
At the average annual rate of increase, according to the United
States Census, in the State of Illinois, the wheat crop of 1864 ought
to have been about thirty millions of bushels, and the corn-crop about
one hundred and thirty-eight million bushels. Putting the cash
value of wheat at $1.26 and that of corn at 50 cents, the cash value
of the com and wheat destroyed by this insignificant little bug, no
bigger than a grain of rice, in one single State and in one single year,
will therefore, according to the above figures, foot up to the astound-
ing total of OVER SEVENTT-THREE MILLIONS OP DOLLARS 1 Put it RS low aS
we choose, it is still a ** big thing; " and it is unnecessary to argue a
question any further, when facts and figures speak so plainly.
REMEDIES AGAINST THE CHINCH BUG.
It has long been noticed that the Chinch Bug commences its rav-
ages in the spring from the edges of a piece of grain, or occasionally
from one or more small patches, scattered at random in the more cen-
tral portions of it, and usually drier than the rest of the field. From
these particular parts it subsequently spreads by degrees over the
whole field, multiplying as it goes and finally taking the entire crop
unless checked up by seasonable rains. In newly-broken land.
THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 29
where the fences are new and consequently no old stuff has had time
to accumulate along them, the Chinch Bug is never heard of. These
facts indicate that the mother insects must very generally pass the
winter in the old dead stuff that usually gathers along fences. Hence,
by way of precaution, it is advisable, whenever possible, to burn up
such dead stuff in the winter or early in the spring, and particularly
to rake together and burn up' the old corn-stalks, instead of plowing
them jn, or allowing them, as is often done, to lie littering about on
some piece of waste ground. It is true, agriculturally speaking, this
is bad farming; but it is better to lose the manure contained in the
corn-stalks than to have one's crop destroyed by insects. Whenever
such small infected patches in a grain field are noticed early in the
season, the rest of the field may often be saved by carting dry straw
on to them and burning 'the straw on the spot. Chinch Bugs, green
wheat and all ; and this will be still easier to do when the bugs start
along the edge of the field. If, as frequently happens, a piece of
small grain is found about harvest-time to be so badly shrunken up
by the bug as not to be worth cutting, the owner of it ought always
to set fire to it and burn it up along with its ill-savored inhabitants.
Thus, not only will the insect be prevented from migrating on to
the adjacent corn-fields, but its future multiplication will be consid-
erably checked.
A very simple, cheap and easy method of prevention was recom-
mended in the Prairie Farmer of April 19th, 1S62, by Mr. Wilson
Phelps, of Crete, Illinois. It may very probably be effectual when
the bugs are not too numerous, and certainly can do no harm :
With twelve bushels of spring wheat mix one bushel of winter
rye, and sow in the usual manner. The rye not heading out, but
spreading out close to the ground, the bugs will content themselves
with eating it, until the wheat is too far advanced to be injured by
them. There will, of course, be no danger of the winter rye mixing
with the spring wheat.
When Chinch Bugs are likely to march, as they often do, after the
fashion of Army- worms, from an infected to an uninfected field, Mr. H.
J. Everest, of Stoughton, Dane county, Wisconsin, recommends the
following plan, which is stated to have been tried by several persons
and found to be perfectly effectual, and which is substantially the
same as that referred to on page 23 :
Take common fence-boards, six inches or less wide, and run them
around the piece, set edgewise, and so that the bugs cannot get under
them or between the joints, and then spread eitJier pine or coal tar
on the upper edge, and they will not cross it. The tar needs renew-
ing till the edge gets saturated, so that it will keep wet and not dry
in any more, and either kind of tar is effectual. Then dig holes close
to the boards, about like a post-hole, once in four or five rods, and
run a strip of tar from the top of the board to the bottom on the out-
side opposite the hole, and they will leave the board, and in trying to
S^ around the tarred stripe will slide into the hole, where they will
e obliged to remain till they can be buried at leisure, and new holes
opened for more victims. It is seldom one has to fence more than
30 aisooasD^ AimuAL rxfobx ov
.'■.■^■
one side of a field, bat wherever the fence is, it is a sore slop.—'-Prc^e.
Finally, whefi \he Chindh Bogs are alreidy iii; tiie field wiilcli it is
proposed to rescue. from theiz: dtitehes^ ]fr. Michael fiopps, of Lyons-
ville. Cook- county, Illiooia, says that he saved a^ piece of wheat by
sowing gas-lime broadcast over it, at -the rate of sii-or serea boahels
to the acre ; and that the effect was that the bugs immediately left
his field, and his crop was saved, whil^ the.wheatof his peighbors was
nearly ruined by them. He further states that '^a neighbor had a
field of wheat adjoining his (Mr. Hopps's) cornfield, ia which the bags
worked badly. Thinking that, as Boon as the wheat was cut, they
would emigrate to his com, he dropped a handful of the gas-lime upon
each hill of com, in ih^ same manner as plaster is often dropped upon
<^orn iu the JSast. The consequence was that the bugs did not attack
the com in the J^east.'^— (Pratri^ Farmer.)
But, if gas lime-keeps off Ohinch Bugs, which may or may not be
the case, it appears that coal-tar most certainly will not do so, as the
following experiment of Dr. Shimer's proves :
Me^ 26M, 1801J — ^I saturated some saw-dust with coal-tar, and
mixed some auicktlime among it, so that it might be in a good condi-
tion for handling, and sowed it thickly broadcast over a portion of my
wheat field, where the bugs were very numerous.
May 27^A-29^^ 1864. — ^The bugs refuse to leave the part of the
afield where I sowed the tarred saw-dust, so there is but little hope of
driving them from their once chosen grounds, by the seasonable ap-
plic^tioii of strong-smelling drugs.
I have known farmers to follow the plan of going through a wheat
field badly infested with Ohin(3ii Bugs, and with a sickle to cut, here
and there, small patches of the wheat which they threw on the ground
in the form of a loose irregular shock. The bugs would gather under
these cut stalks in great numbers from the standing grain, and could
then be destroyed either by crushing or by burning them with
straw. ^ *
Th^ above remedies are selected as the most likely to prove prac-
tically Bdccessful, from a i^ass floating round in the various Agricul-
tural Joufn ftis, son^e of them utterly absurd and irratiohkl^ ani others
of very doobtfiil use. As to the ridiculous proposal put forth in the
Waukegan (Bis.) Oazette^ in 1865, with a great flourish of trumpets,
1)y one D. H. SBeripan of that town; namely, to destroy. the Chinch
Bugs in the egg >^ate by pickling all the seed wheat ; it is sufficient
to observe that this Insect never deposits its eggs upon the kernel of
the ripe wheat Coaseqtfently, to attempt to kill Chinch Bug eggs,
by doctoring the seed wheat, would be pretty much like trying to fell
the nits in a boy's head by applying aipiece of sticking-plaster to his
great toe. In the old Practical Entomologist {1^ p. 48), I showed that
there were no such eggs in the wheat kernels, which Mr; Sherman
himself had sent me, and which he had supposed to be thus infested.
THE BTATB XKT0MOL00I8T. 31
BOaUB OHIKCH BUGS.
••^
. Few tldi^A are more astonislimg than the acuteness of perception
Boperindueed by being cooBta&tly eonvezsant with some one particu-
Ua tsubj ect . I have often; been earprised at the readliless with wtiich
nurserymen will distinguish between different yarieties of Apple,
even in the dead of the year, when there are no leaves, and of course
no fruit on their nursery trees. In the same way old practiced shep •
herds can recognize every individaal sheep out of a large flock,
though, to the eyes of a common observer, all the sheep look alike.
Experienced grain-lowers, again^ oan distinguish at a glance between
twenty different varieties of wheat, whicb.the best botanist in the
country would- fail to tell one from the other ; and 1 have been in-
formed that a miller of many, years^ 8tanding,as soon as he has shoul-
dered a sack of wheat, knows at once whether it is spring grain or
fall grain ; while ninety-nine entomologists outof every hundred
would probably be unable, on the most careful inapection, to tell the
difference between the two, and some might even mistake wheat
for rye. i.
It is not surprising) therefore, that persons who have paid no par-
ticular attention to ttie study of infiects, often confound together, in-
sects which^ in the eyes of the professed entomologist^ look as differ-
ent from each oth^ as a horse does from a cow or a hog. It would,
indeed, be little short of miraculous if this, were- not so ; for there are
about thirty thousand distinct species of . insects to be found within
the limits of the^ United States, and of cou^rse in such a vast multipli-
city, there must be many strong resemblances.
I will therefore conclude this article on the Chinch Bug, by
briefly mentioning several true Bugs, belonging to the same Order of
Half- winged Bugs (JBeterqptera)^ as that pestilent little foe of the
farmer, and which I know to be frequently mistaken for it. The
reader will then, by comparing the different figures, see at once how
widely they all differ, and by a very little practice, his eyes will be-
come so well educated that he will soon^ without any artificial assist-
ance from glasses, be able to distinguish tj^e creatures one from the
other, as they crawl or fly about in the alm6st microscopic dimensions
assigned to them by their Qreat Creator. - »> *
^ Onef teason, perhaps, why so many different bugs artf ^popidarly
confounded with th0 Chinoh Bug, is the similarity of their BmelL;
Everybody is awwre that- Chinch Btigs possess the Bamie peculiarly
unsavory odor as the common Bed Bug; and hence when a person
finds a small insect that has this obnoxiour smell, he is very apt to
jump to the conclusion that it must- be a Chinch .Bug. No, i^ode of
reasoning, however, can be inore unsafe or unsound. There are hun-
di^ds of different specieB of Half-winged Bugs — the common bitxwn
Squ^^h Bng (;Gcirmsti^i»);4ore^ possess this jwafeuliar
smell; and what is stranger stQli, althougli Ihis smellis more. usuiEtlly
32 SKCOND AmfUAIi BBPORT OF
met with among the plant-feeders, there are a few of the true Canni-
bals that possess it to perfection. Among these I may mention th*
Spined Soldier-bug {^Arma spinosa^ Dallas) whose portrait I here re-
[^iff- 7-] produce from my First Report (Fig. 7 h) ; for, as the bik-
"^w"^ terest enemy of the Colorado Potato Bug, and cense-
\^^^^^quently one of our best friends, he cannot too often Im
^^'^H^^presented, or become too well known. We can well
/^^\ afford to endure his unpleasant odor, when we duly
a h reflect on his kind services. Just think of it, yoo bit-
ter bug-haters — this little soldier has, beyond all doubt, saved thou-
sands of dollars to the State of Missouri in the last few years, by
heroically stabbing and slaying countless hosts of one of yonr worst
enemies I That he should have the bed-buggy odor is not very bof-
prising, since he appertains to a large and extensive group, (the Sett-
tellera family) most of the other species belonging to which are plant-
feeders. Indeed it is a very general rule, to which I know of but oaa
exception* that the insect in the great Reduvius family among tha
Half- winged Bugs, every one of which is of carnivorous propensities,
never have this peculiarly nauseous aroma; and that it is bestowed
only upon certain plant-feeding bugs, to protect them no doubt from
their insect foes, in the same manner as the skunk is protected from
the eagle by his odoriferous tail. Yet while many of the plant-feed-
iog Bugs do have this odor, a good many of them are entirely fiM
from it, and some few of them really smell so agreeably that the fact
has been thought worthy to be recorded by entomological writers.
Even that detestable pest, already referred to, the common Squash
Bug, sometimes emits a pleasant aroma, altogether different from that
which it normally gives out; for I have kept this winter, in a separal*
box, one which emits a most pungent but agreeable smell, very muck
reisembling that of a very ripe, rich pear. But perhaps the most sqg-
gestive fact of all is that, notwithstanding the close alliance between
the two Orders of Half- winged and Whole- winged Bugs, there is not
a single known species of the latter that has ever been known to ex-
hale the bedbuggy effluvium, which is met with in so many species
belonging to the former.
The Insidious Flower-bug. — First among the insects frequentlr
mistaken for the Chinch Bug, may be mentioned the Insidious Flowei-
bug i^Anthocoris insidious^ Say) already referred to under the head of
"Cannibal Foes of the Chinch Bug." This little Flower-bug has been
Hsually referred by entomologists to the same extensive grotif
{Ly(BU8 family) as the true Chinch Bug, though more recent authon
have placed it in a distinct group on account of its short three-jointed
beak.
The Ash-grat Leaf-Bug. — Second among the Bogus Chinch Btigi
may be mentioned the Ash-gray Leaf-bug (Piesma cinerea, Say) a
• A shiny bUck species of NalfU [Nabit m^rginatut, XJhlBT, MS) ameUs M much Uke a
JMC M the most peAce*ble PlMit-feeder.
THB STATE KHT0M0L0GI8T. 33
small greenish-gray bug of which I present herewith a highly magni-
fied figure (Fig. 8), its true size being about the same as that of the
Chinch Bug for which it has been mistaken, though it lacks altogether
the conspicuous black and white markings which characterize that
[lie. 80 little grain pest,' and really resembles it in nothing but
the unpleasant odor which it emits. In the summer of
1868, Ool. F. Hecker, of St. Olair county, Illinois (See
Am. EntomolcgisU I, p. 19), found an insect, which he
mistook for the Ghinch Bug, destroying the blossom
buds of his grape-vinQS, Now as the Ash-gray Leaf-
bug is known to work in this way on the Grape-vine,
and as I found it abundant in Ool. Foster's vineyard, on
the Iron Mountain Railroad in this State, it was doubt-
X l68S this species which ii^'ured Ool. Becker's vines; for
the true Ohinch Bug has never hitherto been observed to attack
woody plants like the Grape-vine, but confines itself exclusively to
herbaceous plants, such as wheat, oats, Indian corn, etc. The Ash-
gray Leaf-bug belongs to an entirely different group from the Ohinch
Bug ( Tingia family) all the species of which have a short 3-jointed
beak, which however differs from that of tlie 3-jointed beak of the
Flower-bugs {AntJhocoris) by being encased in a groove when not in
use. They mostly live on green leaves in all their three stages, after
the fashion of plant lice. like the Ohinch Bug, the Ash-gray Leaf- bug
hybernates in the perfect state, and may be found in the winter in
considerable numbers under the loose bark of standing trees and es-
pecially under that of the Shag^bark Hickory.
With the exception of the Ash-gray Leaf-bug, there is no North
American species belonging to the genus, that is known to attack
fruit trees or fruit^bearing bushes or vines ; though there are several
that infest forest trees— ^ach species generally confining itself to a
particular genus of trees. But in Europe there is a species, the Pear-
tree Leaf-bug (^Tingia pyri) which is so injurious to the Pear, that
the French gardeners have given it the name of *^ the Tiger." It is to
be hoped that it may never, like another European pest of pear-
growers, the Pear-tree Flea-louse (JPaylla pyri) — which has already
been introduced into the New England States, and will perhaps make
its way out West — traverse the Atlantic ocean and take out its natu-
ralization papers in this country.
The Flba-lika Negro-bug. — ^Third among the bogus Ohinch Bugs
may be mentioned the Flea-like Negro-bug ( CorimelcBna puUeariaj
[^?- 0*1 Germar), of which I here present a magnified out-
line (Fig« 9). Its color is black with a white
stripe each side. This insect resembles the Ohinoh
A Itr^""^! Bug in having an ordinary 4-jointed beak, but
IkWdiffers from it in belonging to a very distinct
^and well marked group (Scuiellera family), which
is characterized by the enormous size of the '^scuteP or shield.
S4 SMOaSD AHITCAL BXPOBT OW
Id the most nnmeroasly representdd diTiBion of this family the
scatel forma a large triaDgle, eztanding along the back aboat
half-way to the tip of the abdomen, aa may be seen io the figore of
the Spined Soldier-bog (Fig. 7>, referred to on a previoDB page. But
in another divieion of this family vbich does not contain nearly ho
many speciee, the acotel, instead of being angnlar, is roanded at top
and covers more or leea the entire npper sarface of the abdomen. It is
to this last division that the Flea-Uke Negro-bag belongs, and the dir^
yellow or white stripes at its sides are really nothing bnt the thick-
ened ante^r edge of the front wings, all the remaining part of the
front wings, as well as the entire hind wings, being, in repose, com-
pletely hidden under this enormonsly extended shield. In the Bor-
, dered Soldier-bng, as the reader will perceive from the
^ annexed drawing (Fig. 10), which I reproduce from mr
First Report, the scutel is indeed rounded, and also
It extends a considerable distanceover the abdomen ; bat
^as it otherwise agrees with the other Soldier-boga in
' the rest of its organization, it is classified with them.
I and not with our Negro-bng.
The Flea-like Negro-bug has been known to iqjnre variooB plants
for two or three years back. I foand it exceedingly abundant last
summer in all parts of the State which I visited. It has a great pai-
sion for the fruit of the Raspberry, and is sometimea ao plentiful as
to render the berries perfectly unsaleable by the bed-bug aroma '
which it communicates to them, as well as by sucking out their
juices. Wherever it occurs, the nauseous flavor which itimparta to
every berry which it touches, will soon make its preeence manifest
though the little scamp may elude ocular detection. It ie really too
bad* that anch a little black varmint should so mar the ezeeediag
pleasure which a lover of this delicious fruit always experiences
when in the midst of a raspberry plantation in the frait aeaaon. U
ia also quite injurioas to the Strawberry, puncturing the stem with
its little beak, and thus causing either blossom or fruit to wilt; and
the following extract, taken from a commnuication to the Western
Rural by Mr. R Fallen, of Centralia, Ills., undonbte^y refers to
the same Bug, and would indicate that it made its first appearance in
that neighborhood last summer :
"A new insect, to us here, has appeared on oar strawberries for
the first time the past season, damaging the crop very much. It re-
sembles somewhat the Chinch Bug, bo destructive to our wheat and
com, and, judging from the peculiar odor they emit on being masbed,
should think thera very nearly related. Some claim that they are of
a different species altogether. Whether this be so or not those i^te^
eated in the cultivation of the strawberry are anxioasly looking foi^
ward to another season to see if they are to continue tiieir depreda-
tions."
It likewise attacks the Strawberry in Canada, as an account of
its attacking that plant, is given by my friend, 0. J. S. Bethane, in tli«
THE STATE Sl^TOMOLOQIST. 86
Canada Farmer for August Ist, 1867 ; and it was under this very same
serious charge that it was apprehended and brought up for trial at
the last May meeting of the Alton (Ills.) Horticultural Society. It
also attacks both Cherry and Quince, occurring on these trees in very
large numbers, and puncturing the blossoms and leaves, but espe-
cially the fruit stems, which in consequence shrivel and die. I is
also quite injurious to garden flowers and especially to the Coreop-
sis, and abounds on certain weeds, among which may be mentioned
the Red-root or New Jersey Tea-plant {Ceanothua Americaniis\ and
Neck weed or Purslane-speedwell iVeronica peregrina). In the
month of June under these two last named plants, they may be
found in countless numbers of all sizes and ages, from the small light
brown wingless, newly hatched individuals, to the full fledged jet
black ones. In fact they breed on these weeds, and there is no more
effectual method of checking their increase and thus preventing their
injuries to our cultivated fraits, than by sprinkling these weeds, and
the ground underneath them, with a good strong solution of Cresylic
8oap. I should advise the propagation of a small patch of either oue
of these weeds near a strawberry patch, as a decoy for the Bugs,
which may thus be, to some extent, enticed away from the straw-
berry plants, and killed more readily.
There are two other species of Negro-bug which are common in
this State, though they never swarm in such injurious prolusion as
does the Fiea-like Negro-bug. The first of these {CorimeloRna latera-
lis^ Fabr.) ii absolutely undistinguishable from it however, except in
being fully one-half longer and wider. The shape, sculpturing and
coloring are exactly the same, even down to the lateral white stripe;
60 that, but for the fact of no intermediate grades in size occurring,
the two would be certainly considered as mere varieties of one and
the same species. The other Negro-bug {Cor. unicolor^ Beau v.) is
fully twice as long and wide as our insect; but though resembling it
closely in every other respect, yet differs very notably in lacking the
white anterior edging to the front wings. It might indeed be said,
that the biggest Negro dresses entirely in black, while the two other
smaller sized darkies relieve the sombre monotony of their sable
suits, by wearing a conspicuously white shirt-collar.
To these three bogus Chinch Bugs, might be added one or two
other species of small stinking Bugs which have been, by some per-
sons, mistaken for the true Chinch Bug. But enough has been already
said to show, that insects which in reality are shaped and fashioned
as differently as are <5ows and deer, are yet often confounded toget her
in the popular eye, principally, no doubt, because they have the same
peculiar bed-bug aroma. Should the ignorance of the popular jii< la-
ment in confounding these tiny creatures which seem to the Ento-
mologist so very, very different from each other, therefore, be (U «•
pised and ridiculed ? Far be it froi^ me to display such intolerant
stupidity! As well might the nurseryman ridicule the grain grower,
36 8B00ND AimOAL REPOKT OF
because the grain-grower cannot distingnish a Baldwin Seedling from
a High top apple; or the grain-grower the nurseryman because
the nurserjrman cannot tell Mediterranean from Tea wheats or Club
from Fife. I do, however, entertain an abiding hope that by the pres-
ent very general and praiseworthy movement towards the populari-
zation of Natural History, and by the dissemination of Entomological
Reports, a better knowledge of this practically important subject will
soon existin the community. Our farmers will then, not so often Tvage
a war of extermination against their best friends, the cannibal and
parasitic insects, while they overlook and neglect the very plant-
feeders which are doing all the damage, and upon which the others
are feeding in the very manner in which a Wise Providence has ap-
pointed them to adopt.
BBCAPITULATIOK.
The following important points in the history of the Chinch Bug.
may be considered as firmly established :
Ist. Ohinch Bugs hybemate in the perfect or winged state in any
old dry rubbish, under dead leaves, in old straw, in corn-shucks and
corn-stalks, among weeds in fence-comers, etc., etc. Therefore all
such substances should be burned up,as far as possible, inthe spring.
2nd. The earlier email grain can be sowed in the spring, the
more likely it is to escape the Ohinch Bug ; for it will then get ripe be-
fore the spring brood of bugs has had time to become fully developed
at the expense of the grain.
3d. The harder the ground is where the grain is sowed, the less
chance there is for the Chinch Bug to penetrate to the roots of the
grain and lay its eggs thereon. Hence the importance of fall-plough-
ing and using the roller upon land that is loose and friable. And
hence, if old corn-ground is sufficiently clean, it is a good plan to har-
row in a crop of small grain upon it without ploughing it at all.
Moreover this rolling plan should always be adopted, as the best
wheat-growers both in this country and in Europe attest that the
heavier the ground for wheat is rolled, the better will be the crop*
4th. A single heavy rain immediately checks up the propagation
of the Chinch Bugs. Continued heavy rains diminish their numberB
most materially. A long-continued wet season, such as that of 1865,
almost sweeps the whole brood of them from off the face of the earth ;
but from the rapid rate at which they multiply there will always be
enough left for seed for another year. It may be laid down, not only
as a general, but universal rule, that this insect is never ruinously
destructive, except in those sections of country where there is con-
tinued hot dry weather ; and that if^ in two adjoining districts, there
has been a dry summer in one and much wet weather during the sum-
mer season in the other, however plentiful and destructive the bug
may be in the first district, it will scarcely be heard of in the second.
Certainly this state of facts is not exactly that from which any rea-
sonable man would infer, that the paucity of Chinch Bugs in a wet
TflJE 8TATX BNTOMOLOaiST. 37
season is caused by an Epidemic Disease taking them off. We might
as well maintain that, although there was no Epidemic Disease among
the children of Israel that had just crossed the Red Sea, or among
the Egyptians that staid at home, it was simply and solely an Epi-
demic Disease that slew the pursuing hosts of the Egyptians and cov-
ered the bottom of the Red Sea with their carcasses.
THE ARMY-WOBM—Zeucania unipuncta, Haw.
[Lepidoptera Noctuidn.]
Among those insects which attract especial attention, either from
the peculiarity of their habits, or the vast amount of damage which
they inflict, the notorious Army-worm holds a conspicuous place.
The mode in which these worms travel in vast armies when in search
of food, the great value of the cereals and the grasses to which they
for the most part confine their ravages, their sudden appearance in
such incomputable numbers, and their equally sudden disappearance,
all tend to arouse the curiosity and interest of even the most indiffer-
ent observer.
Before giving a history of this insect, it will be necessary to state
that there are four distinct caterpillars, producing four perfectly dis-
tinct moths, which have been designated as Army-worms in various
parts of the United States.
First— The Tent-caterpillar of the Forest ( Clisiocampa sylvatica,
Harr.) has been erroneously known by the name of "Army-worm "in
the northwest corner of the State of New York. A back view of
this caterpillar is given in the accompanying sketch (Fig. 11)
[Fig. 11.] by ^hicij it ^iii at once be recognized by the
1^ reader. For a number of days, last June, this worm
might have been seen marching " single file " up the rail-
road track on Pilot Knob, in the scorching rays of the noon,
day sun ; and it is often found crawling along roads in very
considerable numbers. Yet it cannot with propriety be
called an Army-worm, and our Eastern friends had best drop
the title and avoid confusion in the future.
Second— The Ootton-worm {Anomis xj/lina, Say), is
■very generally known by the name of " the Cotton Army-
?worm," in the kSouth. The term as applied to this species is
not altogether inappropriate, as the worm frequently appears
in immense armies, and when moved by necessity will travel
over the ground in "solid phalanx;" and so long as the
word "Cotton" is attached— its ravages being strictly confined to
this plant— there is no danger of its being confounded with the true
Army-worm. The term has furthermore received the sanction of
custom in the Southern States, and of Mr. Glover in his Department
Reports*
88 SECORD ABNUAL BEPOBT OT
Ab varions attempts have been made, with more or less saccess,
to grow the cotton plant in the Bonthem parts of this State, a deecrip-
tion of this insect will not be inappropriate, the more, especially,
since it will teach the reader the difference between it and the tme
Army-worm.
The Cotton-worm was first scientiScally described by Mr. Thomas
Say, in the year 1827. According to Dr. D. L. Phares, of Woodville,
Miss., it destroyed at a low estimate, '200 tons of cotton in tiie Baha-
mas as long ago as 1T88; while in Georgia it completely destroyed
the crop in 1793. According to Dr. Capers* its injaries were noticed
in 1800, and it likewise proved very destructive in 1804, 1825 aad 1$2&
Since the last date, as we may learn from old volumes of the American
I'armer, of Baltimore, Md., and from the Patent Office Reports, it has
done more or less damage to the crop almost annually, in some part
or other of the cotton-growing district. As with the real grasa-leed-
ing Army-worm of the Middle States, it swarms in particular years to
8uch an extent as to utterly rain the crop, while in other years it ia
scarcely noticed. This fact has led many to infer that there is a
stated periodicity in its returns in such immense numbers; but tiie
natural history of the worm confutes such an idea, while the records
give no foundation for the inference. The sudden increase or decreau
of this, as of other species of noxious insects, depends on climatic, ts
well as on other equally potent influences.
The egg, (Fig. 12, a), according to Dr. Phares is shaped "pre-
cisely like a scnll-cap, with rows of pinheads from base to apex as
thickly set aa possible," appearing as if moulded in a very deep
saucer. These eggs are of a translucent green color, and are depos-
ited upon the under side of the leaves, and from their Hmall size, are
naturally difficult of detection. Each female moth deposits from, 400
to 600, and according to the late Thomas Affleck, of Brenbam, Texas,
they hatch two days after being deposited, if the weather be moist
and warm. The worms (Fig. 12 b, i grown) at first feed npon the par-
enchyma or soft fleshy parts of the leaves, but afterwards devoor in-
■htont OOce Hep., IBiS. p. II.
THE 8TATB BHT0MOLO6I8T. 39
differently, not only any portion of the leaves, bat also the blossom-
bad and blossom, together with the calyx leaves at the base of the
boll, thus causing the lobes which hold the cotton, to fall entirely
back and allow the cotton to drop at the slightest touch. While young
these worms readily let themselves down by a web when disturbed,
but when older they make less use of this web, and jerk themselves
away to a considerable distance when suddenly touched. They cast
their skins at five successive periods, and come to their growth in the
incredibly short space of fifteen or twenty days. Mr. Affleck even
states that they usually enter the chrysalis state on the eleventh day
after hatching; but I incline to believe that such a brief larval exist-
ence is extremely exceptional, and the length of time required for
them to mature will not only differ in different individuals of the ^me
brood, but will vary with the state of the atmosphere. At Figure 12
c is given a side view, and at £? a back view of a full-grown worm. It
has the normal complement of legs — ^namely 16 — but the two fore-
most pair of false legs, or those under segments 6 and 7, are so re-
duced in size that they are scarcely used in motion, and it conse-
quently loops when walking.
I have upon two occasions received full-grown specimens of this
worm, and they differ materially, both in depth of shade, coloration
and markings, as indeed do almost all the larvee of moths belonging
to the same {Noctua) family. The most common color is light green,
though they are frequently quite dark with a purplish hue at the
sides, and with black backs. Whether light or dark colored, how-
ever, they are more or less distinctly marked with pale longitudinal
lines and black spots, as in the above figures.
Mr. Lyman, in his " Cotton Culture," says of this insect : " The
first moths that visit a crop deposit their eggs and die. These eggs in^
ten days become little worms, which fall to eating the leaf on which
they were hatched, and as they grow, consume the plant and pass to
another. But age comes on apace with these ephemeral creatures ;
the worm presently grows weary of devouring, selects a leaf, rolls
himself ki a little cocoon and dies.'^'^ Of course this is a serious mis-
take to think that the worm dies, else how could it produce the moth
which, as Mr. Lyman himself shows, afterwards issues from the cocoon.
It is astonishing to find such gross errors creeping into our popular
works, but then, the study of these contemptible little Bugs, even if
they do sometimes totally destroy the crop, is of course beneath the
dignity of the man who can write a work on cotton culture 11 The
truth of the matter is that, when they have completed their growth,
the worms fold over the edge of a leaf (Fig. 12 ^), and, after lining the
inside with silk, change to chrysalids (Fig. 12 /), which are at first
green, but soon acquire a chestnut>-brown color ; after remaining in
this last state (in which, though the insect is inactive, it is yet full of
life, and undergoing wonderful development) from seven to fourteen
days, or even longer, the moth escapes, the chrysalis being held fast
40 SXOOVB ABSUAL BIPOBT OV
within the cocoon by means of seyeral very minnte hooks with iprhich
the tail is famished.
[Fif. 13.] ^ At Kgure 18 Oy this moth
fis represented with the ^wings
expanded, and at h^ with the
wings closed* The, general
color of the upper surface is a
golden-yellow inclining to
baff, with a faint olive tint
near the outer or posterior
margin. The fore wingd are crossed, as in the above figures, by more
or less distinct, irregular lilac-colored lines. But the chief character-
istic is a dark slate-colored, or black spot on the front wings, in which
spot there are paler scales forming almost a double pupil as repre-
sented in the figures, while between this spot and the base of the
wings there is a much smaller pure white dot In general, color and
in the position of the larger spot, this moth bears a remarkable re-
semblance to that of the true Army-worm of the Northern and Middle
States.
Mr. Affleck, who certainly had a'bundant opportunities for observ-
ing the fact, assured me that this moth rests in the position shown in
Figure 13, &, namely, with the head downwards. He wrote on August
22d, 1868 : " The Cotton moth ( Ophinaa xylina of Harris in his corres-
pondence with myself) never alights in any other position, or if by
accident it first assumes another position, it instantly wheels around
Jiead down?^
According to the best authority, there are three different broods
of worms during the year, the first appearing in June or July, and the
last, which does the most damage, appearing in August or Septem-
ber, or even later. Mr. Lyman, in the little work already referred to,
says: ^ That nature has made no provision by which either the fly,
the worm, the chrysalis or the eggs, can survive the winter or exist
for any length of time where the cotton plant is not a perennial''
But this is surely an error, which Mr. Lyman would never have made,
had he possessed a better knowledge of insect-life ; and as Mr. Glover
found that the chrysalis was killed by the slightest frost, the insect
evidently winters over in the moth state, as do many others belong-
ing to the same tribe. Mr. W. R Seabrook gives strong evidence that
this is the case, in a ^^ Memoir on the Gotten Plant," read in 1843, be-
fore the State Agricultural Society of South Carolina, wh.erein he says :
^^That the Cotton Moth survives the winter is nearly certain. An ex-
amination of the neighboring woods, especially after a mild winter, has
often been successfully made for. that purpose." And Dr. Phares
states positively that the moth hybernates in piles of cotton seed
under shelter, under bark and in crevices of trees in dense forests and
other secluded places, and that it may often be seen on pleasant days
in winter.
THE 8TATJI BNTOMOLOCUBT. 41
The two principal remedies which have hitherto been relied upon
are, Ist, hand-picking ; 2d, destroying the moths by fires, to which
they are naturally attracted. The first method is sure, bnt tedious
and somewhat impracticable on a very large scale. The second is
most effectual if carried out when the first moths appear, in May and
June. If these two methods were persistently carried out in the early
part of the season throughout any given cotton-growing county, they
would of themselves be sufSicient to save the crop ; but the efforts of
individuals are of no avail, where there are slovenly neighbors who
neglect to perform these labors. It would therefore be of incalcul-
able advantage, if something could be applied to the plants which
would prevent the moths from depositing their eggs upon them, as
the industrious planter could then set at defiance his more slovenly
neighbor. Mr. Affleck was enthusiastic in his praise of cresylic soap
as such a plant-protector, and I received a long letter, written a few
weeks previous to his death, and showing how he bad found that no
cotton moth had ever deposited an egg on any plant that had been
sprinkled with a solution of this soap. But Dr. Pbares states that it
was pretty thoroughly tried last year, and proved a failure, though he
does not give the reason why.
It is some little consolation to know that the character of the sea*
son determines their numbers, and that if none make their appear-
ance in any stage by the first of July, there is little to be feared from
them the rest of that year.
Third— There is in the South another insect {Laphrygma frugi-
perda^ Sm. & Abb. ?) which is frequently known by the ominous name
of ^^Army worm f an insect which also will attack cotton, though it
prefers grasses and weeds. This species in its habits resembles the true
Army- worm of the Middle States, more closely perhaps than does the
Cotton Army-worm, and Mr. Joseph B. Lyman, in his recent work on
"Ootton culture ^* (p. 92), calls it ths "Army-worm ;" yet to prevent
confusion, the cognomen should be discontinued, and the term
" Southern Grass-worm ^ (by which it is already very generally known )
should be strictly applied to this third bogus Army-worm. We now
come to the veritable Army- worm of the Northern and Middle States
—the insect which is the subject of this article, and we will dwell for
a few moments on the
PAST HISTOBY OF TAB TRUE ARMY-WORM.
If we trace back the history of the Army- worm in this country,
we find that inaccuracy and confusion characterize most of the rec-
ords concerning it previous to the year 1861. In that year, however,
by the contemporaneous observations and experiments of several
entomologists, in different sections of the United States, its natural
history was first made known to the world, and the parent moth iden-
tified.
* Cotton Cnltnre^ by J. B. Lyman, late of LomsiMia. Orange Jndd A Co., Mew Ifork.
42 SBOOim AMWAL BXPORT OV
The very earliest record which we find of its appearance in this
country is in Flint's 2nd Report on the Agriculture oi Massachasetts,
where it is stated that in 1743 ^* there were millions of devooiing
worms in armies, threatening to cut off every green thing."
In 1770 it spread over New England in alarming numbers. Dr.
Fitch in his 6th Report quotes the following full and interesting ac-
count from the Rev. Grant Powers's Historical Sketches of the Coos
Country in the Northern part of New Hampshire. "' In the summer of
1770 an army of worms eztcinded from Lancaster, the ehire town of
Ooos County, N. B^ to Northfield, Mass., almost the whole lengtli of
the Granite State. They began to appear the latter part of July, and
continued their ravages until September. They were then called the
^ Northern Army,' as they seemed to advance from the north or north-
west to the south. It was not known that they passed the highlands
between the rivers Connecticut and Merrimack. Dr. Burton, of
Thetford, Vermont, informed the author that he had seen thepasturet
so covered with them, that he could not put down his finger without
touching a worm, remarking that ^ he had seen more than ten bmbeh
in a heap.' They were unlike anything that generation had e?ei
seen. There was a stripe upon the back like black velvet, and oo
each side a stripe of yellow from end to end, and the rest of the body
was brown. They were seen not larger than a pin, but in mataritj
were as long as a man's finger and of proportionate thickness. Thej
appeared to be in great haste, except when they halted to feed. They
entered the houses of the people and came up into the kneading
troughs as did the frogs in Egypt. They went up the sides of tb»
houses and over them in such compact columns that nothing of the
boards or shingles could be seen. Pumpkin-vines, peas, potatoes aod
fiax escaped their ravages. But wheat and corn disappeared before
them as by magic. Fields of corn in the Haverhill 'and Newbory
meadows, so thick that a man could hardly be seen a rod distant,
were in ten days entirely defoliated by the 'Northern Army.' Trenches
were dug around fields a foot deep, as a defence, but they were soon
filled and the millions in the rear passed on and took possession of
the interdicted feed. Another expedient was resorted to: Trenches
were cut, and thin sticks, six inches in diameter, were sharpened ana
used to make holes in the bottom of the trenches within two or three
feet of one another, to the depth of two or three feet in the bottom
lands, and when these holes were filled with worms, the stick was
plunged into the holes, thus destroying the vermin. In this way
some corn was saved. About the first of September the worms sud-
denly disappeared. Where or how they terminated their careens
unknown, for not the carcass of a worm was seen. Had it not been
for pumpkins, which were exceedingly abundant, and potatoes, the
people would have greatly suffered for food. As it was, great pn^*'
tion was felt on account of the loss of grass and grain."
THB STATE ENT0MOL0<H8T. 43
The same writer adds that ^^ in 1781, eleven years after, the same
kind of worm appeared again, and the fears of the people were greatly
excited, bat this time they were few in number."
In 1790 their ravages are again recorded in Connecticut, where
they were very destructive to the grass and corn, but their existence
was short, all dying in a few weeks (Webster on Pestilence, I, 272.)
Their next appearance in the Eastern States was in 1817, after an
interval of twenty-seven years, according to Fitch, who quotes the
following paragraph from the Albany (N. Y.) Argus :
Worcester^ Maaa.^ May ^Und^ 1817. — "We ledrn that the black
worm is making great ravages on some farms in this town, and in
many other places in this part of the country. Their march is a *dis-
played column,' and their progress is as distinctly marked as the
course of a fire which has overrun the herbage in a dry pasture. Not
a blade of grass is left standing in their rear. From the appearance
of the worm it is supposed to be the same which usually infests gar-
dens, and is commonly called the cut worm. * * *
This same worm is also destroying the vegetation in the northern
towns of Kensselaer and eastern section of Saratoga, New York.
Many meadows and pastures have been rendered by their depreda*
tions as barren as a heath. It appears to be the same species of worm
that has created so much alarm in Worcester county, but we suspect
it is different from the cut worm, whose ravages appear to be confined
to com."
It was not until after a lapse of forty*four years from the last
mentioned date, namely, in the summer of 1861, that this worm again
spread over the meadows and grain fields of the Eastern States.
During the interval, however, it had irom time to time attracted at-
tention in the Western States, where it often proved quite destruc-
tive. Thus, in Illinois, it is recorded as having appeared in 1818, 1820,
1826, 1826, 1834, 1841, 1842, 1845 and 1866, and according to Mr. B. F.
Wiley, of Makanda, 111., it was quite numerous and destructive in the
southern part of the State in 1849, and appeared there also in 1S57,
though it was confined that year to limited localities.* Mr. J.
Kirkpatrick, of Ohio, mentions its appearance in the northern part of
that State in 1866. fle says : ^^ Last season ^(1866), in consequence of
the heavy rains in the early part of June, the flats of the Cuyahoga,
near Cleveland, were flooded. After the subsidence of the water,
and while the grass was yet coated with the muddy deposit, myriads
of small blackish caterpillars appeared ; almost every blade had its
inhabitant; no animal could feed upon it without, at every bite,
swallowing several ; if a new blade sprung up, it was immediately
devoured, but what was most remarkable, the insects did not attempt
to remove to land a foot or two higher but that had not been covered
by the water.^'f _^_^
*Prairi€ Farmer, July 18th, 1861.
tOhio Agricultural Reportj 1855, p. S50.
4i SIOOBB ASKUAL BI^BT 09
The year 1861 will long be remembered as a remarkable Army-
worm year, for this insect was observed in particular localities
throughout the whole northern and middle portion of the United
States from New England to Kansas. It was first noticed in numbers
sufficient to cause alarm, in Tennessee and Kentucky during the
month of April ; and toward the close of the same month it appeared
in the soathem counties of Illinois. By the end of June it had visited
nearly all portions of the latter State, proving more or less destmc'
tive to grass, wheat, oats, rye, sorghum and corn.
Its advent in Missouri was simultaneous with that in Illinois, and
judging from what facts I have accumulated, it occurred very gen-
erally over this State, though recorded only in St Louis, Jefferson,
Warren, Boone, Howard and Pike counties. No mention is made of
its occurrence, at this time, in any of the States or Territories west of
Missouri, but to the East, scarcely a single State escaped its ravages.
In many portions of Ohio it entirely destroyed the hay and gtsin
crops, and in the eastern part of Massachusetts the damage done was
reported to exceed a half million of dollars.
Singularly enough, I can find no trace of the occurrence of this
insect in Missouri prior to the year 1861, and the first intelligible ac-
count of it from the pen of a Missourian, is that by Dr. Wislizenns
of St. Louis, published in the Transactions of the St Louis Academy
of Science (Vol. II, No. 1, pp. 159-60). My good friend Wislizenus
then erroneously supposed it to be identical with the Bombyx ^rwni'
nis of Northern Europe — an insect which commits similar devasta-
tions on the grasses and cereals in that country. Bnt I believe he is
now well aware that it is an entirely distinct species.
Since 1861 the Army-worm has never spread so generally over
such a vast extent of country, though in 1865 it appeared in consid-
erable numbers around St. Joseph in this State, and in 1866 did some
damage near Qnincy, Ills., as we learn from the Qnincy Whiff.
Last year it made its appearance again m vast numbers in many
portions of this State, especially in St. Lonis, Jefferson, Oooper, Cal-
laway, Henry, St. Olair, Marion, Ralls, and Lafayette counties, and in
some counties in Illinois and Indiana. The first intimation I received
of its appearance in Missouri was the following letter sent to me by
Mr. A. E. Trabue of Hannibal, under date of June 8th :
I inclose a match-box with grass and two worms, which we think
are Army -worms. They are here in myriads destroying the grass.
Destroyed a hundred acres of blue grass meadow in five days, and
are now advancing on me. What are they and their habits ?
Oarbolic acid (one part acid, 20 parts water) kills them if they
get a good drench with it but is too expensive at that rate. They
will cross a trail of it witnout irgury, though thejr evidently dislike
the smell. Have sent to town for coal tar to see if they will cross it
when the ground is soaked with it. The advancing column is a half
mile wide.
The hogs are very fond of them ; will not notice com when they
THB STATS ENTOMOLOeiST. 45
can get Army-worms, but we have more of the latter than they can
dispose of.
A. E. TRABUE.
Upon receipt of this letter, I visited Hannibal and ascertained
that the worm was even more nameroas around New London, and
especially on the farm of Mr. A. McPike.
ITS SUDDB17 APPBARAKOB AND DISAPPBARANCE.
The popular idea about the sudden appearance of an insect has
always been an erroneous one. The 'blows" or " gentiles" in meat,
** skippers" and mites in cheese, plant-lice on plants, etc., etc., are
very generally supposed to have a spontaneous origin, and our sud-
den Army-worm invasions have very generally been accounted for
in the same way, by those who know nothing of Nature's trorkings.
Yes, find so-called savans — ^will it be credited 1 — have been anxious to
so far tickle the popular fancy as to conceive and give birth to
theories (such as that of larval reproduction) which were not one whit
more sensible or tenable.
It is well known to entomologists, and the reader, by perusing
the article on " Out- worms" in my First Beport, will soon become
aware of the fact, that most of the larvae of our Owlet Moths (family
N'octuidm) rest hidden during the day and feed in the morning and
evening, or at night. They are all smooth, tender- skinned worms,
and cannot endure the scorching rays of the sun. Oonsequently
many of them live almost habitually, just under the surface of the
soil, while others shelter themselves under vegetable substances dur-
ing the day. Our Army-worm forms no exception to the rule, for
upon closely watching the habits of the hosts I witnessed last sum«
mer in the field, and of hundreds which I had confined in breeding
cages, I ascertained that they frequently hide themselves Out-worm
fashion, just under the surface of the ground, or under the plants
upon which they feed. The Army- worm delights, in fact, in cool,
moist and shady situations, and from the passage already quoted, from
Mr. Eirkpatrick, where it is shown that the worms which swarmed on
the Ouyahogo flats, did not attempt to remove to land a foot or so
higher : and from further facts recorded by Dr. Fitch, it becomes evi-
dent that its natural abode is in the wild grass of our swamps, or on
low lands. During an excessive dry summer these swampy places
dry out, and the insect, having a wider range where the conditions
for its successful development are favorable, becomes greatly multi-
plied. The eggs are consequently deposited over a greater area of
territory, and if the succeeding year prove wet and favorable to the
growth of. the worms we shall have the abnormal condition of their
appearing on our higher and drier lands, and of their marching from
one field to another. For just so soon as the green grass is devoured,
in any particular field in which they may have hatched, these worms
are forced, both from hunger and from their sensibility to the sun's
rays, to leave the denuded field.
46 SBOOND AN9UAL BBPOBT OF
Thus the fact becomes at once significant and explicable, that
almost all great Army- worm years have been unnsually wet, with the
preceding year unusually dry, as Dr. Fitch has proved by record.
The appearance of this insect last summer in the West forms no ex-
ception, for the summer of 1868 was unusually dry and hot, while
that of 1869 was decidedly wet I may remark here, ia farther cor-
roboration of these views, that, as might have been expected, no
Army- worms were noticed last year in the Eastern States; for tboagk
in the summer of 1^68 we of the West suffered so severely from
drouth, yet in the East they were blessed with the usual amount of
rain fall, and in some sections had even more than the average
amount.
There is in reality nothing in the least mysterious in the sudden
appearance and disappearance of the Army-worm, for the truth of
the matter is, that there are a few of these insects in some part or
other of the country every year, and I have for the past four or fiw
years captured one or more specimens of the moth every fall. The
eggs hatch during the early part of May, in the latitude of South Ilii*
nois and South Missouri, and the young worms may feed by millions in
a meadow without attracting attention ; but when they have become
nearly full grown and have stripped bare the fields in. which they
were born, and commence to march as described above, they neces-
sarily attract attention, for they are then exceedingly voraciom.
devouring more during the last three or four days of their worm-li/ft
than they had done during the whole of their previous existence. As
soon as they are full grown they burrow into the earth, and, of coarse,
are never seen again as worms.
Their increase and decrease is dependent on even more potent
influences than those of a climatic nature. The worms are attacked
by at least eight different parasites, and when we understand hof
persistent these last are, and how thoroughly they accomplish their
murderous work, we cease to wonder at the almost total annihilation
of the Army- worm the year following its appearance in such hosts.
In the words of the late J. Kirkpatrick "ilieir undue increase but
combines the assaults of their enemies and thus brings them witbis
bounds again."
We must also bear in mind, that besides these parasitic insects,
there are some cannibal insects, such as the Fiery Qround-beetJe
(Calosoma calidum^ Fsihr,) Siud its larva,* which prey unmercifully
upon the worms, while the "Mosquito Hawks" {Libelluloi) and bate
doubtless destroy many of the moths. Hogs, chickens and turkeys
revel in the juicy carcasses of the worms, and sometimes toflucia^
extent that, as I am informed by Mr. T. K. Allen, of AUenton, the
former occasionally die in consequence, and the latter have been
known to lay eggs in which the parts naturally white, would be grec»
when cooked. Small birds, of various kinds, and toads and frogs alsA
*Fir8t Report, Fig. 84.
THS 8TATB EKTOHOLOChlSX. 47
come in for their share of this dainty food ; while the' worms, when
hard pushed, will eyen devour each other.
NATTJKAL HISTOEY OP THB ARMY-WORM.
Previous to the year 1861, but very little accurate knowledge had
been acquired respecting the habits of the Army-worm, and nothing
i^hatever of a scientific nature had been published.
A few very observing farmers ventured to predict its appearance
during very wet summers succeeding very dry ones. They did not
know why this was the case, but it was a fact that they had learned
from experience. It was also known that the worm attacked only
the grasses and cereals, that it was gregarious in its habits, and that
it disappeared suddenly, in a manner as seemingly mysterious as that
in which its advent was supposed to have been made.
These few facts were about the only ones of real value, respecting
the habits of this insect, that could be gleaned from the statements
of those who had suffered most from its ravages; while the subject
seems to have been, up to that time, entirely ignored by entomologi-
cal writers.
In 1861, however, its very general appearance, and the vast
amount of damage it did, attracted the attention, not only of farmers,
but of several well-known entomologists, among whom may be men-
tioned our late friends, Walsh, of Illinois, and Kirkpatrick, of Ohio ;
and Cyrus Thomas, of Illinois, Dr. Fitch, x)f New York, and J. H.
Klippart, of Ohio.
As might have been expected, diverse conclusions were arrived
at, and various theories entertained by these writers, and some very
spirited correspondence between Messrs. Walsh and Thomas and
Walsh and Klippart may be found in old files of both the Ohio Farmer
and the Prairie Farmer.
The principal point of dispute was, whether the Army worm win-
tered in the egg or chrysalis state, and, as a consequence, whether it
was single or double-brooded.
It is needless to follow these gentlemen in their discussions, which
were frequently caustic and pungent ; but sometimes partook more
of the character of personal wrangling than of a calm and conscien-
tious search after truth. Two of the five parties mentioned above,
are now in their graves, and while one of those yet living — Mr. Cyrus
Thomas — believed in the two-brooded character of the insect; the
other two evade the question entirely. Mr. Walsh took the ground
that it was single-brooded, and the experience of the past year has
convinced me that he was correct.
The Army- worm, like all other insects, hatches from an egg, and
this egg is evidently deposited by the parent moth at the base of
perennial grass-stalks. In Southern Missouri it hatches out about
the middle of April ; in the central part of the State about the first,
and in the northern part about the middle of May ; in Massachusetts,
48 nOOVD AMMUAL BDOBT OF
aboni the middle of June, and in Maine aboot the middle of Jnly. k
every locality the worm goes nndergronnd abont a month afterward:
to assnme the papa or chrysaliB state, and stays nndergronnd between
two and three weeks. Hence, in the southern part of this State the
moth appears abont the fore part of Jane, and a month later in each
saccessive locality as we go north, till in Maine, the period becomes
the fore part of September. Of coarse, these dates -wiU vary some^
what with the character of the seasons, and sometimes from loa
canses ; bnt, broadly speaking, they will hold good.
The moths soon pair, and sometime daring the summer and /ali
months, deposit their eggs in the positions already indicated. Hanj
eggs are thns deposited in tame meadows, bat there is little doubt k
my mind that the great balk of these eggs are deposited in low, damp
sitaations, and if the fall shoald prove wet, instead of dry, manro/
them woald i^erhaps get drowned oat, and we shoald thus have
another potent inflnence at work to decrease the nnmbers of the
worm the sncceeding year. I make this suggestion with all doe con-
sideration, for I have long since condnded that the instincts of
insects, as of some of the higher animals, are not always snfficientto
gaard against all contingencies. It has been demonstrated beyond
the possibility of a donbt, that the Plam Carcah'o deposits its eggs in
frait that overhangs water, and in other positions where the gmh
mast inevitably perish ; and certain flesh-flies are well known to
deposit their eggs, by mistake, on flowers which have a patrescent
smelL Darwin has remarked that a small South American bird
(Furnarius ounicularius) which builds its nest at the bottom of i
narrow, cylindrical hole, which extends horizontally several feet
underground, is so incapable of acquiring any notion of thickness.
that, although he saw specimens constantly flitting over a low claj
wall, they continued vainly to bore through it, thinking it an excel-
lent bank for their nests.* Many such instances of misdirected in-
stinct might be cited, and they all lead me to believe that the female
Army-worm moth would be just as likely to lay her eggs in sitQi-
tions where they would drown out, as in situations more h^or-
able.
The above may be considered as the normal habit of the Armj-
worm ; but exceptional individuals occur, perhaps one in a hundred,
but demonstrably not as many as one in twenty, which lie in tbe
chrysalis state all through the winter and do not come out in the
moth state till the following spring. The proportion of those wiu<^
lie over till spring is doul^tless greater in the more northern States
than it is with us. The great fault which Mr. Walsh made in bis ex-
cellent paper on this insect, published in the Illinois State Agn^^^'
tural Transactions for 1861, was, that he drew his lines too rigi^T)
and allowed of no exceptions to the rule which he laid down, of its
single-broodedness. He also fell into an error in roughly estim^^^
*Voy«g« Boud Hm World, p. 95.
THE 8TATB JENTOHOLOtflSX.
4»
the average life of the moth at frqpoi (^ree to ^ye weeks. I have
often caught the moths, both ia the fall and spring months, even
in;ears when the worms themselves were unpoticed by farmers; and
Dr. Levi Bartl^tt, formerly of Pe^ptutn, lUs., informed me while he
was practising in Chicago, that he h^d him^self ascertained that they
would sometimes live at least three months, and that he had often
found them as late as October. We must also bear in mind that they
do not all mature and issue frpm the ground together, even in the
same locality ; but that an interval of from six to eight weeks may
intervene between the issuing of the first and last moths. With
these facts before us it is easy to comprehend how some of the moths
live loQg enough to deposit their eggs on newly sown fall grain,
thongh grass meadows are more favorite resorts. It also becomes
clear that the moths may sometimes lay their eggs before harvest
upon^^rowing grain, sufficiently high from the ground, for the egg to
be carried off with the straw ; and this accounts for several well
authenticated instances of the Army- worm starting from stack-yards.
The Army-worm larva varies but little in appearance from the
tirne'it hatches to the time when it is full grown. Some specimens
are a shade darker than others, but on many thousands examined* I
have found the markings very uniform as represented in the annexed
[Fig. 14.] cut (Fig. 14). The general color is dingy black, and
lit is striped longitudinally as follows : On the back a
[broad dusky stripe ; then a narrow black line ; then
a narrow white line; then a yellowish stripe; then a
narrow sub-obsolete white line ; then a dusky stripe ;
then a narrow white line ; then a yellowish stripe;
then a sub-obsolete white line; belly obscure green.
Those who are more particular will find a detailed
description at the end of this article.
The chrysalis (Fig. 15) is of a shiny mahogany-
brown color, with two stiff converging [Fig. i6.]
thorns at the extremity, having two fine,
curled hooks each side of them. The
general color of the moth is light reddish-brown or fawn color, and it
is principally characterized by, and receives its name from, a white
spot near the center of its front wings, there being also a dusky ob*
lique line running inwardly from their tips. The accompanying
[Fig. 16.1 illustration (Fig. 16), though darker than it
should be, will show wherein it differs from
^tbe Southern Cotton Army- worm, notwith-
standing the colors of the two moths are
nearly alike. Our Army-worm moth
was first described by the English En-
tomologist Haworth in the year 1810, in
his Lepidoptera JBrittanica, p^ge 174, as
Noctua unipuncta. Subsequently the French Entomologist Quen^e
50 raOOBD AKTUAL BJSPOBT 07
(Nbctuelites I, p. 77) overlooking the former's description, and re-
garding it as a new species, named it]Leucania extranea. Of conne
Haworth's name takes the precedence. It is considered a common
species even in European collections, and Gruen^e mentions it as oc-
cnrring in Brazil. A variety without the white spot occurs in Java
and India, and still another, lacking the white spot, and hayings
dark border on the hind wings, occurs in Australia ; while an occa-
sional specimen has been captured in England. A figure is given
in Stainton's Entomologist's Annual for 1860, of one captured there
in 1859, but if the figure be a correct one, the specimen is mncli
lighter than ours, and the characteristic white spot is not nearly so
conspicuous.
PABASITBS OF THE ARMY-WORM.
Thk Rbd-tailsd Taghina Fly — Exorista leueanim^ Kirk.— To one
who has never before seen the Army- worm in itslnight, the sight of
the myriads as they return thwarted in their endeavors to cross, or
of the living, moving and twisting mass which sometimes fills a ditcli
to the depth of several inches ; is truly interesting. At Hannibal
I was much surprised to find that fully nine worms out of every ten
had upon the thoracic segments, just behind the head, from one to
four minute, narrow, oval white eggs, about 0.04 inch long, attached
firmly to the skin ; and my companions were equally surprised when
I informed them that these were the eggs of a parasite, and that
every one of the worms which had such eggs attached to it, would
eventually succumb to one of the maggots these eggs produced. The
eggs are no doubt deposited by the mother fly just behind the head,
so that the worm may not reach the young maggots when they hatcL
and be enabled to destroy them with its jaws. I have found several
different kinds of cut- worms with just such eggs attached invariably
on the back just behind the head. They are glued so strongly to the
skin of the worm that they cannot be removed without tearing tbe
flesh.
The large two-winged parasitic flies which deposited these egg^
were wonderfully numerous, buzzing around us and about the worms
like so many bees, and the moment one was caught, I recogni^^edita^
the Red-tailed Tachina Fly. This is one of the most common and
abundant of the Army- worm parasites, and attacks it in widely different
parts of the country. I have also bred the same fly from the Variga-
ted cut-worm (larvaof AgrotU inermis*)^ and a variety of it from onr
common large Oecropia worm, which is often found on apple and other
fruit trees. It was first very briefiy and imperfectly described as ii^
iHa leuca[i]cB, by the late J. Kirkpatrick, in the Ohio Agricultural
Report for 1860, page 858, and was subsequently much more fully ^^
scribed as Senometopia [Etoriaia] militaria by Mr. Walsh, iu ^^
Army-worm paper already referred to. Of course Mr. Kirkp»^[^^
THB BTAT£ EKTOMOLOOIBT. 51
name has the priority, but I introduce Mr. Walsh's original descrip-
tion of the fly and likewise the very same figure (Fig. 17) which he
used to illustrate it.
[Pip. 17.] B»oriita ieueania — Len^, .25 to .40 inchM, or from 6 to
19 millimetre!, the femalee not exceeding .80 inch. Face ail-
Y9TJ, with lateral black hain only on the cheeks, at the top of
which is a black bristle. Front, golden-oli7e, with a black cen-
tral stripe, and lateral black conrergent hairs. Occipnt, dnsky.
kLabinm, brown, with yellowish hair. -Maxipalps, rofoas. Eyes,
cinnamon-brown, covered with very short dense whitish hair.
AntennsB, two basal Joints, black, with black hairs ; third Joint,
flattened, dnsky, and from two and a half to three times the
length of the second Joint ; seta, black. The entire hinder part
of the head cohered with dense whitish hair. Thorax glabroos, bloish-gray, lighter at the side,
with foor irregular black vittsB, and black hairs and bristles. Scutel, reddish-brown, whitish be-
hind, glabrous, with black hairs and bristles. Pectus, black, glabrous, with hairs and lateral
bristles. Legs, black, hairy; thighs, dark cinereous beneath ; pul villi, cinereous. Wings, hyaline ;
nervmres, brownish; alulss, opaque greenish-white. Abdomen, first joint black ; second and third,
opalescent in th« middle with black an4 gpray, and at the sides with rufous and g^^ay ; last joint,
rufous, slightly opalescent at the base with gray ; all with black hairs and lateral bristles. Be-
neath, the first joint is black, the others black, margined with rufous, all with black hairs. In the
male the space between th^ eyes at the occiput is one-seventh of the transverse diameter of the
head ; in the female it is one-fourth. The colors of the abdomen sometimes "grease" and fade
in the dried specimen.
Bred fifty-fonr specimens from about the same number of Army-worms. Described from eight*
males and six females. Two species, similarly marked with rufous, but generally distinct, occur
at Rock Island.
Mr. Eirkpatrick also described on the same page of the Ohio
Report for 1860, another species (?) to which he gave the name of Osien
Sackentu But upon the very face of it, this proves to be but a smaller
specimen of his leuoanice; for the characters on which he would build
this other species, are none of them constant He says it differs from
leucanim in its smaller size ; in the gray bands on the abdomen not
being so distinct ; in some little variation in the position of the brown,
and in the pulviU[i](B being more distinctly gray. Now leucanice va-
ries from 0.25 to 0.40 inch in length ; the brown on the abdomen is
opalescent and varies ; the pulvilli and gray abdominal markings
vary far more in depth of shade than there set forth, and the abdo-
men in fact, if the least greasy, often loses all trace of gray.
t^e-^®] ^ The Yellow-tailed Tachina Fly, {Exoris-
ia flavicauddr, N. Sp.) — ^We have another spe-
cies in Missouri however, which may be call-
^ed the Yellow-tailed Tachina Fly, and which
differs so notably from the Eed-tailed species
that it may be recognized even on the wing.
It is almost twice as large, and the head in-
stead of being narrower than the thorax as in
leucanice is broader. Its flight is also more
vigorous and its buzz twice as loud, I represent this species at Fig-
ure 18, and draw up the following description for the scientific
reader :
Exorittajiavieauda, K. Sp. — ^Length, 0.35 to 0.50 inch. Head broader than thorax; face, sil-
rery-white, the cheeks inclining to yellow, with lateral black hairs extending to near the base of
58 nOOSD AK5UAL BBPOBY OV
aiiteDii«y snd one itiilBr and longer bristle st top of cheeks } trout, doaky, fermgiBons, with tve
rows of black conrerging bristles ; dirided by a broad depressed stripe of a briefer fem&ginovi
oolor and without bristlee ; occiput bright ferruginoos ; labtmn ferrnginotn with haiis of taaas
color; mazipalpf rufous i eyes dark mahogony-brown, and ptrfeettf tm90ih§ aatsBnse, two baaal
Joints rufous, with black hain> third joint flattened, dusky,, and thrice as long as aecoad ; seta.
black ; entire hinder part of head covered with dense while hairs. Thonx, more decidedly bis?
than in leucunUt, brouOtr (instead of narrower) in front than behind ; the ritts^less diatiBet ; woLt^
of same color as thorax. Abdomi*, stout and more cylindrical than in UueonUsf first Joint daat
bluish-gray ; second, light bluish-gray, becoming darker along the middle, at sides and at lovtr
border ; third joint, like second abore, but golden-gray at sides (no rufous); last joint mMrelp yeOov
or pale orange, with no other color and but few black bristles around uius. fVing9 more duskj
than in Uue^mims alulsB, opaque bluish-white. Legt, black ; pulrilli pale yellow.
Described from one captured, 4 bred 9 • Space between eyes at occiput fully one-third the widfb
of head.
[Fig. 19.] To give an idea of the other parasites which attack the
Army-worn), I will briefly allnde to them, and transmit
descriptions for the scientific reader.
Tnn Glabst Mbbochobus — Utewchonu vitreui, Walsh. (Fig. 19.)— >LeBgth cf
body .08 inch, (two millimetres,) to .13 inch, (three millimetres) ; the amall sped-
mens being parasitic on the Army-worm and the large ones captured in Bock Is-
land county. Male, general color light rufous. Eyes and ocelli, black ; f»*»-»«»
fuscous, except toward the base. Upper surface of thorax in the larger specimen f nacova ; iniR.
mediate and posterior tibiss with spurs equal to one-fourth of their length; posterior kneeaslig^tlj
dusky ; tips of posterior tibisB distinctly dusky. Wings hyaline ; nerrures and sti^^a, dusk?-
Abdomen, a translucent yellowish-white in its central one-third; the remaining two-thirds piceoas-
black, with a distinct narrow yellowish annnlns at the base of the third joint. In the laz^r speci-
men, which seems to be immature, the basal abdominal joint, and the articulations of the termiui
joints are light rufous. Appendiculum of the abdomen composed of two extremely flue sets, thid-
ened at their base, whose length slightly exceeds the extreme width of the abdomen.
The female difflsn from tihe male, in the head from the mouth upwards being pioe<nu. Tkt
thorax and pectus, in all three specimens, are also piceous-Uack. Abdomen as in the smaUrr
male. Ovipositor, which is dusky, slightly exceeds in length the width of the abdomen.
Trb DiiffiifisHBD Pbzovachub — Pezomachui minimut, Walsh, (Fig. 20.). — Length of the body
[Fig. 20.] .07 to .10 inch., (2 to 2| millimetres). Hale, general color, [Fig. 21.]
piceonB. Eyes black; antennsB black, except toward the
base, where they are light rufous. Legs rufous ; hind legs a
little dusky. Abdomen narrowed; second and sometimes
J the third joint annulate with rufous at tip. The female dif-^
fers from the male in the thorax being almost inyariably
rufous, and in the first three abdominal joints being gener-
ally entirely rufous, with a piceous annulus at the base of the third, which is sometimes absent.
The abdomen is also fuller and wider. Ovipositor dusky, equal in 'length to the width of thr
abdomen. No restlge of wings in either sex, and the thorax contracted and dirided as in Formic*.
Fig. 22.] Xhe larvae of this species issue from the body of the
(\ Army-worm, and spin on its skin, small cocoons symmetric-
^^^y ally arranged side by side, and enveloped in floss (Fig. 21).
^^\\ I^ belongs to a genus of wingless Ichneumons, and in its tarn
^r" is preyed upon by a small Chalcis fly ( Chalets albifrons,
Walsh) which is represented at Figure 22.
Thk Hilitart Miobooastbb— Micre^M/er milUan$, Walsh, (Fig. 23).— Length 0.07 inch.
[Fig. 23.] Head black ; palpi whitish ; antenn» fuscous above, light brown beneath toward*
the base. Thorax black, polished, with very minute punctures. Wings hyaline ;
nerrures and stigma fuscous ; lower nenrure of marginal, and exterior nenrure of
second submsrginal cellule entirely obsolete. Lower nerrule of third and tenuinal
'submarginal cellule, hyaline. Legs light rufous, posterior pair, with knees and
tips of tibisD fuscous. Abdomen black, glabrous, highly polished. Ovipositor not
ezserted.
The cocoons of this little parasite are spun in irregu-
THB STATE BKTOlfOLOGIBT* 58
Ittr masses, "Und are so completely covered with loose white silk that
as a whole they look like little pieces of fine wool attached to the
back of the Army-worms. They were very numerous last year in
this State, and were sent to me by several correspondents, under the
supposition that they were the eggs of the Army-worm. Nothing
could be more unsafe and erroneous than such a conclusion ; for in-
stead of giving birth to new generations of the Army- worm they pro-
duce the little flies which are its most deadly foes. All the numer-
[Ks« 24.] oQg specimens which I bred accord exactly with the
above named species. This parasite is also in its turn
infested by two parasites ( Glyphe viridasoens (Fig. 24)
and Hockeria perpulora^ Walsh), but while over 90 per
cent, of Army -worms are killed by primary parasites,
only about 18 per cent, of these primary parasites are
destroyed by the secondary parasites.
Tbe Pubqbd Ophiom — Ophion purgaiui,BB,j*» — Body pale honey-yaUoWiSomewhfttBericeons;
[Fig. 25.] antennfB rather long^er than the body ; orbite yellofr, dilated be-
fore, BO as to occapy the greater part of the hypostoma ; ocelli
large, prominent; wings hyaline ; stigma slender; first cubital
cellule with two opaque, subtriangular spots ; no areolet ; meta-
thorax with a singlSf raised, rectilinear, transverse line, near ibe
base. Length, seven-tenths of an inch.
This large Ichneumon Fly (Fig. 25) has
been bred from the Army-worm. The ovipos-
itor is very short, and instead of piercing the
skin of her victim as do all the other Ichneu-
mons that have been described, the female
Ophion simply attaches her egg, which is bean-
shaped, by a pedicle to the skin. The footless grub which hatches
from this egg does not entirely leave the egg-case, but the last joints
of its body remain attached to the shell, while it reaches over, and
with its sharp jaws gnaws into the side of the worm (Packard). This
Ophion has been taken in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, Indiana,
Illinois, Missouri and Carolina and doubtless occurs all over the Uni-
ted States.
The Army- work Ichnbomon Fly-— Ichneumon lucanicsy Fitch. —
Dr. Fitch* has briefly described another true Ichneumon Fly
under the above name, which he bred from the Army-worm.
Thus we have seven distinct and true parasites which attack this
worm, and besides these, two others, undescribed, are figured in Har-
ris's Injurious Insects (last edition p. 630), swelling the number to
nine. Can we longer wonder that this dreaded foe to the farmer,
never molests his crops for two successive years ?
HABITS OF THE ARMY-WOEM, AND SUeOEStlONS FOB ITS 0K8TEUCTION,
Since the great bulk of the eggs of the Army-worm are depos-
ited in the summer and fall months in grass swamps and grass mead-
* Ophion purgatw, Say.ssO. lat^aiii, Brull^.
•N. T. Reports, Vol. HI, p. 120.
B4 saaovD ammval bbfobt ov /
OWB, and the eggs do not hatch out till the following spring, it be-
comes obvious that homing over grass meadows in the winter or Teij
early in the spring, must destroy most of the eggs. Many instances
might be given where, in past years, burnt grass escaped the worm,
while all the nnbomt grass in the neighborhood was badly infested,
and in one instance part of a meadow having been accidentally borat
and part remaining nnbnmt, the burnt portion in the following sum-
mer, had no Army-worms on it, and the unburnt portion swarmed
with them. Thus, if you bum your meadows over annually yoo
will seldom be troubled with this pest, and if you get your neigh-
bors to do the same thing, and in addition will also burn all the wild
grass around you, the Army-worm will never do you any damage.
The remedy is so simple that all can apply it. The best time to do
this burning, is, as all practical men well know, in the dead of the
year, when the ground is frozen ; the roots of the grass are then un-
harmed by the fire. Of course, ploughing the land late in the fall or
late in the spring, will have the same effect as burning it, for if the
eggs are turned two or three inches underground they will surely rot
and fail to hatch. Here we see, as in the case of the Canker- worm,
which I shall presently treat of, and as in the case of almost every
other noxious insect, it is necessary accurately to investigate the
habits and puculiarities of each one before we can effectually coun-
terwork it
During my visit to Hannibal last June, I ascertained that the
worms orignated in a large 100-acre field of very rich blue- grass, be-
longing to Mr. W. R. Flowerree. This gentleman makes a basiness"
of fattening cattle, and intended feeding off the grass in the fall ; but
that same blue-grass field had neither been pastured nor plowed the
year hefore ; and this was the very reason why the worms originated
there, as the reader will readily perceive from the foregoing account
of the insect's habits.
The Army-worm when traveling will scarcely turn aside for any-
thing but water, and even shallow water-courses will not always
check its progress ; for the advance columns will often continue to
rush head-long into the water until they have sufficiently choked it
up with their dead and dying bodies, to enable the rear guard to cross
safely over. I have noticed that after crossing a bare field or bare
road where they were subjected to the sun's rays, they would congre-
gate in immense numbers under the first shade they reached. In one
instance I recollect their collecting and covering the ground five or
six deep all along the shady side of a fence for about a mile, while
scarcely one was seen to cross on the sunny side of the same fence.
Though they will nibble at clover, they evidently do not relish it, and
almost always pass it by untouched. They will eat any of the grasses,
and are fond of oats, rye, sorghum, corn and wheat, though they seldom
devour any other part but the succulent leaves. They often cut off
the ears of wheat and oats and allow them to fall to the ground, and
IHX 8TAIS XHTOXOIiOGIST. SS
they are perhaps led to i>erform this wanton trick, by the succniency
of the stem immediately below the ear. South of latitude 40^ they
generally aippear before the wheat stalks get too hard, or early enough
to matetially injure it; but north of that line, wheat is generally too
much rJLpened for their tastes, and is sometimes even harvested before
the fujl grown worms make their advent.
I have heard of the Army-worm, sometimes passing through a
wheat field when the wheat was nearly ripe, and doing good service
by devouring all the chess and leaving untouched the wheat ; but the
following item from Oollinsville, Illinois, which appeared in the Mis-
souri Democrat, contains still more startling facts, and would indi-
cate that even a foe to the fanner as determined as this, may some-
times prove to be his friend.
" Harvest and Crops. — ^Notwithstanding the unfavorable weather,
noiany farmers have commenced the wheat harvest The yield in this
immediate vicinity will be superabundant. Some fields were struck
with rust a few days since, but the Amry-worm making its appearance
simultaneously, stripped the straw entirely bare of blades and saved
the berry from injury. These disgusting pests have saved thousands
of dojp^ars to farmers in this neighborhood. A few fields of corn and
grass have been partially destroyed, but by ditching around fields, th^
worm's ravages have been confined within comparatively narrow
limits.'?
The worms may be prevented from passing from one field to an-
other by judicious ditching. Mr. Trabne has large meadows, sepa*
rated only by a road from the blue-grass field of Mr. Flowerree ; and
he thought he could keep out the worms by simply making a Y-shaped
ditch ; believing that they could not crawl over, so long as the earth
crumbled. The first evening after it was dug, this ditch seemed to be
effectual, and the bottom was covered with one seething, twisting
mass of the worms ; but a heavy rain came on in the night following,
after which they crossed without difficulty. Mr. Jas. Dimmitt how-
ever, who had 80 acres of wheat adjoining the fatal blue-grass field,
effectually protected it by surrounding it with a ditch which had the
inner side slanting under, towards the field it was intended to protect.
It was indeed most fortunate that Mr. Dimmitt had hit upon the true
method in the beginning, for his wheat was yet in that soft state, in
which many of the ears would have been devoured or cut off; and
friend Trabue was not long in profiting by his example.
A good plan to destroy the worms which accumulate in the fur-
row or ditch is to burn straw in it ; for the fire not only kills the
worms, but makes the earth in the ditch friable and more efficient in
preventing their ascent. A heavy roller passed over a field will kill
almost every worm, and I have already stated that hogs and poultry
will: devoifr great numbers of them. But it is always better an4
easier to prevent than to cure.
LBTO4in4 UNiPUNCTA, Haw.— L«r©tf— Genoral color dingy black, with the piliferons spots,
placed in the normal position, bat scarcely Flsible, though the soft hairs arising from them ar»
eaiily seen with a lens. Four lateral light lines, of almost .eqnal thickness; and at aboot ei^aaL
56 SECOND AmiVAL RSPOBT OV
distance from each ottier, the two nppermoft while, the two lowermoit yellow ; a mncli lea &•
tinctdonal while line, fireqaentlj obsolete in middle of MfmeDt, and alwaji most distmct attbe
diTisions : a jet black line immediately abore the first lateral white one, the dorsum near it,
thickly mottled with dnll yellow, but becoming darker as it approaches the fine donTal white liw,
along each side of which it is perfectly black. Space between lateral light Isbbs 1 and 2, dvU
yellow, the white Unes being relieyed by a darker edge ; that between lines 2 and 8 almost blick,
beingbat slightly mottled along the middle; that between 8 and 4 yellow, mottk^'wifli piak-
brown, and appearing lighter than that between 1 and 2. Venter greenish-glaucous, mfttdedsid
speckled with neutral color, especially near the edge of the 4th lateral line. Legs glassy sad of
same color as renter, those on thoracic segments with Mack daws, those on abdomen with a larp
shiny black spot on the ontside. Stigmataoral, black, and placed in the 3d lateral light liie.
Head pale grayish-yellow, speckled with confluent fuscous dots ; marked longitudinally Ij tn
dark lines that commence at the comers of the mouth, approach each other towards tha ceatn,
and again recede behind ; on each side are four minute polished Black eyelets, placed on a liglit
orescent-shaped ridge, and from each side of this light ridge a dark mark extends mora or Itf
among the confluent apots aboTS. Described from numerous arerage liring specimens.
Jmago — Front wings: general color tamiahed yellowiah-drab, inclining-, tn jmnset^g spriito^
with blackiah atoms, the basal half of the costal margin being lighter than' tha^i^ee^. OidiaiKV
apota brighter than real of wing, being either fulroua or rust-red, each baring ordiaH^y a ^
nfshed centre, the reniform or ''kidney-shaped" spot, haying at its lower border a coaapiciw
white point, indistinctly surrounded by blackish, from which point the moth takes its Daoi:
between thia point and the terminal border a transrerse tow of black dots (one on eadi t«i)
much arcuated abore; and inside and parallel with it a less distinct row, the dots^rioBS
which, are between the aerres ; an oblique dark streak, shaded off gradnallj pbsteiioily, bati*-
lif red anteriorly by the same bright color as the ordinary ** spots" runs from the head 'Of tfin ^^
oif dots to the apex of the wing; nerres more or less marked with white, especially Uy^sr^ ^
tips ; posterior or terminal border with a row of black spots between the nerres.; fsin^'**^
color as wing, with a narrow dusky line inside their middle. Hind wings partly ^"^^^P*^^
amoky-brown, with a lAight purpliah lustre, the reins, lunule, and terminal border more dosk;:
fringes pale yellow with a dusky middle line.
Under surfaces opalescent yellowish-white, the front wings shaded with Bmokj-^7t ^ ^^
narrowly, and the terminal margin broadly freckled with dusky specks, the tring^i aod-'s*^
near the apex fleah-color, and a dlatinct duaky band acroaa their outer one-fonri^r'l^>''^f ^ - .
darker on the eoaU than in the middle of the wing : the hind wings with the lu^nule diatisct *""
a^o speckled anteriorly and posteriorly, the basal edge of thia posterior portion Ki^ defiow^^ *
series of black dots on the nerres. ^ ' '
Head and ahouldera of aame color aa basal part of costa ; thorax same as front wine*; '^
man aame aa hind winga; beneath all more uniformly gray.
INSECTS INFESTING THE SWEET-POTATO.
TOKTOISE-BEETLES.
(Coleoptera, Gaaaidn.)
In my First Report I described eleven different and difiti/ict^a'
sects which habitually prey on the common Irish Potato .{Sdaa^
tuberosum), I will now give an account of the worst inseot^^^
of the Sweet-Potato (Ipomea hatatus)^ all of which attA(^ that pl*'^*
in this State. Before doing so, however, it will be as wefl to remtfk,
that one species belonging to the same family as those which feei ^^
the Sweet^Potato, and which is quite frequently met with in ICsBOuri,
namely, the (Hubbed Tortoise-beetle {Deloyala davata^ Oliv. Fi«f. 26,)
THB STATE BKTOMOLOeiST. 57
[Kff.26.] feeds in reality on the common Irish Potato, thus swelling
the number of insects which injuriously affect that most
-valuable esculent, to a round dozen. .Tlj,^ larva of the
Clubbed Tortoise-beetle is not yet known, and it is the per-
fect ipsect which has been found to attack the Potato. This
is doubtless the species which Mr. Huron Burt of Williams-
burg, Callaway county, referred to in the Journal of Agriculture of
June 6th, 1868, as "a scale-like, terrapin-shaped hard insect, spread
out like a Jying-squirreV that adhered tenaciously to the leaves of
his pptaio plants. By referring to Figure. 26 the reader will not be
Blow to learn why these beetles are called Tortoise beetles, for the
patches of dark opaque color which extend, on the thin projecting
Bemi-transparent shell of that species, remind one very forcibly of the
paws of a mud-turtle. The true legs however, which, as in all other
insects, Are six in number, and which in this specjies, are so short that
they scarcely reach beyond the thin shield-like cru§t that extends from
the body, may readily be seen when the iuis^ejGt is turned upside down.
The insects which attack the Swieel-Potato are few in species,
and belong almost entirely to this group of Tortoise-beetles., Wit-h
^ [?i^vJ&a r ^^rv :^ Ithe isix&ejption of the Cucumber Flea-beetle
{Haltica cucu7neris, Harr.), figured and.de-
scribed on page 101 of the First Report, and
a few solitary caterpillars, I have never
found any other insects on this plant; but
these Tortoise-beetles are of themselves
^ sufficiently n.umerou8 in individuals and
specie^ to often entirely destroy whole fields of this esculent, and
they are especially severe on the plants when newly transferred from
thQ hot-bed.
these insects are at present included in the great Ohrysomela
family.of beetles, though they were formerly placed in a separate
family (Cassididje) by themselves, and there certainly are few groups
more strongly characterized. They are almost all of a broad sub-
depressed form, either oval or orbicular, with the thorax and wing-
coverst so thoroughly dilated at the sides into a broad and flat
margin, as to forcibly recall the appearance of a turtle, whence the
popular name. Many have the singular power, in a greater or less
degree, of changing their color when alive, and as 1 shall show
further on, some of them shine at will with the most brilliant me-
tallic tints.
Insects, as with the higher animals, usually void their excrement
in BUJcb a manner that they effectually get rid of it, and in some cases
they take pains to fling it as far from them as possible, by means of
their hind legs. I have especially noticed this cleanly habit in the
Oblohg-winged Katydid (Phylloptera oUongifolia^ DeGeer), of
which I have had numbers breeding in confinement during the past
two summers. They almost always fling their excrement straight
58 8100irD AVMUAL BBPOBT OF
from them, so that if they are in a horizontal position, it adheres to
the sides of their cages instead of failing to the bottom. In \k
great majority of insects the anus is situated at, or near the last ring;
and usually on the ventral side, so that the feeces are easily M
behind; but the larvae of several species of beetles that have the
peculiar habit of covering themselves with their own excrement
have the anus not on their bellies, but on their backs. The Three-
lined Leaf-beetle* (Zematrilineaia) has this habit, and is enabled
to cover itself by the singular position of the anal vent which is on
the back of the last segment. A closely allied European species,
but belonging to a different genus (Crioceris merdigera) has the same
habit In this country there is also another yellowish oval jump-
ing beetle {BlepJiaridarhoU^ Forster), which in the larva state
covers itself with its excrement. In this instance the anus is at the
end of the last segment, but it is sufficiently extensile at the will of
the insect to allow of the accomplishment of the feat. This last
larva is a disgusting looking thing, and I found it last year vei7
abundant along the line of the Iron Mountain Railroad, on all three
of the Sumachs— ^Au« aromaiica^ glabra and copalina — ^preferring
them in the order of their naming.
But the larvae of the Tortoise beetles are par excellence the true
dung carriers, for they excel all others in this medigerous art. In tie
instances related above, the load is carried immediately on the back
but our Tortoise-beetles are altogether more refined in their taste^
and do not allow the dung to rest on the body, but simply shade
themselves with a sort of stercoraceous parasol.
The larvsB of all the species that have been observed to feed on
the Sweet-Potato are broad and flattened like the beetles, and have
the margin of the body furnished with spines which are often barbed,
(Fig. 27,8). They all belong to the genera Cassida and Coptocycla^sd
there are thirty -two of these spines, or sixteen on each side of the
body. Four of these are situated on the prothorax, which forms two
anterior projections beyond the common margin ; four of them— the
two anterior ones longer than the others — are on each of the two fol-
lowing thoracic segments, and each of the abdominal segments ia
furnished with but two. There are nine elevated spiracles each side
superiorly, namely, one immediately behind the prothorax and eight
on the abdominal segments. The fore part of the body is projected
shield-like over the head, which is retractile and small.
[^]g^] In a closely allied genus (Chelj/morpAa) to J^t^- ^^^
which belongs a brick-red insect with black
;spots ((7A. cribrariay Fabr., Fig. 28, pupa; 29
beetle) found upon Milkweed (Asclepiaa)^ and
^^^^ which has the body greatly roiincted abovib, with
^W^ scarcely any lateral flange, the larva, as ob-
served by Dr. Packard, has the prickles smooth and not
*lf'ini Rep., p. 100. "~"~
TflS STATE EBTOKOLOGIST. 59
sprangllug. In another genus also {Phy sonata) to which belongs the
Five-dotted Tortoise-beetle {Ph. quinquepunetata^ Walsh & Riley,
[Fig. 30.] Fig. 30, J), and which is intermediate in form be-
tween the last named genus {Chelymorpha) and
^those with the body greatly flattened {Caasida^
Copiocycla^ Deloyala) the prickles of the larva are
also smooth and only 20 in number, i. e.,10 on each
side, as may be seen by referring to Figure 30, a-
Mr. Walsh found this insect in Northern Illinois,
and though we do not know upon what particular plant it feeds, yet
from analogy we may infer that it subsists on some Composite flower,
as other species belonging to the same genus are known to do.
Almost all the brvee of the beetles belonging to the great Ghrt-
80MBLA family, of which the Colorado Potato Bug may serve as an ex-
ample, have, besides the six legs at the anterior end of the body, an
additional prolog, or protuberance which serves as such, at the pos-
terior end ; but the larvee of our Tortoise-beetles have no such prolog,
and the six anterior legs are short, thick and fleshy, and with the re-
tractile head, give these larvae, from a side view, as great a resem-
blance to a turtle as have the beetles.
Though lacking an anal prolog, however, they are characterized
by having a movable forked tail, in the shape of two long prong-like
horny filaments which both spring from a broad neck situated imme^^
diately above the anus. The anus projects and curves over the back
at the will of the insect, and by the aid of this fork and of some of
the lateral spines, it forms the parasol of dung which so nicely pro-
tects it.
When we read of those Hottentots who cover different portions
of their bodies with the uncleaned intestines of sheep and oxen, we
feel shocked at such barbarism, and can scarcely comprehend how
human beings can defile themselves with the like disgusting materials.
Such men must be pitiable indeed, for they can have no other object
than the gratification of their filthy and beastly pleasures. There is
nothing so repulsive about our insect Hottentots, for the dung parasol
of our Tortoise-beetles has neither offensive odor or appearance, and
its true character is generally sufficiently disguised by being inter-
mixed with the cast-off skin and prickly spines ; and though those
species, first referred to, which directly cover their backs, often look
sufficiently unclean, we know that they thus act at Nature's bidding
and for a useful purpose. ^
All the Tortoise-beetle larvae which I have bred to the perfect
beetle state, have come to their growth in about three weeks after
hatching. They cast .their skins at three successive periods, and these
skins are slipped on to the fork, where in most instances they remain*
On carefully detaching from a full grown larva the dung with which
these skins are mixed, these three successive skins are easily recog-
nized, the smallest being at the extremity and the largest at the base
60 BKCOSTD ANNUAL RKPORT OF
of the fork. They are especially recognizable ia the Mottled Tortoise
beeile iCm^ida ^ttata^ OMv.^ Fig. 36^) mentioned below, which re-
moves n^$8t of its dang before each moult.
Fig. 81. The eggs from which these larv® hatch, are de-
posited singly upon the leaves, to which they are fas
tened by some adhesive substance. They are of
irregular angular form ; flat, and somewhat narrower
at one end than the other; ridged above and at the
sides, but smooth and obovate below. They are usually
furnished with spine-like appendages, which however
are sometimes entirely lacking. They look, in fact,
very much like miniature specimens of those curioos
skate-barrows or Mermaid's purses, which are found
so commonly along the sea-shore, and which are the
empty egg-shells of certain kinds of Ray- fish or Skate. Those of tie
common Golden Tortoise- bee tie (Fig. 31,) are 0.04 inch long, and of a
dull, dirty white color.
The Tortoise-beetle larvae, when full grown, fasten the last two or
three joints of the body to the underside of a leaf, by means of a
sticky secretion, and in about two days change to pupae. The pupa
of those species which liave 32 barbed spines, is flat with usuallj
four or five broad but thin and transparent serrated leaf-like appen-
dages on each side of the abdomen, and the prothorax, which is greatly
dilated and covers the head, is furnished around the edge with smaller
barbed spines. The broad leaf-like spines at the edges of the body
are bent under while the transformation is being effected, but are
soon afterwards stretched stiffly out with a forward slant. The pup*
loses the pronged tail, but as the old larval skin is left adhering to
the terminal segments the prong of dung still protects it in most
cases. The legs and antennas are not free in this, as in the pup«of
most other beetle*, but are soldered together as in the chrysalis of a
butterfly, and yet it has the power of raising itself up perpendicularly
upon the tail end by which it is fastened. The pupa state lasts about
a week.
Having thus spoken in general terms of this anomalous group of
beetles, I shall now refer more particularly to a few of the species.
Most of those mentioned below infest the Sweet-Potato both in the
larva and perfect beetle states. They gnaw irregular holes and when
sufficiently numerous entirely riddle the leaves. They usually dwell
on the underside of the leaves, and are found most abundant dunn?
the months of May and June. There must be several broods during
the year, and the same species is often found in all stages, and of all
sizes at one and the same time. In all probability they hybernate m
the beetle state.
I have proved by experiment that Paris green — one part of the
green to two of flour — when sprinkled under the vines, will kill these
insects, though not near so readily as it doas the Colorado Potato
THE STATB KNTOMOLOOIST. 61
Bag. Moreover, as these Tortoise- beetles osaally bide on the under
side of the leaves, and as the vines trail on the gzound, itis very diffi-
cult to apply the powder without running some risk from its poison-,
ous qualities. I therefore strongly recommend vigilance when the
plants are first planted, and by the figures and descriptions given
below the reader will be enabled to recognize and kill the few beetles
which at that time make their appearance, and thus nip the evil in
the bud. The Bermuda and Brazilian Sweet-Potato plants are more
vigorous than the Nansemond, and less liable to be attacked.
^THB TWO-STRIPED SWEET-POTATO BEETLE— Caitidfl bivittata,, Say.
This is the most common species found upon the Sweet-Potato,.
\Yig, 32.] and seems to be confined to that plant, as I have
never found it on any other kind. Its transfor-
mations were first described by myself in the
Prairie Farmer Annual^ for 1868, (p. 53.) The
larva (Fig, 2T, 2 enlarged ; Fig. 32, natural size),
is dirty white or yellowish-white, with a more
or less intense neutral-colored longitudinal line
along the back, usually relieved by an extra light band each side. It
differs from the larvceof all other known sj^eeies in not using its fork
for merdigerous purposes. Indeed, this fork is rendered useless as a
shield to the body, by being ever enveloped, after the first moult, in
the cast-off prickly skins, which are kept free from excrement.
Moreover, this fork is seldom held close down to the back, as in the
other species, but more usually at an angle of 45° over or from the
body, thus suggesting the idea of a handle. In Kirby & Spence's In-
troduction (p. 426), may be found the following passage in reference
to the positions in which the fork of the lurvte of these Tortoise-
beetles is carried: "The instrument by which they effect this is aD
anal fork, upon which they deposit their excrement, and which in
some is turned up and lies flat upon their backs ; and in others forms
different angles, from very acute to very obtuse, with their body ;
and occasionally is unbent and in the same direction with it." Reau-
mur is referred to as authority for these statements, and the language
would lead us to suppose that the forks were thus variously carried
by different species ; but Reaumur never said anything of the sort,
liis language has been poorly renderecl, for he distinctly referred to
the different positions which the same insect could give to the fork,
and I believe that the peculiarity mentioned above has never been
observed in the larvae of any other species of the genus.
When full fed, this larva attaches itself to the underside of the
leaf, and in two days the skin bursts open on the back, and is worked
down towards the tail ; when the pupa, at first pale, soon acquires a
dull brownish color, the narrow whitish tail, which still adheres pos-
teriorly, being significant of the species. See (Fig. 27, 3.)
The beetle (Fig, 27, ^) is of a pale yellow, striped with black, and
though broader and vastly different scientifically, still bears a K^n-
I» SECOND AHNUAL SKPOBT OF
eral resemblance to the common CacamheT-heet'le (Dtabroitea tit-
tata, Fabr.)
These beetles may be neen qaite. thick aroand young peach anJ
apple trees qnite early in the seaaon, and a little later they venture
into the trees and pair off; but as soon as the Sweet-Potato plaot!
are set, they leave everything else for them.
THE GOLDEN TORTOISE-BBETLE— c«t(^ ■■HcioJcfn, P»br.
Next to the preceding species, the Golden Tortoiee-beetle is the
most numerong on our sweet-potatoes; but it does not confine its
(Fib- 33.] injuries to that plant, for it is found
in equal abundance on the leaves of
V the Bitter-Sweet and on the difieren:
j«v kinds of Convolvnlus or MorDiDg
,^ t Glory. The lava (Fig. 33, «, natnril
^■t size ft, enlarged with the dnng taken
tiom the fork), is of a dark brown
nior. with a pale shade upon the
back. It carries its Iceoifork directly over the back, and the ex-
crement is arranged in a more or less regular trilobed pattern. The
loaded fork still lies close to the back in the pupa, which is brovn
like the larva, and chiefly characterized by three dark shades on the
transparent prothorax, one being in the middle and one at each side,
as represented at Figure 34, c.
The perfect beetle (Fig. 34, d), when seen in all its Bplendor, ii
one of the most beautiful objects that can well be imagined. It ex-
[Rj. M.] actly resembles a piece of golden tinsel, and
with its legs withdrawn and body lying flat to
L t a leaf, the uninitiated would scarcely suppose
J Ft I^ it to be an insect, did it not suddenly take wing
4 -' ' while being observed. At first these beetles
are of a dull deep orange color, which strongly
** «■ relieves the transparent edges of the wiag-cov-
ers and helmet, and gives conspicnousness to six black spots, two (in-
dicated in the figure) above, and two on each Bide. Bat in about a |
week after they have left the pupa shell, or as soon as they begin to
copulate, they shine in all their splendor, and these black spots are
scarcely noticed.
THS PALE-IHIQHED TORTOISE-BEETLE— CouJJapiiIliil*, Hsrbit.
This species can scarcely be distinguished from the precedinf.
It is of a somewhat broader, rounder form, and differs in partially
lacking the black spots on the wing-covers, and in having the thighi
entirely pale yellow, while in auHchalcea they are black at the base.
It likewise feeds upon the Sweet-Potato, and its larva differs only
from that of the former, in its spines being brighter and lighter col-
ored, and in having a dull orange head, and a halo of the same color
on the anterior portion of the body.
TAX BTATB ZNTOKOLOfllBT. 63
IHB HOITLBD TORT0I5B-BEBILB— Ci>wld«riiHala,> OUt.
[Pig. 8fl.] This epeeiea (Fig. 36) which is l^it- sb]
. the next moat common of those
I found on the Sweet-Potato in the
^ latitude of St Lonis, is at once , r
? distinguisbad from all the others 1
^ here described, by being usually
a black, with the shoulders black to
the extreme edge of the transpa-
rent wing-covers. It is a very variable species, and is frequently more
or less speckled or mottled with gold, while more rarely it has a uni-
form golden appearance.!
The larva, which is represented enlarged and with the dung re-
moved at Figure 35, ri, is of a uniform green color, with a bluish shade
along the back, which shade disappears however whenever the insect
has fasted for a few hours. It carries its dung in irregular broad
masBes, often branching as in the species next to be described. The
pupa (Fig. 35, h,) is also of a uniform green color, with a conspicuous
black ring around the base of the first abdominal pair of spifacles.
Before changing to pupa and previous to each moult, this larva is in
the habit of removing the dung from its fork.
THB BLACE-LEOQED TORTOIEE-BBBTLE— Cotrfda rUf/rtpf, Olir.
This species, which is
kewise found on the
iveet-Potato, is a little
[16 largest of those here-
ifore mentioned. The
eetle (Fig. 38) has the
iwer, when alive, of pnt-
e ng on a golden hue, but
not so brilliant as C,
aurichalcea^ from which species it is at once distinguished by
its larger size and by its black legs and three large con-
[Pie- 38] spicuons black spots on each wing-cover. The larva
(Fig. 37, hy) is of a pale straw color with the spines,
which are long, tipped with black ; and besides a dusky
II shade along each side of the back, it has two dusky
rspota immediately behind the head, and below these
ylast, two larger crescentmarks of the same color. The
dung is spread in a characteristic manner, extending
laterally in long ehreds or ramifications. (See Fig. 37, a.) The pnpa
*Thia Insect IB Tflferred b; BobemBn to th« gpnaa Co^rocvrla, which diffcn bom CdttMa b;
OMt* llandH, not diitincUj claTKte uduau-lylQitoTiii utsBon.
t This epedM ha> mj probablj been deioribid nudar different nunai. It ii C. etaclttm,
fkbr. ; C, lignifer, Herbit, uid frotci larvee foand on the lama batch of planti, and diffarisg in bo
mptot wlial«Tar, I hare brad ipecimtni which wara dataininad bj La Oonta u C. trtbiata, Lee
64 BBC05D ANNUAL REPORT W
(Fig. 37, c.) is dark brown, variegated with paler brown as in the fig-
nre, while the spines around the edges are transparent and white.
THE PICKLE WORM— Phacellura nitidalis, Oramer.
(L»pidoptera, Marg»rodidflB.)
As long ago as the year 1828, Dr. T. W. Harris described and
named the common Squash Borer {JEjeria [TVochilium'] euctirhit^t).
This borer is a trne caterpillar, having sixteen legs, and very macli
resembling the common Peach Borer. It is hatched in the early part
of samraer, from eggs placed by the parent moth on the stems of tb«
vine, close to the root. It penetrates the stem, and by devouring the
pith, frequently causes the death of the vine. When full fed. it re-
treats a short distance into the ground and forms a cocoon of a gummj
substance covered with particles of earth. Within this cocoon it
passes the winter, and early the next summer issues as a moth. This
moth is very beautiful, with a conspicuous orange-colored body spot-
ted with black ; with the front wings blue-black and with the hind
wings perfectly transparent.
Ever since the day when it was first described by Harris, this in-
sect has been known as the Squash Borer. It seems to be confined,
however, to a few of the more Eastern States, and although Mr. Wm.
Klussman, of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, thinks he is troubled with this
species, and has given up the growing of all winter squashes in con-
sequence of its ravages ( Country Gentleman^ Nov. 11, 1869, page 378),
yet it certainly is not of common occurrence in the Valley of the Mis-
sissippi, or we should more often hear of it
There is, however, another borer which attacks the roots of cn-
curbitaceous vines, and which is but too common all over the coun-
try. I refer to that ubiquitous little pest the Striped Cucumber-beetle
(Didbrotica vittaia^ Fiihr.) 9.11 insect which annually destroys thon-
sands of dollars' worth of vines in the United States, and for which
remedies innumerable — some sensible, but the greater portion not
worth the paper on which they are printed — are published every year
in our different agricultural papers.
The natural history of this "Striped Bug," as it is more commonly
called, was first made known in the West by Dr. Henry Shimer, of Mt.
Carroll, in the Prairie Farmer^ for August 12, 1865. But as every-
thing pertaining to such a very common and destructive insect, can-
not be too often repeated, I will here relate its habits in the briefest
manner.
The parent beetles (Fig. 89) make their appearance quite early
[Fig.89]^in the season, when they immediately commence their work
of destruction. They frequently penetrate through the cracks
that are made by the swelling and sprouting of the seeds of
melons, cucumbers, or squashes, and.by nipping off the young
sprouts, destroy the plant before it is even out of the ground.
rmS STATB BHlOliOLOaiST^ 65
Their subsequent work when the vines have once pushed forth their
leaves, is too well known to need description^ Yet notwithstanding
the great numbers and the persistency of these beetles, we finally suc-
ceed, with the proper perseverance and vigilance, in nursing and pro^
tecting our vines, till we think they are large enough to withstand all
attacks. Besides, by this time, the beetles actually begin to diminish
in numbers, and we congratulate ourselves on our success. But lot
All of a sudden, many of our vines commence to wilt, and they finally
die outright No wound or injury is to be found on the vine above
ground, and we are led to examine the roots. Here we fsoon discover
the true cause of death, for the roots are found to be pierced here and
there with small holes, and excoriated to such an extent, that they
present a corroded appearance. Upon a closer examination the
authors of this mischief are easily detected^ either imbedded in the
root, or lurking in some of the corroded furrows. They are little whit*
ish worms, rather more than a third of an inch long, and as thick as a
£ood sized pin; the head is blackish-brown and horny, and there is a
plate of the same color and consistency on the last segment. These
worms are in fact the young of the same Striped Bug which had been
80 troublesome oh the leaves earlier in the season; and that the in-
sect may be as well known in this, its masked form, as it is in the
beetle state, I present the annexed highly magnified figures of the
[Pig. 40.] ^ worm (Fig. 40), No. 1 showing a back view
and No. 2 a side view. The beetles, while
feasting themselves on the tender leaves of
the vine, were also pairing, and these worms
hatched from the eggs which were deposited
I\M T IMl ^^^^^ ^^^ roots by the female. When the worms
Ivrl 1 r#i^ h^^^ become full-grown, which is in about a
il /5 "^^^^'^ after they hatch, tiiey forsake the roots
and retire into the adjoining earth, where
each one, by continually turning around and
around, and compacting the earth on all sides
forms for itself a little cavity and in a few days
throws off its larva skin and becomes a pupa.
^ This pupa is much shorter than was the worm,
and is represented enlarged in the annexed Figure 41, No. 1 ventral
[Fig, 410 view, and No. 2 back view, the hair lines at the sides
showing the natural size. This pupa state lasts about
Ttwo weeks, at the end of which time the skin is again
moulted, and the perfect beetle form assumed. AU
the parts of this newly developed beetle are at first
soft, but after remaining motionless in its cell, till
these soft parts have acquired solidity and strength, it breaks through
the walls of its prison and works itself up to the light of day.
There are from two to three generations each year, the ' number
vaiying according to the latitude, or the length of the wiirter. To
66 ssooKD AinmAL rspobt of
show however, how the different broods run into one another, andti
prove how difficult it is to separate them by distinct lines, I will sUt
that at Kirk wood, Mo., I found this insect abundant in its three 8U|«
of larva, pupa, and beetle, during the fi>*<)t days of October last An
in a large jar partly filled with earth, in which I placed a number <
infested roots about that time, I to-day (Nov. 8, 1869) find both popi
and beetles. The soil in this jar was kept as nearly as possible intl
same condition as that out ot doors, and as I noticed the beetli
around the vines even after the first frosts, I am led to infer that, i
this latitude at least, the insect often hybernates as a beetle, and n
always as a pupa, as intimated by Df. Shimer.
Of all the multifarious remedies proposed against the attack i
this insect, there are none so effectual or so cheap in the end, as u
closing the young vines in boxes which are open at the hotiom^ is
covered with millinet on the top. Such boxes are made at a trivii
cost, and if properly stored away each season after use, will iast b
many years. Whenever other remedies must from necessitjtii
resorted to, there is nothing better than sprinkling the Tioes
early in the morning with Paris-green and flour, (one part oftlN
green to four or five of flour)" or with white hellebore. It of coims
follows, that if the beetles are effectually kept off, there will ate
wards be no worms at the roots.
Much complaint was made last summer, in various parts of t:^
country, of the sudden death of cucurbitaceous vines, fron: someoE
known cause, and Henry Ward Beecher seems to have suffered h
this manner, like the rest of us, but could find no worms in the too^
of his vines. I know from experience that such vines are subject t?
a species of rot in the root — a rot not caused by insects, and for ^^
reason the more serious, since we cannot tell how to prevent it l^^^
seen whole melon patches destroyed by this rotting of the roots, b^i'
in the great majority of instances where I have examined vines tlii^
had died from ^^some unknown cause," I have had nodifllcultyineitA^
finding the worms of the ** Striped Bug'' yet at work on tfie roots, or
else the unmistakable marks of their having been there. Indeed, t'f
the time a vine dies from the effects of their gnawings and bnrro^
ings, the worms have generally become fully grown, and ha^e badeo
themselves in their little pupal cavities.
So much for the two borers which have heretofore beeni^noi^D
attack plants belonging to the Qourd family. We have seen bowtb^I
both bore into the roots of these plants, and how one of them ifl
perfect state attacks the leaves. No other borers have been koo
to attack these plants, though the 12-Spotted Diabrotica (i^' ^^fi ,
[Fig. 4S} i^i^y Fig. 42), may often be found embedded in the rW ^
both melons, cucumbers and squashes. But we ^^^^^l^
a third insect which attacks plants of this same Gourd
ily. It neither bores into the root, nor devour* the m^^
however, but seems to confine itself^ the fruit; ^^ ^
TBI BTATB XNTOUOLOeiST.
67
[Pig. 48]
(....^(„.^ 1^ Qt;^
called it the Pickle Worm, from the faot of its often being found n
cucumbers that have been pickled.
At Figure 43, a I represent
•one of these worms of the nui-
!ial size. They vary much m
appearance, some bein^ of :i
yellowish- white, and very
MUch resembling the insitJe (»f
n unripe melon, while oiherg
re tinged more or less wiili
^reen. They are all quite s«»f>,
ind translucent, and there is
« transverse row of eight shiny,
'ightly elevated spots on
ich segment, and an n^Mi-
JoTiJil ♦wo hP^lH'l th" MthtTH
on the back, (See Fig. 43, c.) Along the back and towar e
head, these spots are larger than at the sides, and each spot gives rise
to a fine hair. The specimen from which I obiaiued my iii>i n. th
last summer was very light colored, and these ^»»ofs w^f* <f> j
the color of the body as to be scarcely visible. The head was honey-
yellow bordered with a brown line and with three black confluent
spots at the palpi.
The cervical shield or homy plate on the first segment was of the
same color as the body, and so transparent that the brown border of
the head when retracted shone distinctly through it as at Figure 43,
h. The breathing-holes or stigmata are small, oval, and of the same
color as the body, with a fulvous rftig around them. In some of the
young worms the shiny spots are quite black and conspicuous. My
late associate, Mr. Walsh, communicated to me the following descrip-
tion of such a marked specimen, from which he bred the very same
species of moth as from the paler individuals : The description was
taken when the worm was but half grown*
Length | inch. Oolor pale ereenish-yellow ; 16 legs. Head pale
rufous, the x -shaped sutures and the mouth black. Cervical shield as
in Figure 43, d^ each half edged with black, center rufous. Marked
under shield on each side as at ^, and the same lateral marking on joints,
2 and 3. Above on joints 2 and 3 as at f. On joints 4-11, eight (in-
cluding 2 lateral) spots transversely arranged, and behind these, two
dorsal spots. Of the eight spots the two lateral ones on e^ch side -are
sobstigmatal. Stigmata edged with dusky. Anal joint with five spots
as in^, the middle one large and transverse. Body with some sparse
long dusky hairs, 6-8 times as long as wide, a little tapered toward
the head. Spins a thread. Legs and prologs nearly immaculate.
The worms commenced to appear in the latitude pf St. Louis,
about the middle of July, and they continued their destructive work
till the end of September. They bore cylindrical holes into the fruit
and feed on its fleshy parts. They are gross feeders and produce a
68 SBOOHD ANNUAL BKPOBT 09
large amount of soft excrement I haye found as many as fonr ins
medium-sized cucumber, and a single worm will often cause the fruit
to rot. They develop very rapidly and come to their growth in from
three to four weeks. When sibovLt to transform they forsake the fnit
in which they had burrowed, and drawing together portions of some
leaf that lies on or near the ground, spina slight cocoon of white siH
Within this cocoon they soon become slender brown ehrysalids witk
the head parts prolonged, and with a very long ventral sheath whieii
encloses the legs. If it is not too late in the season the moths issoe
in from eight to ten days afterwards. The late individuals, howeTer,
pass the winter within their cocoons; though, from the fact that some
moths come out as late as November, I infer that they may also win-
ter over in the moth/ state.
The moth produced by this worm (of which Figure 43, i, repre-
sents the male) is very strikingly marked. It is of a yellowish-broTii
color, with an iris-purple reflection, the front wings having an irregu-
lar, semi-transparent, dull golden-yellow spot, not reaching their
front edge, and constricted at their lower edge; and the hind mp
having their inner two-thirds of this same semi-transparent yellow.
The under surfaces have a more decided pei^rly lustre. The tbiik
the breast, and the abdomen below, are all of a beautiful sUverj-
white, and the other joints of the long legs are of the.same tawnror
golden-yellow as the semi-transparent parts of the wings. The ab-
domen of the female terminates in a small flattened black brosii,
squarely trimmed, and the segment directly preceding this brash is of
a rust-brown color above. The corresponding segment in the male
is, on the contrary, whitish anteriorly and of the same color as th»
rest of the body posteriorly, and he is, moreover, at once dxBiingmBh^
from the female, by the immense brush at his tail, which is generally
much larger than represented in the above figure, and is compose^] 0/
narrow, lengthened (Ululate) scales, which remind one of the petals
of the common English daisy, some of these scales being wbii^
some orange, and others brown. This moth was described nearly >
century ago by Oramer, under the scientific naniie of Ph(ik[c]elh^
nitidalis^ and it may be known in English as the Neat Oucamber
Moth. The genus to which it belongs is characterized chiefly by tbe
partly transparent wings, and by the immense scaly brush of tbe
males. The antennsB are long, fine and thread-like, those of the nial^
being very finely ciliated ; the abdomen extends beyond the wiop,
and the legs are very long and slender. The species are for the most
part exotic, and the larvsa of all of them, so far as known, feed on
cucurbitaceous plants.
The following item, taken from a St. Louis paper, though ^^^
what facetious, will give an idea of the extent of the injuries oaosaa
by this insect in that vicinity :
What's the matter with the cucunibers ? A lady of our acqnaijl'
ance, the other day, sent to market to purchase some cucumb®^ ^
THE BTATB BliYTOMOLOGIST. 69
pickling purposes. They were placed in a vessel to be washed, previ-
ons to being put in the brine. It was then observed that small, sin-
gnlar looking worms clung in the ^wrinkles' on the outside of some
of the cucumbers. These were washed ofi, when accident led to the
discovery that inside every one of the cucumbers was secreted a
white, corrugated, creeping thing, from half an inch to over an inch
in length, resembling in mmiature a rattlesnake's rattles, and not a
very pretty object to look upon. It turns out that nearly, if not all
the cucumbers brought to this market this season are affected the
same way. These worms certainly do not look very good to eat, in
the unpickled form; but we are told that they are entirely harmless
in the natural state, and probably add to the pungency and crispness
of the gherkin when forming part of the chow-chow, and other
relishes which grace every well regulated square meal. Like the
mites in the cheese, which with some are supposed to testify to the
good quality and healthfulness of the article, we suppose worms in
the pickles may fairly be considered a question of taste ; but, if it is
not obtrusive, we will add that we do not believe they are to our taste
or digestion, and, if it is all the same to the cucumber merchants, we
would rather not take any in our'n.
In Missouri, I have myself found this insect quite abundant in
various parts of St. Louis and Jefiferson counties, and the cucumbers
seem to have fared worse than the melons. That it was not confined
to these two counties, is also proved by the following communication
which appeared in the Journal of Agriculture^ of September 10,
1869:
Pleasant Hill^ J/o., September 2, 1869. — Last winter, seeing
many glowiijg accounts of the "Alton Large Nutmeg Melon,'' I sent
to Mr. Barler and procured some, paying thirty cents an ounce for
them; planted and worked well ; during August, had some melons.
The first few tasted right well, but soon my " Green Citron" cantelope
ripening, the difierence in the taste of the two was found to be so
great that we could not eat the Alton Nutmeg. Furthermore, the
latter had worms in them — the larvae of some insect — eating into
nearly every one. The Green Citron was rarely attacked by them. I
have raised this variety of Green Citron for several years, and would
not give one of the melons for a dozen Alton Nutmegs. It is sweet-^
luicy and very rich in taste. When a boy, I can remember a cante-
lope that was raised by my father, called "Persian." I think the
Green Citron probably derived from it.
Yours, G. 0. Broadhead.
In Illinois, it was very destructive around Alton, during the
month of August; for, on July 19th, I received specimens from G. W.
Copley, of that place, and found (Sept. 2, 1869), on visiting Mr.' 0. L.
Barter's large melon fields, that fully three-fourths of his melons had
been injured by it. Since then, several other Alton men have as-
sured me that it was equally destructive with them. It also occurred
around Springfield, lor Mr. P. M. Springer sent to me, the last of Octo-
ber, a specimen of the moth which he had bred from a cucumber-
boring worm; while Mr. Walsh also found it abundant at Rock Is-
land, in the northern part of that State.
In Michigan, as I learned from Mr- W. B. Ransom, of St. Joseph,
70 SECOND ANNUAL RBPOBT OF
it greatly injured the cucumbers an4 melons around that place; and
Mr. Glover, of the Department of Agriculture, informs me that be has
found the worm on Squash, in Florida, in July. Thus it appears that
this Pickle Worm has a wide range, and that last sommer it simul-
taneously fell upon the cucumbers and melons in widely different
parts of the country. Of course, in making pickles, the worm ii
pickled with the cucumber, and we shall consequently continue to
hear startling stories about the worms in the pickles.
This insect, so far as I can ascertain, has never before been fig-
gured or described in this country; nor can I find any mention made
of its destructive work in past years. I am, therefore, led to the con-
clusion that it was never numerous or destructive enough in the past,
to attract attention. This fact becomes the more astonishing, wbeii
we consider how wide-spread and general its injuries were the past
summer; and it furnishes another illustration of thesudden and enor-
mous increase, in some particular year, of an insect which had
scarcely ever before been noticed.
The system of Nature is so complicated, and every animal organ-
ism is subject to so many influences that affect its increase or de-
crease, that we are not surprised at the fluctuation in the relative
numbers of any particular species. The " Struggle for Life," as ex-
pounded by Darwin, is no where more effectual in bringing about
changes than in insect life. We are at first a little puzzled to ae-
count for the sudden advent, and the equally sudden departure of
such insects as the Army-worm, Chinch Bug, Wheat Midjge, etc., bnt
when we once acquire a just conception of the tangled web in whicb
every insect is involved, we wonder rather that the balance is so well
kept.
Our Pickle-worm is an indigenous species, and has, doubtless,
existed in some part or other of the country from time immemorial;
and now that its habits are recorded and its history made known,!
should not * e at all surprised to learn that individuals have suffered
from it in years gone by. The French Entomologist, Guen^e, give«
as its food-plant, a species of potato, and it is just possible thatitmaf
not always have fed upon the same plants on which it was found last
summer. At all events, let us hope that it will disappear as suddenly
as it appeared; but should it occur in great numbers again next year,
the foregoing account will enable those who grow melons, cocuffi*
bers or squashes, to understand their enemy, and to nip the evilio
the bud, by carefully overhauling their vines early in the summed
and destroying the first worms that appear, either by feeding the in-
fested fruit to hogs or cattle, or by killing the worms on the spot
know from experience that this worm when pickled with the cucum-
ber, does not in the least aflect its taste, and is not in the least inj^'
nous 10 the human system ; but as it is not very desirable food, V^^y^
should always be halved, before being brought to the table, especial y
if they were gathered from a field or garden known to be infested.
, TBS STATB aNTOMOLOSJST. 71
IN8EOTS INJDRIOUS TO THE GRAPE-VINE.
Under this head, I Bhall continne the eeries of articles begun in
my First Report, in order to give the grape-growers of oar State a
thorough Qnderstanding of their insect enemies, and thus lesBen the
hindrances and drawbacks to viticulture— that most important and
pleasant part of rural industry, which is increasing with such unpre-
cedented rapidity.
THE HOG-OATERPILLAR OF THE VmE—Chairocampa pampi-
ttatrix, Sm. & Abb.*
[LepidopUrs, Sphlngid*.]
Of the large solitary cat-
erpillars that attack the
Grape-vine, this is by far
the most common and inju-
rious in the Uississippi Val-
ley. I have frequently
fonnd the egg of this insect
glued singly to the under-
side of a leaf. It is 0.05 inch
in diameter, perfectly round
and of a uniform delicate
yellowish-green color. The
young worm which hatches
ffom it, is pale green, with
a long straight horn at its tail ; and after feeding from four to five
weeks it acquires its full growth, when it presents the appearance of
Figure ii, the horn having become comparatively shorter and ac-
quired a posterior curve.
This worm is readily distinguished from other grape-feeding spe-
cies by having the third and fourth rings immensely swollen, while
the first and second rings are quite small and retractile. It is Irom
this peculiar appearanceof the fore partof the body, which strikingly
suggests the fat cheeks and shoulders and small head of a blooded
hog, that it may best be known as the Hog-caterpillar of the vine.
The <-olor of this worm when full grown is pea-green, and it is wrink-
led transversely and covered with numerous pale-yellow dots, placed
'Sfnoa^mi, SfUna, [Darapn] nyren, Cramer ; Ofu eiufiu, Hacbaer. Of the toar dilhrsnt
KDfric nmniei under wbic£ thii Bptcira hu bern cliuaiflad, " SpStiui" it ■ general term tor aU tb*
iHk-motbi and refsri to tbeiphini-lik* attitade often aaiDni«d by tb«ir larva ; •• Chanctmpt" ii
derived fram loa Qreek worda •tbich mean " Hog-caterpillar^" and " Airapia" and " Ofiu" are
nbherisb Of tb« three different ape ciflc namei, " MyrD*" refera to an ancient Greek wbo bort
Uiii appellation, " cnofui" ia pare unadulterat«d cibberiih, and " piw^natrix" ia from lb* Latin
andeisoifiea "a female Tine-praner." Both Harrie and Filcbtteicribe tbis inaect under tbenatne of
CkarmaniiiB paiapliufrii; and tbii, ai the appellatioD beat known to oar ST»f*-growni, and tba
mottubaracteristii: of Cba habita ot tbe epeciet, I should prefer to retain, although no donbt, ac-
cording to the atrict Law of Prioritj, the apeciSc name of Mgrim ought to be amploTsd. Hr.
Walker. Dr. Clemena and Dr. Morrii ckll this ipeciea "Dmrtpta Mfen," and Mr. Orote calla it
"Ofui ilfyren." 8; ringing the changaa with auflcient ingenuitj upon tbe four generic and tb*
thtee apeciflc names, we ma; obtain no leas tban twalva diluent namea tor tbii ona inaact 1
n Bsoam Atma. tMPom ov
in irregDlar traneverse rows. An oblique ere urn-colored lateral baod,
bordered below with a, darker green, and most distinct on the middls
segmentB, connects with a cream-colored eubdorBal line, whicb is bor-
dered above with darker green, and which extends from the head to
the horn at the tail. There are five and often six somewhat pale yel-
low triangular patches along the back, each containing a lozeoge-
ihaped lilac-colored spot. The head is small, with yellow grannla-
tions, and four perpendieolar yellow lines, and the spiracles ot breatli-
iog holes are orange-brown. When about to transform, 'the color iJ
this worm nsually changes to a pinkish-brown, the darker parts beioj
of a beautiful mixture of crimson and brown. Previoos to tiiii
change of color Mr. J. A. Lintner, of Schoharie, New York, has ob-
served the worm to pass its mopth over the entire surface ot its bodf,
even to the tip of its horn, covering it with a coating of appareotlj
glutinous matter — the operation lasting about two hours.* Before
[Fig. u.] transforming into the pupa or c'"rsalif
state, it descends irom the vine, and wttb-
in some fallen l,eaf or under any other
k rubbish that may be lying on the groani
^forms a mesh of strong brown silk, tritMa
which it soon changes to a chrysalis (Fi|-
45.) of a pale, warm yellow, speckled mi
spotted with brown, but characterized chiefly by the conspicnons
dark browQ spiracles and broad brown incisures of the three larger
abdominal segments.
^'*" "■' The moth (Fig. 46) whicb
in time bnrsta from tiut
chrysalis, has the bodyani
front wings of a Hesby-gnj}
marked and shaded yn&
olive-green as in the Sgaie,
while the hind wings are of
a deep rust-color, with «
small shade of gray nett
their inner angle.
This insect is, in northerly regions, one-brooded, but towards tiifl
south two-brooded, the first worms appearing, in the latitude of ot
Zionis, during June and July, and giving out the mot^hs about tvo
weeks atler they become ohrysalids, or from the middle of July to tfie
first of August. The worms of the second brood are full grownw
September, and passing the winter in the chrysalis state, giveastm^
moths the following May. On one occasion I found at South Vf^
Illinois, a worm but one-half grown and still feeding as late as Oct"'
ber 20th, a ciroumstanoe which would lead to the beliefthatal
■Proc Ent. Soc. FhU., m, p. SBS.
xn siAn sNxoxoLOQun. 78
points where the winters are mild, they may even hybernate in the
larva state.
This worm is a most voracious feeder, and a single one will some-
times strip a small vine of its leaves in a few nights. According to
Harris it does not even confine its attacks to the leaves, bat in its
progress from leaf to leaf« stops at every cluster of fruit, and either
from stupidity or disappointment, nips off the stalks of the half- grown
^apes and allows them to fall to the ground untasted. It is fortu-
nate for the grape-grower, therefore, that Nature has furnished the
ready means to prevent its ever becoming excessively numerous, for
I have never known it to swarm in very great numbers. The obvious
reason is, that it is so freely attacked by a small parasitic Ichneumon
fly — ^belonging to a genus {Microgaater) exceedingly numerous in
species — that three out of every four worms that we meet with will
generally be found to be thus victimized. The eggs of the parasite
are deposited within the body of the worm, while it is yet young, and
the young maggots hatching from them/eed on the fatty parts of their
victim. After the last moult of a worm that has been thus attacked,
numerous little heads may be seen gradually pushing through differ-
ent parts of its body ; and as soon as they have worked themselves
so far out that they are held only by the last joint of the body, they
commence forming their small snow-white cocoons, [Fig. 48.]
[Fig. 47.] which stand on ends and present
»the appearance of Figure 47. In
about a week the fly (Fig. 48, a,
magnified; }, natural size) pushes
open a little lid which it had pre-
viously cut with its jaws, and soars away to fulfil its mission. It is
one of those remarkable and not easily explained facts, which often
confront the student of Nature, that, while one of these Hog-cater-
pillars in its normal and healthy condition may be starved to death
in two or three days, another, that is writhing with its body full of
parasites will live without food for as many weeks. Indeed, I have
known one to rest for three weeks without food in a semi-paralyzed
condition, and after the parasitic flies had all escaped from their
cocoons, it would rouse itself and make a desperate effort to regain
strength by nibbling at a leaf which was offered to it But all worms
thus attacked succumb in the end, and I cannot conclude this ar-
ticle to better advantage than by reminding the Qrape-grdwer, that
he should let alone all such as are found to be covered with the white
cocoons above illustrated, and not, as has been often done, destroy
them under the false impression that the cocoons are the eggs of the
worm. Numbers of these little white cocoons are sent to me every
vear under the supposition that they are eggs, and no doubt many of
them get destroyed by the very persons who ought to cherish them.
T4 nomm AmniAL Bsrotr or
THE AOHEHON BPBINX—PMlampelttt achmnon, Drniy.*
(Lipidopton, 8phin|jda.)
This is another of the large Grape-vine-feediog insects, belonging
to the great Sphinx family, and which may be popularly known u
the Acbemoa Sphinx. It baa been fonnd in almost every State where
the Grape is cultivated, and also occurs in Canada. It feeds on the
American Ivy ( Ampelopaia qutnguef olio, with aa much relish as on
[Hc.Mj the Grape-vine, and seema to
show no preference for any (tf
^the different varieties of the lat>
'ter. It is, however, worthy of
/ * remark, that both its food-planti
belong to the same botanical Family.
The full grown larva (Fig. 49.) is usually fonnd daring the latter
part of Augnst and fore part of September. It measures about 3^
inches when crawling, which operation is effected by a series of snd-
[Ks- 6I-]
den jerks. The third segment is the largest, the second bat half ita
size and the first still smaller, and when at rest the two last men-
tioned segments are partly withdrawn into the third as shown in the
figure. The yoang larva is green, with a long slender reddish horn
rising from the eleventh segment and curving over the back, and
THB STATK XKTOMOLO0IST. 75
though I have found full grown specimens that were equally as
g^reeu as the younger oneai they more generally assume a pale straw
or reddish-brown color, and the long recurved horn is invariably
replaced by a highly polished lenticular tubercle. The descriptions
extant of this worm are quite brief and incomplete. The specimeit
from which my drawing was made, was of a pale straw color which
deepened at the sides and finally merged into a rich vandyke-brown.
A line of a feuille'morie brown, deep and distinct on the anterior
parti but indistinct and almost effaced on the posterior part of each
segment, ran along the back, and another line of the same color, con-
tinuous, and with its upper edge fading gradually, extended along
each side. The six scalloped spots were cream>colored ; the head,
thoracic segments and breathing-holes inclined to flesh-color, and the
prolegs and caudal plate were deep brown. The worm is covered
more or less with minute spots which are dark on the back but light
and annulated at the sides, while there are from six to eight trans-
verse wrinkles on all but the thoracic and caudal segments.
The color of the worm, when about to transform, is often of a
most beautiful pink or crimson. The chrysalis (Fig. 50) is formed
within a smooth cavity under ground. It is of a dark shiny mahogany-
brown color, shagreened or roughened, especially at the anterior
edge of the segments on the hack.
Unlike the Hog-caterpillar of the Vine, just described, this in-
sect is everywhere single-brooded, the chrysalis remaining in the
ground through the fall, winter and spring months, and producing
the moth towards the latter part of June. I rather incline to believe
however that there may be exceptions to the rule in southerly lati*
tudes, and that in such latitudes it may sometimes be double-
brooded ; for I have known the moth to issue near St. Louis during
the first days of August, and have this very year found two worms in
the same locality as late as the 25th of October, neither of which was
quite full grown, though the leaves on the vines upon which they
were found had almost all fallen. Apparently such premature de-
velopment of Sphinx moths is a well-known occurrence among the
different European species; for Ohas. Darwin remarks that *' a num-
ber of moths, especially Sphinx moths, when hatched in the autumn
out of their proper season, are completely barren ; though the fact of
their barrenness is still involved in some obscurity.*
The moth (Fig. 51), is of a brown- gray color variegated with
light brown, and with the dark spots, shown in the figure, deep brown.
The hind wings are pink with a dark shade across the middle, still
darker spots below this shade, and a broad gray border behind. I
once had an excellent opportunity of observing how it burst open
the chrysalis shell, for while examining a chrysalis, the moth emerged.
By a few sudden jerks of the head, but more especially by friction
«See VarUtionof AnimmU lid PUntt, •te„ H, pp. 167-8^ BnglUh Edition, and the refertncM
thtre given in the foot-note.
7* BXOOND ASSVAL REPOkT 07
with the knees of the middle pair of legs, it severed and mptared ths
thin chrysalis shell, and the very moment the anus touched th; rip-
tared end, the creamy fluid usually voided by newly-hatched moths
was discharged.
- I have never found any parasite attacking this species, bat ilE
solitary habit and large size make it a conspicuous object, and itii
easily controlled by hand, whenever it becomes unduly numerous
upon the Grape-vine.
THE 8A.T£LLIT£; SPEmX-^PAUampelut satellitia, Unit*
(Ltpidopteia Sphin|iila.)
Like the preceding insect this one occurs in almost-, every Statein
tK«. »i-] the Union. It also bears a Btroii;
resemblance to the Achemot
Sphinx, and likewise feeds Dpo
the Ampelopsis as well as upon
the Grape-vine; bat the worn
k may readily be distingaished
I from the former by having fivt
'cream-colored spots each side,
instead of six, and by the spoK
' themselves being less scallops
In the latitude of St. Louis,
I this worm is found full gw"
I throughont the month of ^P
tember, and a few specimeif
(may even be found as lale **
the last of October. The egp
I of this species, as of all other
f Hawk-moths iSpMnx family)
(known to me, are glued singly
to the leaf of the plant whicbU
I to furnish the future worm wjij
I food. When first hatched, and
for sometime afterwards, ">'
larva is green, with a tinge "'
pink along the sides, and mw
an immensely long fitraig
pink horn at the tail. This horn soon begins to shorten, aniifi^aJ/
•Th« iTaoinDU tor thii initctmr* SpMnM Itcaan, Cnaiti ; Phelvlfeam, HnebnMi «"* ^
fndtrta. Hmfincr. Mr, A. Grote (Proo. Em. Soc. Phil., I, p. 80), b«li»»M tb»t tin *'"/ >j
of tbs ftothon «boT« qnoted. ii diidnct from S. SUtUiH; Lion., »nd would fiiD "'""'"-ri
tUm tpKlti (pnHemtia). For reMODi which tt would be todioui to rlr* bare, I pNftr "■ "'
%MM> H k Taiiet; of itilHtU.
TBI BTATK BBT01IOI.0QISt. Vt
enrla roand like a dog's tail, as at Figure 52, c. As tlie worm grows
older it changee to a reddish- brown, and by the third moalt it entirely
loses the caudal horn.
"When full grown, it measures nearly four inches in length, and
'when crawling, appears aa at Figure 53, a. It crawls by a series of
sadden jerks, and will often fling its head savagely from side to side
when alarmed. Dr. Morris* describes the mature larva as being
green, with six side patches; bnt though I have happened across
many specimens of this worm during the last seven yeiirs, I never
once found one that was green after the third moult ; nor do 1 believe
that there areever any more than five full-sized yellow spots each side,
even in the young individuals. The specimen from which the above
figure was made, occurred in 1867, at Herjnann,'MisBouri, in Mr. Geo.
HuBinann's vineyard. The back was pinkish, inclining to flesh-color;
the sides gradually became darker and darker, and the five patchea
on segments 6 — 10 inclusive, were cream-yellow with a black annnla-
tioQ, and shaped as in the flgare. On segments 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, were
namerons small black dots, but on each of the following five seg-
ments there were but two such dots. A pale longitudinal line ran
above the yellow patches, and the head and first joint were uQifomily
dnll reddish-brown.
The most common general color of the full-grown worm is a rich
Telvety vinous-brown. When at rest, it draws back the fore part of
the body, and retracts Ihe head and first two joints into the third (see
Frg. 52, h), and in this motionless position it no doubt managed to
IViK. 63.1
escape from the clntchee of many a hungry insectivorouB bird. Dr.
Morris, copying perhaps after Harris, erroneously states that the
three anterior joints, together with the bead, are retracted into the
fourth, and Mr. J. A. Lintnerf makes the same false assertion. It is
78 SJCOOKD ABBTJAL BBPOBI OF
the third aegmentm thia species, as well as in the Acfaemon Sphini
which is BO lUDch swollen, and into which the head and fint two sq
ments are retracted.
When aboQt to transform, the larva of oar Satellite Sphinx enUc
a short distance into the gronad, and soon works ofi* its caterpillu
skin and becomes a chrysalis of a deep chestnut-browo, and Teri
much of the same form as that oftheAchemon Sphinx, figured u
page 74. The moth (Fig. 53), makes its appearance in Janed
the following year, though it has been known to issue the same j«ii
that it had existed as larva. In this last event, it doubtless becoDii!
barren, like others under similar circumstances, as was ebownm
page 75. The colors of the moth are light olive>gray, variegated u
in the figure with dark oUve-green. The worms are easily BabdiK
by hand-picking.
THE ABBOT SPHINX— 7%yreu« Abhotii, Swainson.
(L«pidapUrft, Spbingidn.)
This is another of the large Orape-feeding 'insects, occnrriiig «
the cultivated and indigenous vines and on the Virginia Oreepei,ini
having in the fnll-groB
.larva state, a polished lo^
•bercle instead of a bo"
at the tail. Its babitit ii
given by Dr. Clemens, «
New York, P6nnBylvui»>
I Georgia, Massachnselii
and Ohio; but thoaghsoi
80 common as the Spti'U
moths previously describ-
ed, yet it is often met will
both in Illinois and M*
souri. The larva which'-'
represented in the nppw
part of Figure 54, varies considerably in appearance. Indeed, wf
ground-color seems to depend in a measure on the sex, for Dr. Mom^
describes this larva as reddish-brown with numerouspatchesofli^''''
green, and expressly states that tho female is of a uniform reddisS'
brown, with an interrupted dark brown dorsal line and traDSTen|
Btriee. I have reared two individuals which came to their gicwtn
about the last of July, at which time they were both witbost a ^bi-
tige of green. The ground-color was dirty yellowish, eBpecisH? »
the Bides. Each segment was marked transversely with six oreeveo
slightly impressed fine black lines, and longitudinally vith ^^^
THE 8TATB BHTOMOLOQIST. 79
non-impressed dark brown patches, alternating with each other, and
g:iving the worm a checkered appearance. These patches become
more dense along the subdorsal region, where they form two irrega-
lar dark lines, which on Uj!b thoracic segments become single, with a
similar line between them. There was also a dark stigmatal line with
9L lighter shade aboye it, and a dark stripe running obliquely down-
"wards from the posterior to the anterior portion of each segment
The belly was yellow with a tinge of pink between the prolegs,
and the shiny tubercle at the tail was black, with a yellowish
ring around the base. The head, which is characteristically marked,
and by which, this worm can always be distinguished from its allies —
no matter what the ground-color of the body may be — ^is slightly
roughened and dark, with a lighter broad band each side, and a cen-
tral mark down* the middle which often takes the form of an x. This
worm does not assume the common Sphinx attitude of holding up the
head, but rests stretched at full length, though if disturbed it will
throw its head from side to side, thereby producing a crepitating
noise.
The chrysalis is formed in a superficial cell on the ground ; its
surface is black and roughened by confluent punctures, but between
the joints it is smooth and inclines to brown; the head-case is broad
and rounded, and the tongue-case is level with the breast ; the tail
terminates in a rough flattened wedge-shaped point, which gives out
two extremely small thorns from the end.
The moth (Fig. 54, below) appears in the following March or
April, there being but one brood each year. It is of a dull chocolate
or grayish-brown color, the front wings becoming lighter beyond the
middle, and l^eing variegated with dark brown as in the figure ; the
hind wings are sulphur-yellow, with a broad dark brown border
breaking into a series of short lines on a flesh-colored ground, near
the body. The wings are deeply scalloped, especially the front ones,
and the body is furnished with lateral tufts. When at rest, the abdo-
men is curiously curved up in the air.
THE BLUE CATERPILLARS OF THE VINE.
Besides these large Sphinx caterpillars, every grape-grower must
have observed certain so-called ^^ Blue Caterpillars," which, though
far from being uncommon, are yet very rarely sufficiently numerous
to cause alarm, though in some few cases they have been known to
Btrip certain vines. There are three distinct species of these blue
caterpillars, which bear a sufficiently close resemblance to one
another, to cause them to be easily confounded. The firbt and by f^r
the most common with us is the larva of
SBOOKD Ainm&L HSPOBT ov
THH EIQHT-3F0TIBD FOBBSTXB— ily^ oet»mae»Utm, Akr.
(IiCpidDptm, Zygmniim.)
t^'e-"-J At Plate I, Figure 18 of my Firet E^
port, 'the male of this moth is illnstratri
by the side of its sapposed larva, Fifon
19 of the same Plate. In the text (f^
136-7) I ezproBBed some donbts as it
whether this last vas the riehtful larvio!
the Eight-spotted Forester, and as 1 bttt
c^ siuce reared several moUis from theltni
state, and ascertaiDed that the worm then
figured does not belong to the Kigii-
spotted Forester, bat in all probability b
the Pearl Wood Nymph, I will now give the characters of these thru
different blue caterpillars, so that they may readily be distinguished
hereafter.
The larva of the Eight-spotted Forester may often be found in
the latitude of St. Louis as early as the beginning of May, and mm
abundantly in June, while scattering individuals (probably of a second
brood) are even met with, but half-grown, in the month of Septeio-
her. The young larvae are whitish with brown transverse lines, tie
colors not contrasting bo strongly as in the full-grown specimecs,
though the black spots are more conapicuoua. They feed beneitt
the leaves and can let themselves down by a web. The fuUgro"
larva often conceals itself within a folded leaf. It is of the fonn d
Figure 55, a, and is marked transversely with white and black lines,
each segment having about eight light and eight dark ones. The
bluish appearance of this caterpillar is owing to an optical phenom^
non from the contrast of these white and black stripes. The heia
and the shield on the first segment are of a shiny bright deep orsni*
color, marked with black dota, and there is a prominent transTers*
orange-red band, faint on segments 2 and 3 ; conspicuous on 4 B:i<i 1'
and uniform in the middle of each of the other segments. In ^^
middle segments of the body each orange band contains eight blacK
oonical elevated spots or tubercles, each spot giving rise to a whiH
hair. . These spots are arranged as in the enlarged section shown m
the engraving (Fig. 66, b), namely, foar on each side as follows : the
■ npper one on the anterior border of the orange band, the second on
its posterior border, the third just above spiracles on its anterior b(«-
der — each of the three intermpting one of the transverse black linw
—and the fourth, which is smaller, jnst behind the spiracles, w*
venter is black, slightly variegated with bluish-white, and with vf
orange band extending on the legless segments. The legs are blv^fi
and the falsB-Iegs have two black spots on an orange ground, at f'f''
onterbase; but the characteristic featare, which especially ^"^'
gaiehes it from the other two species, is a lateral white wavy bsnit**
Tfta 8TAT£ 8Kt0M0ti(y&IBT. 81
T)b8olete on the thoracic segments, and most conspicuous on 10 and
11 — running just below the spiracles, and interrupted by the trans-
verse orange band,
I quote here Hanie'e full descriptioB of this larra {Corr$$pon4ence, p. 386), as it agrees whh
mme, except in giving; the nnmber of tranflverse black lines as 0 en each segment} instead of 8,
from the fact that he does not include the two which border the orange band, on account of
their being interrupted. I hare preferred to consider each segment of this worm as 8-banded, to
distinguish it more readily from the other two species, which have respectively only six and four.
" Lengthy when at rest, one inch and two-tenths, very pale blue, transversely banded with orange
on the middle of each segment, the bands dotted with smaU black points, prodacing hairs, and
Durmounted by black lines, and between each of the bands six transverse black lines. A large>
irregular, white spot on the side of the tenth and eleventh segments, and a series of smaller white
spots on each of the other segments except the first three. Head orange dotted with black. Legs
blackish externally. The full-grown, have a decidedly bluish tinge, entirely owin^, however, to
«n optical phenomenon from the contrast of tbe white with the transverse black lines. The head
is of a pale dirty orange or rusty yellow, with about eight black dots on each side ; [about 10
large and 14 small dots in all,] a semicircular plate on the top of the first segment and the anal
valves are pale orange dotted with black. There is a transverse series of black dots on the second
and third segments, without an orange band. Each of the other segments is transversely banded
with orange and dotted with black ; the dots being in two alternate rows, and aU of them emitting
dis^ct, long whitish hairs. [ The anterior dots on the baek of segments 4, 6 and 6 and the pos-
terior ones on 1 1, are considerably larger than the rest]. Between each of the bands there are six
slender, continuous, black transverse lines. The points are also connected by interrupted black
lines. Legs at base orange, black externally and at tip, except the anal pair which are orange,
dotted with black. The large white lateral spot is common to the side of the tenth and
eleventh segments. The other lateral white spots are situated immediately behind the bands on
the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth segments, the anterior spots being largest ; and
thence they diminish to the ninth, while again the posterior spot is very large and very distinct. The
orange bands are interrupted on the top of the seventh, eighth and ninth segments."
This larva transforms to chysalis within a very slight cocoon
formed without silk, upon, or just below the surface of the earth, and
issues soon after, as a very beautiful moth of a deep blue-black color,
with orange shanks, yellow shoulder-pieces, each of the front wings
with two large light yellow spots, and each of the hind wings with
two white ones. The illustration (Fig. 55, c) represents the female,
and tbe male differs from her in having the wing spots larger, and in
having a conspicuous white mark along the top of his narrower ab-
domen.
I have on one or two occasions known vines to be partly defoli-
ated by this species, but never knew it to be quite so destructive as it
is represented in the following communication from Mr. W. V. An-
drews, of New York city, which I take from the February (1869) num-
raer of the American Naturalist :
^^That a man should desire to raise his own Isabellas is laudable
and praiseworthy ; and I see no reason why such desire should exist
exclusively in the breasts of our bucolic friends. The inhabitants oi
New York, as a general thing, clearly are of the same opinion, as is
evidenced by the number of grape-vines ornamenting the doors and
trellis- work of the houses of our citizens ; not, of course, in the be-
nighted regions of Wall street, but up-town ; say from Sixteenth
street northward. A friend of mine residing on Thirty-fourth street,
showed me, in March last, a very fine vine, which he calculated would
produce him sundry pounds of choice grapes, and in the pride of his
6—1 m
82 81fiOOND AHNUAL RBPOBT OF
heart he invited me to " call alon/c" occasionally, and feast mj evi
on the gradual development of the incipient bunches. Thinking m
Ao^st would be a good month for my visit. I ^ called along," woi
denng in my mind whether my friend would, when tiie time of ni
grapes came, desire me to help myself out of his abundance; (
whether he intended to surprise me with a little basket ofnic
bunches, garnished with crisp, green leaves. The first glance at ti
f rape-vine banished all doubts on this point There were an abn:
ance of bunches on the vine, in a rather immature conditioii) :
course, but of foliage there was not a trace. Of coarse I ei^resse
my surprise, though, for certain reasons, I felt none ; and asked k
friend why he selected a species of vine for shelter, ornament, andosc
which produced no foliage. He rebuked my ignorance pretty sharp!}
and told me that a few weeks before, the vine was covers with leare;
but, for some inexplicable reason, tney had all disappeared— «aten,b!
fuessed, by something. He guessed right There were atlevti
undred of the larvae of J., octomctGulatctj the rear guard of a mighty
host, wandering about the branches, apparently for the piurpoee ol
making sure uiat no little particle of a leaf was left andevoon^ii
Pretty little things they were, with harmoniously blended colon of
black, yellow and blue, but so terribly destructive ! I had the can*
osity to walk through all the streets to the east of Third avenue, is
low as Twenty-third street, and every vine was in the same preditt
ment. If grape leaves, instead of fig leaves, had been in reqaeetfe
making aprons, and one Alypia had been in existence at the tune,!
doubt if m the whole Garden of Eden '^enou^h material would i<^
been found to make a garment of decent size. The destruction ol
the crop for 1868 was complete.
^^ This was bad. But it was not half so bad as the helpless i^^
ance which possessed nearly all of the unfortunate owners of TiDe»
Scarcely one that I conversed with had the remotest idea of thecaose
of the disaster, and when I explained that it was the caterpillar oM
beautiful little black moth, with eight whitish-yellow spots on ^^
wings, which had eaten up the foliage, my assertion was receiveu
with such a smile of incredulity, as convinced ine that there is to^
in trying to humbug such very sharp fellows as are the New lors
grape-growers.
" It is a little remarkable, however, that the destruction was co^
fined to the eastern part of the city. I saw several luxuriant vin^
on the western side ; and across the river at Hoboken, and at Bx^
Oity, not a trace of A. ootomaoulata was discernible;
'' The insect, then, is very local in its habits, and it is a day-^^j^
and, from these facts, I infer that its ravages may be very ^^^^;f
checked. A little poisoned molasses, exposed in the i^^^£^^^^'T,^n'
the vine, would ojperate on the perfect insect [extremely 4^^^ j!i!|i
while a good syringing with sort soap and water would bring ^^^
the caterpillars effectually."
THB STATB KSTOHOLOaiST. 83
THB BBAUnrUL WOOD ITTHPH— AidrfM grata, Vabt.
(LapidopUn, ZTgnnUn.)
Here is another moth (Fig. 56), Bnrpaasiiig in real beauty, thoagh
Cv- '*-] not in high contrast, the species jnst de<
i. The fl-ont wings are milk-white,
7 bordered and marked, as in the
with msty-brown, tbe band on the
margin being shaded on the inner
rith olive-green, and marked to-
the edge with a slender wavy white
uuvi. ander sorface yellow, with two
dnsky spots near the middle. The hind wings are nankia-yellow,
witii a deep brown border, which does not extend to the oater angle,
and which also-contains a wavy white line: under surface yellow
with a single black epot
Surely these two moths are as unlike in general appearance as
two moths well can be ; and yet their caterpillars bear such a close
resemblance to each other, and both feed upon the Qrape-vine ! Tbe
" larva of the Beautiful Wood Nymph is, in fact, so very similar to that
of the Eight-spotted Forester, that it is entirely unnecessary to figure
it It differs more especially from that species by invariably lacking
the white patches along the sides, by;the hairs arising from the black
spots being less conspicuous, and by Uie hump on the eleventh seg*
ment being more prominent The light pBTt« of the body have really
a slight bluish tint, and in specimens which I have found, I have only
noticed six trauBverse black stripes to each segment. This larva,
when at rest, depresses the head and raises the third and fourth seg-
ments. Sphinx-fashion. It is found on the vines in the central por-
tion of the State as early as May and as late as September, and it de-
vours all portions of the leai^ even to the midrid. It descends to the
ground, and withont making any coooon, transforms to a ohrysalis,
which is dark colored, rough, with the tip of the abdomen obtusely
conical, ending in four tubercles, the pair above, long and truncate,
those below broad and short (Packard). Some of them give out the
moth the same summer, but most of them pass the winter and do not
issae as moths till tbe following spring.
THB PBABL WOOD HTMPH— ZutfryM unla, Hnlmar.
(Ltpidoptaia, ^paoldn.)
This is another pretty little moth, so closely allied to, and so
much resembliKg the i^eceding species, that it is not necessary to
produce its picture. It is a smaller species, and differs from the Beau-
tifal Wood Nymph in having the outer border of the front wiogs paler
and of a tawny color, with the inner edge wavy instead of straight ;
84 BBOOHD ANNUAL RBFOBT OF
and in that of the hind wings being less distinct, more double, and
extending to the onter angle.
The larva is said by Dr. Fitch to so much resemble that of Uie
preceding species that ^ we as yet know not whether there are any
marks whereby they can be distinguished from each other.'' (Report
[Kf. 57.] ^^ 3^ g 124.) The moth is more common
with us than its larger ally, and tfaougli
I have never bred it from the larva,
yet I have often met with a wonD
^ (Fig 67, a,) which there is every rea-
son to believe, belongs to this species,
and which is easily recognized from the preceding. It never grows
to be quite so large as the other, and may readily be distinguished bj
its more decided bluish cast ; by having but four light and four dark
stripes to each segment (Fig. 57, &,) ; by having no orange band across
the middle segments, and by the spots, with the exception of two oa
the back placed in the middle light band, being almost obsolete, llie
head, shield on the 1st segment, hump on the lltb, and a band on the
12th, are orange, spotted with black, the hump being marked as at
Figure 57, e. Venter orange, becoming dusky towards head ; feet and
legs also orange, with blackish extremities, and with spots on their
outside at base.
The worm works for the most part in the terminal buds of the
vine, drawing the leaves together by a weak silken thread, and
cankering them. It forms a simple earthen cocoon, or freqaenUj
bores into a piece of old wood, and changes to chrysalis, which ave^
ages but 0.36 inch in length ; this chrysalis is reddish-brown, covered
on the back with rows of very minute teeth, with the tip of the abdo-
men truncated, and terminating above in a thick blunt spine each side.
From the above accounts it is hoped that the reader will have no
diflSculty in distinguishing between these three blue caterpillars of
the Grape-vine. But, says the practical grape-grower, ^ what does it
concern me to know whether the little blue varmints that are defoli-
ating my vines, belong to this species or to that? AH I wish to know
is how to get rid of them, and as they are all three so nearly alike,
the remedy applied to one must be equally effectual with the others."
Gently, dear reader ; it may prove of considerable importance that
you know which particular species infests your vines 1 If, for instance,
a person living in the West should find the larvsB of the Beautiful
Wood Nymph, then he need feel no alarm ; while if a person living in
the East should find that of the Pearl Wood Nymph, he may in like
manner put his hands in his pockets and go his way with an easy
mind ; for neither of these species are likely to become troublesome
in those respective sections of the country, since heretofore they have
always been quite rare in those parts. Again, the larvas of the two
Wood Nymphs have a fondness for boring into ol4 pieces of wood, to
transform to the chrysalis state, and Mr. T. B. Ashton,of White Greek,
THI BTATI KUTOKOLOQIBT. 85
New York, found that they woald STen bore into com coba for thie
purpose in preference to entering the ground, wherever each cobs
were accessible.* The Eight-spotted Forester, on the contrary, has
no such habit, and while the only mode of combating it, is to pick the
larree off and bnm thent, the Wood Nymphe may be more easily sub-
dued by scattering a few corn coba onder the vines la the aommer,
to be raked up aud horned in the winter.
THE AMERICAN PROCRIS— Procrw [Aeoloithus] Americana\
Boisd.
(Lapidopttra, OI*aa<lit(UB.)
During the months of July and Angust, the leaves of the Grape-
vine may often be found denuded of their softer parts, with nothing
[Kg- «•! but the veins, and sometimes only
... a few of the larger riba left skeleton-
^^W^^ ^V^ lite, to tell of the mischief that has
^^^^^^^T mi^ been done. Very frequently, only
''*^ V*« portions of the leaf will be thus de-
nuded, and in that event, if we ex-
amine such a leaf closely, we shall
find the anthors of the mischief
drawn np in line upon the yet leafy
tissue with their heads all towards
the margin, catting away with their little jaws and retreating as they
feed.
[tie. ».] These little soldier-like files
ire formed by worms in black
ind yellow uniforms which pro-
iuce a moth popularly known
!t8 the American Frocris. The
sggs from which they hatch, are
laid in small clusters on the un-
derside of the leaves, and while
the worms are small, they leave
untouched the most delicate
veins of the leaf, which then pre-
sents a delicate net-work appear-
ance as shown at the right of
Figure 59; but when they he-
come older and stronger they
devour all bat the larger ribs, as
at the left of the figure.
•Ktch'i Rap. UI, p. 81.
of BoiidQ**! Mid Hurii, tai
86 fisooHD AiinmAL bipobt or
The fall grown favrft (Fignrt (8, «) meuuref r»fher more than lull tA iasiL, and tipcn i
little toirerds eadi end. It i« of » nlyhnr-yvlldw color, ivitli » tnisTMe row •t «iz T«lfa<7-UaGiE»
prickly tofts on each of the |Rrino^le segnientB> the lower tofts being len distiaci tlina thoet oi
the back. The first segment is entirely black with a yellow edge, while the spots on segments 11 and U
Qsoally run into one another. Head small, brown, and retractile, being usnally hidden in the flnt
segment. Fine scattering hairs anteriorly, UtsraUy and poetuiorly. The yDimg won is oi »
Tery pale yellow, covered with nwnerons fine white hairs, with aetightgrajishrlirowB tint on te
head, and with the fifth and seyenth segments paler than the rest, and haraiK the black spoti
scarcely risible.
When fiill grown these worms disperse oyer the vines or forsake
them entirely, and each spins for itself a small, tough, whitish, flat-
tened cocoon (Fig. 58, o) within which, in about three days, it changes
to a chrysalis (Fig. 68, }), 0.30 inch long, broad, flattened and of a
light shiny yellowish-brown color. In about ten days afterwards the
moths (Fig. 58, e and d) begin to issue. This little moth is the Ameri-
can representative of the European Prooris vitis; it is wholly of a
black color, except the collar, which is of a deep orange, wd tiie
body ends in a broad fan-like notched tuft, especially in l^e male.
The wings are of a delicate texture, reminding one of crape, and wliai
the insect is at rest they generally form a perfect cross with the
body, the hind wings being completely hidden by the front ones,
which are stretched out straight at right angles, as in the genus Ptero-
phorus, to which belongs the Grape-vine Plume.* I have, however,
on one or two occasions found the American Prooris resting in the
manner shown at Figure 58, d.
This is the only Grape-vine feeding caterpillar which has a
gregarious habit, and as gregarious insects are always more easilj
subdued than those of a solitary nature, the American Procris need
never become very destructive. Its natural food is undoubtedly the
wild grape-vines of our forests, and the Virginia Oreeper, and Mr.
Jordon, of St Louis, has noticed that while it very commonly attach
the foliage of the Ooncord, yet it never touches the Olinton and Tay-
lor in his vineyard — a taste which is remarkable and not eaeHj
accounted for, since the foliage of the latter kinds is more tender and
generally more subject to insect depredations than tibat of the
former.
There are two broods of this insect each year with us, some ot
the moths from the second brood of worms issuing in the fall, but the
greater part not leaving their cocoons till the following somzner.
During the month of June they may be seen in pairs about the vines,
and I have also frequently observed around Hermann, a veiy closdj
allied but smaller and diflferent moth (Acoloithus falsariuSj Olem.)
about the same season of the year. This last, though so closely re-
sembling the other, may be distinguished by being scarcely more
than half as large ; by the body lacking the anal tuft and being
comparatively much thicker and shorter ; by the hind wings being
comparatively larger, and by the collar being of a paler orange ^^
divided on the top by a black point. .
•FintlUp., PI. H, Fig. 16.
THE BTATS niTOMOLOeiBT. 87
The American ProcriB, thoagh the fact ie not mentioned by other
aathors, is snl^eot to the attack of at least one parasite, with ns ;
for I have bred from it a very peculiar little four-wiaged black fly
belonging to the great Chaloia family, and which Mr. Oresson of Phil-
adelphia refers doabtingly to Perilampua platygmier, Say.
THE NEW QKAPE-ROOT BORER.
Under this head I pabliahed last year* an acconat of a gigantic
Grape-root borer which had at that time not been bred, and of which,
in consequence, the perfect insect was not with certainly Iknown. In
[Kff-eo.i order that the
I reader may get
I veil familiarized
I with its appear-
1 ance, the figure is
there reproduced
(Fig. 60). For
reasons then given I inferred that this borer belonged to the Prionus
family of the Long-homed beetles, and that it would perhaps produce
the C>ylindrical Orthosoma {Orthosoma c3/lind'rioum,Va.'bT.\ a large
flattened bay-colored beetle which is common throaghout the conn-
try, and especially so in the Mississippi Yalley, and which I i1IuB>
trated at the time. I expressed the hope to be able another year
to settle this matter, and am glad to be able to do so.
Last Jnly I bred from worms that had been sent to me the year
before, as ocootring in Grape root, a different, thoagh very closely
allied species to that which I had inferred they would produce,
namely,
IHB BROAD-NBCEBD paiOMJB— rHmu laHeMf, Dnuj.
(Oolaoptar% PrionidKi.)
[Tic. 61.] This Species is usually of a darker color
kthan the Oylindrical Orthosoma, and differs
/materially from that species by its larger
size and broader form. The female, which is
represented at Figure 61, differs from the male
in having shorter and narrower antennee,
though her body is asaally larger.
In all probability this insect lives nearly
•" three years in the larva state, for three dis-
tinct sizes may be found. Those I have bred,
left the roots they were inhabiting when about
to become pupae, and formed for themselves
smooth oval chambers in the earth wherein
^they eventually cast their larval skins, and
•nnt Bip., pp. lH-8.
SS BBCOND ASHDAL BIPOBX OF
assumed the pupa form repreBented at Figure 63, bnl
in all probability they transform within the root, whei
in more natural conditions. This change takes place
towards the end of June, and the perfect beetle sp.
pears ia about three weeks afterwards.
Soon after breeding this beetle from Grape-feed
ing borers, I bred a female of the same species from i
very large borer which I had found the same spring, in
an appleroot, it having entirely killed a young applt
tree, hy hollowing out nearly all the roots, and ii
finally severing the tap root near the bntt of the tree.
Thus it results that the Broad-necked Frionn-
bores in the larva state indiscriminately in the root
of the Grape-vine and Apple, and perhaps in those of the closely alM
Fear. According to Harris it aho infests the roots of different kiodi
of poplars, and it is consequently a pretty general feeder.
Few persons are really aware of the amount of damage these p-
gantic borers are capable of causing. Last March I received a loii:
letter from Mr. Robert S. Munford, ot ManfordsviHe, Ky., minalel!
describing this borer, and the manner in which it destroyed tliree
hundred dollars' worth of hia apple trees; while Mr 0. R. Edwards.
of Bowling Green, Ky., writes that they have been quite injarioas to
his grape-vines of all varieties, though his lonaa suffered most from
their attacks. Mr. Emory S. Foster, of Bushburg, sent me a specimen
in May with the statement that it cat off a vine, after the fall of Ibe
leaf, and then went some sis inches further down, and entered Ibe
main root, making for itself a comfortable residence where it spent
the winter. Messrs. Bush and Spaulding inform me that they are con
tinually losing vines from this borer, and that they consider it one of
the worst enemies they have to contend against
Little can be done to prevent the ravages of these underground
borers after they are once in a vine, the death of which is usually the
only manilestation of their presence. Still, every vine-grower shouli
make it a rule to search for them whenever he finds vines snddenlT
dying from any unknown canse, and upon finding such a borer sboola
at once put an end to its existence. The beetles, which may ofte" "*
found during the summer and fall months, and which not unfreqnently
rush with heavy, n jisy flight, into our lighted rooms, should also b*
ruthlessly sacrificed whenever met with. As I shall presently sto*,
however, much may he done by judicious management to preveil
their getting into the vines.
THE BTATS KNTOHOLOQIST. 89
THE TILE-aOIHED PRIOKnS-Wwiiu latrtcmrt., Linn.
(ColBoptera Prionlda.)
There is another. species, the Tile-homed Fnonu8(Prionusimhri'
[Fie. fls.i cornis, Linn., Fig. 63 J)— bo called from
the joints of the male antenose lapping
'ovM- one another like the tiles or shing-
les of a root^which very closely re-
sembles the Broad-necked Frionas, and
is with OB mnch commoDer. It may be
distinguished at once from this last by
the antennas of the male being about
19-jointed, and those of the female about
16-jointed;* whereas both sexes of the
Broad-necked Piionns have 12-jointed
antenuffi. In other respects, these two
^ beetles are almost exactly alike, so that,
if the antennee happen to be broken, it is not very easy to tell one
from another.
Hitherto it has not been known upon what kind of tree this spe-
cies fed, but I was fortunate enough last snoimer to ascertain that it
also infests grape-roots. On the first of July last, Mr. Isidor Bush, of
Buehburg, brought me quite a number of full grown larvBe which he
had taken from the roots of his grape vines. These were bo very sim-
ilar in appearance to those which produced the Brond-necked spflcies,
that I had not a suspicion they wonld produce anything else, and I
was consequently greatly surprised when I bred from them a number
of the Tile-horned species under consideration. By collecting to-
gether fibres and chips of the roots, they form a loose sort of cocoon,
and transform, either inside or outside of the root, to pupte, which re-
semble so closely that shown in Figure 62, that they can scarcely be
distinguished from it.
We have, therefore, two distinct insects which bore into the roots
of the Grape-vine, and which, though distinct, are so closely allied,
that the females can only be distinguished by the number of joints in
their antennse. Oneof these is known to attack, besides the Grape,
the Apple, the Lombardy poplar and the Balm of Gilea'd, and the
other is very likely equally indifferent as to its choice of diet.
The accounts given in my former article, of the immense borers
found in Osage Orange roots, and even in the roots of corn-stalks, un-
doubtedly refer to one or the other of these insects, and probably to
the Tile-horned species, as that is the most common.
■ Having «xuDm»i) ntaiij 20 tatltt of tbi< ipecipi, I Lkts Toand tbt iDtctiDal Jaista to vaj
in DDinb«r from IB to SO, the inme tpacunen often h»tng k diflereDt niinib«r nf joiaia in tht liekt
and left antenna. In one $ the anlenna art botb at tEem le-joinud, to anotbrr $ tbe; are both
of them 17-joinIed. Tha Upical nambfr of Jointa in tha Cal>o[it«roni antenna U odI; 1 1 ; and tb*
nnmber bein^ >» Tarlable fn tbeae manj-jointed antennn ii in accordance wilb ttaa general rnlt.
Out mnltiple patti ara often Tariabl«.
90 SBOOVD ASVVAL BXPOBT Of
Several persons who have recognized this immense borer from
the figure and description which I published last year, have informed
me that they have found it on prairie land, and Mr. Wm. O. Holmes,
nurseryman, of Plattsburg, writes : ^ The Borer described on page 131
of your Beport is destroying a good many of our apple grafts, set last
spring. The root not being large enough for them to work inside,
they eat out about one*third of the bark, and hollow out the rest d
the root Our nursery is on prairie, broke in the fall of 1867 and spring
of 1868." Now the fact of theee large root-feeding borers occorring
in such numbers in recently tumed-up prairie land where no large
roots exist, would have been perfectly inexplicable had I not been
cognizant of other facts which threw light on the subject.
There is a small dimorphous male form of the Tile-homed Prionns
not more than half the normal size, and of a much paler yellowisit
color, which is quite common in the West, and which I have found
even more common around St Louis, than the true type. I koor
that this form is often found in prairie regions, and my entomological
friend Ohas. Sonne, of Ohicago, Illinois, informs me that a relation of
his, Mr. F. Jaeger, of Siegel, Illinois, in digging a cellar, once found
immense numbers of these large grubs near the surface of the grouni
A whole lot of them were sent to Mr. Sonne, and he bred from them
numerous specimens of this small form of the Tile-homed Pnonus,
every one of them males, and every one with nineteen joints to the
antennsd. On another occasion, at the same place, Mr. Sonne, having
placed a lamp on a grind-stone, found that these beetles swarmed
around the light, and next day upon examining a number which be
captured, they all proved to be, in like manner, the small yellov
form, and all males. Now, Mr. Jssger's house is remote from ao/
timber whatever, there being but a few scrub willows here and there
near by ; and, from these facts, and those mentioned by Mr. Holmes,
we are forced to the belief that these grubs (at least those of the
small cj dimorphous form) are able, not only to subsist on the roots
of small shrubs and very young trees, but also upon those of herba-
ceous plants. Mr. H. A. Mungor, of Lone Oedar, Martin county, Hid-
nesota, has had a similar experience ; for he often ploughs up these
grubs in prairie land, and h^ captured the beetles a fiill mile a^V
from any trees or shrubs, except a few specimens of a sufiruticose
plant known as the Lead-plant (Atnorpha Oanesoens)^ which veiT
seldom grows a root there, of over one-half inch diameter. He has
also actually bred the beetle from pupae found in such prairie groofl
Therefore, sOme of the accounts— such as their occurring full grown
in the roots of annuals like com and cabbage, and in those of gr^^'
vines but one year planted— which were not easily explained before ,
become perfectly clear, now that we have a better understandiog o
the facts in the case. .q^
Now than comes the point of practical importance. It may ^
reason be argued, that it matters little to the Grape-grower to whic
THE BTAIB SOTOMOLOQIST. 91
partdcnlar species these borers belong, so fhey have the habit in com-
mon, of infesting the roots of his vines. But a more important
question presents itself to the thinking mind. Is any danger to be
apprehended from these borers, from growing grape-vines and fruit
trees among decaying oak stumps 9 In my fonner article^ firom the
testimony of practical vineyardists, I have hinted that there is, and
have advised not to plant on land covered with snch stumps, or even
to use oak stakes, where those made of cedar can be had ; and I am
glad to be able to say that this advice is well foun^d. '
As a general rule, the larvao of the Long-homed Boring Beetles
either inhabit green and living wood or else decaying and dead wood,
the same species never attacking both kind^ of wood indiscrindnate-
ly ; and as I knew that the larva of the Oylindrlcal Orthosoma fed on
rotten pine wood, I thought it very probable that it also fed on rotten
oak stumps, and had been confounded by practical men with those of
the Broad-necked and Tile*homed species, which it so much resem-
bles. This opinion was supported by the fact that it occurred abun-
dantly in Union county, South Illinois, in 1861, where there are no
pine trees growing, and where, at that period, the so called ^^oplar''
or white* wood was universally used in buildings, in place of pine im*
ported from the North ; and I last sununer ascertained that it really
does breed in rotten oak stumps, as well as in decaying pine, for I
found it in the former wood, both in the larva, pupa^ and fresh beetle
state. But what is still more important I also find that the Broad-
necked Prionus, is an exception to the rule above mentioned, and
that it breeds as freely in decaying oak stumps as in living roots. For
this fact I am indebted to Mrs. Mary Treat of Yineland, N. J.^ wha
has sent me specimens of the beetle bred from larv9» that are found
abundant in the oak stumps in that vicinity.
SuMMAKT. — ^To sum up the whole matter in a few wcnrds, it is ob-
vious that we have in Missouri three large boring grubs, which so
closely resemble each other, that they cannot be distinguished by any
marks which we are yet acquainted with — ^that the Broad-necked
Prionus feeds indiscriminately on the living roots of Apple, Grape-
vine, Poplar (and perhaps of several other trees), and on decaying
oak stumps, and will travel through the ground from one place to
another — that the Tile-homed Prionus not only attacks the Grape-
vine, but can subsist on the roots of herbaceous plants, and in all
probability will also feed on decaying oak, like the former species ;
and finally, that the Oylindrical Oithosoma feeds on decaying pine
and oak, but has not yet been found in living roots. From these facts
we may deduce the important corollary, that it will not do to leave
oak stumps to rot on ground which is intended for a vineyard or
orchard — which was the thing to be proved.
92
SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF
THE GRAPE SEED-UAQQOT—Isoaoma vitis, Saunders,
(HTmflnopterfty Chalcidide.)
In my First Report (pp. 125-31), I gave an account of a minute
maggot (Fig. 64) which had been found by Mr. Wm. Saunders, of Los
pfiff-. M.] (Jon, 0. W., to infest the seeds of growing grape?,
and to occasion much damage around London m
P&ris, by causing the berries of the Clinton, Dels^
ware, Rogers' No. 4, and some of Mr. Arnold's Seed
lings, to shrivel up without maturing. There are so many noim
insects, common in Missouri, that occur also in the southern portion*
of Canada West, that it was deemed necessary to give the gnpe
growers of the State a diagnosis of its work, in case it should ataoj
day make its appearance in our vineyards.
From the appearance of this maggot, I inferred, with erery om
else who gave an opinion, that it would most likely produce some
small species of Bnont-heet\e (Our oulio family). Now maiihov
dangerous a thing it is, for even an entomologist to guess at thecbai-
acter of some insects, when in this masked form. We flatter oor
selves that there are but very few insects among the half million dil
ferent species that are estimated to exist in the whole extent of tU;
terrestrial globe of ours, that we cannot place at a glance in itsprope:
Order, even when in the larva state; but let us humbly acknowledge
that there are some few larval forms among the more minute Four
winged Flies (order Hymenopiera) and Beetles (order ColeopUr^i^
which it is almost, if not absolutely, impossibld to distinguish tbe
one from the other.
Last August I had the pleasure of spending a few hours wither
Saunders, at his place in London, and I was gratified to learn tbat ii«
had bred the perfect insect from this seed-maggot. It proved tob«*
little Four- winged Hj {Chalcia family), and upon my return honie,^
found a few specimens of the very same species of fly, in a bottle m
which were placed some infested grapes received the year befor?
from Mr. A. 8. Fuller of New Jersey, and obtained by him from Canada.
This fly so closely resemble?
the notorious Joint- worm Fly (^«^
soma hordei^ Harris) that the ac-
companying highly magDifiefl
sketch (Fig. 65) of that insecM
representing the female, *
male, o the? antenna, <f the i '
e the ? abdomen and /" the ^<lo.-
will atford a verv correct id«*^
its appearance.
The Grape Seed-maggo' ^Ij
differs principally from »*« •'*'I,"
worm Fly in its somewhat bo*'
size, in the legs being ^^^
{Fig. 6S.]
THS BTATB BNTOMOLO0I8T. 93
black on the thighs and shanks, in the (7 abdomen being
comparatiYely shorter, and in its third ring conspicnonslj overhang-
ing the fourth. The folio mng accoant and description from Mr. Saun- .
ders himself, is taken from the November number of the Canadian
Entomologist :
^ In October I detached a larva from the inside of the seed, and
placed it in a small glass cell between two plates of glass, in which
state it remained until early in January, when it became a pupa, hav-
ing first attached itself to the sides of the cell by a few short silky
threads. It had now contracted in length, become nearly oval, and
assumed a yellowish tint, with a few short loose silky threads adher-
ing to different parts of its surface. On the 11th of February I exam-
ined some seeds and found the larva within, still alive and active, just
as it appeared in the fall. On the 7lh of July further specimens were
opened and the inmates found soft and motionless ; these appeared to
be in the pupa state, but I did not examine them with sufficient care
to enable me to be positive. During the remaining part of July, I
looked many times into the bottles in which the grapes were enclosed
but could not discover anything. On the 9th of August, feeling sure
that the time for the appearance of the insect must be fully come, if
not already past, I resolved on a thorough search for it. As soon as
the contents of the bottles had been emptied on a piece of white
paper,! observed a number of small lour- winged flies among the
dried-up grapes. They were all dead and stiff, some of them more
brittle than others. From the observations made, I should judge that
they made their escape from the middle to the end of July."
IioiOMA TiTiB) Sannden, g — Htad lar^, flattened in front, black, thickly pnnctored, and cor*
end with many short whitish hain ; mandibles pale brown at base, tipped with black; antennsi
(scape and 8 Joints), 9-Jointed, black, thickly covered with whitish hairs inserted in deep sockets ;
the scape pale brown, slender, nearly as long as the three following joints together ; the second short ;
third to eighth inclusiTO nearly equsl in length ; the terminal Joint longer, tapering slighUy
towards the tip. Thoraw black, panctared and covered with whitish hairs. Legt, front pair pale
brown, trochanters nearly black ; second and third pairs, trochanters black, femora and tibiss
nearly black along the middle, pale brown at tips ; tarsi pale brown. AbdaiMn, long, black,
8traig;ht, smooth, with a polished surface; placed on a short pedicel ; a little contracted at base,
thickest on third Joint, tapering gradnally to fifth, and then suddenly to extremity ; the basal
Joint very short, second and thiid each somewhat longer, fonrth as long as the three preceding,
fifth leas than half as long as foarth, sixth a little shorter, terminal Joint rather longer.
(^ differs from $ in having the antennai somewhat longer and more thickly covered with
faahri. His abdomen is short, thick and blunt, placed on a moderately stoat pedicel nearly its own
lengtli. The abdominal rings have about the same relative siae as in the female, but the posterior
edge of third overhangs the foarth, the latter appearing as if partially drawn within the project-
ing edge of the third ring.
Length $ 0.10, g, 0.06 inch.
*' Having kept the grapes in bottles, only occasionally opened for
ventilation, in a dry room, they had become quite hard, dry and shriv-
elled. In consequence of this, many of the flies were unable to make
their way out, the seed having become too hard for their jaws to eat
thiongh. On opening some of these the flies were found dead with
wings fully developed and surrounded by small fragments of the in*
tenor coating of the seed which they had evidently gnawed off while
84 0EGOKD ANNUAL RBPOBT OF
endeayoiing to escape. Those which had foand their way out
eaten a small nearly round irregalar hole through seed and skin. I
many similar cases where the larra feeds within a hard substaBe
it provides for the escape of the perfect insect by eating away tin
bard enclosure until it is reduced so thin as to appear almost trasi
parent, then a very little effort is sufficient to remove the obstnctk
to the outward passage of the imago. In this instance I have bea
unable to detect any such preparation, and believe that the whoii
work of escape is accomplished by the perfect fly.
^* Notwithstanding the abundance of this insect last year, I h^
as yet been unable to detect their presence or any evidence of the;]
work during the present season; probably the cold and wet characte:
of the summer has been unfavorable to their operations."
THE OAiHKER'WOBM~Ani8opter7jx vernata^ Peck.
Pi0pidopter» Phalnnida.]
This word Oakker^worm has formed the heading of so mtmjii^'
cles in our various Agricultural and Horticultural joamals dnrifif
the last ten or twelve years, a&d its natural history has been 00 Ailf
given in the standard work of Dr. Harris, tkhat one almost wooden
[Fig. M.]
where there can be a reading farmer who does not know how pnip*
erly to fight it. But then, new generations are ever replacing those
which pass away, so that the same stories will doubtless have to b«
repeated to the end of time. Facts in Nature will always bearre^
peating, and as it may be laid down as a maxim that no iiynriousin
sect can be successfully combated without a thorough knowled^ of
its habits and transformations, I will first recount those of the Oan^^'
worm, and afterwards state the proper remedy.
The eggs of this insect are very minute, measuring about ftw
inch in length and 0.02 in diameter. In form they are not nolit^®^
miniature hen's egg, minutely rougl^ned and with longitudinal i^S^'
lar depressions. They reflect prismatic colors, and are deposi^^
close together in rows» forming batches such as that shown in ^^
above Figure 66, a representing them of the natural size, and I ^f
TBB STATE BNTOMOLOGIST. 95
resenting them magnified. They are glued together by a grayish var-
nish which the mother moth secretes, and they are attached to the
trunk, or to some one or other of the twigs of the tree, and may often
be found on the inside of loose scales of bark, each batch consisting
of. upwards of a hundred eggs.
As the leaves begin to form, these eggs hatch into minute, thread-
like span-worms, which in from three to four weeks afterwards ac-
quire their full size, when they appear as at Figure 66 o. The Can-
ker-worm is distinguished from most other caterpillars that attack
the Apple, by having but four prologs at the end of the body. The
normal number of such prologs in caterpillars, is ten ; and it is the
lack of the foremost six which obliges our insect to span or loop,
from which habit the characteristic name GBOMETitiD.s has been given
to the group to which it belongs.
When full-grown tiiis worm measures scarcely an inch in length,
and is commonly ash-gray on the back, darker at the side and yellowish
[Fig. 67.] beneath. It varies greatly in the intensity of its mark-
ings however, ash-gray, green, and yellow ones occur-
ring in the same brood, and the most constant character
by which it may be distinguished from other span-worms
of the same size, is the pattern of the head, which,
no matter what the general hue of the body may be, is
usually shaded and marked as in the annexed Figure 67.
The markings of the worm vary indeed so much, that, without this
criterion I could hardly venture to determine a Oanker-worm larva
myself.
I subjoin a very full description of this worm from numerous
average specimens, as it is of considerable importance, that an orch-
ardist may be able to ascertain definitely whether he is troubled with
the true Canker-worm or not For if he mistakes some other span-
worm which produces winged females as well as winged males, for
the genuine Oanker-worm which is apterous in the female moth state,
it becomes very obvious that all his efforts to try and prevent the
ravages of the spurious Oanker-worm by the most approved and well-
tried methods, will not only fail most absolutely, but he will lose all
faith in such remedies, and may perchance, if he is given to the use
of the quill, vent his wrath and disappointment by sending to some
one of the horticultural journals of the land, a pithy article ^ based
upon FACTS [?] and sxpskdencb" showing up the utter worthlessness of
the Oanker-worm remedies 1
It is from such lack of true knowledge that the Oity Fathers of Bal-
timore, Maryland, went to the useless expense of furnishing oil troughs
for all their large elm trees which were being defoliated, under the
delusive idea that the insect committing the ravage was the Oanker-
worm ; whereas it turned out to be the larva of a little imported Bee-
tle ( OaUrucQ ealmariensid^ Fabr.), the female of which has ample
wings, and can fiy as readily as a bird from tree to tree ; and it is
96 SBOOim AimirAL bbporx of
from such oversights, that paragraphs like the following take their
rise. This one may be found in the Boston Journal for may ^.
1866:
Origin of Canker-wokms. — A Medford correspondent says thi:
last fall he applied to his trees protectors which were pronoaneK
the best in the neighborhood, and notwithstanding not a single gnb
passed over them, the trees, like others in the vicinity, are this sea^
son covered with worms which are now pursuing their devastatin;
work. In his opinion the Canker-worms do not originate fromtJie
grub, and he challenges proof that they do. The subject is ooe
worthy of investigation !
Whe-e-e-e-ou I It needs no comments in this Report.
When lint hatched the youn^ Canker-wonnB are of a dark oliTe-|;reen or brown hue. vidi
•hinj black head and thoracic legs, with awhitieh lateral and dorsal band, the latter haToji
darker central line along it. After the first moult» the head becomes lighter and mottled, ad ^
light bands lees conspicnoas. After the second moult the bands are almost obliterated aod tk
body becomes more uniformly mottled and speckled with livid-brown ; the head becomes tti
lighter and the prologs being now large, spread ont at almost a level with the Tenter. Aitaiti
third (and I believe last) moult the appearance changes but little. The full g^own larva vtnpi
0.90 inch in length with an average diameter of 0.10 inch, being broadest on joint 11. I("i^"
from light fleshy-gray to almost black. Head mottled as in Figure 67. £nd8 of body sos^^
darker than middle. Joint 1 with a yellowish dorsal shield, the hinder margin in fomsi*
rounded W. Viewed under a lens the body has a series of eight fine light yeUowisb, hm^.
somewhat broken lines, running the whole length of the body, each one relieved by a darker sbt^
each side of it. The two along middle of dorsum are close together, with the space between Acs
usnally dark, and occupied at anterior edge and middle of Joints 5, 6, 7 and 11 by black cu^
somewhat in form of z, these marks being represented by simple black dots on the other joiiii'
Space between these dorsal lines and the next lowest, lighter, and containing four black piii^°-
otts spots to each joint, the posterior ones rather further apart than the anterior ones which on jei><
11 form two larger elevated shiny black spots. Space between lines 2 and 3 darker than snj oibr
part of the body. That between lines S and 4 lighter than any other part of body and contmm
the stigmata which are perfectly round and black with a light centre, with a small pililerou sp^
anteriorly above and below them, and another behind them, this last becoming large on jomtis-
$f 7 and 8. Venter dark and livid at borders, with a pale greenish band slong the middle, which wi
pinkish patch in it on joints 6, 6, 7 and 8. Legs greenish at base, color of body at extremity* i*
markings are most distinct on the light specimens.
The Canker-worm is by no meane confined, in its destructive
work, to the Apple, for it likewise attacks the Plum, the Cherry, tb«
Kim, and a variety of other trees. Mr. R. J. Mendenhall, of Minnea-
polis, Minn., even informs me, in a recent letter, that '^ the Currani
worm'' spoken of in a late number of the Farmer^ % Union as infestiof
the currant bushes in the gardens around that city, were really Oafl-
ker^worms, but he is most assuredly mistaken. The Canker-worm u
seldom ever noticed on our trees till the riddled and seared ^'^V^^'
ance of the foliage tell of its presence ; for, like most other span'
worms, it has the habit of resting in a stiff straight posture, ^i^^^^
at an angle of about 45"" from, or flat and parallel with the twig wbi^^
it occupies — thus eluding detection.
After it has attained its full size it either crawls down the tree or
lets itself down by means of a silken thread, and burrows iii^ ^^
ground. Here, at a depth of two or three inches, it forms a rod^ ^
ooon of particles of earth intermixed with silk (Fig. 66, Si^ ^^^^
two days after completing the cocoon the worm becomes a clirj^^
VfiB 6TA9S BNSOMOLOatSt. 97
t>f a light brown color. The sexes are now distingaishable, the male
chrysalis (Fig. 66, e) being slender, pointed in front, and showing the
w^ing-sheaths ^ while that of the female is larger and destitute
of wing-sheaths.
In the latitude of 8t. Louis, the worms have generally descended
from the trees and entered the ground by the middle oi May, though
some remain till about the first of June. As I have amply proved
daring the past two summers, there is but one brood each year in this
State, just as there is but one brood in Maine, and whether the worms
enter the ground the first or the last of May, they remain there as
tshrysalids all through the summer and fall months, and the great
majority of them till the following spring. A frost seems to be neces^
aary to their proper development. Some come out during the first
mild weather that succeeds the first frosts in November; others issue
all through the winter whenever the ground is thawed, and the great
bulk issue as soon as the frost is entirely out of the ground in spring.
Many which I bred this winter issued during the warm weather of
January^
The moths (Fig. 66 /* c?, ^ ? ) show great disparity of sex, the male
being fully winged while the female is entirely destitute of these ap«
pendages. The front wings of the male are pale ash-gray, crossed by
three equidistant jagged, more or less defined, black lines, €dl curved
inwardly, and most distinct on the fnont or costal border ^ and by a
somewhat broader whitish line, which runs from the posterior angle
to the ape:t; the inner and terminal borders also being marked with
black. The hind wings are silvery-gray, and the under surfaces are of
the same nniforiA silvery-gray color, each wing with a dusky discal
spot, the front wings each with an additional spot on the costa. Such
is the appearance of the more common perfect specimens found in
the West, but the wings are very thin and Bilky, and the scales easily
rub off, so that it is almost impossible to capture a perfect specimen
at large. They vary considerably al8(>--80 much so that Dr. Harris
ranks a smaller form as a distinct species (A.pometaria)whi6hI have
however bred promiscuously with the more typical specimens. The
most common variation from the brief description above given, is
fonnd in such specimens which have the dark lines obsolete, and an
additional white line inside the one described. The female is ash-
gray, the thorax with a black spot, the body more or less marked
with black along the back, and the legs alternately marked with black
and white.
In Missouri the Ganker-worm is not so injurious over broad tracts
of country^ as it is in some of the more eastern States. Yet it is suf-
ficiently distributed in different parts, to require vigilance to keep it
down. ^B. P.," of Mexico, Mo., found it very iigurious in the spring
of 1868, and sent me many specimens, and they were the genuine
article. Around Pevely, I have likewise found it common on the
7— K B
98 SXOOKD AHKUAL BlBPORT OF
farms of Or. Yamnm and Mr. Foster. Mr. Wm. M. Beai ot Edina
tells me that it is considered one of the very worst enemies in Koox
county, and as I am informed by Mr. J. D. Dopf, editor of the Jout'
naU Bockport^ Atchison Go., it was exceedingly troablesome to tie
. elms there in 1866. Where they have once become establifihed, v^\
are neglected, their ravages soon become very great ; and they werr
so bad in certain parts of Michigan a few years ago, and especially ii
the Grand Traverse region in 1865, that, unless my memory fails m
a certain Eastern editor, in response to an appeal for a remedy froci
Mr. Sanford Howard, the Secretary of the Michigan State Boarded
Agriculture very foolishly urged the Wolverines to cut down their
4rees. May I hope that these Entomological Reports will betb
tneans of protecting Missouri from the fearful rafages of this wort
wbioh has so often discouraged the orchardists in Massachnsetu
Rhode Island, Connecticut, and some of the Middle States.
It is the apterous condition of the female moth which gires 0i
such complete control of this enemy, and which indicates
THE PBOPKR RSMEDT.
The sole -object of the female, after she leaves the earth, t&^
to be to provide for the continuance of her kind, and she InstinctiTel!
places the precious burden, which is to give birth to the young wiidi
she herself is destined never to behold, upon the tree whose leaveE
are to nourish these young. All her life-energy is centered in ti«
accomplishment of this one object, and she immediately makes for
the tree upon issuing from the ground. Consequently, anything tb^
will prevent her ascending the trunk will, in a great measure {bnti«
we shall presently see, not entirely) preserve the tree from ^
ravages of the worm.
Numerous indeed have been the devices — patented or Dnpatented
— which have atdiffepent times and in diflEerent parts of the country
been used to accomplish this desired end ; and every year our kp^'
cultural journals report individual experiments with some one or
other of these devices — some favorable and others adverse. T&r
applied either directly around the body of the tree, or on strips ot
old canvas, on sheep-^kin, or on stiff paper ; refuse sorghum molas^^
printers' ink, or slow-drying varnishes, or melted India rubber,
which always retains its soft viscid state, applied in a similaJ* niAS*
ner; tin, lead, and rubber troughs to contain oil; belts of cottoB*
wool, etc., etc., have all been used, and with both good an^J ^^
results, very much according as they have been used intelligently ^
otherwise. Now, all these appliances, of whatsoever character, ^
divisible into two classes : first, those which prevent the ascension
the moth by entangling her feet, and trapping her fast, or by droi^^^
ingher; and, second, those which accomplish the same end ^^\
venting her from getting a foothold, and thus causing her repeat^-
to fall to the ground until she becomes exhausted and dies.
THE BTATX ENTOMOLOGIST. 99
The first class of remedies are thoroughly effectaal when applied
tinderstandingly and persistently. And by this I mean, that the
orchardist must know that many of the moths issue in the fall of the
year, and that the applications must, in consequence, be made at
least as early as the latter part of October, and that they must
be kept sticky, through all but freezing weather, till the leaves have
well put out, in the following spring. Furthermore he must know
that many of the moths — frustrated in their efforts to climb the tree —
will deposit their eggs near the ground or anywhere below the appli-
cation, and that the young worms hatching from them are able to
pass behind the slighest crevice or over the finest straw. Thus, if
troughs are used, they must be fitted over a bandage of cotton-wool,
€0 that when the trough is drawn tightly around the tree, it will do
no injury^ and will at the same time cause the cotton to fill up all in-
equalities of the bark; the joint must likewise be kept smeared
either with tar or molasses, and then the worms will not be able to
pass. In the neglect to thus fasten them, lies the secret of failure which
many report who use such troughs. The second class of contrivances
are of no avail whatever, for although the moth is unable to travel over
a very smooth surface, I know from experience that the young worms
ean march over the smoothest glass by aid of the glutinous silken
thread which they are able to spin from the very moment they are
born. For these reasons, even the ** Merritt's Patent Tree-Protector,"
which was so well advertised by Mr. Howard in his otherwise excel-
lent article on the Oanker-worm, in the Michigan Agricultural Ke-
port for 1865, must be classed with the worthless patents. This
** Protector'' consists of a ring of glass grooved below and hung from
the tree by a tent of canvas, to which it is fastened by an iron
elamp.
I might enumerate a number of such ingenious contrivances both
of glass, wood, tin, and isinglass, for heading off the female moth onlyy
and some few which are sufficiently thorough to head off the young
larvae also ; but they are all so expensive, that I am perfectly convinced
they will never be adopted in our large orchards ; nor are they nec-
essary, for some of the remedies already mentioned are altogether
more simple and more effectual.
It cannot be denied that it requires a great deal of time, labor
and expense to continnally renew the applications of tar on every
tree in a large orchard during so many months of the year ; while its
application directly to the bark is more or less injurious to the trees.
For these reasons, refuse sorghum molasses will be found much bet-
ter for the purpose, as it does not harden so rapidly, and is said not
to be injurious to the tree. In neighborhoods where sorghum is
grown, it is also much cheaper. That it will pay to do this work in
orchards where the Oanker-worm is known to be numerous, there can-
not be the least doubt. The old adage, ^ What is worth doing at all
is worth doing well," was never truer than in fighting this insect
100 SSCOND ANirUAli REPORT OF
Apply the rdcoedy thoroughly during two suGces&ive years, and yots
have utterly routed the enemy, and this is more especially the case
where an orchard is not in too close pioximity to the timber, or to
slovenly neighbors. Fail to apply the remedy, and the enemy will
in all probability, rout you. The reason is simple. The female being
wingless, the insect is very local in its attacks, sometiinee swarming
in one orchard and being unknown in another which is bat a mile
away. Thus, after it is once exterminated, a sudden invasion is DOt
to be expected, as in the case of the Tent Caterpillar, and of many
other orchard pests ; but when it has once obtained a footing in ao
orchard, it multiplies the more rapidly, for the very reason that it does
not spread fast.
If oil troughs are used, it will be found much safer, and sorer to
sink them in the ground elose around the butt of the tree, instead 0/
winding them around the trunk higher up. There will then be 00
ehance for the young worms to get up between the trough and tie
tree. But it follows, that this plan can only be adopted in an orciiard
which is kept perfectly clean.
As for muriate of lime, which has been so earnestly recoior
mended as a preventive, by interested parties^ here is what Mr. Sao-
ford Howard says of it in the Western Bural of August 18th, 1866,
and Mr. Joseph Breck, editor of the old American Journal of Eorti-
culture ; G. 0. Brackett, correspondent of tho Maine Farmer^ and
several other persons with whom I am acquainted, all testify, a/ler
having thoroughly tried it, to its utter worthlessness for this purpose:
The editor of the Farmer says, there are statements to the effect
that a substance called Oould's Muriate of Lime, applied to the 60i|
in autumn, had entirely prevented the subsequent appearance of
Oanker- worms on trees standing on the ^ound, although the trees had
previously been much damaged by the insect It is also stated that
on other trees, not ten rods distant, where none of the so-called mu-
riale of lime was applied, the worms were very destructive.
I cannot think that this amounts to any proof that the substance
applied destroved the worms, or had anv eflfect on them. Tt® ^^^'
appearance of the insect in the case alluded to, was probably doe w
other causes. If this substance will kill or ipjure the insect in a&T
of its stages, it would be easy to prove it by a direct application v(r
soil containing insects, in a box. Several years ago, I took P*^°^.i^
make a particular experiment with this so-called muriate of IinQ6,tn6
result of which was tnat the Oanker- worm underwent its transfonDa*
tions naturally, and to idl appearance healthfully, in a soil composeji
of nearly fifty per cent, of tne articles of which it was said a ^^^
proportion only was necessary to totally destroy them ? If th© ^^J*
stance is the same in composition now that it was thexL it is reaeona-
ble to suppose that the result of its application would be the bb^^'
As to the " Plug Ugly Theory,^ which consists of filling an soger
bore with sulphur and plugging it tight, and which originated, floin^
years since, in the inventive brain of some Prairie Fam^ ^^^^
pendent ; it is altogether too absurd to need consideration, for 0^^^
if the modp of application were not so downright ridiculous, it is^^^
THB STATE SNTOMO^OeiBT. 101
known to entomologists that many caterpillars will thrive exceed-
ingly on leaves that have been thickly sprinkled with sulphur.
Vigilance is the price of reward, and as it is always easier to pre-
vent than to cure, it were well for the owners of young orchards, in
neighborhoods where the Oanker-worm is known to exist, to keep a
sharp look-out for it; so that upon its first appearance the evil may
be nipped in the bud. In the same manner that it is exterminated in
the individual orchard, in like manner, it may, by concert of action,
be exterminated from any given locality. When once the worms ate
on a tree, a good jarring will suspend them all in mid-air, when the
best way to kill them is by swinging a stick above them, which breaks
the web, and causes them to fall to the ground ; when they may be
prevented from ascending the tree, by the methods already described,
or by strewing straw on the ground and setting fire to it.
One word in commendation of late fall plowing and the use of
hogs. A good deal has been said both for and against fall plowing,
and the following discussion which took place at the November (1868)
meeting of the Alton (Ills.) Horticultural Society, will afford a sample
of the diffisrent opinions held by individuals:
Dr. Long took the ground that fall plowing was one of the best
and surest means of eradicating those insects which stay in the ground
over winter. He said, some five or six years ago my orchard was
badly infested with the Oanker-worm ; by late cultivation, I almost,
if not entirely, ^ot rid of them.
Dr. Hull — I do not believe that fall plowing will destroy the lar-
vae of insects to any extent. I have dug up frozen lumps containing
larvas that were not affected by freezing. 1 think the Canker-worm
will not spread here as in New England.
J. Huggins — ^I have been led to believe — contrary to Dr. Hull's
statement — that they will spread, and feel that there is great danger
of their spreading. I believe fall plowing a great aid in the extermi-
nation or them. Oites a case where they have been almost entirely
destroyed by late plowing, in an orchard that was nearly ruined by
them.
Dr. Hull — ^If it be true that they will spread, why is it that none
of Dr. Long's neighbors have them? He says he was badly overrun
with them, and the fact that his neighbors were not, I thiuK confirm-
ation of my statement that they will not spreads
Dr. Long — My brother's orchard, adjoining mine, had double as
many as my own. He fall plowed, and has very few left. He also
cites the case of an old orchard, in this section, that was almost de-
stroyed by them, but fall plowing has almost, if not entirely, destroyed
them.
The iollowing item from the New York Weekly Tribune of Feb-
ruary 26th, 1869, also bears on this point:
Canker- WORMS Destroyed by Plowing. — Mr. McNeil Witherton,
in answer to W. V. Monroe's request : I will state thatl think that the
Canker-worm can be destroyed by plowing the ground where they
are, late in the fall. The 2Sth of Nov., 1867, 1 was at my son David's
in Wisconsin. He told me that the Canker-worms were in his orchard,
and had ii^ured his apple trees very much the past season ; that a
man who owns a nursery and keeps apple trees for sale, went into the
orchard and examined the trees and worms, and said it was the Can-
»
102 SECOND ANirUAL BXPORT OV
ker-worm that was injuring his orchard. I told him that aboat fifty
▼ears ago they had been in my father's orchard some six years, and
killed a large number of the trees ; that we plowed it late in the fall,
and have never seen the Canker-worm there since. 1 advised him to
plow his orchard immediately. The next day he plowed it as far as
the worms had been in it I received a letter from Lim a few weeks
ago, stating that the Canker-worms were not in his orchard this year,
and those trees that were injured and not killed last year, reTived
some this year.
Now there is no donbt but late plowing will produce somewhat
different effects, according to the character of the soil, and the depth |
of the plowing ; but that it is more generally beneficial than other- i
wise I am perfectly convinced, and as for the assertion of Mr. Wm. P.
Lippincotti of Yernon, Iowa, made some time ago, in the Iowa Home'
steady namely, that it left the ground full of harbors for the next year's ■
breeding, it suffices to say that the insect does not breed in the
ground, and, holes or no holes, the worms will penetrate the soil
whenever the time arrives to change to chrysalis. After the summer
months the insect invariably lies in the chrysalis state snugly en-
tombed in a little earthen cell very thinly lined with silk, from two
to six inches below the surface. This cell, though frail, is a sufficient
protection, so long as it is whole, from any excess of moisture, and at
the same time prevents too much evaporation in case of summer
drouth or dry winter freezing. Now I have proved by experiment
that whenever this cell is disturbed or broken in cold weather, the
chrysalis has not the power to penetrate the ground again, and in the
great majority of instances, either rqts, dries out, becomes mouldy, or,
if on the surface, is devoured by birds. Even summer plowing, if
performed after the first of July would work beneficially ; and it is for
this reason, that clean, well cultivated orchards are more free from
the attacks of this insect, than slovenly and neglected ones. The only
advantage of late fall plowing, lies in the facts, that the chrysalis is at
that time too benumbed to work itself into the ground and form an-
other cell, and that birds are then harder pushed for food, and more
watchful for any such dainty morceau.
As to the efficiency of hogs, in rooting up and devouring the chry-
salids, during the summer months, abundant favorable testimony
might be cited ; but the facts are too obvious to need argument.
BNEHIES OF THE OANKER-WORM.
Like most of our noxious insects, the Canker-worm is subject to
[^c- 08*] the attacks of cannibal and parasitic insects. It is
also devoured by very many different birds, some of
which almost entirely live on it ; and Dr. Packard,
of Salem, Mass., has observed an elongated mite
(Nbthrus ovivorusy Fig. 68, enlarged) devouring its
eggs. The most common parasite which I have yet
discovered with us, is an undescribed small fou^
winged fly belonging to the genus Microffosier^ of
the same size, but differing from the Military Micro-
TH* 8UTI BHTOHOLOeiBI. 108
gaster (Fig. 28) which preys npon the Anny-woinn. It differs also
from most other iosecto of the same genus, by each individaal larva
as it eats through the ekin of the Canker-worm, spinning lis pale
sre en ish- white cocoon alone, and not in company. Abont ten per
cent, of the worms wbicii J have endeavored to breed, have been de-
stroyed by this parasite. Harris mentiona the larva of another four-
winged fly, and that of a two-winged fiy belonging to the genns To-
china, which also InTest the worm, destroying about one- third of them
in Massacfau setts. There is slso a very minute and undescribed spe-
cies of PZa^^^o^fer which pierces the egg of the Oaoker-worm, and
drops one of her own into it, from which in due time the perfect fly
develops.
Among the Cannibal 'insects, which prey upon it, may be men-
tioned the Ground-beetles, two of whjch I have found preying upon
this worm, namely, the Rummaging Ground-beetle ( Caloeoma seruta-
f's- «•■] tor, Fabr. Fig. 69), a large and beaatiful
insect, with the wing- [Fi^.toj
covers golden-green, and
the rest of the body
marked with violet-bine,
gold, green, and copper;
and the Fiery Ground-
beetle ( Calosoma cali-
, dum, Fabr. Fig. 70.), a '
' blaok species of almost
equal size, with copper ,
colored spots on the wing-
covers. These beetles are very active, and run over the ground in
search of soft-bodied worms, and will even mount upon the trunks of
trees for the same purpose.
The Fraternal Potter-wasp {Eumenee fratema. Say), is stated by
l**- T'O Harris, to store her cells with Can-
ker-worms, often gathering eighteen
^or twenty of them for a single cell.
This wasp (Fig. 71, a), is quite com-
mon in St. Lonis county, and uses
other species besides Canker-worms
as food for its young. Its clay nest
(Fig. 71 h, entire ; e, the same cut
open shortly afterit was built, show-
ing the manner in which it is com-
pactly crowded with green worms), may often be found attached to
the stems of the Goldenrod and of other plants in the open air, or
cemented under the loose bark of some tree. It has even been found
attached to the leaves of a deciduous plant, where it must neces-
sarily fall to the ground in winter and lie there till the perfect insect
issues in the following summer.
104 BXOOSD AHHDIL UPOKT 07
CABBAGE WORMS.
Of the varioas ioeects that afEsct this imp<»'t8nt eocnlent, ttte
three following are among the moet ipjarioos in this State :
THB EOOTHSKH CABBAGE BVTISKFLY—IH»tU pnleMct, BoiiA.
(Lipidoptrnt, Pitrida.)
■ Mr. S. H. Scudder, of the Boston Society of Natural Histoiy, fron
&a examination of a large nambei of specimeos of this butterlT.
[Kb. ".] found that it enjoys a wide g»
[ graphical range, " exteodiiii
from Texas on the sontbweji
. Hissofiri on the west, and Ibe
mouth of the Red River of Ibe
Korth on the northwest, as fii
as Connecticnt, and the Soulb-
ern Alantic States on the eift"
^ Bat while the species is Bcuct
in the more northern Sute^it
is the common white butterfly of Missouri, abounding in many ^
of the State, and sometimes flitting so thickly around the truck ^'
IKg. T3.} dens near large cities, as to remiod
one at a distance, of tbe falliDgol
I snow. It oftep proves exceedingly
'injurious, and I learn from a Missis
sippi exchange, that "there were
last year thousands of dollars' worth
of cabbages devastated and mineJ
by worms in the neighborhood "■
Corinth." The paragraph goes on to
state, "that cabbages could not, in consequence, be had there evenil
ten cents per head." The "worm" referred to, was doubtlesa the spe-
cies under consideration.
I have often passed through cabbage beds near St. Loais, aw
been unable to find a perfect head, though few of the gardeners m
any suspicion that the gay butterflies which flitted so lazily frota one
plant to another, were the real parents oi the mischievous worms
which so riddled the leaves.
The larva (Fig. 72, a) may be summarily described as a soil wor^
of a greenish-blue color, with four longitudinal yellow stripes, »!»
covered with black dots. When newly hatched it is of a onifonn
orange color with a black head, but it becomes doll brown before tjif
first moult, though the longitudinal stripes and black spots are ontT
visible after said moult has taken slace.
I subjoin a more complete description of it ;
ATorags hBgihwhen full frown I.IS lncli»«. Middle aaintieDti Urgwt. ""^.'^"^
tTOiind-color grvm Ttrgiug onto blua ; lometimiw elrv fti* blae itDd »t othcn itft^^^
■ 8m Proa. Bolt. Soc SM. Hiat., fill, ISCl, p. ISO.
tea ffTATI BBTOHOLOOIBT. 105
pnTpIiab-blna. Bkch MBnmt with liz fruiTnu Trlnkln, ol which Ih* lint ud fourth u«
aomewhat widar thu tbt olbw*. Foni loDgitadiBkl jtUow linei, wch •qnidiituit from Oi»
oth«T, uid uch inlampUd bj ft pile bias ipot on ths ■Jotemantioiud Bnt ud toDrth tiHUTCna
wriuklei. Truei of two addltioiul loDgitadioftl liaei below, on« on aach aidt Immedifttslj abora
prolegi. On aacb tnnavaru wrlnkli U m tow of T»rloas liiad, roaDd, pollibed black, illghtly
rkised, pUifsroai ipoti ; thoia on wrinklai ona and f ooi haiDf lar|;Mt and moat nfiilail; aitnatad.
Haira aiiiiag from thai* ipola, adff and black. TentsTTathai ligbtaT than gmiiod-calai abova,
and mill iitel7 ipacklad moni or Ira ■ with dnll black. Haad auna color aa bod; ; coTerad with
black pilifarooi apoti, and aanallj with a jaUow or oranga patch aach aido—qnita Tariabls. Tha
black piliferona ipota fraqnontl; have a pale blna annnlatian arouid tha baaa, eapeciall; in the
darker apactman*.
The chrysalis (Fig. 72, b), averages 0.65 inch in length, and is aa vari-
able in depth of groand-color, as the larva. The general color is
light bluish-gray, more or less intensely speckled with black, with the
ridges and prominences edged with buff or with flesh-color, and
having larger black dots.
[^s. ".] The female butterfly (Fig. 73) dif-
fers remarkably ftom the male which
I represent at Figure 74. It will be
seen, upon comparing these figures
that the $ is altogether darker than
the S. This eeznal difference in ap-
pearance is purely oolorational, how-
ever, and there should not be the dif-
ference in the form of the wings which the two figures would indi-
cate, for the hind winga in the <? cnt, are altogether too short and
rounded.
This insect may be found in all its different stages through the
months of July, August and September. It hybemates in the chrys-
alis state. I do not know that it feeds on anything but Cabbage, but
I once found a d" chrysalis fastened to a stalk of the common nettle
(Solanum caroUnense), vhiah was growing in a cemetery with no
cabbages within at least a quarter of a mile : and Mr. J. K. Muhleman
is reported as having stated at a late meeting of the Alton (Illinois)
Horticultural Society, that it is injurious to turnips and other plants
of the cabbage family. There are two broods of this insect each year.
As already stated, in the more northern and eastern States our
[Fig. 76 Southern Cabbage Butterfly occurs in
(comparatively small numbers, but it is
replaced by the Potherb Butterfly
{Pieria oleracea, Boisd.), an indigenous
species which does not occur with us.
This last (Fig. 75, butterfly with the
larva beneath) is in reality a northern
species, for it rarely reaches as far south
as Penusylvania, bnt extends east to
Nova Scotia, west to Lake Superior,
and north as far as Uie Great Slave Lake
m the Hudson's Bay Company's territory. It is readily distinguished
108 BSOOHB AirjIUAIi BBPOBT W
from oar speoies by being perfectly plain, with no black 8iK>tB on tke
wings. The body is black, and the front wings hare a slight shade
of this color at their base, front edge, and tips. Its larva is pale green
[Fig. 76.] and feeds on yarions other crnciferons plante besides cab-
bages ; its chryalis (Fig. 76) is also pale green or whitish,
regularly and finely dotted with black.
This butterfly has existed from time immemorial on tbe
American continent, within the geographical limits already
given, and yet has never made its way into Missouri or any of
the southwestern States. Nor is it likely to ever do so ; and why ? Be-
cause some insects are constitutionally incapacitated to live beyond
certain geographical limits. The range of an insect is goYemed bj
various influences which I have not time to enumerate at present;
but the principal influence is undoubtedly climate — temperature-
heat. The ^ isothermal" lines, or the lines of equal heat, as all phys-
ical geographers are well aware, do not run parallel with the lineto^
latitude, as one might at first thought suppose ; but if our isothermal
maps are to be relied on, vary most astonishingly to points nortli aad
south of a given line. The same variation from a given line of lati-
tude is noticeable in the distribution of insects, or — to coin a word-
we have ^^isentomic," or iso*insect lines, which are as variable as the
lines of equal heat, by which they are doubtless to a great extent
governed. In Oentral Missouri we live on nearly the same latitude aa
that of Southern Pennsylvania, and in North Missouri, as that of
Southern New York ; yet we do not live on tbe same insect line, bat
nearly on that of Virginia and North Oarolina, and even in the ex-
treme northern part of the State, a number of insects are found,
which on the Atlantic seaboard are never known to occur north of
Virginia, and the same rule holds good with the birds and fishes of
the United States. The same thing is true of our Oentral and Soatii-
em counties. In other words many of our insects are southern^
not northern BpecieSy and as familiar examples, I might mentioD tb«
Tarantula of Texas {MygaU Hentzii, Girard), and its large Digger-
wasp enemy (Pepsia formosa^ Say), which have been frequently
found in St. Louis county during the past two years, though they wei«
for a long time supposed to be confined to Texas.
Now, since the indigenous Potherb Butterfly has never, in the
course of past ages, extended to any point South of Pennsylvani«i
although its cruciferous food-plantp have always flourished South of
that line, we are justified in concluding that it never will do so, and
that though a brood of the worms were introduced directly on t»
some cabbage patch in the extreme Northern part of this State, thef
would soon die out there.
Oonsequently we have nothing to fear from this butterfly^^^^^'
has always troubled our northeastern friends. But the case is ve^
djfierent with another white cabbage butter^y which is now comnai^
ting sad havoc to the cabbages in some parts of Oanada, and some
THIS STATE KNTOMOLOeiBT. 107
of the Eastern States. The species I refer to is the Bape Batterfly
C^ieris rapcB^ Scbrank), a recent importation from Earope, and while
I have no fear of any evil results arising from the introduction of the
Potherb Butterfly, I should hate to try the experiment of introducing
a brood of worms of the Bape Butterfly into any portion of the State ;
because, for the reasons detailed in the paper read before the State
Horticultural Society, and which is published at the beginning of this
Keport, I have not a doubt but they would flourish exceedingly, and
become far more ipjurious than either of the indigenous species. In-
deed, the history of this insect, since its introduction into this coun-
try, affords sufficient proof that such would be the result, for M. Pro*
vancher in a recent number of his journal, Ze Naturaliata Canadien^
says that it alone, has caused more damage around Quebec, since its
arrival there, than all other noxious butterflies put together, in the
same space of time; and he estimates that it annually destroys $240,-
000 worth of cabbages around that town. In short, as this insect is
rapidly spreading westward, there is every reason to fear that it may
some day get a foothold in our midst, unless the proper measures are
taken to prevent such an undesirable occurrence. It will be well
therefore to familiarize the reader with its appearance, for ^^to be fore-
warned is to be forearmed 1"
Little did I dream, when, many years ago, I watched this butter-
fly fluttering slowly along some green lane or over some cabbage
patch in England, where it is the butterfly ; or when I found its chry-
salis so abundantly in the winter time on old palings or even on the
kitchen wall indoors — that I should some day be fearing its presence
here. But just as little did our forefathers dream of thie immense
though gradual changes which have come over this broad land dur-
ing the last two or three centuries t Ooming events are said to cast
their shadows before them, but verily we know not what the morrow
will bring forth.
This Bape Butterfly is the bane of every cabbage grower, and its
larva is the dread of every cook in many parts of Europe. Unlike the
two indigenous N. A. species already alluded to, this worm is not con-
tent with riddling the outside leaves, but prefers to secrete itself in
the heart, so that every cabbage has to be torn apart and examined
before being cooked, and it is also necessary to keep a continual look-
out, even after it is dished up, lest one gets such an admixture of ani-
mal and vegetable food as is not deemed palatable by the most of
men. It is on account of this habit of boring into the heart of cab-
bages^ that the French call it the ^ Yer du Coeur" or Heart- worm.
It was introduced about 1856 or 1857, having been first taken in
Quebec in 1859. In 1864 Mr. G. J. Bowles, who published an account
of it in the Canadian JVaturalist and Oeologist^ for August, 1864,
p. 258, estimated that it had not then extended more than forty miles
from Quebec as a centre. In 1866 it was taken in the northern parts
of New Hampshire and Yermont ; in 1868 it had advanced as far
106 BKOOITD ANNUAL SBPOST 07
SouUi ftS I<ake WinnepeeaTigee. It having since been taken atBc'
gor, aed at other points in Maine; in certain parts of New Jastr
and the past year arormd Boston and New York.
It was in all probability introduced into this conDtry in theiti
fitatej for the eggs are deposited on the underside of the lesTes,uit
there is nothing more likely than that a batch may have been thrcr
with refase leaves from some vessel, and that after hatching tlx
young larree managed to find suitable food close by.
The larva (Fig. T7,o>, is pale green, finely dww
with black, with a yellowish stripe down the back.u!
a row of yellow spots along each side in a line with t^
breathing holes. When about to transform, it leare
the plant upon which it fed, and shelters onder thi
\ a, coping of some wall or fence, or on anything that my
be conveniently at hand, and changea to a chiy^^
(Fig. 76, J) which thongh variable in color, is nniUj
pale green, speckled with minute black dote. Tbeia-
sect passes the winter in this state and as with tbetn
k indigenons species, there are two broods each yen.
The butterflies have the bodies black above, with the wp
white, and marked aa ia the acconi-
panying onts ; the female (Fip. i-l
being distinguished from the msii
(Fig. 79) by having two ronnd spott
(eometimes three) instead otoaljoiK
on the front wings. Underneath, botii
sexes are alike, there being tiw Q""
on the front wings and none on »t
bind ones, which are yellowish, sometimes passing into green. W
species varies very much, and there is a specimen in my collectionii
which all the spots are so nearly obsolete above, that if it v^'^ ""'
[Kg. «.] for the characteristic nnder-Borfs*
could scarcely be distingnished fri*
le Potherb Butterfly. There is il»
, England a variety of the male ««
hich has the ground-color can«j
allow instead of white, and can'""''
lough, this same variety has be«»
iken in this country.
Although some cslerpillars we P°'-'^
phagous, feeding indiscriminately on a great variety of pJ«'f*'^
most of them are confined to plants of the same botanical ^^ ^'
at all events of the same natural order. Such is the case witA
two indigenons cabbage butterflies above mentioned, for they »« °
known to go beyond cruciferous plants for food. The IUp« ^'v"L
has a less epicurean palate however, and departs from this i^'^ '"
THE STAtB SHTOHOLOCUSY. 109
much as it has been known to feed upon the weeping willow in Eng-
land.
Rembmbs.— One way of counterworking the evil effeets of these
cabbage butterflies, is to search for the eggs at the proper season, and
destroy them. These eggs are pear-shaped, yellowish and longi-
tadinally ribbed, but as they are deposited singly or in clusters of not
more than two or three, the operation becomes tedious and some-
what impracticable on a large scale. Still, children should be taught
how to find them, and incited to search for them by the hope of a re-
ward for a certain number. The butterflies are slow lumbering flyers
and may easily be caught in a net and killed. A short handle, per-
haps four feet long, with a wire hoop and bag-net of muslin or musquito
netting, are the only things needed to make such a net, the total cost of
which need not be more than fifty or seventy-five cents. Or a more
durable one may be made, in the following manner : Get a tinsmith
t^*s- ®®-l to make a hollow handle of brass or
tin from six to seven inches in length
qand tapering at one end, as seen in
Figure 80, 5 ; then procure a piece of
stout wire, rather more than a yard
long, and bend it in the manner shown
in Figure 80, q. Place the ends of the
4 ^^ 5 Q wire in the small end of the handle,
solder it on, and then fill in one-third of the handle with molten lead,
so as to make the wire doubly fast and solid. Now make a bag of
some strong but light fabric, and fasten it well to the wire. The depth
of the bag should be more than twice the diameter of the wire hoop.
If a handle is required, a wooden one is easily made to fit into the
hallow brass or tin, as at Figure 80, 4. Poultry, if allowed free range
in the cabbage field, will soon clear off the worms of our indigenous
species.
By laying pieces of board between the cabbage rows, and sup-
porting them about two inches above the surface of the ground, the
worms will resort to them to undergo their transformations, and may
then be easily destroyed.
Either Paris green or white hellebore will kill the worms, if
sprinkled on to them, but cannot be used on cabbages, as it is difiEicult
to free the . plants of these substances which are poisonous. The
saponaceous compounds of cresylio acid are effectual, and without
these objections.
In Europe there are many parasites which serve to check the in-
crease of the Bape Butterfly, and Ourtis enumerates at least four.
Bat on this continent, but one such parasite has so far been found to
attack it, and that was a two-winged fly— probably a Tdohina fly— which
M. Provancher bred from the chrysalis, in Quebec, Can.* M. Provan-
cher, after remarking that he found a qhrysalis which, from its blacken-
•(irufsmlM* 0«MHKf» Vel. II, p. 18.)
110
SBOOND AVHUAL BXPORT OF
ingin the middle, he suspected would not develop into a butterfly, say;
of this parasite that he afterwards found a cocoon [papa ?] by its side
which was smooth blackish and oblong, and so large that he conij
scarcely belieye it had escaped from the chrysalis, which was, hor
ever, now pierced in the middle and empty. M. Provancher goesoa
to say: ^^Ten days afterwards, we perceived one morning that the c(h
coon was open at one end, and there was buzzing about in the viali
fly, which we recognized as belonging to the genus SarcopAaffa[id^
flies], the larvse of which are known to develop in meat. Here then,
we exclaimed, when we saw this fly, is an enemy of the Kape Batter-
fly. But unfortunately the flesh-flies feed indiscriminately on almost
any kind of flesh, and never being very numerous, cannot becoia«
very redoubtable enemies of this butterfly."
With all due respect to my friend Provancher, I incline to belier«
that he has mistaken a TacMna fly which is a true parasite, for a flest
Ay (Saroophaga) which is only a scavenger. And if this he so, Ms
reasoning falls to the ground, for, as we may see in the Army-woim
article in this Report, there are no more efficient checks to the in-
crease of injurious insects than these same Tdchina flies.
THB CABBAQB PLUSIA— Pliuia brtuHca, N. Sp.
(Lepidoptara, Pliuidn.)
^^' *^'^ This is the next most com-
mon insect which attack tie
Cabbage with us, and curionsly
enough it has never yet been
described It is a moth, and
not a butterfly, and flies bf
night instead of by day. h
/the months of August and Sep-
tember the larva (Fig. 81, «)
may be found quite abundant
on this plant, gnawing largei
x^ixzirregular holes in the leases-
^^;^ It is a pale green translucent
worm, marked longitudmw
with still paler more opaque lines, and like all the known larvse of
the family to which it belongs, it has but two pair of abdominal pw-
legs, the two anterior segments which are usually furnished with snch
legs in ordinary caterpillars, not having the slightest trace of aof
Consequently they have to loop the body in marching, as represented
in the figure, and are true "Span-worms." Their bodies are very
soft and tender, and as they live exposed on the outside of the pUi^^
and often rest motionless, with the body arched, for hours at a iiva^.
they are espied and devoured by many of their enemies, such tf
birds, toads, etc. They are also subject to the attacks of at least t^o
parasites and die very often from disease, especially in wet weather;
THK STATE BlTrOMOLOfilBT. Ill
80 that they are never likely to increase quite as badly as the butter-
flies just now described.
When full grown this worm weaves a very thin loose white
cocoon, sometimes between the leaves of the plant on which it fed,
but more often in some more sheltered situation; and changes to
a chrysalis (Fig. 81, h) which varies from pale yellowish-green to
brown, and has a considerable protruberance at the end of the wing
and leg cases, caused by the long proboscis of the euclosed moth
being bent back at that point. This chrysalis is soft, the skin being
very thin, and it is furnished at the extremity with an obtuse
roughened projection which emits two converging points, and several
short curled bristles, by the aid of which it is enabled to cling to its
cocoon.
The moth is of a dark smoky-gray inclining to brown, variegated
with light grayish-brown, and marked in the middle of each front wing
with a small oval spot and a somewhat U-shaped silvery white mark,
as in the figure. The male (Fig. 81, c) is easily distinguished from
the female by a large tuit of golden hairs covering a few black ones,
which springs from each side of his abdomen towards the tip.
The suggestions given for destroying the larvae of the Cabbage
Butterflies, apply equally well to those of this Oabbage Plnsia, and
drencbings with a cresylic wash will be found even more eflectual,
as the worms drop to the ground with the slightest jar.
Plusia brasbiojB^ N. Sp. — Lare»*-Pale yellowish translacent ^een, the donnm made lighter and
less translucent by longitudinal opaque lines of a whitish-green ; these consist each side, of a rather
dark yesicular dorsal line, and of two very fine light lines, with an intermediate broad one. Tapers
gradually from segments 1-10, descending abruptly from 11 to extremity. Pilif erous spots white,
giving rise to hairs, sometimes black, sometimes light colored ; and lateraUy a few scattering
white specks in addition to these spots. A rather indistinct narrow, pale stigmatal line, with a
darker shade above it. Head and legs translucent yellowish-green, the head having five minute
black eyelets each side, which are not readily noticed with the naked eye. Some specimens are
of a beautiful emerald-green, and lack entirely the pale longitudinal lines. Described from
numerous specimens.
Cryialii-'Ot the normal Pltuia^form, and varying from yellowish-green to brown.
Moth — Front vfingt dark gray inclining to brown, the basal half line, transverse anterior,
transverse posterior, and snbterminal lines pale yellow inclining to fulvous, irregularly undulate,
and relieved more or less by deep brown margins ; tbe undulations of the subterminal line more
acuminate than in the others, and forming some dark sagittate points ; the basal half-line, the
transverse anterior near costa, and the transverse posterior its whole length, being sometimes
obscurely double : four distinct equidistant costal spots on the terminal half of wing, the third
from apex formed by the termination of the transverse posterior; posterior border undulate with
a dark brown line which is sometimes marked with pale crescents ; a series of similar crescents
(often mere dots) just inside the terminal space ; the small sub-cellulary silver spot oval, some-
times uniformly silvery-white but more often with a fulvous centre; sometimes free from, but
more often attached to the larger one which has tbe shape of a constricted U, very generaUy
with a fulvous mark inside, which extends basally to the transverse anterior at costa. Fringes
dentate, of the color of the wing, and with a single undulating line parallel to that on the terminal
border. Bind wingt fuliginous, inclining to yellowish towards base, and with but a slight pearly
Instre ; fringes rery pale with a darker inner line. Under surfaces pale fuliginous with a pearly
lustre, the front wings with a distinct fulvous mark under the sub-cellulary spots, speckled more
or less with the same color around the borders of the wing, the fringes being dentate with light
and dark ; the hind wings speckled with fulvous on their basal half, and with the fringes as
above. Tkoram variegated with the same color as front wings, the tufts being fulvous inclining to
Hi sioozn) AHHUAL sipou or
pink- Abdomtn $ gnj, with ■ faw pals hkin oau tb* bu*. Hid «c*re«]7 txtMidiBs irjml ^
mtigia at th< hind winp; ^ longer, carered with pale lilkjhiin, > diitiiict doml bronnitc
each of tha thraa bual aaEmenti, ud two Itrg* IMaral aiOm tmwn-colored or gaUtt-^riln
bnialiaa ob tha fifth Mcmant, maatiDE an tba back and partlj coTeriB|> two inutUrabmliiaaUi
tilth, which ara tippad with black ; tennioal WEmaat flattaned and with two lalmil iiiniinliiiijiM
tmallar tnfta: nndenide of thorax and abdomen gray, mixed with lU«b-color> Alar eipuutlii
iBchaa. Daa'eribad fram nnmaiona bred ipacimrna. In a anita of ipedmeiiB brad froB Ibt mi
brood of lama a coBiidaiabla dilbranca in tha ganeraldapth of color ia found, com* Ymag hllji
d«k again ai othera.
Cloiel; reaamblra Pluala ni, Enj^., which occnra in Italy, Bicilj, Franco, and the nonbin
parti of America. Hr. P. Zellar of Stettin, Pnuila, to whom I aent ipacimena, caajldenit&
tinct howarar from the Bnropean ai, and I ikare eoniaqaently eiren it a nAma in accordun Rt
ita habiU.
Inhere is another worm which may be known ae the Thistle Plm
and which occora on oar commoa thistleB, and cannot therefore ht
considered very iDJorions. It differs only from that of the Cabbi|f
Flusia in having the sides of the head, the thoracic legs, a row of spat;
above the lateral light line, and a ring around the breathing porei
black, I have bred from it the Plusia precaiionis* of Gnenfe-u
insect whose larval history has not hitherto been known.
THE ZEBRA C ATERPILLAB— Haiaufra plcla, Barr.
This is another insect which often proves injurioue to our caoli-
[Hk. m.] flowers and cabbages, tionfli
it by no means confines itself
to these two vegetables. Eir-
ly in June the yoong wonu.'
which are first almost blwt.
though they soon becomepile
and green, may be found ii
dense clnsterson theseplanti
for they are at that time gre-
garious. As they grow older
^ they disperse and are not«
"easily found, and in abootfonr
weeks from the time of battl-
ing they come to their m
growth. Each worm tFig-Sj'
a,) then measnres aboat two inches in length, and is velvety-blst^
with a red head, red legs, and with two lateral yellow lines, betweeii
which are numerous transverse white, irregular, zebra-lika finer lin^'
which induced Dr. Melsheimer to call this worm the "Zebra," Tboo^
it does not conceal itself; it invariably curls up cut-worm fashioni*"
rolls to the ground when disturbed.
It changes to chrysalis within a mde cocoon formed jus* '""'
the surface of the ground, by interweaving a few grains of sand of '
• Borne of theie bred ipacimaai approach rery near to PI. Wa, On. and awn to W- •*''^
TfiS STAtB KETTOXOLOeiST. IIS
few particles of whatever soil it happens on, with silken threads. The
chrysalis is } of an inch in length, deep shiny brown and thickly punc-
tured except on the posterior bolder of the segments and especially
of those three immediately below the wing-sheaths, where it is red-
dish and not polished ; it terminates in a blunt point ornamented with
two thorns. The moth (Fig. 82, ft,) which is called the Painted Mam-
esU-a, appears during the latter part of July, and it is a prettily marked
species, the front wings being of a beautiful and tich purple-brown,
blending with a delicate lighter shade of brown in the middle ; the
ordinary spots in the middle of the wing, with a third oval spot more
or less distinctly marked behind the round one, are edged and tra-
versed by white lines so as to appear like delicate net-work ; a trans-
verse zigzag white line, like a sprawling W is also more or less visible
near the terminal border, on which border there is a series of white
specks ; a few white atoms are also sprinkled in other places on the
wing. The hind wings are white, faintly edged with brown on the
upper and outer borders. The head and thorax are of the same color
as the front wings, and the body has a more grayish cast. There are
two broods of this insect each year, the second brood of worms ap-
pearing in the latitude of St Louis from the middle of August along
into October, and in all probability passing the winter in the chrysalis
state, though a few may issue in the fall and hybernate as moths, or
may even hybernate as worms; for Mr. J. H. Parsons, of N. Y., found
that some of the worms which were on his Ruta Baga leaves, stood a
frost hard enough to freeze potatoes in the hill, without being killed.*
I have noticed that the spring brood confines itself more especially to
young cruciferous plants, such as cabbages, beets, spinach, etc., but
have found the fall brood«collecting in hundreds on the heads and
flower-buds of asters, on the White-berry or Snow-berry (^Symphari-
carpus rdcemosus) ; on diiferent kinds of honey-suckle, on mignonette,
and on asparagus : they are also said to occur on the flowers of clover,
and are quite partial to the common LambVquarter or Goosefoot
iOhenopodium album)*
On account of their gregarious habit when young, they are very
easily destroyed at this stage of their growth.
THE TARNISHED VLAK£'BVQ—Capsu8 ohlineatus, 8slj.\
tHetnroplm Oa|»iite.]
Quite early last spring while entomologizing in Southern Illinois,
* ProeHeai BniomQlogUi, 11, p. 21.
t This bog WM oriffinally described by BesiiTOls m Cortut UmarU, and subsequently m Ci|^
t htw retained the BAme he fiftre it» tslbeteg tniaentlj «f|Nropriate.
114 sioom imirAi. bifort or
[He- 81-1 I spent a day with Mr. E. J. Ayree of Villa
and was sarprised to learn that he had become q#
discouraged in his efforts to grow yonog peu tm.
on Hccoant of the injories of a certain bag, «hi(l
upon eiamination I fonnd to be the TarniBbed Plait-
bng, represented enlarged at Figure 83, the hairk
F at its side sbowiag the nattiral size. The familj
which this bng belongs is the next in a natural i
rangemeut to that which jnclndes the notohDV
Ohijich-bug, and the insect is, like that apeciei,a(er
itable bug, and obtains its food by sucking and not biiinff. The C^
«U9 family is a very large one, containing namerous species in titi
country, but among them, none bnt the species under conaidentict
have thrust themselves upon public notice by their evil doinfs.
The Tarnished Plant-bug is a very general feeder, attacking reii
many kinds of herbaceous plants, such as dahlias, aaters, mmpi^t'
balsams, cabbages, potatoes, turnips, etc. ; and several trees, Botha
apple, pear, plum, quince, cherry, etc. Its puncture eeems to ^^^
a peculiarly poisonous effect, on which account, and from it^ ^
numbers, it often proves a really formidable foe. It is especially b"^
on young pear and quince trees, causing the tender leaves ind it*
young shoots and twigs lo turn black, as thongb they bad been
burned by fire. On old trees it is not so common, thoaghiib^
qoently congregates on such as are in bearing, and causes (he jouit
fruit to wither and drop. I have passed through potato fields alooF
the Iron Mountain Railroad in May, and found almost every ^»"
blighted and black from the thrusts of its poisonous beak, aod it^
not at all surprising that this bug was som^ears ago actually txem
of being the cause of the dreaded potato-roL
This bug is a very variable species, the males being generiU;
biacb darker than the females. The more common color of thedii»
cabinet specimens is a dirty yellow, variegated as in the figQi^ ^^
black and dark brown, and one of the most characteristic marks, u>
yellow V, sometimes looking more like a Y, or indicated by tbrj*
simple dots, on the scutel, (the little triangular piece on the 'bw
of the back, behind the thorax). The color of the living Bpecinie"'
is much fresher, and frequently inclines to olive-green. Tbe l""'
which is finely punctured, ia always finely bordered and divid*'*'^''
the middle with yellow, and each of the divisions contains
broader logitudinal yellow lines, very frequently obsolete btm-
The thighs always have two dark bands or rings near their Up^-
, As soon as vegetation starts in the spring, the mature bugs v
winter over iu all manner of sheltered places may be seen co"^'^ j"^
on the various plants which have been mentioned. Early ">
morning they may be found buried between the expanding '^*
'tnd at this time they are sluggish aud may be shaken down bd
stroyed ; but as the sun gets wanner, they become more active,
THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST.
119
^when approached, dodge from one side of the plant to the other, or
else take 'wing and fly away. They deposit their eggs and breed on
the plants, and the young and old bugs together may be noticed
through most of the summer months. The^ young bugs are perfectly
green, bnt in other respects do not differ from their parents except in
lacking wings. They hide between the flower-petals, stems and leaves
of different plants, and are not easily detected. Late in the fall, none
but lull grown and winged bugs are to be met with, but whether one
or two generations are produced during the season I have not fully
ascertained, though in all probability there are two.
Kembdies. — In the great majority of cases, we are enabled to
counteract the injurious work of noxious insects, the moment we
thoroughly comprehend their habits and peculiarities. Bat there are
a few which almost defy our efforts. TheTarnished Plant-bug belongs
to this last class, for we are almost powerless before it, from the
fact that it breeds and abounds on such a great variety of plants and
weeds, and that it flies so readily from one to the other. Its flight is
however limited, and there can be no better prophylactic treatment
than clean culture ; for the principal damage is occasioned by the
old bugs when they leave their winter quarters and congregate on
the tender buds and leaves of young fruit stock; and the fewer weeds
there are to nonrish them during the summer and protect them dur-
ing the winter, the fewer bugs there will be. The small birds must
also be encouraged. Applications of air-slacked lime and sulphur,
have been recommended to keep them off, but if any application of
this kind is used, I incline to think that to be effectual, it must be
of a fluid nature; and should recommend strong tobacco-water,
quassia-water, vinegar, and cresylic soap. Some persons who have
used the last compound have complained that it injures the plants,
and every one using it should bear in mind, what was stated in the
preface to my First Report, namely, that the pure acid, no matter how
much diluted with water, will separate when sprinkled, and burn holes
in, and discolor plant texture; whileif properly used as a saponaceous
wash it will have no such injurious effect. It must likewise be borne
in mind, that the so called "plant-protector'* which is a soap made of
this same acid, will bear very much diluting, (say one part of the soap
to fifty or even one hundred parts of water) and that it will injure
tender leaved plants if used too strong. I have noticed that the bugs
are extremely fond of congregating upon the bright yellow flowers
of the Cabbage, which, as every one knows, blooms very early in the
season; and it would be advisable for persons who have been seri-
ously troubled with this bug, and who live in a sufficiently southern
latitude where the plant will not winter-kill, to let a patch of cab-
bages run wild and go to seed in some remote corner of the farm, in
order that the bugs may be attracted thither and more readily de-
stroyed, than when scattered over a larger area.
U6 BOOBD AMSUAL ISFOKT OT
THE PHILENOK SWALLOWTAIL— Papilio philenor, Dniry.
There is a genos of (flimbiog planti (the Aristolocfaias), whictiB ,
peculiarly attractive on acconntof its large, rich tropical-IookiDf
foliage. The Ariatolochias are represented in almost all parts of[k
world, and 6ome of the tropical specieB bear beaatiful and immenit
flowere. In this conntry we have three native species which prodoet
but small, pipe-like flowers, bnt which make very pretty ornaineiiti
for covering walls and arbors or for ornamenting trellises ud
screens. The most common and best known species in this Stateii
the so called Dutchman's Pipe {Arittolochia npho), bot the ttroolis
[H«-S*-l tpBdioi {A.ttrpentaria KaA.A.tomeni08a)vni»
cultivated. .
In the beaatiful botanical grounds of Xr.
Shaw, at St. Louis, there are some magnificut
specimens of the Dutchman's Pipe, and about tbe
end of last July, these had all been suddeolf <lef^
liated. I was invited to go and examine the caw
and propose some remedy. I found the vises lit
erally denuded, for there was not a whole luf
upon them, those that were not entirely eateoolf
down to the stem, being riddled with differeal
sized boles. Upon a close examination, the m-
thors of the mischief were soon found, in the shape
of the peculiirly horned caterpillar, reprcaented
at Figure 84 ; but as there were few large fpeti
mens to be found, it was quite evident tbst w
great bulk of them had acquired their growth, sad
had already left the vines for some mere shelter"
situation, in which to transform to the chrjiaw
state. There were, however, a sufficient number of smaller or mo"
recently hatched individuals, had they remained undiscovered, loh»"
soon taken every vestige of the few imperfect leaves remainingi
irtiile the beant^nl butterflies which produced these worms veie
noticed flitting around the vines.
This insect is fonnd on no other plants but the Ari8tolochi»
The worms commence to batch in this latitude by the beginmnE"
July, from eggs deposited on the leaf; and individuals may ^^ ^°'^
as late as the last of August They live in company, especially ^^
young, and cover the leaves wilh zigzag lines of silk, which ena
them the better to crawl about and hold on to the vines. The neW
hatched worm is dark brown, with no spots, and with quite s o
tuberclesi After the first month they become lighter colored, *i
the tubercles on the back of segments 6, 7, 8 and 9, of an °^*?^,
color, and some of the other tubercles, especially the two ^^
segment, proportionally longer than the rest After ths
thefii
THS BTATB KS1!OMOLOOI8T. 117
monlt the color of the body becomes still lighter, some of the tuber-
cles still proportionally longer and longer, and those on the back all
begin to appear orange ; while a distinct orange spot becomes visible
between the long horns on the first segment, from which spot the
soft, forked orange scent-organs are thrust. After the third moult but
very little phange takes place, and after the fourth moult, the worm
loses in a great measure its shiny appearance, becomes more velvety
and darker, and when full grown presents the appearance of Figure
8i, and may be described as follows :
Leni^, two inchei . Color yelToty black, with » flight parpliah or cheannt-brown bne. 09t-
«red with long fleshy tabercles of the Mune color u body* and shorter orange colored tubercles, as
follows : Two, which are browD, long, tapering and feeler-like, springing anteriorly one from
•achside of Joint 1, the two being moyable, and alternately applied to the sorfaoe upon which
Iha worm mores. Joint 2, with two brown tubercles, one springing from each sida with a down-
ward cnrre, and each abont one-third as long as those on Joint 1 ; also with two small dorsal,
wavt-like orange tnberdes. Joints 8 and 6 exactly like Joint 2, but on Joint 4 the lateral
brown tabercle is replaced by a wart-like orange one. Joints 6, 7, 8 and 9, each with two small
dorsal orange tabercles, and each with a lateral, elongated, pointed, brown, downwardly carved
one, arising from the base of prolegs. Joints 10 and 11 slso with these lateral tabercles, bnt the
orange dorsal ones replaced by longer pointed carved brown ones, which however often have an
orange base. Joint 12 with two somewhat stouter dorsal brown tabercles, but none at sides.
Joints 7, 8, 9 and 10, each with a lateral orange spot just before and above the spiracles, which
are sunk into the flesh and scarcely perceptible. Head, legs, venter and cervical shield the same
color as body, the venter with two tabercles on Joint 6, which much resemble prolegs, the
cervical shield, with an orange trsosverse spot on anterior edge, from which is thrust the osma-
terium.
When full grown this tubercled worm fastens itself by its hind
legs and by a silken loop drawn between-- joints 5 and 6« and in about
[Fig. 85.] t^^o days changes to a chrysalis, of
which Figure 85, a, gives a shaded
baok-vieW) and b a lateral outline*
This chrysalis is at first yellowish*
green, but soon becomes beauti*
fully marked with gray and violet,
and more or less with yellow on
the back : and it is readily distin-
guished irom all other chrysalides
of North American butteiiSies be*
longing to the same genus (Papilio) by two trigonate prominences
on the head which give it a square appearance ; by a very prominent
trigonate projection on the top, and a lesser one each side of thorax;
by the wing-sheaths being much dilated and sharply edged above,
and by six prominent, rounded, narrow-edged, longitudinal projec-
tions on the top of the three principal abdominal joints.
The butterfly which issues from this chrysalis in about three
weeks, is such a delicate and elegant object, that it is next to impos-
sible to give a just illustration of it. The front wings are black with
a greenish metallic reflection on the nerves and along the front and
hinder borders, and a row^ of white spots near the hinder border,
which is very slightly undulate, with a narrow cream-colored mark oii
€1^
118 noOND ANKUAL BKPORT 07
the inner siouBes. The bind vings are of a brilliant steel-blae, will
a greenish cast, with a carved row of wbit« lanulee and wilh tti»
binder border quite nndulate and the inner Bioaaes cream-colored,
llie under surface of the front wings is more sombre than the Hppa
surface, with the spots near the borders and tne marginal lunslei
more distinct. The under surface of the hind wings, is du the coi-
[Fie. M-1
trary, with the exception of a large almost oral patch »th»se,i^*
very brilliant steel blue, with a curved row of seven rounded spoti
of a deep orange, bordered with black, and the four or fire upff
ones edged above with white ; there is a small yellow basal spol,
about Ave small whitish spots around the lower borders of tbslirf^
'sombre oval patch, aud the marginal Innules are much more dUtinct
than on tbe upper surface. The male which I illustrate (Fig. SS)^'
fers from the female in the mare brilliant hue of the upper surface,
and in either entirely lacking the row of white spots near the inn*''
border of the front wings, or in having but the faintest trace of iben.
As these Aristolocbia worms are semi-gregarious, and as viiB"
young, all the individuals of a batch may be found close togetJier,
they are easily destroyed, and those persons who eultivate the Aru-
tolochias, need never be troubled withlhis insect, if they witleiuO'
ine tbe vines carefully during the first half of July. The worroaiB-
variably produce butterfiies during the fall months, and tbe insect
oonsequently hybernates in the perfect or butterfly state. As tbi
worms feed only on the Aristolochias, scarcely a plant of the k^ai
can be grown without sooner or later being attacked, and the gv*
dener shonld always keep< a watchful eye for the worms, about u*
time indicated.
THE COTTONWOOD DAGGER— jl<TO»y«a jxpiili, N. Bp.
(Lipidoptn* AaroBjrctoda.)
The Cottonwood tree (Pop-
■ulua monilifera), though not
very generally cultivated in
the more thickly settled parts
ofthecountry,is yet a valuable
tree, especially in the newly
settled parts of the West,
where by its rapid growth and
large foliage, it soon furnishes
both wood and chade on the
bleak treeless prairies. Be-
sides several borers which eal
into the trunk and root, it is
attacked in this State by a very curious lazy caterpillar, which de-
vours the foliage, and not unfrequently strips the tree.
This caterpillar (Fig. 87) when Jull grown, rents curled round upon
the leaf, and is easily recognized by its body being covered with lonf
soil bright yellow hairs which grow immediately from the body, part
on the back, and curl round on each side. It has a shiny black head,
black spots on the top of Joints 1 and 2, and a straight black brush oa
top of joints 4, 6, 7, 8 and 11. There are two broods of these worms
each year, the first brood appearing during the month of June and
producing moths by the last of July, the second brood appearing the
last of August and throughout September, and passing the winter in
the chrysalis state. The chrysalis is dark shiny brown, and ends in
an obtuse point which is furnished with several hooked bristles. It
is formed within a pale yellow cocoon of silk intermingled with th^
hairs of the caterpillar, and is generally built in some sheltered place,
such as a chink in the bark of .a tree, or under the, cap of some
fence.
t^«- ''■I The moth (Fig. 88, ?) is of a pale
y, marked with black as in the figure,
belongs to a night-Qying genus {Aerc
ita) of true Owlet-moths, very closely
ied to onr common cut-worm moths;
i yet the larvsa belonging to this genus
re none of them the cut-worm habit of
concealing themselves ander groand, and are exceedingly hetero-
geneous among themselves. Some are furnished with long soft hairs
like the species under consideration; some with prominent hairy
warts; some have protuberances on certain segments; some are fui-
nished with brushes; others not, etc., etc. But notwithstanding this
dissimilarity among the larvae of the genus, the moths bear very close
ISO SMOSB JJQIUAXi BBMBf Off
resemblancdfl to one another, and in some eases it is not easy to sep-
arate them without knowing the lanrao. Oar Cottonwood species bi
sever been described. It bears a strong resemblance to seyenl
Earupean species, bat as it woald only weary the general reader te
give the details wherein it differs from those already described, wbiek
closely resemble it, these details will be fonnd to accompany tit
scientific description below.
This insect would undoubtedly become much more nnznerov
and troublesome, were it not for the fact that it is pursued by three
distinct parasites. Many of the worms when full grown will fasts
themselves firmly to a leaf in the curled position, and from the bolj
will issue from thirty to forty little maggots. These maggots ut
each of them 0.17 inch long, of a dull green color, tapering each way,
with a dark dorsal mark, a lateral elevated ridge, and a row of siuV
elevated spots of the same color as the body between this ridge and
the back. Each one spins a mass of white silk around its bodj, tai
creeps out of it and commences spinning afresh, until at last a laife
aggregate amount of flossy silk is spun, into which the maggots wri
back to transform, though some transform while lying on the surface
These maggots eventually produce a little black Ichneumon-^j i)^
longing to the genus MiGrogaster.* Another and larger node
termed Ichneumon-fly belonging to the genus Ophion^ also attach
this Gotten wood worm, and it is also occasionally infested with a
Taohina-Ay larva.
These worms are most easily destroyed when young, for thoagh
not strictly gregarious, they do not then scatter much from tbe
branch upon which they were born.
AcBonrcTA popvli, N. Bp.—L«rv»— Length 1.60. Color Ttllowith-creen, corered with loncw*
Vriglit follow hain which B^riag immediatelj from tho body, part on tbt back, and cail tovai «■
aach aido. Oft top of Jointa 4, 6, f, 8 and 11, a long ftraii^t donbia toft of black bain, tboM oif
and 8 (he amailett. Head polished black with a few white briitiet. Joint 1 with a black iv<«
abore, divided longitudinal ly by a pale yellow line, g^iring^ it the appearance of a pair of trius^
Joint 1 with two leee diatinct black epota. Thoracic legs black ;. proleg;i black with brownifii 0
trtmitiea. Tenter freeniih*brown. Deaeribed^om many epaoimoni. When yomif 9t a *^
ligfhter color, or almoit wiiita, with the black tnf ti short bat more conspicnoof , with a data^
black dorsal line, two lateral parpliah-brown bands, and with hairs white, sparse and itnig:ht*
IndiTidnals rary much : some hava a black dorsal line, some hare bat three distinct Uick
tofts ; aume haTO » 8th toft of black hairs on Joint 9, and others hare a few blade haiif oo aO >•'
the thoracic jointa. Jost before spinning: op, many of the hairs are fraqoenUy lost, and tb« bod;
acquires a dull livid hoe.
Ifofi.— 3 , Front wings, white, Snely powdeted with dark atoms which give them a verr P^
gray nppearanoe ; marked with black spota as f cdlowa : a complete series of small spots on poi ttf^r
border extending on the fringes, one between each nerve ; near the anal angle between aerref i''^
S a large and conspicnoas spot bearing a partial resemblance to a Greek pH, placed 8idevia«f 9»
lirom this spot a somewhat sigsag line ronniag parallel with posterior border, bnt ^^^'^^^
wanntad towards ooatn, leaat diatinct between nervea 8 and 4, and f orming^ n large distittct d^
like spot between nerves 5 and 8 ; space between thia line and posterior border, slightlj <Ur
than the rest of the wing-sarface on account of the dark atoms being more thickly aprUAled o
k ; four costal marks, one subobsolete in a transverse line with the reniform spot, one <^"I^^^
abont the middle, and in a line with reniform spot and anal angle, one abovt the same liM ^
lf#jMid looking tike a blurred X about one-chird the length of wing from base, and^tt«J^
*lficreya«<er •croaycl« of my MS.
T0X 9TATB XHSOMOLOOUrr* ISl
•«4et, near ibe bw*; ofbicnkr spot flattened and well defined'^ by a bUck annnUUoB;
reniform spot iodicatod bj a blurred black mark runninf: on the croas^Tein and aome-
thnas aomewhat creiceni*f6nned ; a V-shaped apot pointing towards baae half-way be-
twacn costsk and interior marsin, in a tranaverse line with the large coatal spot whieh
looka lika a blurred X; a blurred mark in middle at base, and lastly a narrow spot on the inferior
iBaarg^in, half-way between base and anal angle. Uind wings same color as front wings ; somewhat
mora glossy, with the Ivnnle, a band on posterior border one-fourth the width of wingi and some-
timaa a narrow coincident inner line, somewhat darker than the rest; the posterior border also
with a aaries of spots one between each nerve. Under surface of front wings pearly-white with
an arcuated brown band, most distinct towards costa, across the posterior one-third, all inside el
this band of a faint yellowish-brown ; Innule and fringe spots distinct, and with a faint trace of
the ]wi-8pot ; hind wings uniform pearly-white with a distinct and well defined dark wayy line run-
ninif parallel with posterior margin across the posterior one-third of wing, and with the Innnle
and f ring^e spots distinct. Antennte simple and bristle-formed, gray above, brown beneath. Head
thorax and body, both above and below, silvefy-gray. Legs with the tarsi alternately dusky and
9St*'J' c? differs from ^ by his somewhat stouter aatennsB ; much narrower body, and narrower
wings and fringes, the front wbgs having the i^ez more acuminate, and the hind wings scarcely
ahowing the darker hind border.
Described from 2 $, S^f ^^ ^^<^* ^ ^^ ornamentation of the front wings this species bears
some resemblance to the European species Indent and pti, but otherwise differs remarkably, and
especially in its larval characters. It bears a still closer resemblance both in the larva ' and imago
state to the pale variety of a common species known in England as the "Miller" {A. lepmina), bat
Jadging from the figures and description in "Newman's Natural History of British Moths," it mi^
be easily distinguished from lepmina by the well defined orbicular spot, by the greater proximity
of the two large costal spots, by lacking a round spot behind the disk, and by the more prolonged
apex. It differs also in the larva state from Uparina which feeds on the Birch. It likewise closely
reaamblee interrvpta, though the larvss are remarkably different ; and it also resembles leptueuiin^,
the larva of which is unknown j but the specific differences will be readily perceived upon compar-
ing Guenee's descriptions. How near it approaches to Acronyeta oecxdentaiu, Grote,* it is impos-
sible to tell, as the author's description is exceedingly brief, considering the number of closely
allied forms ; but as that species has a bright testaceous tinge on the renif orm spot, it evidently
diilers from mine. Harris's Apat€ia [Aeronifctai] ils»«ricaaa,t though very different in the imago, yet
closely resembles jyojntit in the larva state. I have on two occasions found the larra of AnuHcan*
feeding on the Soft Maple, and it may be distinguished from pcptai, by its greater sise ; by the
paler color of the body ; by the hairs berag paler, more numerous, shorter and pointing in all di-
rections, especially anteriorly and posteriorly of each segment; by having on each of Joints 4 aad
0 two distinct long black pencils, one originating each side of dorsum, and on joints 11 one thicker
one originating from the top of dorsum ; by a substigmatal row of small black spots (three to
eadi segment, the middle one lower than the others) and by a trapesoidal velvety black patch
atarting from anterior portion of joint 11 and widening to anus.
THE MISSOURI BEE-KILLER— Asilus Missourtenais, N. Sp.
(Diptera Asilidss.)
On page 168 of my First Report an account is given, with a very
poor figure, of a large two-winged fly which was first received by Dr.
♦Proc. Knt. Soc. Phil., VI, p. 16.
fl am surprised that Dr. Morris {Harr, Jnj. Inteett,^. 436, Note) refers this species to Guen^e's
•eerkol^, when the larva of the latter, as described by Guenee himself, is so different and feeds
withal on Birch and Alder, and not on either Maple, Elm, Linden or Chesnut.
IK 8KC0HD AXSVU. SSFORT Or
^ ^ Fitch, of New York, from Mr. R. 0,
TfaompBoa of this State, who fonod ttut
it had the pemicioTiB habit of CRtchiii
and Backing out the jnices of the coo-
mon hone;-bee. Dr. Fitch referred tbs
::?fiy to the genus Trupansa^ and cilled
it the Nebraska bee-killer, from iu
having first been captured by Mr.Thotnf
son in Nebraska, where he at thai (inw
resided. The great German Dipteriit,
H. Loew, as I am informed by Bjm
Oeten Sacken of New York, ignores anJ
has discontinued the genus Trupanea, sub.4titating in its place ihitof
Promachus; and Fitch's Trupanaa apivora is the very same specia
previously described by Loew as Promac/tus Baatardii^ and it is one
of the most common species, occurring very generally over the [Inittd
States.
I find that we have in Missouri a somewhat larger fly (Fig. 9)
which has the same pernicious habit of seizing and destroying iht
honey-bee in preference to all other kinds of prey. It acts in eiactlj
the same manner as the Nebraska Bee-killer, beiug, if anything, man
inhuman and savage. It belongs to the typical genus ^«»7uf, aa<i!
have called ittbe Missouri Bee-ki]ler(A«i/u« JfiM0uri«n«z«). Thoagli
bearing a casual resemblance to Hie Nebraska Bee-killer, it osy^cij
readily be dislinguiehed from that species, and especially by the dif-
ferent venaliun of the wings.
(Fig. »g.i Tj,e three more common genera of these ion-
cious Asilus flies, may easily be distiogaiilitil
from each other by the character of these wing-
nerves. In the typical genus Aailus to wbi«>
belongs our Missouri Bee-killer, the third longitu-
dinal vein is forked near the terminal MiWoftH
wing, and the vein itself is connected about tn*
middle of the wing, with the fourth longitiidiDa1,u
in Figure 90, b. In the genus Promachus, to whidi
the Nebraska Bee-killer belongs, it is the j^coiu'
(not the third) longitudinal vein which is forked near the midilW^
the wing, and the third branch of this fork is connected by a slender
cross-vein to the third longitudinal, near the terminal third of the vide,
as in Figure 90, a. In the genus Erax, which generally compnsw
smaller species, the venation is similar to that of Asilus-, but the
upper branch of Ihe fork, instead of joining the third longitndtii*'
▼ein, is abrnptly broken off and connected only near its termiii*'"'''
by a transverse vein, as in Figure 90, c.
ktihut MiBsouminiii H. Sr.— AJu *ipn» l.Bi; Inctb of body l.SO inchH- rw***
fvaot, with ■ gmoti; jeUow tinge, mon diilinct Bround the veini, which ire broim- '"^^
Jtllow, JDmetimci brawBuh ; maniUcht itraw-jenDv with ■ few illff bl*cfc hiiri btlo* r "^
p<dt itTM-rellaw ; crown twj dtaplT (ickTkUd ; bua of th* imd* pall ;*IId« mitbi^'^'*
THE STATE BUTOMOLOGIST. 123
4
j^llowish hairs, and a crown of black ones near the border ; eyes large^ prominenti finely retica-
1site<l and almost black ; antenusB, first joint black tipped with brown, cylindrical and hairy ; a^o-
ond Joint black, short, thick and rounded at tip, with a few stiff hairs ; third joint as long as flni,
ta.perlng each way, smooth, black and terminating in a long, brown bristle ; proboscis black and
nearly as long as face ; neck with pale and black hairs. ' Thoraa leaden-black, slightly opalescent
-with reddish brown at sides, more or less pubescent with pale yellow, especially laterally and pos-
teriorly and in three narrow longitudinal dorsal lines which gradually approach towards VMtm-
thorsuc; bearded at sides and behind with a few decarved black bristles, those behind
intsrepersed with a few smaller pale hairs ; scutel of the same color, with upward-curving, bladk
bristles; hal teres brown. Abdomen, c7 » general color dull leaden -yellow, with darker trans vei;^
bands at insections ; the light color produced by a yellowish pubescence and numerous short close-
ly ing; yellow hairs, the dark bands produced by the absence of this covering at the borders of each
•«S^ment; basal segment broad, bilobed, and with lateral black bristles; segments 6, 7, 8 and anal
valves with a dpcided pink tint, especially 7; Shut one-third as long as 7 above. $, broader,
flatter, more polished and brassy, with no transverse darker bands, segments 7 and 8 polished
black, the latter narrow and longer than any of the others : anus with a few black bristles. Legt,
dull purple-brown, with black bristles ; thighs very stout, the hind pair rather darker than the
others, the two front pair of trochanters with long, yellowish hairs; pulvilli, generally
fulvous. *
Described from two ^ , and two $ , all captured while sucking honey-bees. I have not access
to Loew's descriptions, and cannot therefore compare it with already described species ; but speci-
mens have been sent to Dr. Wm* LeBaron, of Geneva, Illinois, and to Baron Osten Sacken, of New
York, and both these gentlemen are unacquainted with it, and believe it to be new. In the weU
marked c? specimens^ the body bears a general resemblance to that of Jfupanea [Promachiui] vtr-
Ubrata, Say.
Of coarse the apiarian will care very little to know which of these
two Bee-killers is weakening his swarms. They fhould both be un-
mercifully destroyed, and though very strong and rapid flyers, they
may be easily caught when they have settled on any little promi-
nence with a bee in their grasp ; for they are so greedy of the beeV
joices that they are at this time less wary, and even when disturbed,
will fly but a few yards away before settling again. A net such as
that described in the article on ^^ Cabbage worms'* will be found use-
ful in catching these mischievous flies.
The habits and preparatory stages of our Asilus flies are not very
well known. They are all cannibals in the fly state, sucking out the
juices of their victims with the strong proboscis with which they are
furnished, and by which they are capable of inflicting a sharp sting
on the human hand. The larvae are footless, and live in the ground^
and such as are known in this state are strangely enough, vegetable-
feeders.
[Fig. 91.] The only N. A. species that has heretofore
been bred to the perfect state, is the Silky
Asilus {Aailus sericeus^ Say., Fig. 91) belong-
ing to the typical genus Asilus, Its larva feeds
upon the roots of the Rhubarb, and was bred to
the perfect state by Dr. Harris {Inj, Insects^ p.
605). I have succeeded in breeding to the fly
state another species, belonging however to the
genus JEraXy and subjoin a description of the
larva, as it is of considerable scientific interest
The fly is figured below (Fig. 93 a).
134 BWWaD AHHDAL BKFOKT OV
JKg. n.] K«» BuTABiii (T)— Lws— (8« Rg- M.) Lractli l.DS iseliM. Only tnln [eiut,
tiia Uim uitarior uid tht thrtf poiteriar onu tapering gndaillj, tha r«st of (qui vilQ, |
■ItghUj dcpmud ; tnnilacfnt jaUowuh-whlU, tht chitiaaiti eotniog tolarmblj lin bn
■»oll» Iktaral ridgt) tiro rnfoai dor>»l ipincld on joint 1 and two limilueiaB
Brad dark brown, Tcry ntrKtil*, pointed, dirided at tip into two nubUik
tj point!, and haTing two nDsaitorm appendagn ; anal leemeiit with two daprraHd li>ii[il>lt
%=i nal lino abova, ridgad an anUrior rdp and with a cantral dapmivd lino below. I( aib
~ ja of it* bftd in crawling.
J>^a— (Pig. 93 b}. Stoat, honaj-jallow; tht lag and wing-thFalhi lolderwd toptiwr Ibnt)
f ftparated Tnim tha abdomea ; tjtt \Mrg» and dark ; haad with two Imrga brown ipiH ■ i
., and a lataral lat d( thrM rather tmallar one* ; thorax with two small thin ronM I
danal projection! and a wt of two imall lateral apiDea jotthehiuiai |
baad ; abdomen, with each lament rids^d in tha ' nuddls asd fnmidtt
on thii ridga with a rinff ot brown blunt thoraa aloping faackwarii:
acal lagment with a ftw rather atoatar apinii.
p IHro gpacimena, opa foBnd b; Mr. Q. C. Brodbead of Fleaaant VO.
ilo., onder a peach tree, tha other by Mr. 0. Paali ot Bnreka, Ho., n
der a "creepine viLa" of iriiich ha did not know tha nama. The7*n
foond fnll tTown in Hay, and fave oat tba fliat tba fore part ot lilj-
Both prodncad $$, on which acconnt tha ipadei eannot be delRnM
with aUolnta certainty. Oatan Sackan intonna me that it La alliri k
(•ArKtiu Loaw, bat ii different. It [■ marked Hf (er in my MS-, bgt tni
Hacqnart'a deicription ot Bufardf, and from g and S apecimm of Ibl
■peciea kindly famiihad by Dr. Le Baron, I taal pretty confidant Ihttiln
f of that apeciai, which ia dticribed ai followi : Aiiemlnti ttiamMi irifru mpicaHbia hihWi^
eMuUut ie;-*n>(f« ■IM4« aurffluKi $. PidOuM ntgrUi HHU n^li.- aJU Jlsvfdit. LniU^
HaUiinaddi: " I^ca and front black with gray down ; inonatache with tha nppn ball bUckiri
lower half while ; ai alio tha board. The middle baud of thorax ditided. The 0nt fsu i^
mtnta of tha abdomen with the poctarior and lateral bordtre whitish. Kitremitie* ot Mi kp
black. From North America. Prom 3 cf.I hare feen one which had the four terminal trgaiat
of the abdomrn while." H j femalea accord Tary well witt tbii detcriptios ao fw u it !"*•
thoagh I oannot lee why Hacqoart reatricta the whidih border! to tba fiiat fowr aesnHnb ia ^
fiasoh deacription, whtn ia the Latin it ia iCated that all tha aasmebti are ao bordered, whki *
tba caae with my ipeclmani.
INNOXIOUS INSECTS.
THE QOAT-WEED BUTTERFLY— PojiJiu glyctrium, Donbledar.
[LtpidopUn, KTuphaUdB.)
There is is an intereBting
d rare butterfly known to
tomologista b; the name of
iphia glyoerium, which oo-
rs in Missouri, Texas and
inois, and perhaps in other
ithweetem States. It is an
;ere8ting species on ao-
unt of the dissimilarity of
i sexes, and of the position
holds among the bntter-
te; and as its natural his-
7 was unknown till the
jsentyear,! will tranecrib*
m the American Ento-
tlogiat, the following ac-
ant of it, which I was ena-
)d to iwepstre from speci-
ms kitidly sent to me laat
8e{^mber by Mr. J. R. Mahlemaa, of Woodbam, Ills., and from
fnmer facta communicated by Mr. L. E. Hayhorat, of Sedalia, Mo.
Dr. Morris, in his " Synopsis of the Lepidopteni of North Amer-
ica," places this butterfly with the Nymphalis family, of which the
Diaippus Butterfly [Nymphalia dUippu8,f3taA.\^),n representative.
Tbe larra, however, has more the form and habits of that of the 'H-
tyms Skipper (genes Goniloha), while singularly enoagb, the chrysa-
lis resemblea that of the Archippos Butterfly (genns Danais).
The larva feeds on an annual (Groton capitatum) which is toler-
ably common in Missoori, Illinois, Kentucky, and westward, where it
la known by the name of Goat-weed, and as no value whatever is at-
138 SBOOBD ABTBOAL BKPOBT OF
tached to it, the insect Trhich attacks it cannot be classed among \ht
injuriooB at>eciea. The plant has a peculiar wooly or baity wbidst
green appearance, and in the month ol September its leaves ms* in-
qnently be foond rolled up after the fashion shown at the leftorFt^
IKg-Ss.] Dre9i,with thelarTaiDei<lft
l^This roll of the leaf is gn-
erally quite aniform^sadi!
made in the following man-
ner: ExtendingitselfoDilK
midvein, with its head is-
wards the base of the leil
the larva attaches a tfareid
to the edge, at about one
fourth thedistancefroDilir
base to the point Byi
tension on this litreiik
draws this edge partly toward the opposite one, and fastens it llien-
being assisted in the operation by the natural tendency of the leafi"
curl its edges inwards. Fastening a thread here, it repeats the ope-
ration nntil the edges meet, and then it proceeds to firmly join ibeE
nearly to the apex, leaving a small aperture through which to pui
the excrement- During hot days the larva remains concealed id Hi
leaf, and towards evening comes out to feed, though sometinies it
feeds Qpon its boaae, eating the leaf down halfway from base to poini-
It then abandons it and rolls up a new one. In the breeding cage,
when placed in a cool shady room, the larva seldom rolls op tbe
leaves, but feeds at random over the plant, and when at rest simpl;
remains extended on a leaf. From this we may infer tbatitsobjecl
in rolling the leaves is to shield itself from the rays of the hot Au|:o<>
and September enn ; for the plant invariably growa on high naked
prairies.
The young larva has a large head, larger than the third segment,
which is the largest in the body. The head preserves its general form
through the successive monks ; it is light bluish, thickly covered "it''
papillEB of a dirty-white color, and there are also a numberoflJ^'
orange papillae of a larger size scattered among them. The Bkmof
the caterpillar is green, but the general hue is a dirty-white, owin^ ^
the entire surface being very closely studded with white or wiiiti'l'
papillsB with dark-brown ones interspersed. These prominencea »»
hemispherical, hard, opaque, shining, and the larva feels reagbu>d
harsh to the touoh.
At each monlt some of these papillro disappear, especially all^"
brown ones, the body increases in size so that the head is smsllerthw
the third segment, the green color of the skin becomes more ipP*''
ent, the body is softer to the touch, and the whole larva assume' •
neater appearance.
IBB BTATE UlTOlIOLOaiST. 137
Thug tbia larva has very much the same peculiar whitish glan-
Pfic- «■] coua-greea color as the
^plant OD which itfeedsj
and any one who has sees
it upon the plaut, cannot
help concluding that it
fDrnishea another in- .
stance of that mimickry
in Nature, where an in-
sect-, by wearing the ex*
act colors of the plant
upon which it feeda, i«
enabled the better to ea-
cepe the sharp eyes af its natural enemies. When full-grown, which
ia in about three weeks after hatching, this worm (Fig. 91, a) meas-
ures 1^ inches, and although, as above described, the little elevationa
frequently disappear so that it looks quite smooth, yet aometimea
they remnin until the transformation to chryaalia takea place, as was
the case with two which I bred.
Ftraii. aLTcmiaBM.~rvi-eTetn larva— Ti«Dgth I. BO ioeliM. Ojtiadriul. Gen*nl qt p««r-
■ne* ihiieTf tii»d, pala gtmacam'gnm, lieh(#r kbora itigmiitk Uiui elMwtme. aroiDd-colur, af
b<Ml; ctenr gntn. Thickl; coTirtd with whiU p&pilln or gTMaUtiom, which wt ottra inUr-
•ptntd with mioEtB black or dark-browD intikeD doti. H«mI qait* laigr, (rmthcr more thu i U
I*TEt u lh» tbiid le^mmt), nntant, «iibquidr*ta, bilabed, grftanlBtcd lit« tha bodj, but with tb*
bUck innhcn doCi mor* nnmrroni, and haling baaidM, (iTwal largrr graanl&tion* kboTB, torn*
torn of which an ^utrall; bluk and tha rait falTDu j a row ot thrta yety diatioct aja-ipot* M
th» hue or palpi ; th« triaofalar V-ihap«d piew etongBtcd and wall defloed b; a flna hiack )bt,
■od divided iDngitadinallj bj a ilraight black lioa; palpi and labrnn pala. tha latl»r largn and
Maapicaona ; Jawt black. Heck naiTOW, conatrictcd, graao, amootb, and ratractilc witbio flrat a«f
m«Dt. SegrnanCa 1 — 3 p'adnall; largar and largtr ; XtoIaatgradaaUj amalltr. Stigmata fulmaa.
Vaalar Itia Chicklj grannlatad thu tcrsnm. Deicribad from Bra fuU-growu apacimem recelTad
frnaHr. Mahlsmao.
Preparatory to transforming, it enapends itself by the bind lega
to a little tuft of silk which it had previously spun, and after resting
for about twenty-foar houra with its head curled up to near the tail,
it works off the larval skin and becomes a chryaalia, which in from
two to three weeka afterwards gives ont the butterfly. This chryaa-
lia (Fig. 94, &).is short, thick, rounded, and of a light green; some-
tjmes becoming light gray, and being finely speckled and banded
with dark gray. The akin is so thin and delicate that the colors of
the butterfly may be distinctly seen a few days before it makes il«
escape.
The male butterfly (Fig. 95), is of a deep coppery-r'ed on the up-
per aide, bordered and powdered and marked with dark purplish-
brown, as shown in the figure. The nnder aide is of a feuilU mort*
brown with a greasy lustre, the scales being beantituDy shingled
traneveraely ao as to remind one of that article of dry-goods which
the ladies call rep ; while the bands which commenced on the front
winga above, may be traced further across the wing, and t^ere is a
trsQSverse band on the hind wioss^ with an indiatinct white spot near
ISS esaom} Assvn. bepost ov
the upper edge. The female (Fig. 96), is of & lighter color than the
male, marked vith parplish-brown ss in the flginre, the traDSvene
banda being quite distinctly deSned with very dark-brown. The
nnder side is very much as in the male.
A few of the batterflies, io all probability, manage to live tbrongh
the winter, and are thaa enabled to perpetuate the race, by deposit'
iag their eggs, the following snmmer, on the leaves and stems of tlie
(}oat-weed, which is the only plant upon which the insect is ;el
known to subsist
THE BLACK BREEZE-FLY— TaSanus atrai-ua, Fabr.
(DIptan, Tkbuidv.)
[Kg. (T.j There is a family of iwg*
Two-winged Flies, com-
monly called Breeze-flies in
England, but more com-
monly known as Hone-
flies in this country, the in-
sects belonging to whieti
are, in the perfect sUle,
great nuisances, tboa^
there is every reason to be-
lieve that as larvie tlieyare
beneficial to the hoBband-
man, by devouring manj
noxions underground ve^
table-feeding Urvaa.
TTiia family comprises some of the very largest flies, and they «e
all noted for the tormenting powers which the female has of piereing
the skin and sucking the blood of diflerent quadrhpeds and even of
man. They are widely distributed, and species occur in all V"^ "
the world, torturing alike the huge elephant and flerce Hon of the
tropics, and the peaceful reindeer of the arctic region. It is dunng
the hottest ^ummer months that they "do most abound," and they
frequent both our timbered and prairie regions. One of the mo«^
common species in the West is the so-called "Green-head ej
( Tahanua Uneola, Fabr.) and every farmer who has to work on tt
prairies, especially during the hay-nsaking season, knows how bi
thirsty it is, and how absolutely necessary it is to cover the ^°^»
thia season of the year, in order that they may be able to work »
Two other species of nearly the same size (71 aoatalif, Wied. ^ ,'
ainettu, Fabr.) are common wHfa oa, and I have found the «WI*"
IHB STAIB XNXOMOLOeiBT. 129
Ghrysops {Ohrysopa vittatua^ Wied.) — a smaller yellow species with
black stripes, and a broad smoky band across the middle of each
wing ; to be very troublesome in oar wooded regions, confining its
attacks more especially to the horses' ears, from which habit it is fre-
quently called the " Ear-fly."
It is only the female flies, as is the case also with our mosquitoes,
which thus torment our animals by means of their sharp lances, the
males living on the sweets of flowers, and their mouths being desti-
tute of mandibles. The flight of these Breeze-flies is very strong and
rapid, and is attended with a buzzing, tormenting noise. The males
may often be seen with the wings vibrating so rapidly that they be-
come invisible, resting motionless in one place, and then darting
rapidly and resting suddenly again, generally turning the head in
some other direction each time they dart; and St. Fargeau has as-
certained that this manoeuvering is performed in order to intercept
and seize the females.
Although these flies swarm so prodigiously on our prairie and es-
pecially on our low swampy lands, yet hitherto very little has been
known of their larval character and habits. De Geer very many
years ago described the larva of the European Oattle Breeze*fly {Ta-
hanu8 hovinusy Linn.), and up to 1864 this was the only larva of the
kind known. In February of that year Mr. Walsh published the de-
scription of another Tabanide larva, but without being able to refer
it to any particulsCr species.* I had the good fortune last summer to
breed to the perfect state the very same kind of larva which Mr.
Walsh described. It proved to be one of our most common and
largest species, namely The Black Breeze-Ay (Tabanus atratua^ Fabr.)
This Fly (Fig. 97, d) is black, the back of the abdomen being cov-
ered with a bluish- white bloom like that on a plum ; the eyes are
large, and the wings are smoky dark brown or black.
The larva (Fig. 97, a) is a large l^jointed, cylindrical affair, ta-
pering at each end, of a transparent, highly polished, glassy, yel-
lowish or greenish appearance, shaded with bluish-green and fur-
nished above and below, as in the figure, with large roundish
sponge-like tubercles which are retracted or exserted at the will
of the insect. Though the external integument is so transparent,
that the internal structure is readily visible, yet this integument
is firm and the larva is most vigorous and active, burrowing with
great strength either backwards or forwards in the earth, and be-
tween one's fingers while it is being held. Placed in water it will
swim vigorously by suddenly curling round and lashing out its tail,
but it is apparently not as much at home in this element as in the wet
earth, for it is restless and remains near the surface, with the tip of
the tail elevated in the air. When the water is foul it moves
about actively near the surface, but when it is fresh it remains more
•Proc. Bolt. Soc. N»t. Hiai., VoL J3i, pp. SOi-6.
9— K B
130 SKCOND AinrniL rspobt ov
quiet at the bottom. The specimen which I saceeeded in hreedingf
was sent to me by Mr. Adolph Engelmann of Shiloh, St. Clair Co.,
Ills. It was found by Mr. Wm. Cooper of the same county, about ten
feet from a small but permanent stream of water. Mr. O. at first took
it to be a leech, and when he attempted to capture it, it immediatelj
commenced burrowing in the ground.
Mr. Walsh's description of this larva is so full, and agrees so well
with mine, that I cannot do better than transcribe it.
Tabaitus ATBAT08. — LorvA, ^Length 3.25 inchM when extended, 1.75 tnclies wfa^n contracM;
diftneter .25— .30 inch. Body cylindrical, IZ-Jointed, the three or four terminal joints muGh tapered
at each end of the body, bat more so anteriorly than posteriorly, and joints I and 11, each wilbi
retractile membranous prolong^ation at tip. Joints 1 to 10 are subequal ; 11 is about two-thirfi
as long^ as 10 and IS about one-fourth as long, and .05 inch in diameter. [Joints 1 and 12 pe«r-
shaped when extended]. Color a transparent greenish>white, paler beneath ; an irregular dark-
green or greenish-black annnlus, paler beneath, on the anterior and posterior majrgins of joisti
S to 11, the anterior annulus laterally connected with the posterior by two to four dark-grm
iines. On the dorsum of 4 to 9, and more obscurely on 10 , a dark-green basal triangle, extend-
tng half-way to the tip ; Joint 1 with paler markings, and with no dark annulaa behind ; joist H
entirely fuscous. Head small, apparently fleshy, pale, truncate-conical, .03 inch wide, and abofft
.04 inch long in repose, inserted in joint 1 without any shoulder. The trophi occupy two-thirdiof
its length, but it has a long cylindrical internal prolongation, extending to the middle of joint 2,
which is sometimes partially exserted, so that the head becomes twice as long as before. All tki
trophi are pale and apparently fleshy, except the mandibles, which are dark-colored and eridestif
homy, and they have no perceptible motion in the living insect. The lubrnm is slender, a little
tapered, and three times as long as wide, on each side of and beneath which is a slender, thora-
like, decurved, brown-black mandible. The labium resembles the labrum, bnt is shorter, and on
each side of it is a slender palpiform, but exartlcniate maxilla, extending beyond the rest of the
month in an oblique direction. l7o palpi. On the vertex are a pair of short, fleshy, exsrticolAtP^
filiform antennas, and there are no distinct eyes or ocelli. In the cast larval integument the entin
head, .25 inch long, is exserted, and is dark-colored and evidently homy, all the parts retaisini;
their shape except the antennsB, labrum and labium. The whole head has here the appearaocf of
the basal part of the leaf of a grass-plant, clasping the origin of the maxillss on its posterior
half, and bifurcating into the somewhat tapered cylindrical mandibles on its anterior half. 7^
maxillsB are traceable to two-thirds of the distance from the tip to the base of the head, scarcely
tapering, bent obliquely downwards at two*thirds of the way to their tip, and obliquely traocate
at tip. On the anterior margin of ventral segments 4 — 10, in the living insect, is a roir of m
large, fleshy, roundish, tubercular, retractile pseudopods, the outside ones projecting laterallji sod
each at tip transversely striate and armed with short, bristly pubescence ; on the anterior half of
ventral joint 11 is a very large, transversely-oval, fleshy, whitish, retractile proleg, with a deeply
impressed, longitudinal stria. On the anterior margin of dorsal johnts 4-^10, is a pair of snsllcri
transversely-elongate, retractile, fleshy tubercles, covering nearly their entire width, armsd 111*
the pseudopods, but not so much elevated as they are. No appearance of any spiracles. Anoi
terminal, vertically slit with a slender, retractile thorn .05 inch long, not visible in one specuooB.
Head, and first segment or two, retractile.
The larva reared by De Geer was terrestrial This larva is semi-
acquatic, for it is quite at home either in water or moist
earth. My specimen was kept for over two weeks in a largo
earthen jar of moist earth well supplied with earth-worma
It manifested no desire to come to the surface, but burrowed in every
direction below. I found several pale dead worms in the jar, tlioug
I cannot say positively whether they had been killed and sacked by taij
larva. Mr. Walsh in speaking of its haunts and of its food, days*
have, on many different occasions, found this larva amongst fl<|*^^^
rejectamenta. On one occasion I found six or seven specimeos in t
interior of a floating log, so soft and rotten that it could be cut u
THE STATE ENT0M0L06I8T. 131
cheese. Once I discovered a single specimen under a flat, submerged
stone, in a little running brook. And finally, I once met with one
alive, under a log, on a piece of dry land which had been submerged
two or three weeks before, whence it appears that it can exist a long
time out of the water. I had, on several previous occasions, failed to
breed this larva to maturity, and the only imago I have, was obtained
in 1^61, from larvae, which, suspecting them to be carnivorous from
the very varied stations in which they had occurred, I had supplied
with a number of fresh-water mollusks, but the habits of which, in con-
sequence of having been away from home, I was unable to watch. On
September 2d, 1863, 1 found a nearly full-grown larva amongst floating
rejectamenta, and between that date and September 23d, he had de-
voured the mollusks of eleven univalves {Gen. Planorhis) from one-
half to three-fourths of an inch in diameter; and on three separate
occasions I have seen him work his way into the mouth of the shell.
In this operation his pseudopods were energetically employed, and I
found, on cracking the shells after he had withdrawn, that a small
portion of tlie tail end of the animal was lelt untouched —no doubt
in consequence of his being unable to penetrate to the small end of
the whorl of the shell — and also the skin of the remaining part, and
the horny-tongued membrane."
My larva transformed to pupa (Fig. 97, h) within the ground, during
the lore part of July ; it remained in this state but a few days, and
the fly issued July 13th, and soon made its presence known by its loud
buzzing inside the jar. It was a perfect $ specimen, and the pupal
integument was sufiiciently firm and polished, that by carefully jvash-
ing off the earth, an excellent cabinet specimen was obtained, which
retained almost the exact form and appearance of the living pupa.
Before the escape of the fly which was effected through a longitudi-
nal tissure on the back of the head and thorax, reminding one of the
mode of escape of our Harvest-flies {CicadcBjj this pupa by means
of the thorns with which it is furnished, had pushed itself up to the
surface of the earth. My specimen being female, may account for the
very slight difference between the following description and that of
Mr. Walsh's.
Pupa, (described from pupal integ^ument). — Cylindrical, lying cnired as in the fig^ure ; rounded
At the head, and tapering; at the last two joints ; pale semi-transparent yellowish-brown. Head
with two transverse, nurrow-ed^d, somewhat crescpnt-sbAped dark-brown projections representing
the mouth, two rounded tubercles above, on the front, of the same color, and each giving out a
stiff bristle ; and midway between these four, two much smaller, lighter, rounded tubercles, set
closer together ; on each side in a line with the upper tubercles, a wrinkled antenna, tri^onate at
bale, appressed to the snrfoce and pointing outwards ; below these antennsB, on the eyes, two small
bristled warts. Thorax^ pronotum commencing behind antennSB, with a pair of small bristled bro«rn
tubercles* on its anterior dorsal submargin ; mesonotum twice as long as pronotum, with a pair
of large obliquely-placed, reniform, purple-brown tubercular spiracles, bordered on the outside
above, with a distinct fine white line ; between thesie spiracles are four small brown elevations the
two middle ones quite small and close together; a short metanotal piece, about one-seventh as long
*E\'idently not^spiraclca as Mr. Walsh supposed. The mesonotal spiracles are well defined, with
the white border above mentioned^ and the abdominal spiracles are each marked behind by a dis-
tinct white line ; but these tubercles hare no such annulus and are illy defined.
132
SECOND ASNUAL BEFOBT OF
u pionotom *Dd witboat apiikclu. ^bdoiuit, with S nbtqaaJ ■•gnMiiU, with twow«UddBJ
later*! imprMiaed linca, uid ftl! bat the lut beuitiE between theie liuea, a, roonded brown tibem-
lai ipiracle, the posterior npper borden liaed with wbita. lb* Brat eegmeot ii limple ud titeidi
to the tipe of the wiag-aheath* j tha otheta tit all f orniihrd, on Ihe poaterior oue-tliird, with u U'
nulaa of Adc, jFllowish brisUea, depreaied and directed bkckirii'di. Anal thorn Tobul, jtlln,
tmncatadi and fnniiabed with ail atont brown thoma, heiacouallf artaaged. Leigth I.XI indiH ;
grealeat diameter 0.30 inch. Oni £ epecimao.
This large Black Breeze-fly does not attack horses to any conrid-
erable extent that I am aware of, but is eaid to bite cattle. The
Btnaller species of real Horse-flies mentioned above, and vhich oc-
cur in prodigious numbers on our Western prairies, away from anj
large stteams of water, must evidently be terrestrial in the laiva
state, and not aquatic, and must just as surely live on other food than
snails, which are quite rare on the prairies. They are certainly car
nivorous however, and it is but natural to suppose that they feed on
underground vegetable-feeding larvae, such as the different kindsi^
white grabs, the larvffi of Crane-flies ( Tipulidm)., etc. Thus, in all prob-
ability, they perform a most important part in the economy of Na-
ture, by checking the increase of those underground larvse which aro
the most unmanageable of the farmer's foes. They therefore partly
atone for the savage and blood-thirsty character of the perfect females,
and I prefer consequently to place them with the other Innoxiona In-
sects.
GALLS MADE BY MOTHS.
As a sequence to the article on the Solidago Gall Moth (&«^«f^"'i>
uallcBsolidaginia, Kiley) published in my former Report, I will here
describe two other gall-making moths, with which I was not then ac-
quainted, the first of which, as I have since ascertained, occurs in thii
State. The other I have never yet met with.
THE FALSE INDiaO OALL-UOTH— TfoKtla aaarphtlla, CltmeDt.
(Lepidoptera, Tineidn.)
On the leafless stems of the False Indigo {Amorpha frviieom
may often be seen, daring the fall, winter and spring months, an elon-
~ " gated swelling such as that
shown at Figure 98, c, W>
of them oiten occurring
. one above the other. Mii
' swelling is a simple eDlarge-
ment of the stem to fi'f *"
six times its natural diam-
eter, and measures ft*"
three-quarters of an inch to
an inch in length. tf«'"
open during any of the win-
ter months, the intarior w"
present a tough woody ,»r
pearance, with an irregular brown channel, almost w*V
THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 133
at one side of the gall, and communicating above with a small
closed-up tubercle (See Fig. 98, e?,). At the bottom of this channel
the larva (Fig. 98, h, enlarged), which is whitish with a conspicuous
black head and black collar, may always be found, and it does not
transform to the chrysalis state till a few weeks before appearing as a
moth. The tubercle near the top of the gall is evidently caused by
the young larva penetrating the stem when it first hatches out; and
this larva must, after it has burrowed the proper length down the
stem, turn round and widen the burrow right up to the point of en-
trance ; for it is from this point that the moth escapes in the spring.
The moth, of which Figure 98, a, represents an enlarged female, is
easily distinguished from most other small moths belonging to the
same family ( Tineidce) by its beautifully tufted front wings, which
are not easily represented in a wood-cut. It is of a yellowish-brown
color, marked with darker brown, and the males are generally a little
darker than the females. This little moth was first described by Clem-
ens (Procu Ent, Soc. Phil., Vol. II, p. 419), who named the genus in
honor of Mr. Walsh, its first discoverer, and so far as I am aware it is
the only representative of the genus.
The twigs invariably wither and dry up above this gall, but as the
shrub has no particular value« the little gall-maker may be placed
among the harmless insects.
Walshia AM ORPBKLLA—Larvo— Length 0.35 — 0.40 inch. Cylindrical, tapering each waj^ bnt
more especially towards anns. Telloirish-whlte, each segment with aboat two distinct transrerse
foldfl' Two dorsal rows of pate but polished piliferoas spots, two to each segment; stigmata
roand, jet black with a white centre, with a pale piliferous spot abore, and two contigaoos ones on
a lateral fold, below each ; on Joints 1 and 2 the folds are more numerous and the piliferous spots
are larger and arranged in a transverse row. Head either black or dark brown, the trophi except
the BMxilliB white, and the eyelets, arranged in a crescent, also pale. Cervical shield same£olor«s
head, divided in the middle by a distinct pale line. Both have a few white hairs, arising from pale
points. Anal shield small and brown. Thoracic legs pale but slightly homy, transparent, fur-
nished with hairs, -and with two basal semi-circular brown lines behind, the largest terminating on
the inside, in a black thorn. Prolegs very small and scarcely distingpiishable except by a faint
Vrown circular rim at extremities, and a stiU fainter one at their base. Described from numerous
specimens, all very uniform.
Pupa — ^Unknown.
MofA— Front wing^ yellowish-fuscous, with a rather large blackish brown patch at the base of
the wing, somewhat varied with spots of the general hue, and a blackish-brown tuft, having the
flcales directed toward the tip of the wing, on the basal third of the fold, and a smaller one above
it near the costa. Near the end of the fold is another small tuft of the general hue, having the
ends of the scales tipped with dark brown, and in the middle of the wing nearly adjoining the lat-
ter is a large tuft of the general hue. Above the end of the fold is a small blanklsh^brown tuft,
the scales of which are not so much erected as in the other tufts ; between this and the central tufts
is a blackish-brown patch which sends a streak of the same hue into the fold. The apical portion
of the wing is somewhat discolored with brown, and along the inner margin, at the base of the cilia,
are five or six black dots. Cilia dull testaceous. [Hind wings shiny yellowish-brown, long, nar-
row, lanceolate, with very long cilia] Antennss fuscous [the basal joint long, smooth andelavate].
'Head and thorax blackish-brown ; labial palpi yellowish-fuscous. [Abdomen above dark brown, the
joints bordered behind with gray, the terminal joint with a yeUow tuft. Legs short, the tarsi only
of hind pair reaching beyond abdomen ; marked with gray and brown. Under surface uniform
grayish-brown, the hind wings somewhat paler, and all the wings bordered with a paler line.
Length 0.20 ; alar expanse 0.53 inch.] (Aftj^r Clemens).
134 SECOND aunhal rkfoei of
TUB MISNAMED OALL-MOTH— Eirrvptyrti*, laiitnttna, ClMncu.
(LcpIdDpt«r&, TortiiciJB.)
The only other gall-producing moth known in this conntry is the
species illustrated herewith {Fig. 99, a), and there are some doubts in
[Pie- M.] my mind as to whether it is a real
gall-maker or an "inquilinfc"nrin-
truderon my true Solidago Gall-
Sfmaker ( Gdfchia gnJliEsnlidogin-
Jis.) Buttwo specimensof ihe inotb
have ever been found, one of which
1 ilie cabinet of the late Brack-
enridge Clemens, at Philadelphia,
and the other in my possession.
They were both bred by Mr.
Walsh from golden rod galls re-
sembling those of my Solidago
gall in being elongated and hol-
low; and from specimens kindly furnished to me before his death, I
am enabled to give the above sketch of the dried gall, with the pupa-
skin attached, and likewise that of the moth. The only description
which exists of the larva is of a dead and somewhat Bhrunken speci-
men, in the following brief note taken from Mr. Walsh's journal:
••Larva 16-footed, yellowish; spiracles (luscous) on all but lM,3d
and anal segments. Head and 2d [Ist] segment horny and rufous.
Length 0,40."
The moth is the only representative of its genus {Eur>jptycha)
so far known. It was described in I860 by Dr. Clemens * as £. »a-
lignmna, under the false impression that it was reared from a willow
gall. But the scientific name of the insect must stand, however inap-
propriate.
BuBTPircHJi »ALiO!.KAi«i—Mo(*— Front «inr) "hLt., tiotirf with 7tllo«i»h. Tbe b«^
patch udark brown. Th« wing btyocdtbehM*! patch ii re«rlj whiU-, varied with iMd.n-colorrt
■packlH ftud Xripad over the nf rrnln with dull, lejdcn-graj, trnniyfrse utripn, two cf whidi
nsar tba uiiil angl* form a. white ocelloid p»lch. lamndiitelj iottrioi to the ocelloid patch i« ■
imallblmckepot, haTinga line ol blKk .tomi rnoning into it, from »boTt .od benesth. B*low
tb< »p*i, OQ the hind margia, ii x tri»ngal»r brown patch, which ii varied with erajish nd
dotted with black in the middle aod along tfas matt rdge. The coata n gemioat.-d with wlatt,
ud etriped with brown. Hind wingi dark fnecoBi. (Arter Clsmenp.)
OtntHc cft.r«t«r-HiDd wing, broader than front wioga. Cu»l»l and jobcoetal velni with a
oomraon origin ; br«ocbei of mbcoital connivenl. Median vein ^-branched, three o[ which are H'
gTBg»(*d, the two centeal onKi from a common bane. Front winge wlil> o drond/oW, eitendingW
the middle of the coiU, cloielj appre»«ed ; atleait three timei longer than broad ; co»U lUaiglit
tip moderately acute, apical margin rounded. The ntrrulei given off from the po.tetior end of
the cell are brnl toward etch other or are eomewhat aggregated.
Head emooth, with ocelli at bate of antennie. Antenna fllltorm, limple. Labial palpi, to
ml attii IhM fat; are curved, imootb, rather ilender, expanded toward the tip, the apical joul
acarcely perCEptible, except in front. (Clemeni.)
My reasons for thinking this insect an intruder on the rightful
gall-maker, are: 1st, because if it were a true gall-niaker we should
THS STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 135
naturally expect to find its gall more common ; 2d, because on sev-
eral occasions I have found within the Oeleohia gall, a pale worm
very different from the true gray gall-making larva. But until more
decided proof can be obtained, and until the factia settled by further
<»xperiencd and experiment, we must, from such evidence as we have,
consider the Misnamed Gall-moth, a true gall-maker.
Thus we have three different and distinct gall-moths in this
country, belonging to two distinct families and three distinct genera ;
while a fourth {Cochylis hilarana) belonging to still another genus is
known to form a gall on the stems of Artemiaiain Europe. It is very
manifest that all of these galls are formed by the irritating gnawings
of the larva after it is hatched, and not induced by any poisonous fluid
injected with the egg by the ovipositor of the parent, as is demon-
strably the case with those galls which are produced by gall-flies
{Cynips family), and with such as are produced by some gall-making
Saw-flies. It is not at all improbable, however, that these moth larvsd
do in reality secrete from the mouth some peculiar fluid which tends
to produce the gall ; for we know that very many other moth larv»
burrow in the stems of different plants without producing any
abnormal swelling.
ERRATA
Pag* 18, line ti, tot ''cnpftble" read ''cidpable
Page 16, line IS, for 'OaTft" reed 'larre
Page 28, line 6 from bottom, for 'Hkole" read 'liolef .
Page 83, line 17, for ''insect" read ''insects.
Page 50, line 4 from bottom, for "Interim** read ^'Uueanim,
MHMV*
m
"UOtVB."
ft
INDEX.
Abbot Sphmz 78
Adwmon Sphinx. • .m..*.. 74
AeoUfithu9 faUarku ^ 86
AenmjfCta popuU m...... 119
" iridmt 121
" pH IJl
" Itporina, 121
" C€HdmtaH9....y » 121
" lipfucuiiM 121
" interrnpta .^ 121
'' Anurieana 121
AgrotU intrmii » 50
Alypia oetomaeulata • 80
American Procris 85
Amount of damage done by the Ohinch Bug..,. • • 28
AnaehaHi eanadefuit 11
Artitopterym vtmata .» • • 94
«' pamBtairta 97
iinomlt «yZ{fia 87
AnthoeorU inHMotuM 27, 82
Antkamyia rtpamm.. ••••.,- - 9
Apaiela Amtriemia. • 121
ApMi hrattiem - 10
" HbU ^ 10
'' tfrmis M ^> ^f 10
" mdli - 6* 19
Apple-wonn ..^ .••• •••• ^
" -tree Plant-lonse ^
Armatpinota 82
Army Worm • • • 87
<t tt ^Paat history of - *1
** " — ^Ita sudden appearance and ditappearance ^^
'. a — Katoral History of *7
" *' —Parasites of. ^ W
" " IchnenmonFly , ^^8
Ash-^ay Leaf-bng 82
Atiikt Mi$90wrienti9 , 1*1
" fsrtetftit 123
AtpUlotU9 eonehiformii ^ ^f 1^
" aarHH •
IKD&X.
B
BeMtifal Wood Njmph ^... 81
BlMk Breese-flj U8
BUck-leg^g^d Tortoise-beetle • ...^ 83
Biatf oiUntalU ^. 18
Elepharida rhoU 18
Blae Oatterpillare of the Vine - 79
Bogus Chinch Bag^s - — 31
Bordered 8oldier-bag — ~ 34
Broad-necked Prionas a .^ ^^ 87
Bruektu pi$i 11
" granariut 21
0
Cabba^ Worms.. 18t
tt tt —Southern Cabbage Butterfly IM
" " —Potherb Butterfly ^. IW
" " —Rape Butterfly 187
«' *€ —Remedies for ^^.. 188
" " —Zebra Caterpillar ^ UX
Ga/otoiiM terutator ^ , m..... 103
" calidum ^. 108
Cumibal foes of the Chinch Bug -.^ ^
Oftnker-worm ..••• 94
» tt —Origin of »
" " — Remedy against •— W
*' " —Destroyed by plowing .\ ~~ IW
" " —Enemies of US
Cwpocapsa pomonella.,,, .^ 10
C«|»tuf obiinfatuM —......••« U3
CoMida guttata .60, 83
" bivltatta H- •'
** aurichalcea •«— • ^
" pallida W
" nigripe$ •••...• ^
" emciata ^
" $igni/er W
" irabeata ^ 83
Gictdomyia dettructor ^....10, 19
OhinchBug ^.6, 1*
" " —Past History of 1^
— Natural History of ...— ^'
— Destructive powers of ^
tt tt — Heavy rains destructive to ^
" " —Cannibal foes of »
" " — Amount of damage done by ^
t€ tt — Remedies against ••••• ^ i
tt tt —Bogus -... 51 i
" " —Recapitulation ^
Ckaroeampa pcmpinatrix - '^
Gkrfftopa plorabunda , -•• ^
" Illinoieiuit ••..••.• *»
Chrjftopt tWatut 1^
CkclcU alb^froM **
Q^ymorpha cribronia • **
(fifda fr«d«tiw.. «••.•• 1'
" ttsptemdecim ', !•
tt tt
tt tt
INDEX. 3
CiiHocampa Americans —••••••••••. <^« 7
" tylwficM 7, BT
Olo9iera Ainet-icaha 19
Coccinelia munda 25
VochyliM hilarana ,. 135
Corinteittna pulicaria. 83
" lafercHt 35
*' unicolor 35
Cottonwood IHigger 119
Cotton- Worms 37
Cricceri9 merdtgera 58
*' cMptuagi A 10, 19
Cacamb«r-beetle 65
D
Deloyala clavata 57
Destructive powers of the Chinch Bug 23
Viabrottca vitfata 64
" l2-puncfata 66
Diminished Pesomachus 53
DlploBis iritici, 10
E
Ectobia gernutnica •• 10
Eight-spotted Forester ^ 80
Erojp Batfardi 124
Eriger^n lanaderue 11
Eudryms grata 88
" ^nio 83
Eumenet fraterna 103
Euryptychia tafigneana ^ 184
Exorista leucaniee 50
*' miiitatii 60
•* Oatm Sackenii 51
'* Jliivicauda 51
F
False Indigo Gall-moth ^. US
Fiery Ground-beetle 183
Flea-like Negro-bug „.... ,..,.. 33
Fraternal Potter-wasp... , 103
G
Gallerea cereana , .,., .,, •• 10
Gall-moth— False Indigo .....„., 183
" " —Misnamed , 184
Qalls mode by Moths 133
GeUchia galiasoHdaginU 20, 132, 134
Glassy Mesochoras 53
Olyphe viridatcen* 53
Ooat-weed Buiterfly 135
Golden Tortoise- beetle «... 63
Grape-vine — Insects iiOurious to Tl
" ** — Uog-caterpillar of, 71
" " — Acbemon tiphihz — •• 74
" " —Satellite Sphinx ^^ 76
4 XBTDBZ.
Gnpe-yine —Abbot Sphinx... • „ »•....•• 78
ti t* — Blae Caterpillan of ^......•...... 79
*€ €t — Eiffht-apotted Forester , ^..... 80
" tt — Beantifia Wood-Nymph 83
/' " —Pearl Wood Nymph 83
" '* American Frocris ••••.•... 85
*t tt —New Grape-root Borer 87
<t ti ^Broad-Becked Prionns 87
i* a —Tile-homed PrionuB , «
H
HulHca ctictti»«ri« •••.•••..•............. hi
Heavy raine destmctiTe to the Chinch Bug^ U
HIppodamia maculaia, , ...• • 25
Hoekeriaperpuicra « U
Bypogymna ditptar ^ 1®
I
Ieh»eu»on leueamUB • < ......m............... 53
InnoxioM insects m....... ^^
Insects — Imported and Native American ^
" infesting^ the Sweet-potato .^ ^
" ii^jarioas to the Grape-vine «.. ^^
Insidious Flower Bnf ...« • 27, 32
Uoioma 9iiii.
92
Laehnoaterfui quereina*,
Laphrygma frugiptrd^,
£mm fHlineo/a.....
19
41
5S
Xeucoiiia wi^ptmef « •«»^> ^^* ^'
M
JMsflMtfra jrfcf A. • ..m«m—
Muoehorut vUretu *..
JUieropuM lweoptertu.,.,»;», •• -
Mlerogatttr miUtarU
" ceranyetct, ^
Militai^ Microg^aster ......••» '
11!
hi
15
hi
Misnaftied Gall-moth .•••
Missouri Bee-killer.
Mottled Tortoise-beetle.
Mygale Hentstii
Myrmiea moleattt
121
63
106
11
N
«. 18
Katoral history of the Ghinch Bug ^ ..
" " " Army-worm ^^
ISothnu ovfvMtu - ji
NympkaiU dUipptu --
Nebraska Bee-killer
nnnz.
O
Ophian pvrgtttua „ , 53
OrtalU arcuata, , 9
OjBter-shell Bark-louse , 6
Pale-thighed Tortoise-beetle ., 02
Past history of the Army-worm , H
" " " Chinch Bug 17
Papilio philenor ll(j
Parasites of the Army-worm 50
Pearl wood iSymph ^ 88
Pempelia grcuularia • 9
Pspti* formota , ^ 108
Pe9oviachua minimu» 52
PhaeeUura niHdaiit 7, 84
Philampelua aehemon. 74
" tatellitia 78
Philenor Swallow-tail 118
PhytocorU linearit 113
Phjfllomera vitifolia ^ 27
Phyllopttra oblongifolia..,.„»,,,.„.„,,,,.,,-, • 57
Phytonota quinqutpunetata • 59
Pickle Worm 7, 84
Pierit protodicB 104
'' oleracea 105
*' rmpa 10, 107
Pistma cinerta : ^ 82
PiophUm catH ^....^ 10
Pluiella cruciftrarum « 10
Plmn Cnrcalio m 6
Pltuia Irratticm - — 110
" precoHonit. Hi
Poplar Dagger • HO
Potherb Butterfly 106
Priimui latUoUU 87
«< imbrieomit 89
ProcrU Amtricana 85
" vitU 88
PramaehuM BdttardU 122
" vertebrata Wg
P9fllapyri ', 10, 88
Purged Ophion «•••. » • «.>• 53
K
Rape Butterfly 107
Bed-tailed Tachina Fly 50
Remedies against the Chinch Bug 28
Report of Committee on Entomology, read before the State Horticultural Society 5
Rktegopertha puHUa •• 1^
Rummaging Ground-beetle » IM
8
Saperdc hivliiata ■ 19
SateUiti Sphinx. TO
6 INDEX.
StlandrUt roia 19
" cm-a»i 18
Silky Asilus 123
Boathern Cabbage Butterfly 104
Sphinx myron 71
" crantor 74
" lycaon 76
Bpined Soldif^r Bug 32
Spotted Ladybird 2S
Striped Cucumber-beetle 65
Sadden appearance and disappearance of the Army-worm 4S
Sweet-potato — Insects injurioas to - 61
Tabaniu hovinut ...- 129
'* atratu9 128, 130
" eottalU UB
*' H'.eola - .• 1»
Tarniqbed Plant Bog 113
Tmubrio molitor 9
" obsicurvt • ^..9, 11
Tent-caterpillar of the Apple 7
" " of the Forest 7, 3T
Ttrma frontali* H
ThyrtuM Abboili 79
Tile-horned Prionus 99
J%nBa tapetzHla • 10
«* vettianeUa W
«« pellioneUa W
Tingi9 pyi •. ^
Tortoise-beetles ,. • ^
" beetle— the Golden W
" " —the Pale-ditghed ^
ti it -4he Mottled ^... «
»# " —the Black-legged ^
Trtm Ladybifd »
7Viq»an^a tipiwvra ^ ^^
Two-striped Potato-beetle.....................^ - **
w
WaUhla amorphella 1^'
Weeping Lacewing ^
Y
TeUow-Uiled TachinaFly..................^...... .V..„ *^
Zebra Caterpillar ^^
m
mr
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