The farmer's and planter's encyclopædia of rural affairs

Front matter

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Preface

TO

THE REVISED EDITION OF 186

M. F. Le Plat, — one of the closest observers of the age, distinguislaed by his capacity to lay aside all prejudice and pride of opinion, and found his conclusions upon evidence derived only from the most exact and reliable data, — one whose active and well adjusted rmind has long been devoted to investigations connected with the conditions and developments of all the great branches of industry, — the imperial counsellor and commissioner-general, charged with the organization and direction of the several Universal Expositions held in Paris from 1855 to 1867, — thus expresses his views of the important position to which Agriculture is entitled among the diversified branches of industry.*

The agricultural product superior to all others is wheat, which, next to milk, contains most of the indispensable elements required to sustain the human body. Wheat takes from the earth a large amount of phosphorus, the essential element for the formation of bones, although in most soils hardly a trace of it is perceptible. This wonderful concentration in wheat of the materials of the human body, — the mysteries of which science has only begun to reveal, — evidently furnishes the primary foundation for the grandest developments of population and the highest achievements of civilization. ■ ' .

Agriculture holds out to families the most permanent prospect of employment and subsistence. It adapts itself with admirable pliancy to all the relations of industry, whether on a limited or extensive scale. It organizes itself spontaneously in accordance with the intellectual or moral condition of families and the diverse circumstances under which these may exist. It establishes between the family, the soil, the plants, and

* La R^forme Sociale en France — Deduite de I'observation compar^e des peuples Europ^ens. Par M. F. Le Play, Auteur des OuTriers Europeans, Commissaire General aux Expositions Universelle de 1855, de 1862, et de 1867.

(iii)

IV PREFACE.

animals, a harmony wticli serves to perfect the pleasures of the domestic circle, and develop in the human breast an attachment to the birthplace. It furnishes mankind with nearly all things necessary to existence, and thus secures true independence, affording a protection from the corruptions which so often prevail among the inhabitants of cities. In a word, the interest of the land-owner is so intimately identified with the general interests of the country at large, that the most worthy rural proprietors everywhere constitute the class best fitted to direct public affairs.

Under all these considerations, agriculture offers to the human race the chief means for its multiplication, independence, and moral progress. More than any other active branch of industry, it gives character to national life. In the order of the material world and the province of labor, it is the power which best carries out the objects of creation.

The preeminence, of agriculture over other arts has been so often proclaimed among the ancients as .well as the moderns, that it maybe regarded as an axiom.

Even in the eighteenth century, in France, a melancholy epoch charged with so many vices proceeding from the influence of courtesans corrupted by luxury and idleness, the administrators of public affairs were obliged to make an official acknowledgment of their respect for agriculture..

"Among the useful arts," says Cicero, "there is none superior to Agriculture, none more fruitful, none more agreeable, none more worthy of a freeman." — De Officiis.

EXPLANATION OF PLATES.

V PLATE 1. li^.Zff

Short-Horned Cows.

Varieties of IVheat, with the most destructive Enemies.

a, Summer or Spring Wheat.

b, Winter or Lammas Wheat.

c, Effyptian Wheat

d, Turgid Wheat.

e, Polish Wheat. /, Spelt Wheat.

g. One-grained Wheat.

h. The Wheat Fly of Scotland, New Engjand, &c., the larva or worm of which destroys the grain in the head or chaff. • i, One of the Worms magnified.

k. The Hessian Fly, which attacks the stem near its root.

I, A portion of Wheat Straw affected with Rust, magnified, to show the parasitic plant or fungus giving rise to the disease called Rust, Blight, and Mildew.

m, Another portion of a Diseased Stem in a green state, and before the fungus is quite ripe.

M, The small portion marked 1 (Jt) is still more strongly magnified.

0, p, q, r, s, t, u, Very highly magnified representations of the Fungus Parasite in different stages of growth and maturity.

0, Showing it in the young state; p, full-grown ; q, two plants bursting and shedding their seeds when under water in the microscope ; r, two plants bursting in a dry place ; «, apparently abortive ; t, seeds in a dry state ; M, a small part of the bottom of a pore with Bome of the parasitic fungi growing upon it.

V PLATE 3. p. 139.

Barley, Oats, Buckwheat, and Millet.

a, b, c, d, Varieties of Barley. t. White, or Common Oat. /, Siberian or Tartarian Oat g, Common Buckwheat. h, Tartarian Buckwheat, i, Emarginated Buckwheat. k, German Millet.

1, Commrn Millet m, Italian Millet n, Polish Millet

o, Indian Millet

PLATE 4. p. 1044.

Rice, Sugar, Tobacco, ^c.

a. Canary com.

b. Rice Plant

c. Wild Rice.

d. Sugar Cane.

e. Indigo Plant

/, Virginian Tobacco Plant g. Common Green Tobacco. h, Havanna Repanda Tobacco. {, Quadrivalvis Tobacco of the Rocky Mo in* tains. k, Mana Tobacco of the Rocky Mountains.

Hay-Grasses adapted to particular Soils and Situations.

The first group exhibits the Tall Hay-Grasses of temporary duration ; the second group, Tall Hay-Grasses of permanent duration ; the third group. Grasses adapted to particular soils and situations.

a, Ray or Rye-Grass {Lolium perenne). Perennial Darnel, Perennial Rye-Grass.

b, Orchard Grass, or Cock's-foot (Dactylis glomerata).

c, Woolly or Creeping Soft Grass (Holcut mains').

cc. Tall Oat-like Soft Grass, Andes Grass (JHolcus avenaceus).

d, Meadow Barley-Grass {Hordeum pratense). dd. Meadow, or Fertile Fescue {Festuca pra-

tensis).

e, Tall, or Infertile Fescue (Fesiuca elatior). /, Spiked, or Darnel Fescue Grass {Festuca

loliacea).

g, Meadow Foxtail (^Alopecurus pratensis).

h, Great, or Smooth-stalked Meadow Grass, Spear-Grass (Poapratensis).

i. Rough-stalked Meadow Grass {Poa invialis).

k, Timothy, or Meadow Cat's-tail {Phleum pratense').

I, Floating Fescue (Festuca fluitans).

m. Water Meadow Grass {Poa aquatica),

n. Florin (^Agrostis stolonifera).

Grasses.

The first group exhibits the Early Pasture Grasses ; the second and third groups Pastuw

V

EXPLANATION OF PLATES.

Grasses adapted to particular soils and situations.

a, Sweet-scented Vernal Grass {Anthoxanthum odoralurn).

b, Downy Oat-Grass (Avena pubescent).

c, Annual Meadow Grass {Poa annua).

d, Fine Bent (.^grostis vulgaris vmtica).

c, Narrow-leaved Meadow Grass (Poa' anguili folia).

/", Dog's-tail Grass (Cynosunts cristatui).

g. Hard Fescue (Fesluca duriuicula).

h, Smooth Fescue (Festuca glabra).

i, Long-awned Fescue (^Fesluca hordeiformis).

k, tSheep's Fescue (Festuca ovina).

I, Alpine Meadow Grass (Poa alpina).

VI, Turfy Hair Grass {Aira ccespitosa).

n, Common Quaking Grass, or Ladies' Tresses (Briza media).

' PLATE 7. p. 577.

Grasses, ^c, found in Fields and Meadows.

a. Field Brome Grass (Bromus arvensis).

b. Soft Brome (Bromus mollis).

c. Darnel (Lolium temulentum). The Chess or Cheat of Europe.

a. White Darnel {Lolium arvense).

e, Welsh Fescue (Fesluca Cambrica).

f, Crab, or Finger Grass {Dig^itaria sanguir nalis).

g, Red Top (Tricuspis).

h. Blue Grass (Pou compressa). i, Creeping Soft Grass, or Couch Grass. k, Creeping Dog's Tooth (Cynodon dactylon). /, Upright Sea Lime Grass, Star, or Bent {Elynius arenarius). tn. Matt Grass (Psamma arenarium). n, Gama Grass.

0, Scotl's Grass {Panicum hirtellum). p, Guinea Grass {Panicum poly gamum). q. Cow Wheat (Mclampyrum pratense). r. Tare, or Common Vetch {Vicia saliva), s, The Lentil {Ervum lens), t, Chick-Pea {Cicer arictinum). u, Spanish Lentil {Lathyrus sativus). V, Canadian Lentil (Vicia pisiformis). w, White Lupine {Lupinus albus.)

^ PLATE 8. p. 339.

Plants cultivated for Hay or Herbage.

o, White,or Creeping Clover (Tn/b^iMOTrepcns).

b. Common Red, or Biennial Clover {Trifolium pratense).

c. Meadow, or Cow Clover ( Trifolium medium).

d. Yellow, or Shamrock Clover (Trifolium procumbcns).

e. Lupuline Clover (Medicago Itipulina).

/, Flesh-coloured, or Roussillon Clover (Trifolium iticnrnattim).

g, Saintfoin (the Bourgogne or Esparcette of the French).

h, Lucern (Medicago saliva).

i. Yellow Lucern (Medicago falcata").

k. Long-rooted Clover (Trifolium macro- 'Xizum).

Inferior Herbage, Plants occasionally cultivated.

a, Burnet (Poterium Sanguisorba).

b, Spurty (Sper^la arvensis).

c, Furze or Whin (CTIfx Europeeus).

d, Common Broom (Spartium scoparum).

e, Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum).

f, Parsley (jlpium pelrosilinum).

g, Bird's-foot Trefoil (Loins comiculatu,t).

h, Lotus Tetragonolobus (Lotier culliva, Ft.). i. Ripple Grass, or Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata).

k, Yarrow (Millefeuille, Fr.).

V PLATE 10. p. 1108.

Weeds and Plants troublesome to the Farmer.

a, Cockle, or Corn Campion (Agrostemma Githago).

b, Mellilot Clover (Trifolium officinalis).

c, Tares. Smooth Tare . (Ervum tetraspermum).

d, Black Bindweed (Polygonum Convolvulut).

e, Dodder (Cusmla Europcea).

f, Mellilot trefoil of Switzerland.

g, Charlock, or Wild Radish (Raphans Ror phanislrum).

h, HarifT, Cleavers, &c. (Galium Aperine).

i. Couch Grass (Triticum repens).

k, Rest Harrow (Ononis spinosa).

I, Colt's-foot (Tussilago Farfara).

m, Corn Mint (Mentha an'ensis).

n. Black Foxtail (Alopecurus agrestis).

0, Wild Carrot (Daucus Carota).

p, Hedge Parsley, or Dill (Torilis iiifesta).

q. Fool's Parsley (JEthusa).

r, Bawd-Money. Fennel. (Meum bwnias).

s. Corn Poppy (Papaver Rhaeas).

t, Buttercup (Ranunculus Imlbosus).

u, Blue Bottle. Ragged Robin. (Centaurea Cyanus).

V, Mayweed. Stinking Chamomile. (Anthemis Cotula).

V, V, St. John's Wort (Hypeiicum).

w, Ox-eye Daisy (Chrysantliemum Leucanths' mum).

w u'. Chamomile Feverfew (Matricaria Chamomilla),

X, Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis vel vulgaris).

X X, Yellow Toad-Flax (Linaria vulgaris).

y, Cinquefoil (Polentilla Pennsylvanica).

y y. Soap Wort. Bouncing Bet. (Suponaria officinalis).

Russian Bee-Hive and Echium vulgare, called in Russian Ciniak.

1, The Hive with the upper door removed so as to show the interior, and arrangement of the honey frames, a. Movable doors; b, wooden pegs ; c, movable pieces on which the doors are supported; </, slats separating the comb from the doors; e, frames in which the honey is deposited ; /, entrances with slides.

2, One of the Honey Frames drawn out.

3, Grating, or Adapter.

4, Movable Board for separating.

5, A Transverse Section of the Hive, showing, at /, the places of entrance; at a, the depth to which the frames extend ; and at c, one of the combs.

6, The Echium vulgare, or Ciniak, with it* Root, Efflorescence, and nut-like Fruit.

EXPLANATION OF PLATEa

- PLATE 12. p. 292.

Cattle.

1, Short-Homed Bull.

2, Ayrshire Cow.

3, Devon Bull, 2 years old.

Hor$es.

a, Arabian.

b, English Racer.

c, English Hunter.

d, English Improved Hackney.

e, English Black Horse. /, English Draught Mare. g. Suffolk Punch.

h Clydesdale Horse, t, Irish Racer.

A, Shetland Pony.

" PLATE 14. p. 421.

Grain Drills.

1, Cooke's Grain Drill.

2, The same arranged as a Horse Hoe, or Cultivator.

3, Suffolk Corn and Manure Drill.

4, Groundsell's Patent Drop Drill, r-, Pennock's Grain Drill.

' PLATE 15. p. 603.

Harrows, Extirpators, and Scarifiers,

1, Gang of Harrows.

2, Berwickshire Harrow.

3, Biddell's Extirpating Harrow.

4, Harrow Tooth.

5, Finlayson's Self-cleaning Cultivator, or Scarifier.

Destriictive Insects, 4rc

1 The OakPruner (Elaphidion putator). See Borers, page 205.

2, Locust Tree Borer {Clytus flexuosm). See page 206.

"^ Potato-vine Bug {Criocirii triUniata).

Mag

4, Cucumber Fjea (Haltica striolata). nified. See pages 172 and 173.

5, May Beetle, or Dor Bug (Phyllophaga gtiercina) See pages 172, 173.

6, Pine Tree Weevil {Hylobius pales). A most destructive insect to the Southern pine forests. See WEEviis.

7, Moth of the Com Cut-Worm (jlgrotit clandestina). See Cut-Worm.

8, Female Fly of the Peach Tree Worm {^geria exitiosa). See Pear Tree Borer.

9, Bee, or Wax Moth (Gallerea cereana). See page 168.

The three insects which follow are to be regarded as friendly to the interests of man, as they prey upon those which are destructive.

10, Caravus Gorgi, one of a large family which preys upon caterpillars, &c.

11, Lady Bird, or Lady Bug {Cocdnella borealis). This insect lives upon plant-lice and other injurious insects.

12, Trogus Fulvis, an insect of the Ichneumon Family, which commit great havoc among caterpillars and grubs. See Ichneumon Flies.

N. B. Most of the subjects of this plate were furnished expressly for this work by Professor Haldeman, of Marietta, Pennsylvania, and drawn under his inspection by Miss Lawson, of Philadelphia.

Ploughs.

a, The Holland, or Rotterdam Plough.

b, Small's Chain Plough.

c, d, East Lothian Plough, two views, with scale of feet, &c.

e, English Swing Plough.

/, Skeleton Plough of Kent

g. Subsoil Ploughing.

h, English Plough Head.

i, Scotch Plough Head.

k, Ploughshare for Stony Ground.

I, Ploughshare for Clear Ground.

m, m. Skim Coulters.

n. Wheel Coulters.

0, Smith's Subsoil Plough.