THE WEST SHORE-
January
8
THE CULTURE OF FLOWERS.
This is the loth of January. The fires
have been lit for over two months, and yet
not a single plant of ours has shown signs
of disease, and not a single vermin has
made its apjwarance. And why ? Simply
because we treat our pets as recommended
in. our November number. In that issue
wc gave instruction how to eradicate the
green-fly if it made its appearance through
neglect of the amateur florist.
Another enemy of plautdom is the
lumps, an active little insect of leaping
j proclivities. The engrav
ing snows one 01 natural
size (fig. ), and the same
magnified (fig. A). The
color varies from a whitish-yellow to a dark
brown, and they are so Rmall that they
readily escape notice, (he largest not being
over one-tenth of an inch in length. They
attack young shoots and tender leaves,
which become brown and shriveled, and
crumble to dust if rubbed between the fin
gers. The same treatment recommended
or the green-fly in' our November number
serves for this unwelcome guest also, but it
docs does not succumb so readily. The
fumigation must be more frequently prac
ticed. Syringing and washing plants, as
before recommended, will, to a great
extent, prevent the thirjntfrom multiplying.
The kkd si'iiiKK (annus ttlfarius), a
troublesome insect, flourishes generally in
an over-heated, dry atmosphere
unhealthy for ourselves as
well as for plants. As the
name denote)), it is red in color,
and its natural size is the tlot if. The same
magnified ( tj gives some idea of its gen
eral appearance. If you catch a glimpse
of the red spider, you may be sure that the
atmosphere of your plant room is too dry.
If it is your living room also, it is entirely
too dry for the health of its human occu
pants. A plant infested with the red spider
will in a short time show some leaves turn
ing yellow, indicating premature decay.
When they arc numerous, they will work
els on the under side of the leaves and
sometimes all over them, until the plant
becomes a mass of decayed and half-dead
leaves. Water is fatal to the red spider,
and, as before remarked, with an atmo
sphere of prnKT humidity, this insect
wjuld never get a foot-hold. When once
firmly established n the plants, the
t-tMX-dicst way to destroy them is by the
luines of sulphur. This remedy, however,
must lie used with much caution, as the
free use of it will cause most plants to shed
iheir leaves. Fortunately, but little of It is
required; and in the green-houses it has
been found sufficient to mix a little flour
of sulphur with water, or with milk (which
it said to be better), and to paint or smear
with it a small surface of the healing pic,
or the flue. A very little of it in the at
mosphere proves sufficient for the destruc
tion of the insect. In the case of a few
bouse plants, we think that swinging de
leaves on IhhIi sides, and syringing the
plants so that the waler is thrown on the
tinder as well as the upiier sides of the
leaves, will lie effectual without recourse to
seilphur. Another excellent remedy is said
to tic as follows: Take each plant separate
ly, holding it bottom side up; then dust
red epier all over it, taking care not to
allow any to fall on the soil. j
I lie coccts, or scai.r insect, most gen- j
rauy mints the orange, the myrtle, the
camelia, the olean
der, and many oth-
cr lurd wooded
"M,i- 1'bere are
many species of
coccus, varying slightly from each other.
One kind of plants is the borne of one
variety, aiul another son devotes its sum.
lion exclusively to some other kind. The '
grape, the pear, the elm, and almost every '
kind of our cultivated and forest trees has
Us special representative of this class of
insects. In tlie engraving the insect of
natural size is shown, (a); when magnified,
the upper side ( b), represents a shield, and
the legs are only seen when it is turned on
its back ( c ). The remedy in this case is
by washing the plant by hand, and forcing
the insect off w ith the thumb or finger-nail ;
or take a small stifl brush and soap-suds
and brush the plant until it is thoroughly
clean. The name of the siiecics that
infests the myrtle, orange, oleander, etc.,
is the coccus htsptridum.
The m;ai.v bi'Ci ( itjuus tiiluitiJuiu J is sim
ilar to the previously mentioned insect,
except that it is covered with a white,
mealy or downy substance. Both of them
insert their beaks into the bark or leaves,
and draw from the cellular substance the
sap that nourishes them. A weak mixture
of whale-oil soap and water in the propor
tion of 4 ounces of soap to 5 quarts of
water will be found destructive to them.
With a few plants only we would recom
mend the use of a soft brush and water,
and in this way they can be readily re
moved.
An excellent wash to keep off insects of
all kinds can be prepared with a table
spoonful of spirits of camphor to t pints
of water.
Plants in pots are often troubled with
angleworms. The following will not only.
destroy them, but w ill at the same time act
as an excellent fertilizer. Slack a small
piece of lime in hot water; then add
enough cold water to make a liquid of it.
I'ut a small piece of the lime in a bottle,
pour the liquid into it, and cork up for use
one pint to one gallon of ordinary water.
Don't use oftener than once a month.
Fertilizers, as a rule, are used so inju
diciously that it is best not to use them at
all. If, however, a little judgment is ex
ercised, any ef the following five of the
most useful fertilizers known applied once
in two weeks, will benefit most all plants.
Fertilizers must lie applied to the soil only;
never to the foliage:
No. 1. One tablcsiioonful of' guano to
I gallon of hot water; stir until dissolved.
An excellent substitute for guano can be
found in any pigeon-house or chicken
coop. No. j. One-quarter ounce pulverized
ammonia to 1 gallon of water.
No. 3. A icaspnonftil of aqua ammo
nia to 1 gallon of water.
No. 4. One tablesnoonful of lione-
powdcr to 1 gallon of water.
No. 5. Sulphate of ammonia, 4 ounces:
nitrate of potash, ounces; white siurar. 1
ounce. Add to this one pint of hot water,
and, when dissolved, cork tightly for use.
( hie tcasiioonful of this mixture to even'
gallon of water. Six or eight drois of this
in a hyacinth glass wilt improve dowering
wonderfully.
STATKMF.NT OF FLAX RAISKI) HV
MF.SSRS, PARRISH A MII.I.KR,
JFFFKRSON, MARION- CO.
There were cightv acres sown, with two
bushels of seed tier acre, making "160
bushels in all. This seed cost U in I. flV-r.
sun, and was the imported Dutch seed.
The flax yielded ten bushels per acre,
which will all grow, and not take more
than one and a half bushels per acre to
make it as thick as that which they sowed
Not more tlun three-fourths of the seed
sown came up, tieing, it is thought damaged,
by a long sea voyage. The entire crop of
seed is saved for sowing, and that which
they do not sow themselves thev will sell
for $4 per bushel or 7 cents per pound.
Samples of the lint have been sent to the
manufacturing firms of Smith, of Me-
chanicsville, I-ai A Co.. of Hart's Fall's :
Thompson A Canter, of Valley Falls ; and
II. M. Crane of Schenectady ; all of the
State of New York ; also, to II. G. Akin,
of Johnsomillc. X. V, an experienced
man in growing and dressing flax, he hav-
ing been in the business for over thirty
years. Mr. Akin went to these manufac
turers, and they pronounced it worth
twenty cents per pound, when North
Kiver llax was worth only sixteen cents,
and of a Utter quality than any North
River flax they ever saw, and equally as
good if not better than the Dutch. The
last named manufacturer, Mr. Crane, is
expected here in a short time, to locate in
Salem or Portland, to manufacture shoe
thread and all kinds of twine. Mr. Crane
is an experienced manufacturer, and will
make flax worth as much here as in New-
York city, if he locates here.
The cost of pulling this flax was as fol
lows :
Ohlnamen, Slay davn S'219 SO
Whim iNbor, 253 days 2itl on
103 00
Cost of pulling per acre, $6 ifi.
Cost of whipping the seed off, rotting
spreading, taking up, binding, drawing to
barns, cleansing, and drawing seed to
werehouse about two miles :
Chinamen, 250 days $250 00
White labor, llio'duys 223 60
473 50
Cost per acre, $5 915.
There were 25,000 bundles of the flax,
yielding, as far as dressed, one and a half
pounds per bundle, equal to 37,000 pounds
of lint, which is a yield of 462 pounds
per acre. The lint is worth twenty cents
in New York city and fifteen cents in Port
land, gold.
! $69 37K
iv uu. per acre so uu
Value of lint per aci
Seed, at 14 per bu.,
Total Yalue peracr.1 $109 37
wo ui aeuu, a uu. per acre
(S IS 110 00
ToUl colt of labor 12 085,
Total ooat per acra $22 08
Net profit par acre $87 29
Farmers will perceive that this statement
does not include the cost of putting in the
land and of braking and scutching the
land.
A future statement will be made to
cover these things.
Messrs. Parrish A Miller have their mill
in operation, which is located ij miles
Irom Jefferson, near Mr. Miller's residence.
Any farmers wishing to sow flax can call
on Messrs. Parrish A Miller and get all
the information they desire. ,
Having superintended the work on the
above flax, I will vouch for the correctness
of this reiwrt. F.dward Akin.
Willamette Farmer,
Cirf.ry A Co.'s Printing Establish
ment. We have received from the nuh-
lishcrs of the Pacific Churchman, Messrs.
Cubery A Co., 414 Market street, a copy
of that piier containing a description of
their printing establishment, which is one
01 tne most complete on this coast. In
connection with their business as printers,
.Messrs. Lubcry A Co. have opened a pur
ging and collecting agency for the hene-
fit of country trailers and others w ho require
the aid of a reliable agent to make pur
chases of goods. They announce that they
have made ample arrangements to do any
misincss entrusted to them such as the
purchase and shipment of men-hn.i;A
collecting and disbursing of moneys and
iransacting the Imsinessof a General inn-
for any who may entrust their orders to
tncir care. I he head of this firm has an
establishedsreputation as a reliable hiui
man, and gives as references the names of
many ol the best men in San Francisco.
The firm has done collecting for us, and
we have found them prompt and reliable,
.nu uicrciore tane pleasure in recommend
ing them.
Tin Wild Gave or niinnv We.
much doubt if in any State of the Union so
varied and excellent or so abundant a sup
ply of wild game, larce and .mill
be found, as wc enjoy in this State. Just
.... in our markets mere are wild geese,
wild ducks delicious canvas back, mal
lard, teal, etc.-pheasant, grouse, quail,
prairie chickens, elk, dear, bear, squirrels
hears and several varieties of choice fish.
And at all prices Out would make an epi
cure from any other Staie-the Adantic
aide, especially,-! once opens his eves
and then his pockets, in the resolve for a
lug feasting time at dinner.-frrt,V cur.
W.
MONTHLY WEATHER REPORT.
WAR DnrARTMEST, SIGNAL SKRVTCR V. g. ARVv
UIVIHKI? Of TBI, RIKA US AND RR PORTS roR THR
' " " wvuivaK,
Jlibfe ihoH'tny the Dally and Monthly Mean of Bar.
ometer ami Thrrmomrtpr, Monthly Velocity r
K'uwr anil amount of Hainfall, with the Prevailing
Direction of Wind for the Month of Ifolember, UTf.
Itate, Mean liauy Mean uatly Aatt
1875. barometer. Thermometer, all
Dec 1 ai.7tt3 53.2 v ,
" 2 29 879 52.2 .51
" 3 20.788 55.2 .81
" 4 30.225 .1.2 .a
S S0.201 .7 ,jo
- 0 Su.lSi SJ.5 ,os
" 7 .10 SB 57 J
" S U0.1U8 57.2 .go
" 9 3H12I S10 01
" 10 80.817 58.2
" 11 8WM 60.2 .17
" 12 3U.2W 4S.0 .JT
" 18 80.211 .S .01
30.8TA 50.8 .OA
SAW!
30.1'
IH
" 17 80216 .10.2
" 18 20.858 45.2 .35
18 28.010 80.5 Via
" 20 .10.123 51.5 ,14
" 21 30.213 58.0 .11
22 30.1RI 65.0 .37
21 30.175 45.8 .07
" 34 28.789 87.2 .
' 25 29.1W0 41.0 .at
" 20 20.1151 38.2 1.1s
27 20.003 45.3 .95
" 28 20.523 45.0 ,5t
41 29 28.887 40.8 ,lfl
" 30 30.UU7 42.8 .58
" 31 29.S09 45.7 2.79
Mouthlytnean,80.075 47.8 OBI
Highest barometer. Decombor 15, fl A. H.t80.Mi
Lowest barometer, December 20, 8 p. M,, 27.404
Monthly ratine or imrometir, 1.030.
lllsliest temperature, December B, 8 p. n.,
03 ilt-Kreea.
Lowest temperature, JJecember 17, lis,
Monthly ranae ortemDernture. so dam-eea.
Hrrrttest dully nuige of ttilliperuture, December
11, in m-green.
M,nn ol muxlmum temperatures, 52.3,
Mean or minimum tempernturea, 42.6,
Mean dally range or temperutores, 9.4.
Total rainfall or melted snow, 18.01 Inches.
PreviilllllK wind, sooth.
Total number of mllea traveled. 4.010.
Muxlmum velocity of wind, December 31,
Number of olondy days, other than those 0
nuitii mill leu. iiiiuo o.l
Number ot days on which rain fell, twenty-
I. E. EVANS,
Bergeant, Signal Service, U. & A,
People who accuse Oregonians of telling
big stories about the mildness of the cli
mate should be here just about now and
cured of their skepticism. What other
country that has none of the inconven
iences of an extreme southern climate caa
tell of roses, pansies and other flowers
blooming out of doors in the middle of
Uecember. There are now to be seen i
this city many instances of this. The grass
is green as in May and growing only less
rapidly. And instead of the eternal rains
which our State is reputed to have in winter,
the sky is bright overhead and the Sir as
balmy as a New Orleans winter. Tktis fact
of the case may be said to be exctjrtional.
miwever, as our clear weather here in
winter is usually a little colder than the
present; but it is nevertheless true almost
every winter ecnerallv a little later than
this we have more or less of just such
weather as we are having now. Think of
this, or even of the warm rainy weather
which constitutes our ordinary winter, and
contrast it with the freezing weather they
are now having at the East rivers closed
by ice, water pipes bursting, the mercury
ranging from zero to fifteen or twenty de
grees below, and no hope of its "letting up"
for two or three months, and then say what
you think of Oregon climate. An O
gonian who would not do a little bragging
now ami men, would deserve to be trans
ported to Greenland. Origtmian.
Writing Mastvr Wivr.n If von
don't believe it read the following re-
ceiveo irom Samuel, publisher of the
excellent West Shore ; " I can't make
out the name of the P. O. you desire to
liave Mr. Pickering's paper sent to. Please
write again." We shan't do any such
thing, we'll print it in this aragraph
" Hornelsville, N, Y." That's better than
writing it no danger of it being sent
back. Kail Ortgoman.
Correct brother Bull, here are a few
guesses we and a dozen others made at
the name: Hamsmill. HuniUmill Him-
esmill, Hounsinill, Himmelsdonnerwcttef
our own guess.
Real aetata ..
f enonal .
The city of Portland with a nrtntttatinn
r ' - r"i
ol 12,500, makes the following exhibit of
ner riches. Can any city of nnr siie ia
the United States beat it
I 6,ti7.
4,U2,ow
J'0'' - $10,179.
:"T, $2,719,4Je
taxable property 7,460,2111
Tba rollowiiuj real estate la exempt :
Churck property $ S3,.V
".' property 74,30!
- uiiiuuuna .
City, county and otaer public 82701
Total untaxable tU7l
The nreaent nonnliHnn f ct. 1ii-
sive of Indians and Chinese, it estimated it
3,4co.
s