Do they really do any damage? Are they not consequent and attendant upon disease, rather than the cause thereof? They are made a great bugbear in many books, and much stress is laid upon how to avoid them : "Place broken crocks at the bottom of the pots; stand them upon a layer of cinders, shells, etc., to avoid earth worms." To avoid stagnant moisture, I think, would have been more correct.

In the open ground, should think the presence of worms in large numbers proof positive of defective drainage; and if plants were diseased, as would most likely be the case, should lay it to that, and not to the worms.

[We are obliged to you for the article and accompanying papers. The subject is entirely within our jurisdiction. The resolution now before the Common Council of Brooklyn, appropriating $500 for the importation of English Sparrows, ought not to be entertained. Such an appropriation, in our opinion, would be a useless waste of money. We have insectivorous birds enough of our own, and some quite as fond of the home of man, and as easily domesticated, as the English Sparrow; but, like the dove that went out from the ark, they can find no place of rest in our cities; even the house Swallow soon disappears. Aside from other causes which combine to produce this result, we can look for nothing else so long as stoning and shooting innocent birds, and stealing fruits, are not regarded as crimes to be reprobated and punished. Birds would, beyond all peradventure, keep down this insect pest, but it is certain that we can not have the birds, and we must resort to other means, and these means are within the reach of the Common Council of Brooklyn, if they are in earnest in this matter, without resorting to the vandalism of cutting down the beautiful trees which adorn the city, as proposed by some of the members.

We can not help losing our patience at a proposition of this kind. "Brooklyn" suggests that we "now, at this slack season, go round with a knife, and grope in the cracks of fences, trees, outbuildings, etc." This is good advice; but our city fathers need be under little necessity for groping, (pro-vided they are not "all right,") for millions of nests may be plainly seen on the trees all oyer the city. Those $500 may be much more wisely spent at home, especially during these times of distress. Some of our readers will be amused at the idea of catching caterpillars with nippers and a drop or two of oil; we do not believe they will survive either when vigorously applied. We think Mr. Darwin is altogether mistaken in supposing that the Humble Bee is the only insect that can impregnate Red Clover; but this fact will not detract from any usefulness that may pertain to the Humble Bee. The Lady Bird we regard as a friend, but do not feel sure about the ants. So, too, we regard earth worms as very useful friends, but we prefer that they should not get in our pots; when they do, we are certain to give them a dose of lime water to drive them out.

We do not think their destruction in the open ground at all desirable. - Ed].