The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-08-27
From tie .1merican Farmer.
PRESERVATION OF PEACH IRE

From tie .1merican Farmer.
PRESERVATION OF PEACH TREES.
In your paper of the 9th June, observed
one or two paras raphs upon the preserva-
ton of peach trees. If you esteem this
luscious, and during its season incompara-
BILE fruit, as / do. you will not hesitate in
rendering every aid towards its successful
cultivation.
+. In addition to my orchard, l have about
one hundred peach trees of different kinds,
land some one or two which are natives of
our village, and of but few years, are now
equal to any. mot one of which is at all in
jured by the worm, while many of my
neighhors' are entirely destroyed. I can
assure every one, that from experience, no
difficulty exists, and the produce amply re-
munerAtes for every trouble. One of your
correspondents recommends lamp or fish
oil, an{ then boiling water. Both are right,
although should say that boiling water
was a very doubtful remedy. and would
require to be often repeated. Not long
since saw very fine peach tree in per-
feet state of preservation. Although it had
been several years bearing, lit was in a
small garden, the reason of there being no
more) yet the worm had not injured it.
Always anxious to learn every thing con-
nected with agriculture, inquired particu-
larly with regard to its treatment. and was
informed that the lady of the family had
directed the suds of soap after washing,
without regard to their being cold or boil
ing, TO be thrown about the tree-and it had
the desired effect.
The season is approaching when the in
sect commences its depredations. The sea-
son of its depreciation may be fixed as CON-
mencing early in July, and ending in Sep
temper. Its greatest ravages are during
the month of August. 1t penetrates the
surface, and commences its drPredaIious by
boring the tree and depositing its egg about
one tc three inches below the surface.
have read in works upon the subject, that
the bark is there more tender, which pre-
sumo is an error, and that all bark of the
root is equally soft, and that it is only the
natural instinct which causes the insect to
commence at that place. The egg thus
lodged in the wood of the tree. is there
Matched and becomes worm, which feeds
upon the tender wood and bark, and effect
ually destroys the tree. My method of
prevention is this:
Early in the month of July, with hoe |
clean away the earth from about my trees.
in size and shape like a common wash bowl.
The excavation being about three inches
deep next the tree, and six or eight in d.
ameter. then fill up the hollow with COM
mon wood. ashes, and raise an embankment
about the tree, also about the size of a com
mon wash basin inverted and have never
yet known the insect to penetrate the en-
bankment of ashes to the injury of my trees.
| have never discovered any injury to result
from the caustic nature of the ashes, and
always take the precaution in the fall, say
October, to remove the ashes and mix them
with the surrounding earth, drawing up
fresh earth to the tree to supply the place
of the ashes. If any Of your correspondents
10 whom this process is unknown, should be
Induced to try this experiment and should
succeed, if they are as fond of basket of
fine Old Mixtons as am, they will be oblig-
ell to me: if unsuccessful, | shall not have
given them much trouble.
| have heard and read of various RENE
dies for preventing the injury spoken of but
90 not believe that any of them will prove
efficacous, except the application of some
substance to the tree just below the surface,
which will prevent the approach of the fly
or insect. l have often thought that lime
in its powdered state, would be more effica-
cpus than ashes; but as the ashes have
never failed me, have never tried the ex-
psriment. have known it recommended
IL remove the earth from the tree, so that
tie frosts might have full effect. This,
however, will do no good, as the injury, or
rlther the seeds of it, are lodged in it be-
fore the frosts commence, and are not iniur-
ell or destroyed by it. | have known the
earth removed, and tobacco stems and 9TH
er offal from the tobacconists, applied with
success. Ashes, however, are less trouble
and more certain. In the summer | give
my trees a thick coat of wash +; d mixture
Of cow-dung, urine, soap suds, ashes, and
lime. do not know that it is of service in
preventing the injury speak of, but have
often thought it was preventing by its dis
agreeable nature, the approach of the fly
TO any part of the tree. 1t is of essential
service to the general health of the tree by
destroying worms and insects, which are
prevented from depositing their eggs in the
bark. Dayton, Ohio, June "a, 1928.
ADOPTION. There is a singular system in
France relative to the adoption of children. A
family who has none, adopts as their own fine
child belonging to friend, OF more generally
to some poor person, (for the laws OF population
in the poor differ from those in tho rich y the
adoption is regularly registered by the civil
authorities, and the child becomes heir-at-law
to the property of its now parents, and can moi
be disinherited by any subsequent caprice Of
the parties they are bound to support it suita
bly, to their rank, and do every thing due t.
! thsir offspring.