Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-04-07
THE FARMER.


From the National Gazette.
To The friends Of Horticulture IN the Uni-
ted States.
A patriotic lady in New Jersey, to whom Hori-
culture is under great obligations, has addressed
the following letter to n member Of the Horticul-
tural Society of Penn for the purpose of being
laid before it, on the insects which destroy the
produce of some of our fruit trees, and proposes
large premium for the discovery of a remedy for
this great and increasing evil. The society fully
sensible of the important nature Of the letter, ap-
pointed a committee to report thereon to cores
pond with other Horticultural Societies on the
subject and to endeavor to procure all the infor-
nation in their power in relation to the means Of
preserving fruits from the destroying enemy. With
the last view, the committee have thought proper
to publish the letter and will be pleased to receive
communications on its contents from those who
have it in their power to give useful information,
or to contribute to the fund proposed to be raised
as a reward to the person who may be so FORUM
ate as to discover the wished for means Of saving
to the country the immense quantity Of fine fruit,
that is annually lost, by the depredatons Of in
sects.
| As the writer Of the letter wishes her name to
be concealed, it is withheld but it shall be COM
muncated to those who wish to undertake the
proposed task, and to avail themselves of the in
formation respecting the nature and habits of the
insects which the writer, by close attention and
long experience possesses.
| Communications may be addressed to Dapid
Landreth, Jun. Chesnut street, Corresponding
Secretary of the Pennsylvania Horticultural So
ciety.
BY order Of the Committee,
i JAMES MEASE
Philadelphia, March IL, 1880.
Publishers of newspapers throughout the Uni
ted States are requested to insert the above, and
the following letter.
JANUARY, 19, 1880.
DEAR SIR-It is about 80 years since
first became aware of the fact, that
certain kinds of fruit fell from the tree
before they were ripe. Since that pc
riod l have extended my observations,
and am quite convinced, that although
the severity of the winter may and does
sometimes injure the fruits yet the chief
cause of their frequent failures is the in
jury done to them by insects. I do not
now allude to those which puncture the
bark, either on the limbs or near the
roots, nor to those which eat the leaves.
They are of very little importance, mis-
chievous as they are. 1t is of those
which attack the fruit itself, that now
speak, and to which ! wish to draw your
attention. There is scarcely member
of your society that can imagine the ex-
tent of the evil which these insects pro-
duce, for the markets are no criterion
from which one might draw a proper
conclusion. If these insects could be
destroyed, there is every probability that
unripe fruit, and such as is of an inferior
quality, would be entirely banished from
our cities, thereby greatly lessening the
bills of mortality. But for these insects,
cherries, nectarines, plums and apricots
could be sent to market for half dollar
bushel, and of these, none but the
finest kinds would be cultivated As it
is, these fruits are scarce and of high
value, and as the insects generally
choose the finest kinds for themselves,
the markets are crowded with that which
is poor and unripe. When we consider
that fruit is no longer a luxury, but a
necessary article of life, and that the
heat of our summers renders it particu-
larly grateful to all descriptions of per-
sons, from infancy to old age-we ought
to encourage every plan for its object.
We must not j"de. .h-. .i.o ovil VI which
l complain is of a local nature, because
that some few cultivators who live with
in the limits of city have been partial
ly exempt from it. 1t is not from such
small enclosures that city is to be sup
piled with fruit; nor is it to those who have
but few trees under their care that we
must look for sympathy or hope ofrefor-
nation. We must inquire of those who
planted large orchards, and who have
year after year, been careful to note the
various accidents, diseases, and depre-
dations which injure trees and cause their
fruit to perish. For myself, independ-
emily of several large orchards of apple,
pear and peach trees, have upwards
Of twelve hundred full bearing plum,
nectarine and apricot trees, all of the
rarest and most delicious kinds. The
climate is favorable to their growth and
fruitfulness, and my abilities and inclin-