Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-08-02
From Ae Horticultural Register.
N the Disease OF Young Annie Trees

OAA INC DAsCABo VI AOuhK AppAe 1TeeSS
Having, for some years past, discover
ed that there was an evil attending our
young apple trees, 1 have made some OBJ
servations on the subject, which I shalt
communicate, in hopes they may be the
means Of leading to the discovery of some
more efectual remedy.
The difficulty is what is commonly
called lice, and is generally considered,
by a superficial observer, nothing more
than kind Of natural cutaneous eruption
Of the bark; but they are, in fact, living
lice. They appear, in form, like half a
kernel Of rye, but not more than one tenth
part SO large, with the fiat side sticking TO
the smooth bark Of the tree. They re-
semble blisters, and are near the color Of
the bark Of the tree. These blisters con-
tain nits or eggs, which, in a common
season, begin to hatch about the st, and
finish about the 18th Of June. These nits
produce a white animalcule resembling
louise, so small that they are hardly
perceptible by the naked eve, which, i'm
mediately after they are Matched, open a
passage at the end Of the blister, and crawl
out on the bark Of the tree and there re-
main. with but little motion, about ten
days, when they stick themselves to the
bark and die. From this little carcase,
arises a speck of blue mould, which is
most plain to be seen between the 18th
and 25th of June, and continues about
twenty days, and then gradually wears
of until the old carcase appears, which
by this time is formed into new blister
and contains the spawns of nits before
mentioned. These blisters prevent the
circulation Of sap in trees, in the same
manner that flthiness and diseases OF the
skin retard the circulation of the blood in
the human system, and pIove as fatal 10
the tree as the canker worm.
In order to remedy the difficulty,
have made some experiments within a
few years but principally to no good eff
feet. not knowing then the particular sea.
son when these animalcule could be mos
easily destroyed This l have found tc
; be any time between the LIST of June and
: 10th of July. The application that
have found most effcctual, is washing the
tree with lye.. Lime, also, mixed with
I'VE, to the consistency Of white wash, may
be useful. And, although the small
branches cannot be cleansed in this man
ner without much difficulty, still if the
body of the tree and the branches near the
body are kept clean, until there comes &
rough bark, think the lice will not Kill
the tree. Some people have recommend
ed the application Of train-oil to the tree
which indeed is a powerful antidote agains
lice; but being Of a glutinous nature, j.
very detrimental to the tree. GraftinS
has been proposed, which since found T.
have no effect at all on the lice, excep
when the stock can be conveniently Gu
down below the surface Of the earth thi
, process will exterminate them withou
ail.
These lice are natural in the unculti
waited forest, on what is called moose
= wood and other bushes. Much care
should be taken respecting lice, in thei
: first approaching in an orchard or nurse
? ny. as the cutting down and DESTROYING ,
. few young trees, is Of no importance, com
pared with the difficulty of having an or
' chard overrun by them. N. HAYWOOD.
: Littleton, June 10th, 1887.