Nebraska advertiser., 1856-08-09
farmers Department,
'FRONT.' the FarmsrsB Book
TIE ORCHARD.

I. Though it feeds on the PUPPY part of
the bark, it seems careful not to disturb
the c~uticle, 50 that we're it not for the
gum and filth mixed together on the
outside, it would be difficult to find the
depredatOr. The fresh filth, however,
sufficiently indicates its presence. By
entering a knife at that point and
. Sitting the cutiele longitudinally, the
establishment is soon broken up, for it
is seldom four inches in length; and
then we discover a white grub three
quarters of an inch long, which is
: readily extracted. When it is removed,
: the tree speedily RECEIVERS.
Some persons remove the soil to the
depth Of two or three inches, and apply
hot water, hot soap suds, o warm brine,
at any time in autumn or spring when
the groundi is ~unfrozen; and if the gum
be also removed, so that the fluid can
enter the hole, the worm is sure to
perish.
Various methods have been employ
ed to prevent the attacks Of this insect.
In the spring, earth has been piled
round the tree a foot high, covering up
all the bark that was tender. With
the same object in view, canvas, or
ropes made Of hay or straw, have been
wound about the stem and then coated
with WhiteWash. Straw in an upright
position has also been applied. Tan
in small boxes has answered the same
purpose; and its properties are also
repulsive. Lime and ashes have the
same effect. Common salt, either alone
or mixed with nitre, has been found
eficacious, besides promoting the
&. growth and prOductiveness of the tree.
d.. Half a pound has been scatteredround
it at a time. SCOT employed in the
same way, is highly recommended. A
small red cedar, planted in the same
hole With a peach tree has ~prOtectedit
by its offensive odor. Charcoal in
small pieces, heaped up, is supposed to
smother the worm by choke damp, and
sulphur to poison it with its fumes
Doubtless all are useful, butthe appen-
-dagess should beremoved when the worm
season is over.
Sometimes a worse evil than the
worm, however, oYertakes the peach
tree. This malady was named by the
late Judge Peters Of Pa, 9fhe yeU0scs;p
but the leaves are not always yellow
as the name would imply. A more
certain indication is the premature
ripening of the fruit, with purple dis
celebrations of the pulp, and deficient
flavor. Asthe disease advances bundles
of slender twigs protrude from the
larger branches, and increase till the
vital energy is exhausted.
This casei is perhaps the only instance
of a contagious disease among vege-
tables, communicated by contact of the
roots, or the application of pollen. That
such are the facts, indeed, has not been
directly proved, but the circumstantial
evidenced is strong andpointed. Young,
healthy trees, speedily decline when
. planted among diseased roots. Ere
Quently, the first appearance of. the
premature ripening is confined to a
solitary branch, when no trace of the
disease can be found IN any other part
of the tree. When this happens, it is
prudent to amputate Immediately.
although it is doubtful if the tree itself
can be safely left to standtill it blooms
again. In particular cases we have
pruned closely, destroying the blossom
buds and giving it a chance for re.
eOyery, without endangering Other
trees; but we would not recommend i
as a general rule, but extirpate this tree
in due time.
It is certainly known, however, tina.
the disease can be communicated like
the smallpox. We have set buds O
sickly trees into healthy stocks, and al
have persisted in the course of thu
year. Yet different degrees of virul
ence, perhaps depending on the stag,
of the disease, are observable.
There can be no doubt that on
sickly tree, the pit or kernel is as mucI
affected as the pulp that surrounds it
and therefore such stones ought neve.
to be planted in a nursery. A peacl
tree not attacked by worms, and fire,
from this malady, ought to i've at leas
fifty or a hundred years; and we be
lieye no reason whatever, except tn
two just mentioned, can be assigne,
for their early decay. If the worm i
not at the root therefore, when the tire
is sickly, we may conclude it has tn
yellows; and that this disease, if th
pit was tainted, has
~GrOFn with its growth, and strengthened with i
strength"
Some varieties of the peach an
n~ectarine, are subject to a white miIdeu
which appears on the new shoots abou
midsummer, checking their growth
but not attended with any other i
effects. It seems analogous to tn
mildew on the grape and g~ooseberry
and may be cured (t is said) by tn
application of sulphur water. Abette
course, however, for ~culturists in gene
raj, would be to stimulate the tree, t
make a handsome growth in the earl
part Of the season, and to take n