The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1857-09-11
Aaruultnral.


IN some agricultural W0Tk5. we
find the practice OF whitewashing
Iruit trees recommended, as a pre-.
ventive Of disease, in many sec.
tions this practice has prevailed ex.
tensively, yet slight examination
will satisfy any one that the fruit or.
cbards thus treated, are not in better
condition than those upon which
whtewash has never been used.
Analogy leads us to the inference
that clean, healthy skin is an in.
dispensible to the health and longev-
ity OF trees and plants. as it undoubt.
edly is in the case OF animals. The
functions performed by the skin OF
the one and the bark Of the other, are
in many respects analogous; and in
the case Of the latter, it is generally
well known that any permanent, or
even temporary obstruction ofthe Gu
taneous organs, is certain to produce
disease.
Now if we apply to the back of a
young tree, coating OF any matter
which will ill the pores, and thus
cilootuaily prevent tho action nf the
atmosphere, and arrest the internal
action also; such as lime or paint, toi
instance, we produce morbid state
or the circulating fluids, which, be.
coming corrupt, instead, Of admins
tering to the health Of the system,
render it torpid and diseased.
Ii any person questions tho truth
Of this assertion, We advise him to
select some thrifty young tree, and
try the following experiment. Take
a ten inch strip Of grating cloth
cotton cloth dipped in grating &C.
ment-and wrap it around the trunk,
near the ground. Let it be securely
attached, and then dirt enough pla-
ccd around the tree to nearly cover
3 the cloth In one year-we are as-
sured, for We have not personally
tried it-that tree will be dead.
Or, let him mix coat Of tar and
Spanish brown-or indeed any 9th
er colorcd pigment, and give the bo
dy OF any healthy and vigorous
young tree q coating Of it, in tht
same way that whtewash is applied
and watch the result. Now thougl
witewash does not so officially ex
, clude the air as either ofthe substan
ccs above named, yet it does so to q
certain extent; it induces a morbic
action Of the cutaneous vessels, ant
by rendering the circulation torpid
. deranges the functions OF the entire
system, without producing any ap
parent benefit whatever to the tree
II moss or insects are to bc reno
we'd, sand and soap.suds may be us
/, ed, and the trees washed down will
, soft water; but in no case let white
/ wash be applied. Gas tar, whicl
has been highly recommended as
. preventive against nice, has also, il
some instances, been found injuri
/, ous. On this subject, Mr. Giles h
/, Avery of the Shaker Society, loca
E ted at New Lebanon, New York, i
2 n letter to Hon. Thomas Ewbank
:, late Commissioner of Patents, says
Various theories have been sng
Il gested by nurscrymen and orchard
II lists for protecting young trees ffor
!, the ravages Of mice and rabbits. Ga
# tar has been recommended, hut /
my sorrow-l found it to be a pos
tive injury-to such an extent, il
n deed, us to cause the death OF NJ an
h fine trees III u beautiful young o.
" chard Of ten years growth from til
y bud. Doubtless, there are 'rou
qualities OF this tar, but that whic
we were recommended to use, scare
. the bark to the wood, increased til
If action OF the suns rays to almost
e burning point, and stopped up II
IN pores Of the bark; which need
Of much to be open to atmospheric /,
a huence as those OF the skin Of an al
4 imal.'
a. While q timid course in our pra
- ticc is q mistaken one, the rash g
a periments so often made are occ
se sionally fatal ones. Desperate ref
i Iedics thould be tried--if at ail--t
re- q snail scale, and their resu
nv watched with minute care,--ys
n. England Farmer.
u PorAroKs FaIED IN SLIcEs.--Pe
ms large potatoes, slice them about qua