The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-10-09
POTOMAC FRUIT GROWERS AssOCI.
ltssi ALTON.
october ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Repor...


October and November is better for graft
ing than August and September. If it be
desirable to change the fruit of tree take
third of the top, which may be grated
with winter fruit the next third the fol.
towing year may be grated with fall fruit
the third year the under part may be
grated with summer fruit. The small
laterals may be cut IN half and bent down,
and short-grafted with fruit-buds inserted,
so as to have fair crop Of fruit the next
year.
A letter was received from William Hill,
esq.,, of Montgomery county, Md, asking
information upon planting peach stones. 1t
was referred to the president for answer.
The secretary laid upon the table the ag-
ricultuIal report for August and Septem.
Der. Ordered to be filed.
z Mr.. N. w. Pearson made report upon
the oats he had received of the lot sent
from the agricultural department. He said
he found the Canada oats to produce abund-
antly and very early. He should sow the
( same in quantity the next season.
Other members reported upon vegetable
and flower seed favorably. The seeds were
true to name. and generally of superior
quality.
Professor j. Brainerd was then called
for his report upon the insect referred to
him at the last meeting.for examination.
He said:
l will read the letter which led TO this
matter, which is as follows:
"WAINELAND VINEYARD" \
WOODSTOCK, Va, August 26, 1878. !
Professor J. Bratnerd United States Patent
0Dice:
Dear Sir--From your report on "The
Blight of the Grape" read before the
Potomac fruit-growers' association and
forwarded to me by my esteemed friend and
countryman, President C. Gillingham, l
am impressed that you are interested in
insects destructive to the frnit-growing
interests of the country, and, therefore,
send by this mail box containing insects
in vial, also sections of limb with
grown insects at work.
MY attention was directed to its attacks
on Saturday last by DIR. G. s. Henkel. of
New Market, in this county. These insects
made their appearance, or were first dis
covered by DR.. Henkel and nephew about
ten days ago in young orchard in rear of
dwelling of the village. First seen in count
less numbers flying around young peach
tree, next a young apple tree, climbs Of
which are SENT about two inches in dame
ter. Both were attacked in the manner
you will observe, and killed in about one
week, owing, l presume, to the extreme
constituencies OF the young apple and peach
tree at this time, (down flow of sap and
formation of the o1ter layer of cambrum
or sap woody
Having nothing with which to make
thorough examination Of the insect, being
aided only by very insignificant glass of
about two or three linear diameters, 1 ask
your opinion, or that of Professor Glover,
as to his habits, and il known to attack
fruit trees before.
should think il belongs to the order
coleoDteaa, and probably dicGea d,oaricata
family. These differences draw from an
article in the agricultural bureau report of
1868, folio OIL, and figure 81.
The habits and results of the attacks of
the cicade on grape foliage, particularly the
family pitts Viaqforo have been carefully
observed by me during the past season,
and at some future day, when more time is
at my command, shall be pleased to give
you my views also, as to what has been
called the "black rot" in the grape.
Any information you can give upon these
subjects will confer favor on many inter-
eSted In fruit culture IN the Valley.
Very respectfully,
A. JACKSON.
Mr.. President and gentlemen of this as
socation-I herewith present accurate |
drawings Of the insect referred to in the |
foregoing communication. A magnifying |
power Of ten diameters was used which |
shows that the insect, when full grown, is |
a little less than one-tenth of an inch in |
length. In the larvae state it IS trihe |
larger. For the purpose of comparison l |
have placed both the larvae and the full
grown insect side by side with the draw
ings. These views are shown respectively
in figures one and two. Figure three rep.
resents q section OF limb of young APP
pie tree, the limb two seasons growth,) |
which has been attacked by this insect,
and from which the specimens were taken
that are herewith presented.
From an interview with Messrs. Glover
and Dodge, of the agriculture bureau. and
from descriptions in the Massachusetts re-
ports and "Natural History, of Newil
York, No. s, l learn that this insect is
probably the Scolytus destructor. Its
ravages upon apple and pear trees was
severely felt about thirty years ago in
Massachusetts, and Eastern New York, and
1t is probably working its way to the south
west, and has now in numbers reached
this vicinity. More. than fifty years ago it
was very destructive to young fruit trees
in France, and it may have been imported
to our shores from that country.
The following extract from the New
York reports will be of interest:
"Scolytus (Idmicus) Pyri. Pear or fire.
blight beetle. This insect has been highly |
injurious to the pear tree in New England,
and especially in the eastern part Of Mas
sachusetts. 1t was first described by
Professor Peck. The larva first eats its way |
into the wood, making its entrance just J
at the root Of the bud; it reaches the
pith, and, by its irritation, appears some
how to poison that portion Of the limb above
the bud where it first entered. We say |
poisoned, because there seems to be some- |
thing more sudden and effectual in |
causing death than o slight interruption of |
the circulation the limb or twig looks as
If i had persisted from gangrene.
In "Packard's Guide to the Study Of In |
sects4 We are informed that the various
species 81 Scolytus tomichs and Gylotaus ]