Ellsworth American., 1877-11-29
tarm anO touseboIO.
win.er-oressias Fruit Trees.

The winter dressing of fruit tree
has been insisted on by most writer
on practical gardening, and no doub
acting on the principle that prevention
is better than cure, the fact being tha
the remedy tor severely infested plan
unfrequently as bad as the disease IT,
self. 1t has been held, and may still bt
held by some that the winter dressing
OF vines, ETC., is useless, as the insects
are then odrmant and proof against the
inSeclicidc As 10 that | muss confess
TO having but faint knowledge OF insect
life and do not think cntomlogi,ts
have placed before Us the requisite in
formation.
Yet evea tyro in gardening knows
that the brown or peach aphi. is active
upon the shoots of the peach and nectar.
inc during the winter as well as the
summer months; that brown scale re-
main through the winter upon shoots
which it has obtained footing upoa
during the summer; that mussel scale
holds tenacioIslv to the bark of apple
and pear trees; that mealy bug aud
spider, W hen plants they infest become
leafess, seek on. The rough parts OF the
bark, beneath which they creep. shield
ed alike from cold and wet: that the
whole tribe OF aphides arc more or less
active during the winter mpnths; aud
that tho Ihrips are not more given -
pass the winter in ob-curitv, than
slug>.
Now such insects abiding with the
subjects upon which tIev feed.
are just as vulnerable 10 an iasec-
ticidc in winter a. ~ Aay olher season.
aud oheu more - from their being
more closely eougrcgated, Aul further.
the au,idote being capable of app. ga
tiou al q strength that ~oaid be fatal
10 the tender shoot anl foliage. a VIM
ter-dress.ng j. Of much value.
have trlel most in-e;'ieiies. aai
fouBl a.. m5rc " lc,. a~-lai. Nrses-
thciess, from their oost.iuc... aud not
always being a. hand whru wanted.
have though, some easily procured and
readily prepared .ub.iasces oai oil
winch inse-tioiie could al aay time BE-
formed. would be desirable aud Ecccp-
table.
The following recipe, will be found
u>eidl Sof; soap halt pound. 10 which
aid \ wine-glassful OF spirits OF tarpen-
tine, and with a stick mixing thorough
ly with the sOil soap, having ready
boiling Tobacco juice, and adding this. a
little a; time, - as 10 incorporate the
whole, the tobacco juice that is 10 be
added being half q gallon. This small
quantity will suffice 10 dress a dozen
vines, or four average sized trees. APP
ply the mixture with a brush to every
part of the trees after it becomes cooled
10 l20 degrees, taking care TO brush it
into the angles and crevices OF the bark
and not % iniure the eyes or dislocate
the buds, which, however, should be
coated with the stuff. The sooner il is
applied after the leaves have fallen the
better, as the pests remain as long as
possible before retiring for the winter.
The mixture will kill every species OF
scale (mealy bug not excepted,) red
spider, whether in the egg or otherwise
thrips, aphides, and fsngus. 1t i.
only applicable to ligueous plants, and
TO those only when al rest.
For destroying white or brown scale
and mealy bug upon growing plants
eight ounces OF soft soap mixed with q
winegIassful of spirits Of turpentiue,
adding gradually half GALLON of boil
ing water, string SO as to thorough,
incorporate. Apply with a brush Il
the parts infected, or with sponge Il
leaves, at temperature not exceeding
l20 degrees. The plants must be syr
inged with water Immediately afte,
they have been dressed with the solut.
ion, taking care not TO allow the mixtnr.
es to run down in full strength to th,
roots.-,Journal Of Horticulture.