The record-union., 1896-12-04

IL was the sense OI SuleIl lIldC SulUeu
them.
Berry said that the Texas cattle tick
had made great ravages among the
sheep in his part of the State and the
growers tried the experiment Of spray
ing with a solution OF lime, sulphur
and salt. and it was fully successful.
Motheral explained that the solution
used was sheep dip.
Another member said that in Shasta
they fed the cattle sulphur and salt
and the ticks all fell off and left them
NJ. L. Ehrhon said that the moth raises
two broods, one in winter and the other
later he did not know where, as the
life history of the insect is not known.
He discovered that the insects were tc
be found in winter in the crotches of
the limbs and could be easily killed at
that time by spraying.
Mothelal thought the egg of the
peach worm was laid in the fruit itself.
ROOT KNOT
w. Egbert Smith of Napa read a
paper on the remedy for root knot 1t
is still, he said, an open question, ali
the Investigations not having yet found
the cause of the disease or remedy
for it. He had, he believed, however,
found one, as he had been very success
ful with it. He referred to the papsr
read by him before the convention five
years ago, in which he advocated the
use of bluestone. He still regarded it,
from his own experience, as the best,
cheapest and most effectual remedy.
He had only used it on plum and
gated it in other ordchards 1t is
thought by some that it is caused by
an abnormal flow of sap, possibly
caused by a disproportion in the size
of the scion and the stock, but differ
ent persons who have investigated the
subject entertain different ideas upon
it. The cause is really not so import
ant as to know how to stop their
growth, and the cause can be left for
after investigation. There are only
two methods. Mr. Yates advocates
cutting the knot off cleanly and plac-
ing upon the wound some substance to
heal it UP. He himself thought cutting
off the knots while small might be eff
fectual, but the big knots are not al
ways easily cut off. His plan was to
bore a hole into the core of the knot
with an auger and fill the hole with a
saturated solution of bluestone. OF
more than 200 trees marked and so
treated by him, the treatment had been
effectual and all the knots We're killed.
The disease is not contagious.
T. Lawrence Of Lodi said that he had
dug up ten acres of almond trees on &C
count of the knot. He had tried both
cutting and bluestone without success.
He then commenced investigating the
nurseries and found that In spots where
the stock was grown in low places, the
roots had a large percentage Of knots,
while that raised on higher land had
little or none. He had commenced rails
ing his own stock on high land and
now had no trouble. He believed the
knot was developed by nursery men
through the use of too much water to
force large and rapid growth.
An essay by Albert NJ. Tyres of Mon
tecito on the work of the black ladybird
was read and a recess was taken till
2 p. n.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
When the convention reassembled in
the afternoon Mr.. Filcher and Professor
Allen, who were to speak on special
order, were both absent and the reading
of essays was continued.
Mr.. Ehrhon read a paper of Leaf
Eating Caterpillars."
He said that in order to trap them
when attempting to climb the trees, a
piece of cotton batting tied around the
tree and turned down so as to form a
hollow cone was an excellent trap. Plow-
ing them under at certain times also re-
suits in the destruction of many. The
measuring canker worms are very de-
structive. The female crawls up into
the tree and deposits her eggs.
He showed an ingenious trap made of
wire cloth and put around the trunk
after a band of cotton or burlaps has
been put on. AS ii stands out from the
trunk it allows the worms to crawl
up under it. For those who escape and
reach the limbs a bandage smeared with
printers ink is a barrier.
The tent caterpillar of both the va
rieties found here, is another destructive
pest. The way to eradicate them is to
burn the nests while the caterpillars
are in it, as they do not come out ex-
cept when the sun shines. Then come
the cabbage worms. In the East they
are destroyed by spraying with a solu-
ton OF one pound of Paris green to 150
gallons Of water This is not considered
dangerous, as in this proportion a man
would have TO eat ten cabbages at one
meal in order to take fatal dose.
Professor s. NJ Woodbridge of Los
Angeles spoke on PLANT Foods" He
said there We're three classes; one which
tho plant receives from the air composed
OF oxygen, nitrogen and carbon; the
second, from the soil, comprises a large
number Of mineral substances, and the
third was nitrogen, which is derived
from both air and soil. Chemical science
has settled many essential points in this
relation to this subject. Phosphoric acid
IS too expensive to apply directly to
the earth, besides not being in shape to
assimilate easily. 1t can be easily and
cheaply applied. however, in the shape
of old bones which are cheap and plen-
~. Nitrogen. phosphoric acid and pot
ash are needed constituents in some
shape or other.
Pure potash is not available: first be-
cause 1t is too expensive. and second
because it has to be kept in naphtha, as
it takes fire when exposed to water. II
is combined with other substances,
however, and then makes excellent COM
merical fertilizers If we do not know
just what ingredients are lacking in the
soil by trying the different substances
the orchard viii answer the question
for us.
There is one way by which we can
keep UP the general efficiency Of the