166 TEANSACTIONS OF THE HOETICULTUEAL 



decay, the same as above, and so many that we became discouraged 

 and did not try to save them, being very busy with farm work in the 

 summer when it ought to have been done. So that to-day, out of 

 fifteen acres of fine orchard, once all bearing and of different ages, 

 nine-tenths is dead. Why should T picture this decay farther? as 

 I speak of these once beautiful orchards, loaded yearly with luscious 

 fruit, but now laying with broken limbs and trunks strewing the 

 ground, so that an annual clearing and gathering up still leaves it 

 covered, and makes the heart sad to think of the destruction of this 

 pestilence. But my experien^'e is but similar to most, or all, who 

 may hear me or read this paper. 



The wood of these poisoned trees is so rotted and softened it is 

 not fit for fuel — very much of it, — just like an animal body or limb 

 that has died or been removed for blood-poisoning ; every cell and 

 tissue is affected, and it is easily accounted for, as it is a disease 

 affecting the circulation, and so permeating every part. 



A word regarding the codling moth, which causes our wormy 

 fruit. By the experiments of Mr. Hammond, of Warsatv, Hon. B. 

 PuUen, of Centralia, and one other orchardist — whose name I have 

 forgotten, — last season, it is plainly shown that spraying the trees 

 when in bloom, and repeatins: it ten days after, with a solution of 

 London Purple, has proved effective and cheap, costing about ten 

 cents per tree. This spraying may be quite effectual in destroying 

 the bacteria also. Let us experiment and ascertain what will destroy 

 them. 



This ought to be done at the expense of the State, which should 

 make an appropriation for this purpose. Still, let us do what we 

 can individually. We may find that the same or similar substances 

 as are used for these attacks on the animal organism will prove 

 effective, such as alkali, kerosene, caustic, or poisonous- washing, or 

 spraying with arsenic solutions, etc. I think these will, undoubtedly, 

 cure our trees, as sure as the former-mentioned remedies now cure 

 diseases of the animal organism. 



In a former portion of this article we said it would be necessary 

 to give a description of bacteria, and we will now do so, in order that 

 we may know more about this most minute form of life as it affects 

 health and disease. 



Pure well or spring water does not contaii:^them, all foul w^aters 

 do. These minute microscopic organisms exist in all filth in count- 

 less myriads, also in decomposing animal or vegetable matter — 

 whether ill-scented or not, — in all organic substances undergoing 

 apparently spontaneous changes, such as heating in bulk, becoming 

 sour, rancid, or putrid, and generally those changes known as fer- 

 mentation or decay. The water in ill-scented cisterns, and some 

 where no odor is perceived, in impure well water, the water of stag- 

 nant ponds, marshes and foul ditches teem with them. A drop seen 



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