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propriate but little time and expense, if attention is punctu- 

 ally given. The best and cheapest preventive is lime, w^hich 

 may be applied as follow^s : during winter or early spring, 

 when the frost is out of the ground, with a hoe or spade re- 

 ntove the earth from around the tree to the distance of eight 

 or ten inches, exposing the tops of the main roots ; let this 

 vacuum be filled with about a half peck of lime that has been 

 previously well slacked, allowing the lime to form the entire 

 surface between the tree and the surrounding earth. 



Across this the borer will not venture ; it is to them an im- 

 pregnable barrier, and as an additional benefit will promote 

 the health of the tree and entirely expel grass. Similar ap- 

 plications should be made at least once in a year, which will 

 be sufficient. 



Should the borer already have attacked the tree, the best 

 method to extirpate is to force a small wire after them, which 

 will effect the object, unless they have proceeded too far; in 

 such event they must be removed by cutting. With care 

 but little risk is sustained by this operation. It is better to 

 venture than allow the enemy to remain, as in this case the 

 destruction of the tree is inevitable. 



To prevent the depredations of the borer upon the cherry, 

 peach, plum, apricot or nectarine, coal ashes should be sub- 

 stituted for lime. The latter being too severe in its effects. 

 A strong solution of soap may be used occasionally upon 

 peaches or plums with benefit, the suds being applied to the 

 trunk of the tree while hot. 



Improvement of wet Lands. — This question, though last, 

 is of the first importance to the grain raising farmer, who 

 wishes to make improvements necessary for conducting farm- 

 ing operations properly. 



Though ponds may be beneficial in conferring an annual 

 irrigation upon the soil they occupy, they are unquestionably 

 great obstacles to the proper arrangement of a farm ; their 

 presence being unavoidable, the only alternative left to the 

 farmer is to adopt means to discharge their contents. 

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