340 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



with soil and left it to get in its deadly work, for no breathing vermin 

 can inhale its fumes and live. It is very diffusive; its fumes permeate 

 the soil for quite a distance. I fully believe that it will exterminate 

 the root aphis and the root borerC?). It is cheap, easily tested, and^ 

 being very poisonous, should be kept in closely stopped bottles, away 

 from fire and light. KespectfuUy, 



Purdy, November 113, 1894. A. C. Weymouth. 



The Root Aphis. 



\^ 



The following paper was read the 25th ult. at the meeting of the 

 Barry County Horticultural Association, by H. C. Fitch, of Seligman : 



The aphis in the apple is something that is attracting'the attention 

 of the fruit-grower all through the West. It is not confined to any 

 particular soil or to any particular locality, but we find its effect is more 

 damaging to trees on thin soil where ground has not been thoroughly 

 cultivated than on lower, stronger ground that has had the benefit of 

 the wash of higher ground, and where the ground has frequently been 

 stirred with cultivator or hoe through the summer. We presume the 

 reason is that the former has not the vitality of the soil to assist the 

 ravages of the disease that the latter has, which proves to my mind 

 that a higher state of cultivation will put more strength in the soil and 

 more life in the tree, which will assist it to resist the ravages of the 

 disease and prolong its life. 



But I am satisfied that something must be done besides cultiva- 

 tion if we would get rid of the disease. 



How does it affect trees ? The effect is the same that the borer 

 has when a tree is girdled by it. It sooner or later dies. The differ- 

 ence between the ravage of the borer and the aphis is this : When a 

 tree is completely girdled by them, the flow of sap from the root of the 

 tree to the top is cut off, and the tree dies a slow death, the top remain- 

 ing green for several weeks, and at times matures a small crop of apples* 

 The aphis has the same effect to all outward appearances, and one 

 is liable to confound one with the other unless a close observation is 

 taken at the base of the tree. In case of aphis it will be found that 

 the roots and base are dead, the bark black, while its top is still alive 

 trying to mature its crop. 



Now the question arises, what is aphis? Where does it come 

 from, and what shall we do to get rid of it ? We now arrive at the 

 most interesting point of this discussion. 



