Fruit Brevities. 431 



" The principal damage from root-knot appears to occur only 

 when the knots approach the crown of the root; when they 

 encircle the crown of the root the tree is hardly worth saving. 

 Hence, where root-knots exist they should be destroyed early, at 

 least before they encompass the root crown. 



" Methods of Work. — As to the method of the work I will say, 

 that as fast as the knots were uncovered b}^ the man with shovel 

 and trowel, I followed with brace and bit and a large bottle of 

 concentrated solution of bluestone [sulphate of copper]. In the 

 cork of the bottle a quill is fixed to guide the fluid easily into the 

 bored holes. After two davs' work the method of treatment was 

 modified. 



"A Phenomenon. — A curious and interesting thing occurred. 

 I noticed that the leaves on certain branches of trees treated the 

 first day had turned very dark, with a sort of coppery tint which 

 was very noticeable. The leaves dried up shortly and fell off, 

 leaving the branches naked, while other branches on the same 

 tree retained their green leaves. Not one tree only, but a score 

 of them were showing this strange effect of the cupric solution. 

 With those dead, copper-hued leaves before my eyes, there was 

 little room for doubting that the cupric fluid had thus quickly 

 entered into the circulation of the tree. It must have done so to 

 produce the effect observed. And it must have gone up at a 

 season when we speak of the sap as going down. I w^as a little 

 scared at this i)henomenon and modified my treatment by striking 

 off the knots and puncturing the diseased wood, especially the 

 core of the knot, with a sharp, pointed iron, then applying the 

 cupric solution with a swab, in this way avoiding a too excessive 

 quantity of the fluid penetrating the fiber of the tree. However, 

 in the light of future events, there seemed to be no need of this 

 precaution. The trees thus curiously, and, it would seem seri- 

 ously affected, were all right in bud, leaf, blossom and fruit in the 

 spring and summer following. They have shown no signs of 

 injury since, but on the contrary seem to have taken on a 

 healthier tone than the other trees, so that I now believe the 

 treatment by boring is perfectly safe, if done in September or 

 October. I could not vouch for it at other seasons of the year. 



