228 TEAlSfSACTIONS OF THE ILLI]S01S 



pests known to tlie orchardist. The codling moth confines itself to the core and a 

 single passage outwards, but this comparatively minute insect perforates every part of 

 the apple, rendering it a mass of honeycomb as far as structure is concerned. They 

 appear to he especially fond of the portion next the skin, through which their tracks 

 may be observed, and I think they are also partial to sweet apples. I have gathered 

 bushels of summer apples, hard, and, to all appearance, sound, but by the time they 

 were mellowed sufficiently for eating — only a few days — e^s'ery apple was utterly spoiled 

 by these pestilent insects. I think they were entirely unknown here twenty — cer- 

 tainly thiity — years ago. This view of the non-increase of insects, I should suppose, 

 would hardly apply to New Jersey, for the only insect mentioned by Coxe in 1817 is 

 the caterpillar, to which he devotes a chapter of just twelve lines. It is equally 

 incredible to me that there could have been no other insects there, or that so careful 

 and accurate an observer could have failed to notice them. At any rate, one has only 

 to read Dr. Trimble to feel sure that there are enough there now. 



Thus far I had written, when I found my time would not allow me to linish as fully 

 as I had begun ; and perhaps you will think I have made my story too long already . 

 I do not think the stochs on which trees have been grafted will account for deteriora- 

 tion. Fungi and littei' rot have greatly injured the fruit, but why some varieties and 

 locations are free from them and other's not, is difficult to determine. I have lately 

 examined a collection of apples from Nova Scotia which were so fair that it was a 

 pleasure to behold them. I believe the only one showing any fungus was the Fall 

 Pippin, which had a few spots about as big as a pea, of a grayish, scaly fungus. 

 There were aboiit fifty varieties, many of European origin, and old sorts. On the 

 contrary, apples from Nebraska, no doubt from young and thrifty orchards, were 

 badly infected with a fungus taking the form of little black dots, about the size of a 

 pin-hole . Perhaps, however, the season was exceptional in both these cases . As to 

 soil, I doubt whether an orchard planted in newly cleared ground here would produce 

 more perfect fruit than our old gardens, though further information is needed on this 

 point. Climate and atmospheric clianges have not been observed with sufficient accuracy 

 to judge of their effect. There is great need of investigation of this point, and I think 

 it will be found to have exercised a powerful influence. Much is due to varieties. 

 Whatever view may be taken of Knight's theory, or any other theory, the solemn 

 fact remains that varieties do become practically worthless , and must be replaced with 

 new kinds. The Danvers Sweet, which originated in an adjoining town, and was a 

 great favorite there, had, a dozen years ago or more, so far degenerated that the 

 farmers reluctantly grafted over their trees. And this deterioration is not confined to 

 fruit, but is common to flowers and vegetables, and is not local, but is, or will be, 

 conunon to all parts of the country. 



DAMAGED OSAGE ORANGE PLANTS. 



Mr. Daggy — I would like to call the attention of the meeting to the 

 damage of the Osage Orange by the frost. 



Dr. Hull — You will see that that was overtaken by the force of 

 extreme cold when it was still growing, and it caused the bark to 

 burst. 



