310 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



that most of the original trees are now in a healthy condi- 

 tion, although they have been thoroughly diseased, and the 

 past season have borne as perfect fruit as is often produced 

 by young trees. 



Young trees have been planted where diseased trees were 

 dug out, and the past season bore fruit. They are as healthy 

 and vigorous as any trees in the orchard. 



The remedies applied have been muriate of potash, from 

 two to five pounds to the tree, sown in the fall or early 

 spring, with ground bone or superphosphate, according to 

 the condition of the soil, which, if very poor, should have 

 an additional dressing of organic matter, like stable manure. 

 In addition to these remedies, the borers (the larvoB of the 

 moth, uS^gei'ia exitlosa) have been dug out with a knife 

 twice each year, — in June and August, — and the trees 

 kept cut back to a close, compact form. The pruning is 

 always done in the fall or winter, and the last season's 

 growth is cut back one-half. In cases where the tree is weak 

 and straggling in growth, man}'^ of the large, long branches 

 are cut back to give it good form. 



The results of all of our experiments with plant life lead us 

 to the belief, although it may not now be susceptible of posi- 

 tive proof, that the fungus growth generally found in diseased 

 plants only develops after the tissues have become deranged 

 or injured by some external cause, as cold following a season 

 of immature growth, exhaustion caused by overbearing or 

 drought, exhaustion of the soil, or injuries from insects. 



In every instance where proper remedies have been applied 

 in time^ the trees have recovered and made a good growth. 



The chemical side of these experiments will be full}' given 

 by Dr. Goessmann. 



The questions of pear blight and rust on the blackberry 

 and raspberry have received attention, but the results are 

 not fully complete, and will be reserved for a future 

 report. 



VI. Destruction of Injurious Insects. 



The work in this line has been confined to means of de- 

 struction of the currant worm {Eufitchia riberia) ; the cab- 



