PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. 135 



a tree which was just coming into growth a few degrees of cold were 

 sufficient to cause tliis swelling or similar swellings on the various trees. 

 Quite a large number of plants of the rose family are troubled b^' this. I 

 sent some specimens from these trees to Washington, the other day, and 

 that is about all they had found out there, at the department of agricul- 

 ture. Thev referred me to this German, with whose work I was already 

 familiar. This disease attacks the apple and plum and peach. The grape, 

 of course, is out of the family, but I.haye frequently seen similar injuries 

 to the grape, and it is thought that this same development, where there 

 had been some little break in growth by frost, was brought about in that 

 way. 



Q. Do they come on blackberry roots? A. Yes, there is one like this, 

 and caused in the same way; another is caused by the gall insect rather 

 than by frost. 



Q. Would it be any benefit to cut them off? A. No. not even if it has 

 only a small hold. I would advise throwing it away — burning it might 

 be best, for it is possible it may be contagious. So far as is known, how- 

 ever, there is no other cause which can produce it, except freezing when 

 the tree is growing; before it ripens in the fall, or perhaps in the middle 

 of May, the injury is most likely to occur. If 30U can be sure to cut off all 

 of it, it might be possible to save the tree. 



Mr. Smith: Will this appear on the body or branches of the tree as 

 well as on the crown? A. It will attack it anywhere. There is one on the 

 root (exhibiting sample). This one came from Grand Kapids. The other 

 two were from Casco. 



I would like to show you the tests I spoke of this morning, as many of 

 you have not seen them, and to make it plain to those present, I have 

 taken, th&re, a solution of copper sulphate. There (extending another 

 vial) is a little of the yellow prussiate of potash I spoke of, for a test, to 

 learn if vou have a sufficient quantity of lime in Bordeaux mixture. Now, 

 that is the solution of copper sulphate, and of course has the color you 

 see. This has a yellowish color. A drop of that upon this, produces a 

 marked effect, a brown effect, the same as in Bordeaux mixture. This 

 will not be quite so marked in Bordeaux, but whenever you find that this 

 material will produce a brownish color you will need put in more lime. 

 The other test is sim])ler and requires merely the use of th(* pocket knife. 

 If A'ou find a film of copper deposited over the knife blade, it certainly 

 is pretty good evidence that you need more lime. 



Q. Is there danger in having too much lime? A. No danger, but it is 

 not well to use more than is necessary. I always use a slight excess to 

 make sure — that is, a little more lime. If the knife shows any copper, 

 that indicates that copper is present in a free state, and you should add 

 more lime until that deposit is not seen on the steel. 



Q. In that other test, you put in lime until you can no longer see the 

 brown color? A. Yes, and I add a little after that, so as to be sure. I 

 think it is safe to add a little lime always, even after the test shows that 

 the copper is neutralized. 



Mr. Sherwood : Is it absolutely necessary to have the lime (if you make 

 a solution of fifty ])onuds) mixed so it is all free in water? You slake 

 fifty i^ounds of lime and put it into fifty gallons of water, and you have 



