9;^ Missouri State Horticultural Society. 



subject to the disease, but this year there seemed to be but little 

 difference ; the Ben Davis being as badly affected as any. There 

 was a small difference in favor of some orchards, which yielded 

 perceivably more specimens of perfect fruit, but with them inclu- 

 ded, the buyers avowed there could not be enough "fancy" apples 

 found to pay for sorting, while very few growers found more than 

 half the crop marketable. 



I do not remember reading of any cause, prevention or cure 

 for this disease, which is a matter of surprise when we consider the 

 number of theories advanced on the mysterious pear blight. 

 There seemed to be ground this year for jumping at the conclusion 

 that the atmosphere carried and deposited some subtle poison, 

 other than extreme heat or cold, wet or drouth, for these were 

 prominently normal at the time. 



The codling moth was bad enough, perhaps as bad as usual, 

 but his operations were not as prominently perceivable in tlie gen- 

 eral destruction by the scab. 



While on the subject of the codling moth, I will express a de- 

 sire that the experience of all the members in spraying the trees 

 with Paris Green and other poisons to prevent depredations by this 

 enemy, may be ventilated as fully as practicable. I am aware that 

 many prominent orchardists think they have found it an effectual 

 protection, but I cannot see the philosophy of it, and fear the ap- 

 parent exemption may have been owing to other causes, leaving us 

 subject to disappointment. The moth abstracts no substance from 

 the young apple, tlierefore it would seem to be safe from the poison. 

 It seeks the shelter of the calyx for depositing its little egg, which 

 would seem to be under sufficient protection there, and is likely 

 to be somewhat imbedded in the substance of the apple, so that 

 the young worm can safely eat its way inward, however coated with 

 poison the surface may be. If Paris Green repels the moth, and 

 drives it from the apple and the tree, it seems strange that a cheaper 

 kerosene and carbolic acid emulsion should not be more effectual. 



Besides these causes cutting the apple crop short, there were a 

 number of the largest and heretofore considered the best orchards, 

 that were almost barren, probably from want of pruning and culti- 

 vation, as I tried to point out last year. Before criticizing this 

 position severely, either publicly or with mental reservations, please 

 consider the great difference there may be in your soil and the one 

 I am writing about. This may reveal itself in great difference of 

 both root and top of the same variety of young trees. Yours may 

 make an upright growth of but few branches, while ours make 



