ANNUAL MEETING AT LEXINGTON. 151 



just as many other insects are killed by the Pyrethrum powder. I do 

 not think the green has any effect upon the moth. I don't think you 

 need worry over poisoning any one. In no case have the chemists 

 found a trace of arsenic in the apples. Some years ago the same ques- 

 tion was raised in regard to the use of paris green upon potatoes. 



Mr. Riehl — Would not the green destroy vegetable tissue as well 

 as animals, if it were taken in solution ? 



Frof. Tracy — That depends upon how it is applied. A student in 

 the university tried paris green upon plants in various ways. Put 

 on the soil in which the plant grew, it had no effect. He made a cut 

 in another plant and put in some paris green and bound up the cut, 

 without injury to the plant. Plants were killed by a weak solution 

 {Fowler's) of arsenic. 



THE LIFE OF A Is" APPLE TEEE. 



BY CHAS. TBUBNEE, OF LEXINGTON, MO. 



A prominent horticulturist made the statement, in my presence, 

 some years since, that an apple tree was of little profit after its twenty- 

 fifth year; or, in other words, its time of useful service was then over. 

 Taking the average bearing tree, under the treatment and conditions 

 in which they are found in these days, I believe he came near, though 

 perhaps over, the mark. But I have seen abundant evidence that such 

 need not be the case, and that we can add from five to ten, or more, 

 years of usefulness to this, our " king of fruits." 



The primary causes which lead to the shortened life of an apple 

 tree, according to my views, are: 



1. Poor or exhausted soil, or such which does not afford proper 

 drainage. 



2. Overbearing. 



3. Allowing the trees to stand for years in sod. 



4. Omitting to replace artificially to the soil that fertility of which 

 constant fruit crops (and washes) are fast draining it. 



