178 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



can do as raucli work, and that pretty hard work, as any man of my weight 

 and years that I am acquainted with. But this is like everything else, 

 must have an end. With my best wishes for a pleasant and successful 

 meeting at Lexington, whether I be with you or not, I am with you iu 

 sentiment. 



SAMUEL MILLER. 

 Bluffton, Mo., November 28, 1886. 



A TREE WASH. 



Editor Rural World: For nearly twenty years 1 experimented 

 how to save my fruit trees from being killed by insects, and have long 

 used the following as the best. Take one peck of unslached lime, four 

 pounds of the flower of sulphur, mix and slack witli about eight of 

 boiling water. Whilst yet hot, add one-half gallon crude carbolic acid, 

 and the same of gas tar, stirr well and mix thoroughly. When cold it 

 is ready for use. A flat brush I find to be the best. For mice, rabbits 

 or sheep put on the wash high enough to cover the trunk out of their 

 reach. 



For a spring wash against borers, leave the gas tar put and add in 

 its i)lace one gallon of soft soap. Wash thoroughly so as to reach 

 every crevice or hiding place when the trees are iu bloom, or not later 

 than three weeks after they reach that state. The millers or bugs will 

 not lay their eggs on that wash, but if they do it will surely hill them. 

 But on neglected trees, where the borers have gotten under the bark, 

 nothing will do but the knife and to surely cut them out. This wash 

 will not only protect the trees from insects but give them a smooth, 

 healthy bark. One person can wash from 100 to 800 trees a day, 

 according to their size and height of washing. I have 400 trees, apple, 

 pear, peach plum, etc., and this wash proves successful against rabbits 

 and borers, which are very numerous in this locality. I have seen 

 sumac and other bushes close to my trees gnawed by rabbits whilst the 

 trees were unharmed. 



Lime in a wash makes a body, and is not only a protection against 

 the insects, but also against the weather. Sulphur is poison to insect 



