DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



531 



The adoption of those rules so <Toncrally tbroiiGrh- 

 out the country cannot but be attended with the 

 most beneficial results to poreoloL'ieal science, by 

 •rivinu it more detinitcness in the luture, and to 

 point irrowers and nurseiymen, by ^uardinir in some 

 measure against the introduction, every j-ear, of a 

 lorn; list oT new names and new varieties, totally 

 unworthy of cultivation. 



We observe that one or two of the a[rricultural 

 journals have mistaken the spirit and intention 

 which actuated those who originated these rules. 

 It is a Lrrcat error to suppose that they intended to 

 force tiic horticultural community to adopt any set 

 of rules, or to govern or oblige them to act within 

 certain limits. Far from it. These rules orioina- 

 tcd in certain cfying defects in the system of na- 

 ming and adopting new varieties hitherto that pre- 

 vailed in our oldest societies, by which any person, 

 even if totally and confessedly ignorant of existing 

 varieties of fruit, and therefore necessarily unable to 

 decide whether a seedling of his own might be bet- 

 ter than any sort hitherto known, or inferiour to 20 

 other second rate sorts — whether such a person 

 should be able to give his seedling to tiie public 

 with a high sounding name, or whether it should 

 first be submitted to the fruit committee of some 

 Horticultural Society, or some competent pomolo- 

 gist to decide upon its merits. Tliis is so mani- 

 festly for the public protection and the public good, 

 that there cannot be a dissenting opinion in the 

 mind of any reasoning being. 



A few of the leading societies having determined 

 to adopt these rules, we brought the matter before 

 the public in our columns, and requested all the 

 Societies in the country to adopt them, and thus 

 make what was originally intended as a local mat- 

 ter, one of general benefit. Neither the Massachu- 

 setts, Pennsylvania, or Cincinnati Society had the 

 slightest wish or desire, as the journals we have 

 alluded to have supposed, to force a code of pomo- 

 logical laws upon the country- They furnished us 

 their rules for publication, leaving other societies, 

 and the horticultural public generally, to adopt 

 them or not at their own pleasure.* 



We are heartily glad that almost all the leading 

 horticultural societies have now adopted these 

 rules, for we look npon it as a new era in pomolo- 

 gy. We are tolerably conversant with pomology 

 abroad, and so far as we can learn, it is the first 

 set of pomologicul rules yet adopted, and published. 

 in any country. That there is great need of some 

 rules of this kind on the continent of Europe, no 

 one, conversant with the confusion of nomenclature 

 in the pomological works of France and Germany, 

 no one, conversant with the practice of some nurse- 

 rymen of those countries, of sending out a single 



* We owe the Massficliusetts Society an apolocry <or puh- 

 lishin)^ the rules incorrectly the first time tliey appeared in our 

 columns — having, m the haste of sending tliem to press, taken 

 an nncorrecied proof of the original draft, instead of the cor- 

 rected copy as actually passed, and as published last month. 

 The rule restricting the publication of new varieties to one 

 or two journals '• of the largest circulation," originally in- 

 tended only to simplify the search for '.he recoids of original 

 descriptions, was actually passed without the latter clause 

 as likely to be ounsidered exclusive by journals not coming 

 within the limit, though perhaps the beiieht to the community 

 would have been clear enough. 



fruit under several diflTerent names, thus injuring 

 and deceiving purchasers, can doubt for a moment. 

 We hope to sec pomology, under the wholesome 

 influence of the American Rules, take the shape of 

 a more definite and precise science. He who rais- 

 es a new fruit of merit, will then the more easily 

 place it before the jiublie and reap his reward ; 

 while others will not find it so easy to palm oft' 

 upon the community second or third rate varieties 

 as sorts of superlative excellence. 



Apple Trkf, Borer — to prevent its attacks. 

 This insect (Saj>erda bivittata,) is fast becoming 

 the most serious pest of the orehardist, in some 

 parts of the middle and eastern states. Perfora- 

 ting the trunk in every direction, it soon destroys 

 its whole structure ; and while be, who is unac- 

 quainted with its habits, only perceives in the bark 

 a few holes, as if made with a common awl, the 

 insect has, perhaps, made a " powder-post" of the 

 whole tree. 



It is a very difficult insect to combat ; but May 

 is the month to make war npon it, since at the 

 close of the montii, or early in June, it makes its 

 exit from the tree, and sets about depositing eggs 

 in a score of new branches or trunks, to perforate 

 them in like manner. Hence, it is evident, that by 

 destroying every borer, if it were possible, before 

 he emerges from the tree, we shall destroy the 

 whole brood. 



There are two points to be aimed at : one, to de- 

 stroy all that can be reached before they emerge 

 from the tree; the other, to prevent their laying 

 their eggs in the bark of certain other trees. 



We are inclined to believe that one of the best 

 modes of doing this, is to be provided with a mix- 

 ture, composed of soft-soap, tobacco water, and 

 flower of sulphur, made by adding a pint of the sul- 

 phur and as much strong tobacco water to a gallon 

 of soft-soap as will bring the whole to the consis- 

 tency of paint. With a small syringe, fthat may be 

 had for a shilling at an apothecary's,) the aperture 

 of which will about match the hole of the borer, 

 inject this liquid into every hole that can be found 

 till the hole is lilled. 



Then, with a stout brush, wash the trunk (re- 

 moving the soil a little at its base first,) tborough- 

 ly with the mixture. All the larger branches 

 should also be washed thoroughly, so as to leave no 

 part of the bark uncovered 



We ascertained last year, by experiment, that 

 the borer, in its winged state, when seeking for trees 

 in the bark of which to lay its eggs, itnmediately 

 left all that had been washed in this way — even 

 though the coating had been on for several weeks. 



This insect usually chooses the collar of the tree, 

 near the surface of the ground, in wliicli to lay its 

 eggs, though, when abundant, it also takes other 

 parts of the trunk, and csiieoially the forks of the 

 branches near the trunk. By coating all these 

 parts, we shall perhaps be able to prevent its de- 

 stroying the tree ; and while, by the injection of 

 the liquid into its holes, (if this proves effectual,) or 

 by the old mode of thrusting wires into the holes, 

 the parent stock must be as much diminished as 

 possible before the insects are ready to come out 

 m a perfect state. 



