tree fiends," though he thought that their presence could be detected by a blotched and 

 slightly diseased appearance of the foliage. 



I would say, at the coniincncement, that I am skeptical on this subject of the insect 

 origin of blight, and believe with Mr. Ernst that we are to look to the sudden and ex- 

 treme changes of temperature, and perhaps other meteorological phenomena, for the im- 

 mediate or exciting cause. But I do not believe that the enfeebled constitution of foreign 

 trees is the only, or chief predisposing cause — for our native as well as foreign shrubs, 

 and hardy indigeneous trees are subject to its attacks. 



There is, as yet, no blight in my vicinity this summer, except in the burr oak ( Quercus 

 macrocarpa') and it is due to the believers in the insect theory, that I state the fact of the 

 comparative absence of most kinds of injurious insects in the orchard and garden — the 

 scaly aphis excepted. We have had very few rose bugs even — not one where we formerly 

 had one hundred. And this was the case during my recent visit to central Illinois. 



There was, however, plenty of blight about Springfield, and regions north, though none 

 that I saw in Prof. Turner's neighborhood. I therefore fear that his exemption is acci- 

 dental, rather than owing to his zealous manipulations and varied applications to the bark 

 of his trees. 



Professor T. deserves great credit, nevertheless, for his untiring exertions in this con- 

 nection, and his very careful and expensive experiments. Profit to himself in this mat- 

 ter seems to be lost sight of, in his ardent determination to add something important to 

 the science of Horticulture. And yet. Prof. Turner is a money making man. He will 

 pardon me for this statement, because it is the best evidence that one can offer the world, 

 of any man's practical talent, sanit}', and sound orthodoxy. It is proof positive that 

 he is all right, thought it has been the fashion among " the Doctors" in Illinois, to style 

 the professor " a reckless innovator and a wild visionary" — especially in regard to "a 

 plan for an Industrial University for Illinois" — for noticing which, as you have done, we 

 of Suckerdom can never feel sufficiently grateful or thank you too much. 



Now, whether Professor T. has made any new discovery in entomology or not, I cannot 

 say — for I have never studied this most important science, and though I sought it, have 

 not been able to procure a copy of Dr. Harris' Treatise on Insects; I trust, however, 

 that his new edition will be sufficiently large to enable western fruit growers, and the 

 many reading farmers who have recently inquired for it, to obtain copies. But friend 

 Ernst will permit me to assure him of one thing. Professor Turner's "miteof mould," 

 which he presumes to be the nest of his " Pear Devil" is not the " bark louse." The 

 seal}' insect does not attack the pear tree — at least not here — though the apple is often 

 perfectly encrusted with these scabby little pests. The white scale insect is found on 

 stunted apples and pears too, but I saw no signs of them on the trees about Jackson- 

 ville. 



Still it is possible that this insect and the nest seen by Prof. T. and Dr. Adams, are 

 well known to entomologists — for though the one is a very learned man, and a most pa- 

 tient and persevering observer, and the other one of the best chemists in the west, and a 

 man of great general scientific information — yet I am not aware that either makes pre- 

 tension to an intimate knowledge of entomologj^ — and I am compelled to doubt the deduc- 

 tions of Prof. T., while I admit them to be verj' plausible and even possible. 



While writing (as my intended brief note has already grown to a letter,) permit me a 

 word about your able Illinois correspondent, and the rich central Illinois region, which I 

 remember that he has described, though he resides in its most fiivored spot. 



Though an old correspondent I never met Prof. Turner before — and, as many of 



