

^■' EDITOK'8 TABLE. 



to SCO in(»re of the manly tone of tlio IndepeuJcnt. "Wlicn the canse of science is conoern- 

 c<l, tlie trutli niul tlie wliolo triitli .slioultl be 8iK)kc'n even between pcraoiiul friend!*. 'Witli- 

 out any reforenco to Mr. Em-iot's stylo of writio};, whether it be Jhie or otherwise, wo 

 must cx|tres3 our hearty concurrence in the views advanced by the Independent on this 

 subject. To lug in a series of sentimental ideas and expressions, in writing on a practical 

 or scientific subject, is a glaring iinprojiriety, and one that is, wo regret to say, by no means 

 uncomuion. Plain matters of fact should be stated in ],>lain, evcry-day language, and not 

 be cumbered and mystiticd by superfluous and inai)propriato ornaments, "artificial flowers 

 and gaudy tail-featliers." There arc subjects connected with horticulture which naturally 

 call up feeling and sentiment, and these seek utterance in appropriate language, as do 

 joy, sorrow, or any other emotion of the lieart. There is "a law of propriety" in these 

 matters, which nature herself has established, and which the exercise of a moderate share 

 of conmion sense can scarcely fail to discover. 



Snskitra to ffiorrtsponibtRta. 



I sF.xn you several portions of bark taken from diseased Pear trees in my orchard, for yonr examination. Tlie 

 first appearance of the disease is very slight — (|uite a small brown speck. As it projiresses, the bark beeomea darker, 

 and scaly; occasionally it cracks open — usuiilly running up or down the branches, seldom reaching round until badly 

 diseased, which it finally does. The alburnum, or sap wood, now being exposed, the limb perishes In the same way 

 as by ringing or girdling — sometimes the first year, but generally the second. (1) 



On one piece of bark you will find about half of it black, the other perfectly sound. This I think is quite different 

 from the first, and I find that it kills the limb in a short time. I dread it worse than the other, and have amputated 

 the limbs on which I have found it, instantcr. (i) 



Now, sir, is this not bark -blight, and totally difierent from leaf-blight? I find no mention of either of them by 

 Downing, Thomas, or Baehy, and have concluded that it difiers from all other kinds of blight, and is peculiar to our 

 section of country. With a small microscope, CTC. superficial measure, I have examined closely for insects, which I 

 thought might be lodged in the bark, but found none. The trees from which the bark was cut are dwarfs, grown on 

 the Quince, of various ages from one to six years old. They were remarkably healthy until last August, when every 

 one of them (some 400 of 80 or 90 varieties) were attacked with fire-blight— something I had never seen before ; not 

 one variety escaped, though on some kinds it was much worse than on others. I cut off the affected parts, which 

 were mostly the young and tender terminal shoots, and thus arrested the disease, when they threw out another growth, 

 and before frost they appeared as he.ilthy as before. Having sold my farm, in January, 1S5.3, I reserved all my 

 dwarfs, and removed them to my father's garden, a sandy soil, they having before stood in a clay soil. 'Was the 

 change of soil the cause of these different forms of blight? (3) Last winter I removed them to a clay soil, and now 

 find the first form of blight in abundance. 



Now if you will point out a remedy, so that I can once more keep my trees hcilthy, you will do me a great favor; 

 and as a compensation would be glad to have you turn this way in the Pear season, and if I can not present as high 

 flavored, I know I can show you some of the weightiest fellows you have ever seen. (4) 



Can you tell me were seed of the Victoria regia can be obtained, and the price? (-5) Has it ever flowered in open 

 ponds in the United States? (0) 



Whenever you discover the best Quince for stocks for the Pear, I should like to be informed. Pomological doctors 

 seem to differ. (7) Have you not altered your opinion since you published your Fruit Garden f Tou there speak 

 highly of the Upright Quince. Dow.m.no says the common, or Apple Quince, ia as good as any when once budded, 

 being harder to bud than the Angers. 



Should nurserymen be responsible for trees not properly paclced for distant transportation ? (S) I have lost many 

 trees and plants, beside having to pay freight and charges, as well as first cost, on bundles and boxes sent me from 

 your State. In soniC instances, all that I could find was the labels and packing material. This winter I received a 

 lot of trees packed in three bundles. The matting was rubbed nearly cff; the rats had cut nearly every root off, and 

 most of the branches. Tliis was perplexing, I assure you. But more of this at another time— hoping, however, you 

 will give us an article, in the IlorticuUxirist, on packing of trees and plants for distant transportation ; it is a matter 

 ofimpoi-tance to ^yurchaserfi. 



Who makes the best brass garden syringes, and garden engines? Also, prices (0) M. — Ifinda Co., Mins. 



(1) The pieces of bark affected with this form of blight have much of th.it cankered, unsound 

 appearance, which the trees of Van Mons Leon le Clerc usually presents as they advance in age 

 ave not seen, in any other instance, any blight or canker like this from Mississippi. 

 This bark has the appearance of being attacked with the so-called fire-blight, a small 



