

EDITOK'S TABLE. 



I 



The Quince. — ^The quince trees througltout a large extent of country have for several years, at 

 least, bc;en infested by an insect apparently of the moth species. Of tlie natural history, or even 

 the existence of this minute animal, I have seen no notice whatever. The efl'ects of its ravages, 

 however, have been observed with disappointment and vexation by many a matron whose hopes 

 of a full supply of this fruit have been sorely disappointed. 



The presence of the enemy is usually indicated when the fruit is about half grown. The leave* 

 of the tree lose their freshness and assume a russetty, reddish brown appearance. The growing 

 shoots are feeble, with small leaves often curled at their edges, and soon cease to grow.' The fruit 

 becomes affected, grows but slowly, if at all, and much of it falls off before maturity. Even that 

 which remains on the trees till autumn, is defective and almost worthless. 



In searching for the cause of these effects, I have discovered a very small grey, or yellowish 

 grey fly, or moth, mottled with specks or stripes of a darker color. I have not yet detected 

 either the larva or chrysalis, but abundant marks of its action and what appeared to be fcecal 

 remains. These appearances, and the residence of the fly, is on the under side of the leaf. 



A gentleman residing some distance from this place, succeeded in expelling these vermin from 

 a small tree by throwing a sheet over it and burning several sulphur matches beneath. In a 

 very few days that tree resumed its freshne&s and verdure, while all the others retain their 

 unsightly aspect. 



Will not you, Mr. Editor, or some of your able correspondents, give your readers full and prac- 

 tical information on this subject ? A Mississrppi Subscriber. 



Undoubtedly an aphis. Fumigation with sulphur or tobacco, or sprinkling freely with 

 tobacco water, will prove eflfectual. 



Impbo\t:iiext of Lawns. — In laying out my grounds, one acre in extent, two years ago, I was 

 unable to obtain manure to mix with the soil at the time of plowing and seeding down to grass. 

 My trees and shrubs being now planted, I cannot plow again nor can I obtain manure enough for 

 a top dressing. Manure cannot be had here, at present, for love or money. My soil is a loam, 

 with too great a proportion of clay. The grass seed and clover came up, but it has made a scanty 

 growth and dries up in summer. 



Now, sir, how can I best treat such a lawn to secure a more vigorous growth of gi-ns?, and a 

 better verdure in mid-summer? I have a barrel of poudrette arnd can proeui'C guano, coal dust, 

 ashes, <fec.; but if the first two of these are applied in the spring, will they not burn the grass in 

 summer ? 



Again, Would it not be advantageous to cut sods from the roadside in spring, and after rotting 

 them thoroughly, or burning them, apply them in summer as a top dressing? Would not this 

 serve to absorb moisture from the air, and protect the roots of the grass from the heat of the sun ? 



Please tell me, in your next number, the best thing I can do, under the circumstances, for my 

 lawn. A. D. G.— Clinton, N. Y. 



It is almost impossible to sustain a good midsummer verdure on a badly j)repared soil, 

 even with the most liberal top dressing, unless it be drenched daily vdth water. We think 

 if your lawn were ours, we should trench it eighteen inches deep, (especially that part 

 nearest the house) apply poudrette, or other enriching composts, and seed down anew with 

 pure red top grass. A shallow plowed, clayey soil, breaks and cracks in dry, hot weather, 

 and the grass dies out. A lawn is a permanent aftair, and it is annoying to have it, year 

 after year, show the effects of a bad bottom, and to be continually applying some temporary 

 without satisfactory results. Yon may try it with a top dressing of poudrette 

 season, before the spring rains cease, or the weather becomes warm. Then in 



