V^^§^: 



fyj j;U EDITOR-3 TABLE. 



edition was issued some ten years ago. " It formed one of the scientific reports which were 

 I)roi>aro(l and pulilislicd bj' tlio Coniniissioners on the Zoolofxical and Statistical survey of 

 Massachusetts agreeably to an order of the General Court, and at the expense of the State." 

 Tlie present edition is much enlarged and improved ; a great amount of information and 

 experience has been collected and embodied in it, adding greatly to its value. It contains 

 a full account of the Psylla 2>yri^ an important insect that has infested pear trees in some 

 localities, some account of ■which was given in the February number of the ITorticulturht. 

 The Chinch iiij, a destructive pest of grain crops in some localities; the Angoumois moth., 

 or flying weevil; the Eurytoma Hordei^ or joint worm; the Ilesuan fiy^ and Wheat fy, 

 all notorious depredators on field crops have been fully and minutely treated of. There is 

 also an account of the Cotton worm of the South, and of insects folsely charged with the 

 potato blight. All the latest experience in regard to insects injurious to fruits and flowers, 

 have been carefully collected and furnish information of the greatest value to every culti- 

 vator. The work has but one defect, and that is, the want of illustrative drawings that 

 would enable persons unlearned in entomology to identify insects. "We trust that measures 

 will be taken to supply this defect. The example of Massachusetts, in ordering the prepa- 

 ration of such a work as this, should be imitated by every State in the Union ; in no other 

 department of science could the necessary cost be better expended. The preparation of this 

 treatise is not the only way in which Prof. Harris has conferred beneflts on agricultural 

 and horticultural pursuits ; he is daily imparting information through the press and by jn-i- 

 vate letters. "We should wish to see him in a position, if it were agreeable to himself, where 

 his entire attention might be devoted to this subject. 



S[nsix)crs to Corrrsjjoni&tnts. 



Although a novice in fruit-culture, I propose to state a few facts wliich I have learned by 

 observation the present season, and propose a few questions for information from you. 



I have a dwarf Pear tree [Duchesse d' Anrjoideine), set last season, which grew luxuriantly, and 

 started finely this spring, and was in blossom, when we had quite a severe frost (not to the 

 material injury of fruit blossoms), a few days after which the leaves on this tree turned black and 

 dropped off. The limbs at the extremity became black, and black spots appeared at the base of 

 the buds, and although I cut away all the diseased parts the tree has not started, and will 

 probably die. Was this caused by the frost? 



The green aphis has made its appearance on some of my trees, and I have observed that thoy 

 are found only on trees infested with ants, and find the ants collected on the leaves and slioots 

 with the aphis. On applying the tobacco wash, the ants will collect on other parts of the trees, 

 and the aphis will then appear in a day or two, and I have thus far found, without exception, 

 that where ants infest a tree the aphis are found, and where there are no ants, no aphis can be 

 found. Do the ants produce aphis. (1.) 



I observed the communication of Mr. B., of Kenosha, in the May number of the IIorticuKurist, 

 and will say that the bark-louse is found on trees obtained from nursei-ies here, and I find that 

 on my trees they extend to tlie extremity of the last year's growth ; and I have just been into 

 an orchard of bearing size, and find the trees completely coated with lice from the ground to the 

 extremity of the limbs. Can the wash you recommend be ajtplied tt) :dl parts of the tree'without 

 injury? (2.) 



I had seen it stated that the bursting of the bark of Cherry trees at the West was probably 

 caused by their rapid growth ; and to guard against this, I set my trees in grass groun 

 have not manured at all, but have kept the ground clean for several feet around the base. 



