1876.J 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



303 



from harm. This year a tree may hardly yield 

 a fruit, while the next bears superbly in quantity 

 and quality. The wood of two years growth 

 rarely shows injury, and then it comes from a 

 starved growth, or from the sensitiveness and an- 

 noyance which few think trees suffer, when their 

 thrift or freedom is molested. 



Now I am at a loss to know what ails my trees. 

 I find on those injured most, a squad of small 

 brown lice, clustering around the buds and roots 

 of leaves. These are visited by lots of ants, who 

 seem to feed on some sweetness distilled from 

 them or from the wounds they make. Around 

 such buds and leaves a black mold or mildew 

 spreads and closely clings. 



I have long held a lurking suspicion that the 

 roots of evergreens, dead or alive, were hurtful to 

 the pear. The ground where my pear trees 

 stand, was some years since, well filled with Nor- 

 way Spruce, which I cut down when 12 to 15 

 feet high. I have no fixed theory about this, but 

 only make a query. Perhaps the living leaves 

 and fronds work just as much, if any harm, to 

 this favorite fruit. Your counsel is asked as to 

 the cause and remedy. 



[The appearances were quite novel to us. 

 Some of the specimens were sent to one of the 

 most distinguished mycologists, who acknowl- 

 edged himself completely puzzled. This is all we 

 can say at present. — Ed. G. M.] 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



The Thwack Raspberry. — Notwithstanding 

 its uncouth name, is said to be a very good 

 thing by some who have seen it. The growers 

 say it " eclipses all other sorts " in eight several 

 particulars, which we should regard as doubtful, 

 as also that it is a " cross between the Herstine 

 and the Brandy wine." We think loose state- 

 ments tend rather to prejudice a variety really 

 good in itself rather than "help the cause 

 along." 



Orchards in Grass. — One of the most impar- 

 tial discussions of the relative merits of the 

 difierent plans of cultivating orchards that we 

 have read for some time is in the Rural Home, of 

 Rochester, N. Y., of August 26. The advantages 

 claimed for grass culture and clean culture are 

 fairly stated, and it concludes with the following, 

 "which is the pith of the whole subject : 



" How to keep up the fertility of orchards at 



the least cost is, perhaps we may say, the most 

 momentous question that confronts the orchard- 

 ist, and one to which we purpose to give further 

 attention." 



Orchard of Godfrey Zimmerman, Pine Hill 

 Nursery, Buffalo, N. Y. — We had an opportunity 

 to examine this beautiful orchard recently. It 

 embraces pears, dwarf and standard, cherries, 

 apples, and other fruits. The trees stand on 

 ridges ploughed up before planting, after the 

 manner so well known to those who have seen 

 the late M. L. Dunlap's orchards, at Cliampaign, 

 Ills. The orchards have been now many years 

 in green grass — not " neglected grass," but occa- 

 sionally top-dressed. Mr. G. is proud of his suc- 

 cessful orchards, and no one who visits but must 

 envy him. A very successful Honey Locust 

 hedge surrounds the property. The few hours 

 spent in Mr. Zimmerman's grounds, and the per 

 sonal acquaintance of the members of his excel- 

 lent family, are among the pleasant recollections 

 of the Editor's hurried trip to Buff'alo. 



Wild Goose Plum. — Mr. D. S. Myers, Bridge- 

 ville, Del., says: "I send you by mail this day 

 one wild goose plum. I notice in Gardener's 

 Monthly that there is some question about the 

 true wild goose. I hope you will have a number 

 of these plums sent you, so you can form an 

 opinion about them. The fruit I sent you last 

 year and this are grown on trees I purchased 

 five or six years since from a nurserj' in Missis- 

 sippi. Late frosts cut off all early-blooming 

 fruits with us, including the plum, or I would 

 have sent you a sufficient quantity for better 

 inspection. In an old number of Jownal of 

 Horticulture (now discontinued, was published at 

 Boston) you will find a long article on plums of 

 the South and wild goose plums. This article in 

 Joimml of Horticulture is from a leading horticul- 

 turist of standard authority. I think if it was 

 republished it would do much to settle the 

 question about the true wild goose plum. The 

 wild goose plum cannot withstand any more 

 frost when in bloom than the budded peach. 

 The tree on its natural roots grows very rapidly 

 on land in sod, where the peach tree will die in 

 a few years if not cultivated. The fruit is subject 

 to injury by the curculio, but not so much so as 

 other firmer varieties of Northern plums. Grown 

 on peach stock the trees are very rapid growers, 

 and can be better cultivated if desired ; or if not 

 desired to be kept under clean culture like a 

 peach orchard, should be on their natural roots. 



