THE KANSAS PEACH. 67 



see any that remain, by having four to six inches of the body of the 

 tree exposed. It is rarely they pass below the surface if thus treated. 

 Where loose cultivation is had the insect soon passes to the roots, and 

 it is much more difficult to clean the tree. I think this the best and 

 simplest method yet devised to reduce this pest to the minimum. 



CEMENT AND SKIM-MILK FOR BORERS. 



From Bulletin No. 128 of the New Jersey Experiment Station. 



During the winter of 1896-'97 it was suggested that a coating of 

 hydraulic cement mixed with skim-milk formed an excellent protec- 

 tion against borer attack, with no danger to the trees. The suggestion 

 seemed practical, and I tried the material on the college farm, and 

 had it tried on peach trees near New Brunswick, at Cologne, and at 

 Parry, N. J., and at St. Catharine's, Ontario, Canada. The applica- 

 tions on the college farm were made on May 3, two quarts of skim- 

 milk being used, and cement added to make a body paint. This was 

 applied to wild cherry, from the sapling of last year's growth to a tree 

 three inches in diameter. The test was to determine the lasting 

 qualities and whether it was injurious; hence the application reached 

 from the surface of the soil to the branching or, in the case of sap- 

 lings, to the very tip of the growing plant. A complete coat was put 

 on in all cases, and it set almost immediately. It began to rain when 

 the application was completed, and during the night a heavy rain fell. 

 All through the early summer there were frequent heavy rains, so 

 that the test was a severe one. May 6 another series of trees and 

 shoots was painted with the hydraulic cement mixed with water to 

 the same consistency as in the case of the skim-milk, the application 

 covering the same variety of plants. June 15 the coating where 

 mixed wdth water was decidedly imperfect. Where mixed with milk 

 it was entirely intact. October 4 found the coating where milk was 

 used to be yet entirely intact, the covering as perfect as when first 

 put on. The material was brittle, however, and broke or crumpled 

 readily. 



As to injurious effects, it was impossible to detect any on even the*- 

 youngest shoots. The bark was dirty, otherwise entirely healthy be- 

 neath the cement coating in all cases. For lasting qualities it leaves- 

 nothing to be desired. As there "is nothing to penetrate or soak into 

 the tree, the only possible injury could have been from the inclosing 

 jacket of cement or from excluding air. But the coating does not 

 seem to be air-tight, and is somewhat elastic, jjerhaps from the pres- 

 ence, of casein; so there is no reason to expect injury. The water- 

 mixed cement was broken in every direction, the coating imperfect in 



