68 THE KANSAS PEACH. 



every case, and almost entirely gone in some. The material was now 

 reduced to a powder, easily rubbed off, and which looked as if the 

 next good rain would remove it completely. Several trees were coated 

 with the -milk and cement at Parry, early in the season, one of which 

 was under observation up to September 25. This was a small plum 

 tree badly infested by scale, and .standing alone near a road in weeds 

 and grass. The coating of cement was still in excellent condition Sep- 

 tember 25, except where it had been broken by the growth of the scales 

 beneath it. The shoots were still green and healthy but hardly vig- 

 orous, which is not surprising when the surroundings of the plant are 

 taken into consideration. 



The application on Mr. White's place was made in early June, and 

 the coating, when examined late in September, was yet practically in- 

 tact. Only the milk-and- cement mixture was used here. 



The experiments at St. Catharine's, Ontario, were made by Mr. M. 

 Burrell, on i3each trees, and both milk and water mixtures were ap- 

 plied June 16. August 9 the skim-milk and cement was found "as 

 good as when put on," while the cement and water was only "fairly 

 good." September 21 the milk mixture was "in good shape," while 

 the water mixture was "largely otf." 



Applications made May 26 to May 28 to peach trees by Mr. Henry 

 Pfeiffer, Cologne, Atlantic county. New Jersey, were still in perfect 

 condition in October, and had been effective in keeping out borers. 



It is a fair conclusion from these experiments, made in a very wet 

 season, that a mixture of cement and &kim-milk applied to tree trunks 

 forms a continuous coating that will remain in good condition during 

 an entire summer. As a mechanical coating it leaves nothing to be 

 desired, and no appearance of injury from its use has been observed. 

 It is impenetrable to young insect larvae, and a surface so covered 

 would not be readily selected by an adult for oviposition. 



The coating is sufficiently elastic to admit of moderate growth, but 

 quite brittle enough to break readily from the efforts of any insect at- 

 tempting to come out from beneath the bark. It would not, there- 

 fore, prevent the exit of borers that were already working in the tree, 

 but would keep out any young larvse that attempted to get in. 



It is probable that this cement, added to some of the soap washes 

 in use by fruit-growers, will add to their [the soap washes'] lasting 

 qualities. 



The simple water mixture is so far inferior to that made with milk 

 that its use is not recommended. 



In all cases the cement should be broken up with a stiff brush 

 when the danger season is over. On young trees it should not be put 

 on until necessary, nor kept longer than required, that the bark may ■ 

 develop normally. On old trees it makes little difference. 



