THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 231 



tree were to be attacked by a considerable number, it would be very 

 soon killed. 



For many years it has been a debatable point whether the attacks 

 of the pests, to which allusion has been made, arc the cause or the 

 result of the bad state of health in which elc trees are frequently 

 found ; but if the evidence which has from time to time been brought 

 forward is carefully considered, it will be found that it is strongly in 

 favour of the attacks being the result rather than the cause of the 

 disease. 



If the trees become unhealthy from any cause, such, for example, 

 as the roots being covered over by hard pavement, or the moisture 

 drained out of the soil by a sewer, or large drain being laid down close 

 to the roots, as is frequently the case in towns and suburban districts, 

 the trees are quickly attacked by their enemies. It is questionable 

 whether they attack trees that are perfectly healthy ; and if they do, as 

 Mr. Hibberd clearly proves in the volume of the Intellectual Observer 

 already referred to, "the sap would deposit new material, sufficient to 

 hermetically seal up the perforations of the female insect, and that, 

 should the eggs be deposited in a healthy tree, the power of vege- 

 tation would annihilate the brood by investing every cluster with 

 vegetable tissue so dense as to cause their suffocation, even if their 

 eggs were hatched; and that event would probably be as impossible as 

 for the larvfe to eat their way either in or out." 



In 1S62 much was made by those who believed these insects to be 

 the cau?e of disease in the elm, of the report that a French botanist, 

 M. Robert, had saved a large number of trees by stripping them of 

 their bark: but like many other wonderful reports received from the 

 Continent, there was very little in it, and on proper iuquiriea being 

 instituted it was found that all M. Robert had done, was to remove a 

 portion of the hard outer bark, and to renew the roots of the 

 affected trees in order to promote a free flow of sap, and a more 

 active vegetation. By the removal of the corky bark, colonies of 

 insects were destroyed, and the flow of sap qviickened. 



The elm produces its roots near the surface, and requires plenty 

 of moisture, consequently if the roots are covered up in the manner 

 already suggested, or the greater portion of the moisture drained out 

 of the soil, it is impossible for the trees to remain long in good health. 

 Therefore should any of the trees in a line or group become un- 

 healthy, and on examination be found to be infested with the Scoly- 

 tus or the Cossonus, they should be cut down, and if practicable, 

 the other trees should be assisted by the application of fresh soil, 

 or by preventing the moisture soaking away too rapidly. There is 

 no dressing that can be applied to the trees for the destruction of 

 their enemies, aud to strip them of their bark would simply be to 

 assist in the work of destruction. 



Figs. — At Calamata, in the Morea, large quantities of Figs nre grown, aboat 

 8000 tons bein^ the produce of last year. Tliey rosiliz'! about £15 per tor.. The 

 demand in England lor these fii^s is very email, owing to tlicir very tougli skin. The 

 bulk finds its way to Russia by the Ulack Sea, or to Trieste for consumption in 

 ftcrmany. 



Angiut, 



