222 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



do not wish to prepare it in the w^ay recommended for small 

 gardeiis, may purchase it at little cost of the dru^jrist. 



Professor Nash inquired if it would injure plants. 



Mr. R. J. Dodge replied: Yes, if you put it on in excessive 

 quantities; so will anything else, even bone-dust; but not if the 

 lime is applied moderately, anywhere from three to thirty bushels 

 an acre. 



Gas Lime. 



Dr. Sylvester said he had used gas lime the present year, spread 

 upon the surface under plum trees, and obtained more fruit than 

 previously in five years. Yet he could not say that it was entirely 

 owing to the lime, as his neighbors who used none also had more 

 fruit than usual. He has, however, faith in the benefits of gas 

 lime, and will continue to use it, being careful not to apply it too 

 freely. 



Mr. William Lawton — A neighbor of mine grows his plum 

 trees in the grass, and gets fruit every year. 



Insects upon Locust Trees. 



Dr. Snodgrass stated that he had lately observed, in a journey 

 through the Shenandoah Valley, that the locust trees were almost 

 universally afl^ected by some insect which eats the leaves full of 

 holes, and farmers are very anxious to know whether, if continued, 

 it will not kill the trees. 



Dr. Sj'lvester and several other members spoke of the destruc- 

 tion of locust timber throughout the country from Maine to Iowa, 

 by an insect which bores into the limbs, causing the tree to die 

 from the extremities inward. The bodies of many valuable trees 

 have been saved by cutting off all the tops. New limbs sprout 

 out freely, and in many cases afterward the trees have been found 

 exempt from borers. 



Mr. N. C. Meeker said that in Illinois, a great many locust trees 

 had been killed to the roots, and any remedy for the locust borer 

 would be hailed with great satisfaction. 



Raisin Grates. 

 Mr. Elvins exhibited some of Asher Moore's new seedlino- 

 grapes, which dry upon the vines into a passable raisin. There 

 were two other sorts exhibited in the fruit show which many per- 

 sons think will become valuable grapes to dry into raisins. 



