ABOUT FRUITS, FLOWERS AND FARMING. 89 



the worm, with the exception tf three, and these three were 

 probably the most thrifty and flourishing peach-trees he ever 

 saw. The only cause of their superiority known to his host, 

 was an experiment made in consequence of observing that 

 those parts of worm-eaten timber into which nails had been 

 driven, were generally sound ; when his trees were about 

 a year old he had selected three of them and driven a 

 tenpenny nail through the body, as near the ground as pos 

 sible ; whilst the balance of his orchard has gradually failed, 

 and finally yielded entirely to the ravages of the worms, 

 these three trees, selected at random, treated precisely in 

 the same manner, with the exception of the nailing, had 

 always been vigorous and healthy, furnishing him at that 

 very period with the greatest profusion of the most 

 luscious fruit. It is supposed that the salts of iron afforded 

 by the nail are offensive to the worm, whilst they are harm 

 less, or perhaps even beneficial to the tree.&quot; 



We do not wish to interrupt any experiments which the 

 enterprising may choose to make. To be sure we regard 

 the facts with some incredulity, and the chemical explana 

 tions with something of the mirthful superadded to unbelief. 

 But if nails are an antidote to worms a real vermifuge 

 let them be administered, whatever may be the explana 

 tions; whether they are an electric battery, giving the 

 insects a little domestic, vegetable lightning, or whether 

 they afford &quot; salts of iron &quot; to physic them, or &quot; evolve 

 ammonia &quot; in such potent, pungent strength that vermicular 

 nostrils are unable to endure it ! 



While one is fairly engaged in a campaign of experi 

 ments, we heartily hope that war will be carried to the very 

 territory of ignorance, and we will propound several other 

 important questions of fact and theory, which, if settled, 

 will crown somebody s brow with laurels. 



It is said that hanging a scythe in a plum-tree, or an iron 

 hoop, or horse shoes, will insure a crop of plums. This 

 ought to be investigated. 



