209 THE FRUIT GARDEN. (^JAN. 



This operation should be repeated every winter, 

 some time between the flill of the leaf, and the first 

 of March, as may be found most convenient. The 

 solution is effectually destructive of all kinds of in- 

 sects, their eggs or iarva?. 



If there be any specific for the cure of the can- 

 ker, other than the preparation of a good and kind- 

 ly soil, lying on a comfortable bottom, (see the Sec- 

 tion on Soils), it is this unction ; as it contains the 

 two ingredients thought most efficacious for its de- 

 struction, viz. soap and sulpliur. And if these have 

 any effect, I think this a preferable season for their 

 application, to summer j as, by dusting the foliage 

 merely over with sulphur, the blood of the tree is 

 not purged. In order to be effectual, the sulphur 

 must be rubbed into the pores of the wood, anci 

 must be detained there some length of time. Now, 

 this glutinous liquor, if properly applied, will con- 

 tinue to act upon the pores and juices of the tree 

 for many weeks, or even months ; whereas sul- 

 phur alone, applied to the foliage, is dissipated 

 by the viind, or washed off by rains, perhaps in a 

 day. 



For the mildew, which is a minute parasitical 

 fungus, and is greatly encouraged by the sickliness 

 of trees, when their juices are corroded, or conta- 

 minated by improper treatment, nothing is so ef- 

 fectual a remedy, if we except the preparation of 

 afitjSoil, as this liquor ; with which the shoots of 

 trees aftected with this disease should be carefully- 

 washed, as above directed. 



