50 WoaCESTER COUNTt HORTICULTURAL SOCIETT. [1878. 



"signing himself J. L. B., states that he used coal tar ou fruit trees to 

 " protect them from the ravages of mice, by the recommendation of 

 " Marshall P. Wilder, and thereby destroyed or injured his fruit trees. 

 " I never gave such advice, nor should I have used tar of any kind 

 " without first wrapping the tree in cloth or other material so that the 

 " tar might not come in contact with the bark of the tree." A most 

 eminent authority, indeed. Nevertheless your Secretary cannot doubt 

 the results of twenty years' personal experiment, nor challenge the 

 actual facts within his daily notice. He has applied Gas Tar, hot or 

 cold, as came most handy, upon Cherry and Pear trees in his own gar- 

 den, in every instance of pruning that seemed to require exclusion from 

 atmospheric influence. No deleterious effect has ever followed. If 

 fault could he found with his trees, it would be that their growth has 

 been too thrifty. Their fruit has been exhibited occasionally, and 

 reflected no discredit upon their mode of cultivation. The tar was in- 

 variably applied to the freshly-pared surface of both bark and wood. 

 A callus would form in due time, such as never developed under dif- 

 ferent treatment. Occular demonstration of this truth may be had by 

 any one who will trouble himself to inspect the Shade-Trees of the 

 City of Worcester — notably on Elm Street, just above the house of Dr. 

 Francis, which has strikingly recovered from the effects of a bad fracture. 

 More attention has been bestowed upon this matter than its importance 

 would seem to justify. But it is ever timely to vindicate the truth ; 

 and nothing but truth should appear in a Report that is issued under 

 the sanction of this Society. Especially in times like these, when 

 " every little makes a mickle," may time and space be spared for the 

 advocacy of a cheap and sure agent, in lieu of one that is more costly 

 and less efficient. 



Oar exemption from killing frosts, until so recent a date, deserves to 

 be put on record. Until the night of the 29th ult., plants as tender as 

 the Geranium remained unaffected by cold in one of the most exposed 

 places in Worcester. The Tomato, and other sensitive vegetables 

 matured their fruit without check or loss. Grapes have fully ripened, 

 although that might have been said with truth three weeks since, of 

 even the lona, in an unusually sheltered and sunny position. The 

 experience of this Autumn only confirms the opinion, formed after long 

 observation, that by the use of some of that forethought and discretion 

 which provides hay-caps in anticipation of summer showers, many 

 plants and vegetables might have their existence prolonged for weeks 



