34 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Mr. Brooks. I want to say a word about the apple. 

 I have an apple orchard of about an acre and a half and I 

 have applied three tons and a half of ashes to those trees. 

 The result has been that I have got a good crop of nice 

 apples the off year. 



Mr. Briggs. The rubber smoke has the same effect on 

 apple trees. I have never found an apple that was worm- 

 eaten after using it in the way I have described. I have 

 smoked the trees once a week for three weeks. The leaves 

 seem to retain the smoke, so that the insects go away from 

 them. I apply it as soon as the apple, grape or peach sets. 



Mr. Slade. Do you use rul)ber chips or whole pieces? 



Mr. Briggs. I take pieces of rubber boots or shoes, put 

 some coals in a pan, and set the rubber on tire. One pan- 

 ful will do the work on forty trees, walking just as fast as 

 you can. 



Question. What time in the day? 



Mr. Briggs. In the morning, when the dew is on. 



Prof. Maynard. I do not understand what insects the 

 gentleman destroys by the rubber smoke. 



Mr. Briggs. It seems to destroy all insects that infest 

 the apple, and particularly the rose bug on grapes and 

 peaches. After two or tliree applications a rose bug will 

 not touch a peach tree or grape vine. 



]\Ir. Slade. Does it actually kill them? Do they fall 

 down dead? 



Mr. Briggs. No, sir. 



Mr. Slade. What becomes of them? 



Mr. Briggs. It leaves a stench on the leaf so that they 

 do not go near it after that application. 



Mr. Slade. Do they go over to your neighbor's orchard 

 and leave yours ? 



Mr. Briggs. Yes, sir. [Laughter.] Within six rods of 

 my grape vines there are vines which are all eaten up by the 

 rose bug. 



The Chairman. We have with us a gentleman who 

 makes fruit a life study, and who is always ready to speak 

 on this matter. We ought not to allow him to be silent 

 through this meeting. I am happy to introduce to you, Mr. 

 P. M. Augur, the State Pomologist of Connecticut. 



