832 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



May 8, 1829. 



COMMUNICATIONS. 



MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SO- 

 CIETY. 



PREMIUMS OS TREES AND FRUITS. 



The Committee who have in cliar^e whatever 

 relates to the imilliphcation of fjuit trees, fruit, &,c. 

 — the recommending of objects for premiums, and 

 the awarding of them, have attended to that duty, 

 and submit the following report. 



1st — Oil JVurseries. 



For the best nursery of apple trees of the 

 most approved kinds of fruit, not less than one 

 thousand in number, and not less than two 

 years old from the budding or grafting, $10 



For the best imrsery of pear trees of the 

 most rare and approved varieties, not less 

 than one thousand in number, and not less 

 than two years old from the budding or en- 

 grafting, a premium of 10 



For the best nursery of peach trees of the 

 greatest variety of the best kinds, not less 

 than two thousand in number, a premium of 10 



For the best nursery of cherry trees, not 

 less than five hundred, and not less than two 

 years old, and of the best kinds, a premium of 6 



For the best nursery of plum and apricot 

 trees of approved varieties, not less than three 

 hundred in number, a premium of 5 



2d — On Fruits. 



For the best apples, not less than two doz. 

 a premium of 4 



For the best pears, not less than one doz. 

 a premium of 4 



For the best peaches, not less than one 

 doz., a premium of 4 



For the best plums, not less than one doz. 

 a premium of 3 



For the best apricots, not less than one 

 doz., a premium of 3 



For the best foreign grapes, not less than 

 three bunches, a premium of 3 



For the best native grapes, not less than 

 six bunches, a premium of 3 



For the best gooseberries, not less than one 

 quart, a premium of 2 



For the best strawberries, not less than one 

 quart, a premiuui of 2 



Bd — On the culture mid manngement of fruit trees, 

 and the diseases incident to them. 



To the person who shall offer to the SoCi- 

 ety at their annual meeting in Sept., the best 

 treatise, in manuscript, on the cultivation and 

 management of fruit trees, a premium of 5 



To the person who shall offer to the Soci- 

 ety, at their annual meeting in Sept., the best 

 treatise, in manuscript, on any one, or more, 

 of the insects that attack fruit trees, with tlie 

 best method of preventing or destroying the 

 same, a premium of 5 



To the person who shall offer to the Soci- 

 ety, at their annual meeting in Sept., the best 

 treatise, in manuscript, on any one, or more, 

 of the diseases to which fruit trees are liable, 

 with the best method of preventing the same, 

 a premium of 5 



ith — Meio Varieties. 

 To the person who shall introduce and 

 propagate the greatest number of the new 

 and most approved varieties of fruit trees, a 

 premium of IQ 



The times and places for exhibiting the various 

 kinds of fruit, to be fixed by the Committee, and 

 published. 



Discretionary premiums to be awarded on fruits 

 presented by members, or others, when rare and 

 of excellent sorts. 



All which is respectfully submitted, by order of 

 the Committee. 



E. PHINNEY, Chairman. 



FOR THE NEW tNGLAND FARMER. 



INSECTS. 



Mr Fessenden — Among the many tribes of 

 insects, which devour the vegetable products of 

 the farmer, that immerous species conmionly call- 

 ed rose bugs, are, at present, the most alarm- 

 ing. 



In the year 1825, the writer began his obser- 

 vations and experiments on these destructive in- 

 sects, not expecting any pecuniary reunmeration 

 whatever, but with a view to satisfy himself as 

 to their habits and economy, hoping in the 

 course of the investigation to find some effectual 

 mode of destruction, or at least, some efficacious 

 antidote. He was prompted to this course by the 

 great injury they had done him. He had no pre- 

 vious opinions to support ; but expected to learn 

 their economy by a close examination of all their 

 movements. He was unacquainted with any sys- 

 tem of Entomology, except that of Linnseus, and 

 with that imperfectly. He had merely learned by 

 turning over a few pages of the Encyclopedia, 

 then publishing in Philadelphia, that there were 

 new arrangements, new divisions, and new names ; 

 but he had no leisure time to acquaint himsnlf 

 with the different systems. He had not seen any 

 specific name of the rose bug. He suspected that 

 it was an American insect, probably not described 

 by any foreign Entomologist. It was first known 

 by its ravages on the rose ; and on this account 

 had received its common name. And from obser- 

 vation, it had a manifest preference for that flow- 

 er, above every other vegetable production, des- 

 troying every variety within his knowledge. Un- 

 der all these circumstances, he called the insect 

 ScARABCEUs roseus, a name, which then answered 

 his purpose, the specific name being founded (as 

 was apprehended) on one of its peculiar hab- 

 its. 



It now appears, however, that the insect has 

 been described by several Entomologists, each 

 giving a different specific name, some founding it 

 on a prominent habit, and others on anatomical 

 structure. Fabricius first <lescribed the insert in 

 question, and called it Mklolontha subspinosa, 

 which specific name has the precedence, and 

 ought to be retained. The modern genus, Mk- 

 lolontha is included in the Scarabceds, of Lin- 

 Uffius, the parent of the science. 



But, neither the name, nor the history so much 

 concerns us, as to know in what manner we can 

 prevent their depredations. As to the caterpillar 

 and some others, we have the moile of destrui;- 

 tion clearly pointed ; not so with the rose bug. — 

 Should they increase from year to year {and we 

 see nothing to |)revent, except the powerful opera- 

 tion of some natural cause, now unknown to us,) 

 they will in time not far distant, sweep all before 

 them. 



They, in 1828, destroyed much fruit, and strip- 

 peil my grape vines, one of which (a great bearer 

 ten years ago) measures eight inches in cir- 



cumference, 16 feet from the root, and spreads its 

 branches over much ground. They first appear- 

 ed on the 10th of June, and increased until the 

 20th, at which time they were very numerous; 

 but from this time, decreased, and but compara- 

 tively few were seen after the 2d of July very 



tew after the 10th, and none was observed after 

 the 23d. Ten quarts, by measure, were caught, 

 mostly on rose bushes. 



Neither the mutilated roses, foliage of plants, 

 nor damaged fruit should be immediately remov- 

 ed, as these insects prefer such, to that which is 

 sound and unhurt. They will collect round a 

 mutilated rose in prodigious numbers, and may be 

 easily caught. 



It seems necessary, in order to concentrate our 

 efforts, in one common cause, against our numer- 

 ous enemies, that investigations and experiments 

 should be made known. An experiment, fairly 

 conducted, whether successful or not will have its 

 use. If successfid, it is of great importance, if 

 unsuccessful, it will prevent a repetition, and may 

 lead to one of more efficacy. 



Fifteen grains of corrosive sublimate dissolved 

 in two ounces of spirit and added to one quart of 

 water, with a little gum arable, and applied with a 

 brush to young fruit, peaches, &lc. was not found 

 effectual against the rose bugs; but it destroyed 

 both fruit and foliage. The same solution applied 

 to yoimg cucumbers did not prevent the yellow 

 hugs from injuring them, neither did it appear to 

 injure the plants. 



A strong decoction of wormwood (artemesia 

 absinthium) with n fine powder of colomba-root 

 (a very bitter substance) and a little gum arable, 

 to make it adhesive, applied to fruit and young 

 cucumbers, was not effectual against the in- 

 sects. 



The best antidote against the rose bug, and the 

 small yellow bug, that has yet come under my in- 

 spection is slacked lime applied with a dredging 

 box, while the fruits or plants are wet with dew. 

 If the fruit or plants he wet with a weak solution 

 of gum arable, previously to the application of the 

 lime, it will remain on them much longer, and no 

 injury will be sustained by it. If applied to young 

 cucumber plant.-*, tLe seed leaves must be careful- 

 ly turned up, wet, and the lime applied as afore- 

 said. The lime used had been nicely slacked with 

 a little water, one year, for the purposes of the 

 garden. Perhaps, it would be equally well, if 

 slacked immediately before its application. 



It was found, that, if rose bugs, wijile on plants, 

 be thoroughly wet with very strong soap suds, 

 (one gill of strong soft soap to one quart of water) 

 tliey soon die. This strength did not injure the 

 plants on which it was tried. This experiment 

 was made when the bugs were on the decline, 

 and whether the mixture would have the same ef- 

 fect in the beginning of their race, while in their 

 utmost vigor, or ])revent them from jireying on 

 plants wet with it, further experiments may deter- 

 mine. It is nee<lless to say anything in this pa- 

 per, as to the fertilizing power of this application, 

 or that of lime. 



In strong soap suds (one gill of soap and two 

 quarts of water) rose bugs will die in a short time, 

 and this mixture supersedes the necessity of 

 scalding them, as is the case when caught in 

 simple water. 



R. GREEN. 



Mansfield, February Glh, 1828. 



