1856. 



NEW ENGLAND FAKMER. 



319 



going acrops the field two or three times, and 

 watching the droppings with an interest which the 

 tyro usually feels when engaged in his first achieve- 

 ment, we hauled up and commenced an exploration 

 in the track which the roller made, to learn how 

 matters stood below. Ah, here they are, one, two, 

 three - but where are the fourth, fifth and sixth ker- 

 nels ? It scatters a little, the boy has found them. 

 All right. Mount ! In a twinkling the boy was 

 mounted again, Pegasus took up a lively walk, 

 click, click, click, went the machine, and four hours 

 of steady application planted the field, comprising a 

 little less than four acres ! 



The corn, we think, is planted as well as it could 

 possibly be done by hand ; being placed in straight 

 lines and covered at a uniform depth, and what is 

 pleasant, we found the machine admirably adapted 

 for clearing its own way, and putting the ground in 

 the best condition for receiving the corn. It is 

 held easy, sitting uprightly on its planes and the 

 roller, and pushes aside the stones, old corn butts, 

 &c., while the curved iron plates behind the mould 

 boards draw the fine soil upon the corn immediate- 

 ly before the roller as it passes along. "We believe 

 a person having three acres of corn to plant annu- 

 all}' will be the gainer by purchasing this machine, 

 We write without the suggestion or knowledge of 

 any one having an interest iu the manufacture or 

 sale of the Planter. 



For the New England Farmer. 



TREATMEIJT OF PLUM TREES. 



Mr. Editor : —Some few days since, I read a 

 short article in the Boston Daily Journal, wherein 

 the writer gave his experience of his treatment of 

 plum trees diseased by warts, or those black, rough 

 excrescences, which sometimes attack these kind of 

 trees. As the writer's experience and mine so 

 strikingly coincided, indulge me with some remarks 

 on the subject. I can vouch for the efficacy of 

 that treatment ; while his method is a little differ- 

 ent from mine, the ])rinciple is the same. The wri- 

 ter of that article, in the first place, cut off all the 

 diseased parts of the tree, which strikes me as a 

 very good plan, and then washed them with strong 

 salt water. My method has been to apply salt 

 freely to the roots of the tree, and during the leaf- 

 ing and flowering jieriod, when the tree is wet with 

 dew or rain, throw fine salt over the branches ; 

 and I can truly say, that, by this treatment, I 

 have never foiled of curing the most inveterate 

 cases I have met with. Not only does the salt 

 treatment cure the warts, but it acts as a powerful 

 stimulant to the plum tree, and by salting them 

 freely, with such other care as every one should be- 

 stow upon his fruit trees, I have seen those which 

 had not for years perfected any fruit, bear profuse- 

 ly, and bring it to the most luscious perfection. 

 I can, with confidence, recommend this treatment 

 for plum trees, and feel perfectly assured that those 

 who will try it will be amply rewarded for their 

 trouble. For the coming six weeks, all kinds of 

 fruit trees will need their greatest attention. If 



those having them wish to have good fruit and 

 thrifty trees, they must not expect them without. 

 Their culture is one of the most delightful employ- 

 ments of the tarm — and how liberal the reward 

 they bestow for all the care they receive ; and 

 then, too, what an ornament they are, scattered 

 over the farm, giving their soothing shade to man 

 and beast during the hot sunshine, gratifying the 

 palate with their luscious, fleshy fruit, and delight- 

 ing the eye with their beauty ; aflbrdiiig a trel)le 

 pleasure iur the attention which the careful tiller 

 l)estows. How largely fruit enters into the happi- 

 ness and oomlbrts of life ! Mr. Editor, now I have 

 my ])en in the business, permit nie to say a few 

 words about a wash for trees ; not only the apple, 

 but almost any other kind of a tree. Where you 

 wish to destroy all kinds of vermin which attach 

 themselves to their l:)ark and limbs, I think it will 

 not injure even the plum. I refer to the solution 

 of common ])otash — about a pound, to two gallons 

 of water. This is no new thing ; its use for such 

 purpose is older, I presume, than ihe writer of tliis, 

 and without any disparagement of any other wash, 

 which diil'erent persons may fLuicy; I can safely say 

 — as the loafer said about rum — for a sleaihj ivash, 

 there is nothing to compare with it. I have used 

 it upon old trees and young trees, in all stages of 

 their growth — and if used at the strength here rec- 

 ommended, I do not hesitate to warrant it to pro- 

 duce no injury whatever to the tree. The present 

 is as good a time as any other to make the first ai> 

 plication, and with an old broom, or what I prefer 

 as far better, a good sized sponge — prepared before 

 using, by taking a common darning needle, with 

 good strong twine, sew through and through it, in 

 all directions, which will make it wear a great 

 deal longer — fasten it to a suitable handle. A man 

 can easily wash two hundred tree trunks a day. 

 Most farmers sadly neglect their trees ; but a few 

 minutes a day, for the coming six weeks, devoted 

 to this department of the farm, will pretty much do 

 up the business for the season. For instance, how 

 easy it will be some of these dewy mornings, while 

 every caterpillar's nest will glisten in the sun, 

 just to take a light ladder, and with the hand cov- 

 ered with an old mitten, or not, just as suits the 

 fancy, give a hundred or two nests — if thei-e be as 

 many — a hearty squeeze of the hand, as a welcome 

 to spring. But just let these fellows have their 

 own way, a month or two, and they will laugh in 

 your face, and bid defiance to your hand, or most 

 anything else you may resort to, to get rid of them 

 for this season. And then, what a prominent sign of 

 your neghgence and carelessness they will present, 

 all over your trees, to every passei-by. Also to 

 that committee which you expect, ere long, to view 

 the improvements on your farm. Now do not let 

 this matter have the go-by, amid the i^ressing du- 

 ties of the farm, at this busy season. My word for 

 it, a squeeze in time — in this business — saves nine, 

 you will be astonished to find how easily this busi- 

 ness is accomplished, if only taken in time. There- 

 fore, take time by the foretop and go at it. 

 May, I80G. Norfolk. 



Remarks. — We like all our correspondent's let- 

 ter, except the wash which he recommends. Our 

 readers well know how often we have spoken 

 against the potash wash. Made of the strength 

 the writer recommends, and in careful hands, it 



