NMW 1]WGI<A]^I> FAMMI^ll. 



inJBLISHEDBY J. B. J WSS ELL, NO. 52, NORT H M A RKET STREE T, (at the Agricultural WarkhoU3E.)-T. G. FESSENDEN, EDITOR. 



VOL. X. 



BOSTON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JULY II, 1832. 



NO, 52. 



€ u I t ti 1* e . 



From the Massachusetts Agriculturnl Keposilory aod Journal. 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE 



On Experlinenls, Di.icoveiies, and Inventions, 

 Trees, LAve Hedges, ^-c. 



Concliuleil from page 401. 



Tlie next appliciUiou which has been made for 

 a prerniiiin, is for an etfectual and satisfactory 

 mode of extirpating tlie worm which attacks the 

 locust tree. The only applicant for this premium 

 is William Bacon,«Es(]. of Richnioi.d, Berkshire 

 county. The experiments of Mr Bacon are ex- 

 ceedingly interesting, and we hope tint others, in- 

 fluenced by his example, will pursue the same 

 course. There can be no doubt that he cautions 

 stoppage of all the apertures, by which the locust 

 borer either enters or makes his exit, would ma- 

 terially lessen its depredations ; but our (bjections 

 to granting a premium to this discovery ii-e, first, 

 that he bad disclosed his discovery (if it be one) 

 to the])iibric in the New England Farmer, olume 

 jx. No. 3 ; and it was not the purpose of tie So- 

 ciety to grant premiums to persons, who, froij en- 

 lightened and liberal views, had .ilready discosed 

 their discoveries. 



Secondly, they can perceive little distinction \e- 

 tween Mr Bacon's experiments and those of G6|- 

 eral Dearborn, long since given to the public 6) 

 the same subject. 



Lastly, extensive experiments by some mem- 



up till 1837. Since then, they have been hoed 

 round twice a year. Their api)farance was cer- 

 tainly very thrifty, with a smooth bark, and every 

 indication of careful attention. Their measure- 

 ment was generally from twelve to fourteen inches. 

 In noticing Mr Mackay's method, it cannot be 

 doubted, that a slight movement of the surface, 

 oftener than he practised, would be exjjedient 

 even foiu- or five limes a year, as having a tenden- 

 cy to discourage weeds and the encroachment of 

 the grass sward, as .well as to facilitate the passage 

 of the dews and showers to the roots; whilst the 

 aggregate labor would be little increased thereby. 

 That this should not have forced itself into ob- 

 servation, can only be accounted for, by the fact, 

 that in the use of ashes, the invariable production 

 of weeds, consequent on the application of barn 

 manure, was avoided. It may be doubted, also, 

 whether the stimulating princi])le in the wood 

 ashes, to the extent of one peck to a tree, every 

 other year, was the best course of procedure.— 

 The process of vegetation is gradual, but constant 

 and never ceasing. The means of fertile growth, 

 therefore, should be in reference to this order of 

 nature. An annual dressing seems most fitly lo 

 conduce to the mixture and enrichment of soil,' the 

 process of fermentation, and the best supply for 

 vegetable growth. It would therefore follow," that 

 a supply of a less quantity, aimually afforded, 

 would be better and safer, as the danger of sud- 

 den excess, often injurious, would be avoided. 

 To what extent ashes or other stimulating princi- 



, , ,. . , , , '"'■.!^M..-;s may be applied, ran onlv be determined by 



local application to the j-oo?, or the stems, or lower carciui rAixnmic , :j- ,■ , , 



^ ''"^ 'iSfe, 



branches, can be, in any important degree, a pro 

 fection against the borer of the locust tree, whic'h 

 chooses in preference the young branches of :he 

 present year's growth. 



The committee feel the great importance of nro- 

 curing a remedy for this deplorable evil, which 

 deprives the State of the most valuable of its for- 

 est trees, so important in naval architecture. — 

 Scarce any sum would bo too great an expendi- 

 ture, which would banish this destructive insect ; 

 as our climate is as faTorable to the culture of the 

 locust tree, as that of the Middle and Southern 

 States. But a knowledge of the ravages of the in- 

 sect, brings them to the coiiflusiou, that the rem- 

 edy proposed by Mr Bacon is not so effectual or 

 satisfactory, as to justify them ii^ awarding to him 

 the Society's premium, though he merits their 

 thanks for his experiments, and the laudable spirit 

 which gave rise to them. 



The only regular, and certainly the most mer- 

 itorious application for premiuili, " on the best 

 managed apple orchard," was Capt. John Mackay's, 

 whose mode of treatment is set forth in the sub- 

 joined comrmmication. 



His orchard, in Weston, was visited and care- 

 fully inspected. It is on a side hill, with a grad- 

 ual descent inclining to the north. 



The soil is a heavy dark loam, originally very 

 rocky. The trees, about one hundred and forty in 

 number, cover about three acres of ground ; their 

 distance from each other is two rods. The trees, 

 it appears, were set out partly in the spring of 

 1823 and partly in the spring of 1824. The 

 ground, Laving been previously ploughed, was kept 



recommended and used to advantage ot 

 by many cultivators, is well known. Many too 

 suppose, that the volatility and pungency of 

 their salts are offensive and discouraging to the 

 approach of the borer, and all insects, vermin, &:c. 



The general result, from personal examination 

 made by the conmiittees on premiums for the best 

 managed appl/? orchards in this vicinitv, for several 

 years past, have most satisfactorily evinced, how 

 invariably, in eight or ten, years, an orchard may, 

 with proper alteiuion, be brought forward from the 

 seed into good bearing. The practices in \fhich 

 these skilful cultivators appear to concur, may be 

 briefly stated. First, to be careful not to set the 

 tree beneath the upper stratum of earth or black 

 soil. To go deeper is to insure the canker and a 

 diseased condition. In a light soil, a burrow or 

 two of stones beneath the upper stratum, prevents 

 the passage of the roots into a poorer soil, whilst 

 it supplies moisture when most needed ; and arti- 

 ficially, in a part at least, affords that advantage for 

 which a rocky soil is invariably distinguished. 

 Secondly, to have the land previously ploughed 

 and kept up for two or three years, taking care not 

 to disturb the roots. After this, the land may be 

 laid down to grass, and the surface near the trees 

 occasionally slightly stirred, to ])revent weeds 

 and give a more ready passage of air and water 

 about the root. Thirdly, about eight shovels of 

 compost manure or five or six quarts of ashes, 

 may be put to advantage at the root, and spread 

 about in the spring. 



To keep an orchard in a good bearing state, 

 when it is deemed inexpedient to plough, from a 



fear of injury to the roots, the land should be kept 

 in good condition from frequent top dressing. 



As lo the ajiplications to the body of the tree 

 for a defence against vermin, &c, the subject is in 

 a course of experiment. 



The rubbing with a coarse clolh with soap and 

 sand, and a wash with waste soap suds, appears 

 boll) beneficial and economical. 



A wash, also, has been in use by many, and it 

 is highly recommended by the Messrs Winship, 

 "as preventing the destructive effects of the borer' 

 killing the moss, and destroying other insects 

 which injure the health of the tree, and giving 

 vigor thereto. We recommend," say they, " one 

 pound of potash to three quarts of water, to be laid 

 on with a brush."* 



A coat of lime and cow-manure was used by 

 Mr Mackay, mixed with clay, one third each, 

 brought to the consistency of a suitable wash to be 

 a|iplicd with a brush. This is in frequent ])rac- 

 tice and has been thought well of, as discouraging 

 to insects. It may be 9 proper consideration, 

 whether in tlie use of materials on the bodies of 

 trees, in wasLes, there has not been some excess ? 

 Can thecolor of the bark be so unnaturally chang- 

 ed to a yellow hue, without injury .' Or is the 

 effect so snpa-ficial as not to deserve regard .' 



Although the committee do not feci authorized 

 npon the princii)les which guide the Society, to 

 recommend that a premium be awarded for this 

 brief commiuiication, they yet, for the presenta- 

 tion of this i"'P"rtan^ "-i^". ;.. jiotice, with the 

 degree o<^ careanrt ->^"; "^^ ''} .v^ il,iivln» 



ity be paid to Captain John Mackay, v,. twenty 

 dollars. 



In the visits made to several successful and 

 highly skilful cultivators of the apple orchard,! 't 

 was lamentable to observe, that in most situations 

 the borer had made his deadly visits. As a pre- 

 ventive, lime at the root has been recommended. 



But the insect goes higher up. Some of our 

 trustees have cased about the stem some way up, 

 with lime mortar; but here the same objec- 

 tion applies, and nothing' short of a complete en- 

 velopment of the trunk would seem to be wholly 

 effectual. 



In closing their report, the committee are aware 

 of the motives which induced the society to lessen 

 the frequency of Cattle Shows, with a view of ap- 

 plying the funds to certain objects in agriculture, 

 which recent discoveries in science and arts have 

 made interesting. 



It is with regret, therefore, that they are obliged 

 to stale, that notwithstanding the ofl'er of the whole 

 income of the funds of the Society, as well as what 

 arises fiom the liberality of the State, they are not 

 able to present to the public more multiplied ex- 

 periments, on the various subjects submitted to 

 them. 



The ploughing in of green crops is important. 







*Sce Mr Wheeler's communicalion in the New Eng- 

 land Farmer, vol. iv. page 348 ; also, Messrs Winship's, 

 vol. vlil. page 234. 



ITbe orchards of C. Davis, Esq. Roxbury ; A. Baldwin, 

 Esq. Milton ; Col. Phiniiey, Lexington ; Mr Harding, 



Walthani, and Mr Crosby, ol , all of which indicated 



most skilful mauagetuent. 



