No. 6. ^n apple tree eaten at the root by Worms— Cider. 



85 



thereby to have afterwards a manifold in- 

 crease; than to be always toiling-, with very 

 imperfect returns for our labor. 



For the sake of neatness in farming, and 

 to prevent high ridges and deep furrows, I 

 ■would recommend that the first three or four 

 furrows at the commencement of lands, and 

 at the finishing of them, and at the edges of 

 fields, be somewhat shallower than the re- 

 mainder of the field. A. 

 Chester county, Sept. 15th, 1837. 



For the Farmers' ( 'ahniet. 

 An Apple tree eaten at tJie root, T!jy"^Voriiis. 



Mr. Editor.— An Apple tree in my gar- 

 den has been this season, so roughly handled 

 by worms, that I fear it cannot be saved ; but 

 as I have great fondness for it, and am anxious 

 to preserve it if possible, I send you this 

 account in hopes- yourself or some reader of 

 your valuable paper may be able to suggest a 

 remedy. 



The tree is a harvest apple, a prolific 

 bearer, six years old, and is planted in a grass 

 plot in the upper part of the garden. Until 

 this season it has grown, flourished and pro- 

 duced remark-ably well. Early in June last 

 I remarked some signs of unhealthiness; the 

 leaves at the extremities of the branches be- 

 gan to curl up, the green fruit dwindled and 

 shrivelled and the larger part fell off. What 

 remained was small and poor when ripe. 

 As the summer advanced the curling of the 

 leaves increased, many dropt off, and now it 

 is almost stript of foliage. 



I could not account for the sickness of my 

 tree, but in hopes of relieving it, had the 

 grass removed for some distance around, but 

 with no benefit. It then occurred to me that 

 the seat of disease might be in or about the 

 roots, and such on examination was the fact. 

 A few inches above ground were perforations 

 in the trunk, circular, accurately drilled, re- 

 sembling those made by the humble bee in 

 old dry rails. These, on being opened with 

 a sharp knife, appeared to extend downards 

 underneath the bark. On removing the dirt 

 and examining the tree, I found it at the sur- 

 face of the ground and extending downward, 

 literally alive with small white worms, about 

 one inch in length. They had completely 

 girdled it, having eaten in some places into 

 the heart of the tree. I destroyed as many 

 as possible and then covered the eaten por- 

 tion with live ashes, pouring also some 

 strong ley iaround. This must have killed 

 the worms, but I am anxious to know whe- 

 ther any thing more can be done to save my 

 tree, and shall be much indebted for any sug- 

 gestions. 



Is it common for apple trees to be infested 

 by worms, and is there any preventive? 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 



Cider. 



Many persons, perhaps, are not aware of 

 the efficacy of black mustard seed {sinapm 

 nigra,) in preventing the acetic fermentation 

 of cider. About a half pint of the seed pi.t 

 into a barrel of cider, will preserve it as 

 sweet, from the usual time of making cider, 

 in autumn, till the following May, as the 

 day it was put in.. The mustard is of very 

 easy culture ; a few seeds scattered in som.e 

 rich vacant spot, will ensure a successive 

 crop — although the plant is an annual. The 

 succeeding crops will be perpetuated by the 

 seed which falls to the ground in autumn. 

 But in order to secure the cider from any un- 

 pleasant flavor, it is highly important that 

 the vessels Ue perfectly free from must. 

 An effectual method of cleaning cider bar- 

 rels is, by putting into each one about a 

 quart of unslacked lime, after which, pour 

 on about four or five gallons of boiling water. 

 Cover the bung hole with a loose covering 

 that some of the steam may escape, which 

 will be generated in great quantities, to pre- 

 vent the barrel from bursting. Shake it up 

 several times and then rinse it with clean 

 water. It will add also greatly to the quality 

 of the cider, by being separated entirely from 

 all the sediment. This may be done by fil- 

 tering it through a hair sieve when running 

 from the press, and then to rack it off when 

 it has stood a sufficient length of time, to 

 leave any that might remain, settle to the 

 bottom.. A. 



Chester county, Oct. C, lt37. 



I'or the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 The season is approaching when it is 

 usual for farmers to put up their pork, for 

 the ensuing year. Will some person, who 

 is experienced in the preservation of pork, 

 communicate, through the Cabinet, the best 

 method of preserving pork to retain its sweet- 

 ness and flavor, during the hot months in 

 summer? A. 



Chester county, 1837. 



H. 



Burlington, N. J., Sept. S!6th, 18;;7. 



For tlie Fanners' Cabinet. 

 Would it not be profitable, in the mode of 

 farming practiced by the " Farmer of Pem- 

 berton, N. J." as described in the Cabinet, 

 vol. 1st, No. 18, to raise in his wheat stub- 

 ble, previous to planting it with corn, a crop 

 of turneps. Will he try the experiment and 

 communicate the result to the Cabinet. 



A. 

 Chester county, Sept. 18th., 1837. 



The Farmer.— With no inheritance but 

 health, with no riches but industry, and with 

 no ambition but virtue, is the sole king among 

 men, and the only man among kings. 



