No. 1. 



Disease of the Buttonwood. 



29 



it is by no means extraordinary that farmers 

 of the present day, slioiild be opposed to the 

 application of scientific rules ; or if not op- 

 posed to their application, at least careless 

 in applying them; for, as they justly observe, 

 farming has been conducted without science, 

 and they cannot yet perceive the very differ- 

 ent position in which they are placed, corn- 

 pared with farmers even of the last genera- 

 tion. The human mind is so subject to the 

 unhealtliy influence of prejudice, that it is 

 no wonder farmers of the present day should 

 be disposed to follow with almost invincible 

 determination, the customs of past ages; 

 yet, however natural it may be that they 

 should thus act, it must be a source of sin- 

 cere regret to the enlightened, unprejudiced 

 mind, that they should thus be lieaping up 

 trouble for a future day. — London Farmer^s 

 Magazine. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 Disease of the Buttonwood. 



The unhealthy appearance of the but- 

 tonwood tree, Flantanus Occidentalis, for 

 the last three years, has been very generally 

 observed through the Atlantic States, as well 

 as in some parts of Europe. Many fears 

 have been entertained, that this noble tree 

 was about to be driven from our forests, and 

 our yards : and these fears have been the 

 more distressing, by the reflection, that its 

 place could not be supplied by any substi- 

 tute, in less than half a century. Indeed 

 we have no tree, save the tulip poplar, that 

 can at all compare with it in the rapidity of 

 its growth, or its magnificent appearance, 

 after having reached its full size. Where, 

 for instance, are to be found such rows of 

 trees, as those of 80 years growth, that raise 

 their sturdy trunks above the hospital, on 

 Eighth and Pine streets ] I am but a poor 

 pedestrian, but I would walk a good many 

 of uncle "Toby's miles," to see their supe- 

 riors; and if they are to be found in tliis 

 country, or any other, it would be a gratifi- 

 cation to learn their lohereabunts. 



It is sometimes said, the knowledge of a 

 disease is half its cure. Some say the un- 

 healthiness of tiie buttonwood, or sycamore, 

 as it is often called, has been owing to late 

 frosts, occurring at particular junctures, 

 when the tree was ill prepared to meet 

 them. But is this probable ! Are not these 

 indications of disease of very recent occur- 

 rence? have they been noticed till within 

 the last three years ? whereas, if the frost 

 had been the cause, would not that be likely 

 to have occasioned the mischief frequently 

 before this, from year to year ? And would I 



it not, in all probability, have been far less 

 general in its etfectsl It would, indeed, be 

 very remarkable, if late frosts should work 

 an uncomuion and serious injury, to a par- 

 ticular plant, for three seasons in succession, 

 not only over great part of the United States, 

 but also in many parts of Europe. I appre- 

 hend the true cause is not to be found in 

 late frosts. 



A writer in the Taunton, Mass., Whig, 

 says he found upon examination, that the 

 "blighted appearance of the buttonwood, is 

 caused by a white worm with a brown liead. 

 These worms, or borers, have inserted them- 

 selves between the bark and the hard wood, 

 throughout the branches of the tree ; and 

 unless some discovery is made so as to poi- 

 son the sap of the tree, and thereby prevent 

 or destroy the worm when it first enters the 

 bark, the beautifiil button will cease to adorn 

 our streets and dwellings." 



Another writer in the American Travel- 

 ler, of Boston, says he has discovered spots 

 upon the trunks of the trees, "where the 

 bark had assumed a dark appearance ; and 

 on opening it with the point of a knife, it 

 readily peeled off, disclosing that the bark 

 and surface of the wood under it were dead. 

 These defective places extended from near 

 the ground to the top of the trees, and on 

 all sides. They were from half an inch to 

 three inches wide, and from two to eight 

 inches in length. There was no insect to 

 be discovered, or traces of the ravages made 

 by the larva, or perfect insect of any kind. 

 The wood under the bark had become a 

 dark brown, and was moist, as was the 

 inner side of the bark, as if a little water 

 had been collected between the wood and 

 bark." 



Now the writer of this has noticed ap- 

 pearances similar to those last mentioned — 

 not on the trunks of the buttonwood in this 

 vicinity, but on the branches, and particu- 

 larly near the ends. Any one looking into 

 the top, will perceive, to his sorrow, innu- 

 merable evidences of disease and death, on 

 the extremities of the limbs. 



The trees in this city and neighbourhood, 

 have generally recovered their usual foliage 

 better this season, than they did either last 

 year or the year before : and I am not with- 

 out a hope that we shall in a year or two, 

 again see the seed balls as usual, and that 

 the natural hardihood of this noble tree, will 

 enable it to overcome the disease with which 

 it has been so severely attacked — that it will 

 yet continue to afford shelter and delight to 

 our children's children, as it has to our fa- 

 thers and ourselves. 



If any of the readers of the Cabinet can 

 point out a remedy for the more speedy re- 



