1853. 



NfiW ENGLAND FARMER. 



423 



cussed the subject further, and in reference to the, worth; they looked very well in the bundle. Set 

 action of sap, the functions of the leaves, and ci.l-jthem out carefully, and they scarcely made any 

 latteral matters, wliich were replied to by Mr. C.|wood; in fact, they looked so badly side of other 

 M. Hovey. Mr. Strong instanced an experiment , trees the next year, that he pulled up three-quar- 

 with mercury, made to lest the ascending force of, ters of them ; the others remained ; a few started 

 the sap. from their bottoms and made a tolerable growth ; 



Dr.' Wight stated that he had satisfactorily test- others he continued to cut down till scarcely an 

 ed the value of quicksilver and sulphur in destroy- original tree remained fit to sell. If he had buried 



ing insects. Three years ago, he bored a hole in 

 an apple tree, pouring in quicksilver, and plugged 

 up tlie hole tight. One year after, he opened the 



his money he would have been much better off. 



Mr. Cabot had but little to add to what he had 

 already advanced. lie could not Avholly agree 



bole, and foun'Si the quicksilver in the same state] with Mr. Hovey. He understood him to say that 

 and the same quantity as when put in ; it had not he would not head in good trees, but m certain 

 undergone the least change whatever. In anoth-j cases he would prune, particularly imported trees, 

 er tree he bored a similar hole, and inserted rolljHe had received many imported trees so dry that 

 brimstone. A year afterwards, it was opened with , he had to throw them into a pond of water to ra- 

 the same result as the other experiment ; not the, cover them. Yet they had grown well. ^ 

 least change had taken place; the sulphur re- The leaves of trees act as so many forcing 

 mained as when put in. pumps— as lungs, throwing off water, &c. It is 



Mr. C. M. IIovEY thought this a perfectly con- expedient to cut in trees, as you cannot get all 

 vincin<r proof of the utter falsity of such eiperi- 1 the roots— and the roots will not take up as fast 

 ments° Dr. Wight was a careful observer, and 'as the respiration of the leaves. Mr. Hovey says 

 accurate in all his experiments; and he trusted that when the roots are much destroyed he would 

 this would forever set at rest, at least with all! head in; when not mutilated he would not cut m 

 reasonable men, the nonsensical idea that the at all. 

 quicksilver or sulphur would be decomposed and] Adjourned one fortnight. 



absorbed by the sap, and carried throughout the 



tree, poisoning the insects which feed upon the fot the New England Farmer. 



leaves. It was an a/mwaZ paragraph fur the news- g„jj.„pjm Qp Tp-pt^rp aSHBS AS A MA- 

 papers, and underwent annual trials by persons i "^ "^■mtt'R'F' 



who believed all they read in them, especially up- 

 on agricultural or horticultural topics, and who Do farmers who possess peat or mud swamps re- 

 always reported successful results. If these dis-jalize the great value of the turf, peat or roots of 

 cussions elicited such facts as these, their import-, their swamps when drained and made dry, by burn- 

 ance could not be questioned. |ing to ashes and spreading on their planting up- 



Mr. Jos. Richardson thought there was not a land? It was remarked of a neighbor of mine, who 

 great difference of opinion as regards heading in moved into town last spring, he had the most lux- 

 trees. He believed if trees were not injured by uriant growing garden of any one in town. The 

 removal, it was best not to cut them in, — if in- question was asked how he managed to have the 

 jured, then it was best to prune. It was remarked! vegetation in his garden so green and flourishing, 

 by Mr. Walker, at the last meeting, that he did while most of the gardens were suffering by the 

 not approve of scoring trees. He had had some drought? The reiAy was, that he made his own ma- 

 experience on this point, himself; and so far as he nwre. But he made it this spring. It was asked 

 had tried it, it had not been beneficial; on un-\ how? In reply it was stated that he collected to- 

 healthy trees he had no success. His course was,! gether the turf, peat, &c., of a peat swamp which, 

 when a tree was stunted, to encourage the growth | a few years ago, was cleared and drained.and cart- 

 of suckers ; the top of the old tree he did not re- ed it upon his upland near his garden — piled it into 

 move ; but as soon as the suckers were well grown, a heap and burnt it ; and the ashes was the ma- 



say in the second year, then it was cut off, and a 

 tree vigorous and healthy was the result. This 

 he had found was far better than to attempt to 

 renovate by scoring the bark. 



He was pleased to hear the remarks from Mr. 

 Stickney. He could relate his experience, dearly 



nure used ; and the beneficial result is manifest to 

 all. "Will other farmers who have peat swamps, 

 go and do likewise 1 



I have on the farm that I possess about 50 acres 

 of land ; over one-third ispeat or mud which I have 

 managed to drain the lower edge, and can drain 



fcought. Some ten years ago, he bought seventy- the whole by cutting level ditches through it, so as 

 two dollars' worth of trees at auction. He set to have the surface full three feet above the water 

 them out with the greatest care ; nursed them up, in wet seasons. On the lower part which I have 

 but they would not grow and appeared stunted ; brought to, I have stout grass, and peat where the 

 some he scored, and others he headed in the tops, water stood in former days all the year round, ex- 

 and took up suckers ; still they grew worse and cept in dry seasons, where grew alders, love bush- 

 worse, and dwindled away, until he had dug up es, dog wood, and possessed by frogs, specked and 

 more than lialf of them. Those remaining were horn turtles, water makes, &c. ; and part hog li- 

 yet only indifferent trees. He had made up his lies, and some white lilies grew. Some patches of 

 mind tliat if he had buried his seventy-two dollars|water stood so deep that fish, eels, &c., were pre- 

 in the soil, he would have been much better off j dominant. This year I have corn, potatoes, beans, 

 BOW. . and cabbages, which bid fair to come to good noa- 



Mr. Breck wi.shed to add his experience in re- turity. It looks so promising that I feel half in- 

 gard to poor trees. A few years ago he was pass- clined to give up my upland for pasture and only 



ing an auction room, wliere a lot of Seckel pear 

 trees were offered ; wishing to get some of this va- 

 riety, then rather scarce, he bought fifty dollars' 



plant the lowland, as hardly one year in five but 

 what the upland crops suffer for want of rain. 

 I intend to clear up, the August coming, about 



