1850. 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



169 



WHITEWASHING A REMEDY FOR THE cnHCULIO. 



A GENTT.EMAff near Louisville, Ky., L. Young, Esq., 

 a prominent horticulturist of that vicinity, has com- 

 municated to the Massachusetts Horticultural Soci- 

 ety details of experiments made in 1848 and 1849, 

 with lime on smooth-skinned fruits, to prevent the 

 ravages of the curculio. The experiments appear to 

 have heen carefully made, and tlie result induces Mr. 

 Young to believe that lime, if applied to apricots, 

 nectarines, and plums, before they are stung with 

 the curculio, and continued during the first four 

 weeks of their growth, will prove a more efficacious 

 remedy than anything yet discovered. He first dusted 

 the powdered or slaked lime over the trees, and after- 

 wards, for the purpose of coating the fruits more 

 eflectually, syringed them with water before apply- 

 ing the lime, which amounts to the same as white- 

 washing. 



Experiments of the same nature have also been 

 communicated to the Massachusetts Horticultural 

 Society by M. H. Simson of Saxonville. He says, 

 " I sho'vered the trees before the bud broke, with 

 whitewash, with my hand engine, covering the 

 branches entirely." If this does not answer the pur- 

 pose, he says, "I shall syringe the fruit when little 

 larger than a common white bean. My experiments 

 have convinced me that this latter method is a sure 

 preventive." 



This whitewashing strikes us rather favorably. 

 We have given it a fair trial, and trust we may be 

 able to report favorably. A lady in our neighborhood 

 has this season dusted her trees with ashes every 

 .■norning ; and she thinks she has thus far saved her 

 fruit, in a great measure. 



THE AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL CONGRESS. 



The next session of this body is to be held in Cincin- 

 nati at the same time of the great Fair of the '• Ohio 

 State Board of Agriculture." The senson is too 

 early for the north and east to make any very impor- 

 tant contributions ; but we have no doubt, "from the 

 spirit now manifested in regard to fruits and fruit 

 trees through the West, that they will make a grand 

 display, and bring together at the same time a vast 

 fund of information respecting the peculiarities of 

 their soil, climate, and productions. 



It may be well enough in this connection, to re- 

 mind fruit committees, fruitgrowers, and pomologist?, 

 that at the last session of the Congress in New York, 

 the following resolution was adopted : 



ResoheJ, 'I'hat all Pomologists throughout the United 

 States and the Canadas, be invited to forward to Mr. A. J. 

 Do'.iNiNG of Newburgh, N. Y., at any or various limes 

 during the time elapsing from the adjournment of tliis Con- 

 gress and two weeks previous to the assembling at Cincin- 

 nati, communications respecting varieties of fruits and fruit 

 trees, shrubs, or vines, and of diseases appertaining thereto ; 

 such communications to be collated by Mr. 1)o\vsing, and 

 presented to the next Congress at its sitting in 1850. All 

 such communications to be pre-paid. 



The Stanw/ck Nectarine. — .The first twenty- 

 four trees of this famoOs fruit, originated in the Duke 

 of Northumberland's garden, England, were sold in 

 lots of one tree each, at auction, on the 15th of May 

 last, for the benefit of tho Gardeners' Bsnevolent In- 

 stitution. Some sold as higli as ten guineas, and 

 none less than two. The 24 trees brought over $800. 

 It is said to be as much superior to all other nectar- 

 ines, as the Green Gage plum is to all other plums. 



We hare already (June 19,) taken note of twenty 

 varieties of this brilliant class of plants, and the Chi- 

 nese species are but begining to open. We shall 

 take an early opportunity to notice some splendid 

 new sorts. It is nearly a month since the earliest 

 bloomed, and to all appearances the late ones will 

 continue to bloom for three or four weeks to come. 

 A collection of the.se superb, showy flowers, bloom- 

 ing through a period of two months, is a matter worthy 

 of the attention of all who are seeking really good, 

 and easily inanaged, flowering plants. 



Mr. DoNNELLAN, of Ilanford's Landing, near this 

 city, has raised withiir a few years, some very fine 

 seedlings, hybrids of Whitlejii, and some of them 

 surpassing in size, beauty, and fragrance, that fa- 

 mous old sort. Mr. Donkrllan has named two 

 Major Jfilliams and Olive Williams. The first we 

 Iiave never seen, being away from home last season 

 when it bloomed, but the last one, Olive, we saw 

 yesterday, and it is really a superb flower. It is 

 larger, fuller in the centre, quite as fragrant as the 

 Whitlejii, and is distinctly marked with stains of 

 deep red on several of the centre petals. We visi- 

 ted Mr. Donnellan's garden a day or two ago, and 

 find that he has a large number of seedlings coming 

 forward, from which he will no doubt obtain some 

 valuable and novel varieties. We found his grounds 

 greatly improved, his crops of vegetables abundant 

 and fine, and everything pro.sperous. No man is 

 more worthy of success. 



PORTRAITS OF •' EMINENT HORTICULTURISTS." 



Dr. Kennicott, of Illinois, who is now well known 

 to the Horticultural world as one of the most prom- 

 inent and useful nurserymen and pomologists of 

 the West, has been furnishing, for the " Prairie 

 Farmer," a series of " pen and ink sketches" of the 

 men who composed the Syracuse Poniological Con- 

 vention. The subjects noticed have no reason to 

 complain, unless it be that the Doctor, like some 

 other artists, has colored a little too high — though 

 we do not profess to be a critic in such matters. — 

 The Doctor is the first public writer who has conde- 

 scended to notice in this way, such 7inassnniing iu- 

 individuals. "Eminent men" of all other profes- 

 sions, from the Parson to the pick-pucket, are duly 

 noticed by the press when they happen to assemble 

 in Convention ; but up to this time Horticulturists 

 have passed unnoticed. We begin to think they are 

 really growiag into importance, and take note of the 

 fact with no small degree of satisfaction. 



NORTHERN SPY APPLES. 



Mr. Barrt — Dear Sir: A barrel of Northern 

 Spy apples were brought into market this week, 

 which opened very fine. Some I have eaten of 

 them were aa good as I ever saw — perfectly fresh 

 and juicy. These sent yon were the last of the 

 barrel, and I fear they will taste of the barrel. 

 x\ccept, from your friend, J. H. Watts. 



Rochester, June 7, 1 850. 



The apples sent us with the above note, were in 

 good condition, sound and juicy, and were really a 

 luxury at this season of the year. Many of our citi- 

 zens had an opportunity of testing their good qual- 

 ities. — Ed. 



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