FACT NUMBER TWO, 37 



From long and patiently tested experiments, it has been 

 found that the plum tree, infected with the Black Bunch, 

 which is nothing more nor less than the Plum Tree Scrofu- 

 la, will again thrive and bear fruit, if not too far gone to 

 throw shoots, after the diseased branches have been trimmed 

 off ; provided there are six or eight healthy branches left for 

 the purpose of furnishing leaves or lungs through which 

 the tree may breathe. And while these branches sustain the 

 tree, they will also use up the sap from the roots, and supply 

 a goodly share of fair and wholesome fruit. 



This trimming should be performed in the dead of win- 

 ter, for then the sap is at the root, and the branches should 

 be sawed off some two or three feet from the body of the 

 trunk, or main stem, thereby leaving full room for fresh 

 shoots to branch out which are to be the future bearing 

 plum tree. 



The limbs thus lopped off, with all the trees past bearing, 

 and all the sprouts or suckers, which should be taken up, 

 root and branch, should be forthwith burned up ; and no 

 useless appendage of a plum tree, capable of harboring in- 

 sects should be left on the premises. 



In the next place, the six or eight healthy branches, left 

 for breathers, should be carefully examined and guarded for 

 two distinct purposes : — The first of which is, to protect them 

 against the ravages of the lice ; and for this protection, the 

 lopping off of all the other branches from the tree affords 

 ample elbow room. Should lice make their appearance on 

 these branches, they must be destroyed by water and dry 

 lime, or house ashes. 



