MASS. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 719 



astonishing. Whether it brings the moisture up from below, 

 or down from the atmosphere, or prevents its escape by divid- 

 ino- and breaking up the soil, and thus rendering it less fit to 

 conduct the moisture off, are questions of chemistry. The 

 fact that moisture is in some way produced, is equally certain 

 and ascertained. 



An intelligent farmer in this neighborhood once remarked, 

 that in putting in his turnip seed, he always followed the rule 

 of the 2oth of July, wet or dry, and being asked what course 

 he took if, as often happened, a severe drought prevailed at 

 that time, he answered that he stirred the land till he raised a 

 moisture. Our trees seldom suffer from the opposite cause, 

 excess of dampness, unless standing in absolutely wet land, in 

 which case thorough draining is the obvious and only remedy. 



On diseases, it may be observed as a preliminary remark, 

 that, with respct to many of them, feeble and infirm trees are 

 most in danger of being attacked. A healthy and vigorous 

 plant, like a healthy and vigorous man, escapes their assaults, 

 and hence the best preservative of a tree is to keep it well 

 nourished and in good order. This is particularly the case in 

 regard to the mossy coat which often gathers on the trunks 

 and boughs of young apple-trees ; for we find such trees, when 

 thrifty and well cared for, often exhibit a bark as smooth and 

 shining as it could be rendered by the most careful washing. 



Where the moss has once gathered, it can generally be 

 removed by a solution of strong washing soap, and scraping 

 the bark.* Should any limbs die, there can be no other course 

 than to prune them off, taking care to protect the wound ef- 

 fectually from the weather. 



If the trunk is decayed, the removal of the decayed portion, 

 and the filling in the place with clay, may arrest the evil. It 

 is not to be supposed, however, that any application can cause 

 the cavity to be filled up by a new growth from within. This, 

 Forsyth pretended to do with his famous composition, which 

 I believe was little else than a mixture of clay and cow ma- 

 nure. He received several thousand pounds for his secret from 



* The moss may be removed more speedily by a solution of potash, but this, if too 

 strong, may injure or destroy the tree. A wash of one pound to two gallons of water 

 could, I have no doubt, be safely used. But I found that there was a difference of 

 opinion in the Board, as to the using of potash at all, and I have therefore forborne to 

 insert any recommendation to that effect, in the body of the report. 



