1877.] 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



67 



naturally rich in vegetable matter, a dressing 

 of lime will often iiroduce gratifying results, 

 and wodd ashes scarcely ever come amiss on 

 any soils." 



[Tl\e foregoing is the first article alluded to 

 by Mr. E.'s corres]iouili'nt, and no doubt will 

 be generally accniiesced in, althongh \vc are 

 aware that some very good orchardists are oji- 

 poscd to cultivating arouml trees. As to ma- 

 nure, the vc are other kinds tlian stable ma- 

 nure that liaveagood effect upon tree culture, 

 one of which is right at hand, if altenlion is 

 given to its collection in time, and which re- 

 turns to the .soil again what the tree had drawn 

 from it. Two years ago a scientific connnis- 

 sicm was appointed in tlie city of J.,ondon, to 

 report on the causes of the (lepletion of the 

 trees in Jli/dc and oilier /VtrA-.s of that great 

 city, whilst they were healthy elsewhere. 

 Tliey made microscopic and chemical analy- 

 ses of the leaves, and discovered that they con- 

 tained large quaidities of fertilizing sails, and 

 tliey came to the conclusion that the trees 

 were depleted through the constant swec^ping 

 up and removal of the leaves, instead of 

 mulching them into the soil. Look at our 

 great oaks — look at the gigantic trees of Cali- 

 fornia tliat have stood thousands of years, 

 perhaps, without ever having bad any ma- 

 nure,savc what yearly fell from their branches.] 

 Oyster Shell Bark Louse. 



"Crude Petuoleum.— 'B. L. B.,' Proc- 

 tor's Creek, Va., was six years ago living in 

 the oil regions of Pennsylvania, and went on 

 a visit to his father in Central New York, tak- 

 ing with him a can of crude petroleum, fresh 

 from the well. His father had two young 

 apple trees in the garden, which, in spite of 

 all that could be done for them, were going to 

 decay, and he requested the son to cut them 

 down. Mr. B. suggested that he would first 

 kill the trees, so tliat there should be no trou- 

 ble from sprouts, and to do this he, in Fel)ru- 

 ary, took a broom and completely washed the 

 trunks and larger limbs with tlie crude petro- 

 leum, noticing at the same time that they 

 were thickly covered with bark lice. In the 

 following spring, to the astonishment of all, 

 the trees starte(l out with renewed vigor, made 

 a greater growth than they ever did before, 

 'and the bark was as smooth and as healthy 

 as that of a one year old .seedling.' Since 

 then the trees have flourished and borne abun- 

 dantly. Mr. B. suggests that the application 

 should be made before the buds swell at all, 

 as petroleum will kill the foliage. We would 

 add to tho.se dis|iosed to exiieriment in that 

 direction, that neither kerosene nor any other 

 preparation from petrol um should be used as 

 a substitute for the crude article, just as it is 

 drawn from the wells." 



[We should hesitate to recommend petro- 

 letmiin any of its forms; but instead of it, oil, 

 or grease of almost any kind, has been endors- 

 ed by the highest authority, and we ktiov it 

 to be effectual, fijr we have tried it on various 

 occasions. ] 



Lime OK Whitewash.— "W. E., "of North 

 Haven, Conn., takes tlie best fresli-burned 

 stone-lime, slakes it with hot water, and thins 

 with cold water to the i)roper consistency to 

 apply readily, and with a common broom — a 

 round one preferable — Jiaints over the trunks 

 and large branches. Thinking that we liad 

 somewhere seen the statement that lime had 

 been tried by < it liens without effect, we wrote 

 to Mr. E. to make sure that it was the Oyster- 

 iShell lou.se that he had in mind, and be replied 

 that it was, and finds lime perfectly ellicacioiis. 

 Though nut now troubled by tlie insect, he 

 would apply lime wheiu'ver lie discovered it. 

 Mr. E. I'egards ;i coating of lime-wash as 

 highly u.seful in other respects, and wonders 

 why its use is ojijiosed by some. Upon young 

 trees, in which the bark is still active, we jire- 

 fer not to clog it with a coat of lime, but if 

 any wash is needed, use a more soluble one of 

 lye or soap ; in older trees, when the outer 

 bark is ih^ad and begins to scale oil', it makes 

 no dilTerence, except as a question of looks. 

 In treating this bark louse, as well as in all 

 contests with insects, success will depend 

 hugely upon proinpt action, and attacking the 



enemy as soon asjiossible after it is discovered. 

 Young trees e8i)ecially should be watched, for 

 it is an easy matter to treat a tree, all parts of 

 which are within reach, compared with an- 

 other two or three times tlie si/e. We have 

 no idea that washing the trunk, merely, of a 

 tree, witli whitewash, )ietroleum, or other 

 ap)ilica(ion, will rid it of the (iyster-Shell 

 bark louse. 'Wiese are situated upon the 

 newer growth and small limbs, and any ai)]ili- 

 cation that fails to reach these, can be of little 

 or any service, .so far as this particular insect 

 is concerned. It is very im]iortaiit to avoid 

 introducing this pest, and every new tree from 

 a nursery and el.sewhero should be examined 

 for bark lice, before jilauting." 



[Really, it seems that the question invol- 

 ving the utility of whitcnvashing trees, is never 

 to lie definitely .settled. When we were a boy 

 and worked upon a farm, fifty years ago, it 

 was rather a conmion thing to whitewash 

 trees, especially those that were growing in 

 the yard or the garden. This process usually 

 followed the whitewashing of fences and out- 

 hoiKses, and was done with the same material, 

 and with no particular reference to the bark- 

 louse, or any other iii.sect, if anything had 

 ever been known or heard of then. It some- 

 how was thought to produce thrift in the 

 growth of the trees, or perhaps more lik('ly 

 was a mere matter of taste. In after years, 

 according to the exiierience of some persons, 

 whose opinions were entitled to respect, it 

 was alleged that whitewa.shiiig was absolutely 

 injurious to tlu' trees. Now, how could e(iual- 

 ly intelligent peojile differ so much in the re- 

 ■s'ults of their individual experiences ? We 

 apprehend that the difference is just in this 

 wise. The difference in the kind and the 

 quality of the limo and the wash, and the dif- 

 ference in the .ages and conditions of the trees. 

 The opposers of whitewashing, said it closed 

 up the pores and arrested respiration, a func- 

 tion as important to the healthy development 

 of the tree, as "insensible perspiration " is to 

 the human liody. In order to increase the 

 adhesiveness of whitewash, peoiile are in the 

 habit of putting a greater or lesser quantity 

 of alum, salt, sugar or glue into it; and if 

 these ingredients increase its adhesiveness 

 when applied to fences and frame buildings, it 

 would adhere too clo.sely to trees to allow free 

 respiiation and thus injure them, and especial- 

 ly young, smooth-liarked trees. If the lime 

 was too acrid, hot, or strong, it would have 

 the same effect. The whitewashing of large, 

 old, and rough-barked trees, does not afford a 

 proper test of the utility of the operation, and 

 especiall}' when it is done to kill bark-lice; 

 because, as "W. E." above, trnly says, there 

 is not the place where these insects locate 

 themselves. And secondly, because the sur- 

 face of a rough-barked tree cannot be covered 

 as com|)letely and as imperviously as a smooth 

 one can, and there will always he fissures in 

 the liark that have not been reached by the 

 brush, and tlirough which res]iiiation is car- 

 ried on, and could only be effected there, 

 whether the tree was whitewashed or not. 

 Some years ago a neighbor of ours had two 

 young jie.ar trees badly infested with hark 

 lice, and on the recommendation of a friend, 

 he used strong fish brine, ajiplied with a hand- 

 scrub on the one, and sharp lime wash on the 

 other, but they bolli eventually died. AVe had 

 the same kind of a tree, similarly infested, and 

 wc used lard oil with entire success; and in 

 every instance where we liave recommended 

 it, it has been effectual. The late Mr. Walsh, 

 State I'^ntoiuologist of Illinois, exiierimented 

 with everything, and finally recorded his tes- 

 timony in favor of oil. | 



The Sener Apple. 

 By M. J. Si'AVMAN. Leavenworth, Kansas. 

 — Dear Sir. — Yours of September '20th was 

 received yesterday on my return here, also 

 the apple, although it was entirely rotten, 

 but in fair shape, so that I could take a cut 

 and inside outline of the fruit. I am .sorry I 

 did not get it in time to give a more satisfiic- 

 tory outline and description. The scions were 

 eutirely dried ui), past recovery, which I very 



much regi-et, as I wished to graft tliem at my 

 homeplace, I^eavenworlh, Kansas. The busi- 

 ness at the Centennial continued to 

 increase in number , of varieties so that I 

 found it impossible to leave until it was over, 

 and with what I had on hand, and some other 

 business, detained me until the Titli of this 

 month (Dec. ) before I left the city. I send 

 with this the outline and descriiition. The 

 color and iiuahty I had to Judge f^rom memory 

 and what you wrote, which may both he in- 

 correct, if so, jilease state in what respect, 

 and also add about the vigor and any otlier 

 part omitted. 1 am very thankful for your 

 kindness in sending the specimens and your 

 interesting letter, and am very sorry that 1 

 have been unable to answer sooner. 



I took, while at the Centennial, .seven hun- 

 dred and eighty (7^0) cuts and descriptions of 

 fruit I had not taken before, making my en- 

 tire collection over 1,700; in everv respect 

 comiilete and taken by my.self, embracing 

 many new and valuable varieties. 



I w^iuld h(^ much obliged, if it is not too 

 much trouble. to send me a few more scions fit 

 to graft, and direct tliem to Leavenworth, 

 Kansas. Two or three grafts will he sulficient 

 to test the variety, as I expect to be tiierc in 

 ten days and remain tliere, from where I should 

 like to hear fiom you when convenient. 



1 think the Seiier a valuable variety, and 

 worth being more generally cultivated. Pruit 

 large ; form oblate, slightly conic ; color light 

 yellow ; dots small, di.stinct, scattered, grey ; 

 stem medium, rather thick ; cavity wide, deep 

 green, or russeted ; calyx very large, open ; 

 segments large, rellexed ; basin rather wide, 

 deep, abrupt, slightly furrowed ; core large, 

 wide, closed ; carpels medium, hollow ; seeds 

 rather large, ovate, angular, light chestnut 

 brown ; fiesh white, tender, juicy, siirightly, 

 pleasant sub-acid; quality good, excellent for ' 

 kitchen ; tree, rather drooping, a regular and 

 generous bearer. Brought from Cermantown 

 some lifty years ago. (irown by Mr. Sener, 

 Lancaster, I'a. Specimen received from Mr. 

 S. S. Kathvon, Lancaster, Pa. 



[This apple having originated about Gcr- 

 mantown, Mr. Stayuiau's paper has been very 

 kindly placed at our disposal by I'rof. Bathvon, 

 instead of using it in his own Lancaster 

 Parmer— a courtesy we highly apineciatc. 

 We may lake occasion to say that the Lan- 

 CASTEU Fahmek, though unfartwuttelii with 

 the local name of " Lancaster" appended to it, 

 is not a merely local ]>aper, but is at least e<iual 

 in general value to an v Agricultural paper that 

 coines to our table.-£(J. G(udi)i( r's MnnlMi/.] 



Some time in March last we sent by mail 

 to Mr. Stayman a number of scions of the ap- 

 lile .above referred to, and also to Mes,srs. 

 Casper Ililler and H. JL Englc. From what 

 we know practically of the quality of the 

 fruit, we feel Justified in recommending it, 

 and hope more of our fruit growers will make 

 apiilicatiou to Mr. Sener for scions, who kind- 

 ly offers them with no other motive than its 

 perpetuation, as the tree is growing old. In 

 addition to all of the foregoing we refer our 

 readers to an article on the subject, on page 

 14.") Vol. VI I L of tlie Farmer, where the his- 

 tory of the apple, and our own experience is 

 more particularly detailed. 



AVe cannot conclude without th.anking the 

 editor of the G. M. for liis complimentary no- 

 tice of our journal, even including what he 

 seems to think an "unfortunate apiicndage." 

 We know what he says is not intended to lie 

 disrespectful, but merely suggestive, and as- 

 sure him that he is not alone in this senti- 

 ment, for such a view was entertained when 

 the present name of the paper was adoiitcd, 

 and still exists among some of its most intelli- 

 gent patrons, on the ground that a more gen- 

 eral title might elicit more general contribu- 

 tions to ilscolunins, and a more general pat- 

 ronage from abroad. W<' however feel reluct- 

 ant to change the title now, especially as it 

 was never intended to circumscribe, or limit 

 its scoi>e; but should it lie deemed advisiiblc 

 to do so at a future time, we will give the 

 matter a respectful consideration, if our con- 

 nection with it still coutinueB. — Jid. 



