THE PLUM. 149 



apricots, and the earliest peaches, separately from 

 the rest of the trees, for the confinement of swine, 

 should not he forgotten. 



The application of salt under the trees is said 

 to prevent the ravages of the curculio. To deter- 

 mine its efficacy, and the quantity the trees will 

 bear, further experiments are desirable. From one 

 to two pailfuls of brine for one tree have been tried, 

 and though killing grass and weeds, have not in- 

 jured the tree. 



Black excrescences, supposed to be from the at- 

 tacks of an insect, but doubted by some, spread 

 from one part of the tree to another, and from tree 

 to tree, and unless speedily checked cause death. 

 The only remedy known, but which if promptly, 

 fearlessly and unremittingly applied, has never 

 been known to fail, is the immediate excision and 

 burning of the affected branches. But the same 

 spirit of procrastination, which neglects the spread 

 of this evil till too late, and puts off till to-morrow 

 the extinguishment of the city conflagration, has 

 resulted in the total loss of some of the finest plum 

 orchards in the country. 



