152 Transactions of the American Institute. 



size of trees for orchards. 

 I find apple trees four or five years old from the grafting, are 

 better to set out for an orchard than younger trees. Such haVe 

 more strength of wood and bark, and stand transplanting and accli- 

 mating in our cold climate better than younger trees. A first class 

 tree should have some healthy fibrous roots, and I had rather have 

 medium height and stocky than tall and slender. It makes no dif- 

 ference where or how they are raised in the nursery provided they 

 are healthy. I had rather cultivate for two or three years with 

 com than any other crop. The corn helps to shade the bodies of 

 the trees from the hot sun until the tops grow to shade themselves. 

 Early in the spring, before the buds start much, wash the bodies 

 and the limbs with equal quantities of soft soap and water. It will 

 kill most of the vermin that infest apple trees, and give them a 

 smooth, healthy look. It is sure to kill bai*k lice, which I find 

 nothing will kill without killing the leaves, if applied after the 

 leaves have grown. 



GYPSUM OR PLASTER. 



Mr. J. 'D. Conklin, Locke, N. Y. — The value of plaster is now so 

 very generally conceded, that to prove its value is not necessary — 

 only its best mode of application. First, it should not be sown 

 after the sun has got up enough to produce a strong evaporation 

 of the dews, as then a large portion of the fertilizing properties 

 would be carried ofi" by the attraction of the sun, with the hydro- 

 gen gases, and especially so if the plaster is ground fine, as it 

 always should be to produce the best results. Second, perhaps the 

 best time would be after sunset on a still evening, when the dew is 

 falling fast and pressing rapidly the fine particles of plaster to the 

 earth, which at this time of day acts as a condenser. But when a 

 large quantity is to be sown, it will be necessary to vary the rule, 

 but ^a falling atmosphere is desirable. 



NATURAL GAS. 



Mr. E. Pratt, Geneva, Ashtabula county, Ohio. — I wish to inquu-e 

 •of you the practicability of burning gas for lights in my house. I 

 Jiave a spring 200 feet from my house that bubbles gas all the time, 

 iind has, to my knowledge, for thirty years. I have often turned a 

 barrel bottom side up over it, and punched an awl hole through 

 the bottom, set it on fire, and it would burn for hours at a tunc. 

 What hinders me from building a tank and bringing it to my house? 



