Proceedings of the Farmers' Club. 553 



twenty-five or more years before, I resolved to cut them down. 

 This was the first year of their reappearance. Opened several 

 of the knots, found grubs in them about three-eighths of an inch 

 in length. The fruit at this time was about two-thirds grown. 

 Supposed that there was no doubt that the knots were caused by 

 insects. 



Afterwards saw, in the reports of the Farmer's Club, that those 

 knots were not caused by insects, and thought I would make a 

 more thorough examination next year. Accordingly, the next year 

 (1866), seeing the knots were making their appearance, commenced 

 examination the last of May, soon after the blossoms had fallen 

 ofi! The knots were then in the green state, and not half grown, 

 and to my surprise could find no grubs in them, nor anything that 

 I thought would ever produce a grub. 



In about a week examined again; did not at first find any grubs 

 but on a closer exmination found small, dark, irregular lines extend 

 ing from the outside towards the central portion of the knot; exam^ 

 ined very carefully, cutting ofl" little by little, with a sharp knife 

 The knot at that time was in a kind of cheesy state, and cut easily, 

 I found at the inner end of these dark lines, a little grub, not more 

 than the thirty-second part of an inch in length, nor larger than 

 Ko. 50 spool sewing thread. I had no trouble after this in finding 

 grubs. 



In another week they were from a sixteenth to an eighth of an 

 inch in length, and of corresponding size, and had penetrated 

 further towards the center of the knot. 



Thinking the question settled, that the knots were caused by 

 insects, I paid but little more attention to the subject this year; but 

 seeing that some of the correspondents of the Farmers' Club can- 

 not find grubs in the knots, and do not think they are caused by 

 insects, I resolved I would try again and make a more thorough 

 examination. 



In 1867, commenced examination as soon as the leaves started, the 

 season being about two weeks later than usual, and perhaps two 

 weeks later than at New York city. Did not discover any knots 

 far enough advanced to crack open, until May 30; then I examined 

 every day for thirty days. 



The knots commence their growth with the circulation of the 

 sap in the spring, so as to produce the gro\vth of new wood, and 

 can be readily discovered as soon as the blossoms begin to make 

 their appearance, and before they are in full bloom. The knots 



