PEACH AND PLUM TREES. 163 



My method of prevention is this : Early in the month of July, 

 with a hoe I clean away the earth from about my trees, in size and 

 in shape like a common wash-bowl. The excavation being about 

 three inches deep next the tree, and six or eight in diameter. I 

 then fill up the hollow with common wood ashes, and raise an em- 

 bankment about the tree, also about the size of a common wash- 

 basin inverted ; and have never yet known the insect to penetrate 

 this embankment of ashes to the injury of my trees. I have never 

 discovered any injury to result from the caustic nature of the ashes, 

 and always take the precaution in the fall, say October, to remove 

 the ashes and mix them with the surrounding earth, drawing up 

 fresh earth to the tree to supply the place of the ashes. If any of 

 your correspondents to whom this process is unknown, should be 

 induced to try this experiment and should succeed, if they are as 

 fond of a basket of fine Oldmixtons as I am, they will be obliged 

 to me ; if unsuccessful, I shall not have given them much trouble. 



I have heard and read of various remedies for preventing the in- 

 jury spoken of, but do not believe any of them will prove effica- 

 cious, except the application of some substance to the tree just ber 

 low the surface, which will prevent the approach of the fly or in- 

 sect. I have often thought, that lime in its powdered state, would 

 be more efficacious than ashes ; but as the ashes have never failed 

 me I have never tried the experiment. I have known it recom- 

 mended to remove the earth from the tree, so that the frosts might 

 have full effect. This, however, will do no good, as the injury, or 

 rather the seeds of it, are lodged in it before the frost commences, 

 and are not injured or destroyed by it. I have known the earth 

 removed, and tobacco, stems and other offal from the tobacconists 

 appled with success. Ashes, however, are less trouble and more 

 certain. In the summer I give my trees a thick coat of wash — a 

 mixture of cow-dung, urine, soap-suds, ashes and lime. I do not 

 know that it is of service in preventing the injury I speak of. but 

 have (jften thought it did, preventing by its disagreeable nature the 

 approach of the Qy to any part of the tree. It ia of essential ser- 

 vice to the general health of the tree by destroying worms and in- 

 sects, which are prevented from depositing their eggs in the bark. 

 If you think the above worthy a place in your columns, it is at 

 your service, H. B, 



PLUMS. 



Dayton, Ohio, June 24, 1828. 

 Mr. Skinner, — Our plums in this country are so entirely de- 

 stroyed, year after year, that we have at last become indifferent 

 about preserving our trees ; and in case any of your correspond- 

 ents are able to make known any efficient remedy, he cannot per- 

 form a more charitable and beneficent act. I have often seen my 

 trees, to the number of twenty or thirty, loaded with fruit, promis- 

 ing a most abundant supply, and which were almost entirely de- 

 stroyed. Just as our plums have their growth, they are perforated 

 by the insect — the curculio, who is a sly depredator, and hardly 

 ever seen, and almost inamediately bejjiu to fall ofi', I beheve the 



