26G 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



March 14, 1828. 



the laller is snd by some to be preferable, but the j 

 first, if given while the animal has sufficient life, 

 or warmth, to enable it to swallow, or receive it | 

 into the stomach, effects a cure. The operation of 

 either, is this ; a nausea or sickness is soon pro- J 

 duced which dislodges the poisonous vegetables 

 eaten, and the cure is done. A FARMER. 



AVASH FOR FRUIT TREES 



Mr. Fessejvden. — I have noticed in your New 

 England Farmer's Almanac a recommendation ot 

 Major Wheeler's wash for fruit trees whicii Is 

 there inserted ; and first published, witli iiis re 

 marks, in the N. E. Farmer, vol. 4, p. -j4i-. In his 

 communicatiou he says — "The reason inat U has 

 not been more generally used is, that it has been 

 fashionable to daub with lime, clay, manure and 

 other compositions which take two or three years 

 to wash off before the trees look natural. When 

 this solution of potash is applied, it has the de- 

 sired eft'ect immediately. It kills the muss and 

 lice at once ; and the first rain that comes washes 

 the bark perlectly smooth, and gives it a fair, nat- 

 ural and healthy colour " He further states that 

 once in two to four years is sufficient. 



I had the same recipe many years ago from Mr. 

 Austin, inspector of Pot Ash at Charlestown I 

 at first used this simple wash ; but oiiji- ' • . to it 

 for the reason which constitutes Major Wheeier's 



secondary excellence thut the first ruin that 



romes washes the bark perfecilij smooth. If the de- 

 sio-ii of the wnsh is to give vigour to the tree as 

 well as to remove the moss and destroy the lice, 

 the longer it remains the belter: unless by bemg 

 soaked among the roots by the first rain, it pro- 

 duces the same beneficial effect. This it mi^ht 

 accomplish were a due quantity applied. B«it this 

 could not be obtained in an intt-ruiission of four 

 or even two years. A repetition after ever, rain 

 could alone be rffectual. Nutriment of this kind 

 may be taken in by the roots or imbibed through 

 the bark. A limited quantity probably more read- 

 ily hy the latter, from atmospheric aid. 



From this view of the subject I adopted the 

 fashion to daub my trees with a compo.sition of 

 3 lbs. of potash and 8 lbs. of unslacked lime, dis- 

 solveil in 3 I 3 gallons of water, adding clay or 

 cow dung to give it a firm"r consistence and reu- 

 der it more porous. I also h.ive no rule by which 

 to renew it ; but apply it early in tuespriiig. wIumi- 

 ever my trees appear to need it by having the 

 substance washed off. To my view this fashiona- 

 ble coat is far from being an unsightly dress. — 

 Were it otherwise I should consult health and 

 viL'Or even at the expense ol a homely garb. 

 From what I know of Miijor Whetder's science 

 anil practical skill. I suspect the flourishing state 

 of his trees is to be ascribed more to his spadin;! 

 anil mannriuii than to his occasional a ash, which, 

 however nnd whenever applied is a potent and val- 

 uable auxili'iiy. A FARMER. 

 Worcister, March II. lt=28. 



FRUIT TREES. 



Mr. Fessp.ndks — In staling facts and inferen- 

 ee.s deduced from llieui respecting the disease of 

 fruit trees, I hope to call further attention to this 

 interesting subject ; and elicit truth without the 

 beat of controversy. 



I will concede to those gentlemen who believe 

 ,t caused by an insect, and whose opinions are 

 oonfirraed by having detected their adversary, that 

 '■,s same destruction may be effected by different 



agents ; and that the enemy which gives annoy- 

 ance to them, is visible and tangible. If they can 

 admit my theory I rnay presume they will allow 

 that my foe is not of this palpable kind, since it 

 has eluded a diligent and minute search, often re- 

 peated by myself and friends. Being thus bafiled 

 in my investigation I have soughl its analogy to 

 other diseases of the same insidious character, 

 and have fi.\ed upon the Canker. Here the same 

 diversity of opinion respecting the cause presents 

 itself. Mr. Forsyth is of opinion that canker is 

 caused by injudicious pruning — from the fruit be- 

 ing left on the trees — from bruises — from dead 

 shoots being left on the tree through the summer, 

 &c. : but not from any thing peculiar in the soil. 

 Sir Humphrey Davy attributes canker to Ihe ex- 

 cess of alkaline and earthy matter in the de- 

 scending sap. There seems to be some bearing 

 in both these opinions on the disease in question. 

 Some contamination or obstruction in the descend- 

 ing sap appears to me manifest. Canker, howev- 

 er, as it is generally understood, more commonly 

 attacks the body or large branches of the tree: 

 but if not eradicated in its incipient state, it will, 

 like leprosy, corrupt and destroy its vitality. — 

 Whatever may be the predisposing cause, this 

 malady is haetened and confirmed by the direct a- 

 gency of solar rays. I am led to this conclusion 

 from noticing that the first appearance is found 

 on the part of the tree exposed to the longest and 

 the most direct influence of a summer's sun, bear- 

 inor from a S. and S.W. point If the tree declines 

 from these points it becomes more exposed and 

 seldom escapes infection. If there bo a sadden 

 bend to the N. E. and the tree again becomes 

 erect, the intermediate angle will almost invaria- 

 bly suffer. If the rays of the sun are so potent 

 as to penetrate thick hark anil make it so closely 

 adhere to the wood as to check the circulation of 

 the sap. is it unreasonable to suppose that the 

 same cause may produce a similar effect on the 

 thinner eo'ering of the extreme branches? This 

 appears to be the question at issue ; and further 

 light is thrown on it by the fact that this disorder 

 is confined to the most arid and hot season. It 

 seems to be agreed that this disease is common to 

 both apple and pear trees : but so far as I have 

 noticed, is more extensive and destructive on the 

 pear. On the pear tree, not only small shoots,but 

 whole limbs are destroyed ; whereas on the apple, 

 like the quince it is confined to the extreme mi- 

 nor branches. 



That the canker is contagious, and will produce 

 the same destruction within its influence that is 

 to be seen on the shoots of the apple tree, has 

 been strikingly manifested in my nursery. A tree 

 about ten years in bearing has been suffering with 

 the canker for a few seasons past. Last summer 

 while full in early fruit the branches all died. — 

 The rows in mv apple nursery extended under 

 and beside it. After the leaves became dead, the 

 tender shoots of the younf: trees under it turned 

 black and perished. This I imputed to the drip- 

 pinir trom the diseased tree of dew and rain, as 

 the injury was confined to thecircnit of its branch- 

 es. The disease however was to be discovered in 

 som.-^ othnr parts of the nursery. 



Should further investigation determine the ori- 

 gin of this destructive malady it is still to bo fear- 

 ed that the remedy will remain to disappoint our 

 research. If I am correct as to its contagious 

 character, the importance of severing the diseased 

 parts is confirmed. But the whole subject seems 



so involved in obscurity that I might be deemed 

 too visionary, were I to be positive even in this 

 opinion. Respectfully yours, &c. 



Worcester, March II, 1828. O. FISKE. 



SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURE. 



An Addreredelivereil hefore ihe Hampshire, Fraoklin, and 

 Hampden Ag-ricultural Society ; at Sorlhanipton, Oct. 24. 

 18i7. By Edward Hitchcuck. Prolesjcr of Chemistry and 

 Natui-al History in Amherst College. 



It is an interesting evidence of Divine Benefi- 

 cence, that there is intermingled with the im- 

 mensely varied pursuits of men, so nearly an equal 

 portion of enjoyment. So wisely adapted to our 

 circumstances are the laws of liabit, that we soon 

 become contented, and even pleased, with a situa- 

 tion, which seemed at first, the grave of all our 

 comforts. But this is not all. There aie sources 

 of enjoyment in every occupation that are pecu- 

 liar ; that exist in no other. Helice it happens, as 

 a general fact, that men have no wish to change 

 employments with their neighbors. We may 

 covet some particular possessions, or circunr.staii- 

 ces of our neighbor ; but when the question is, 

 whether we will entirely change situations with 

 Jiim, the preference we feel lor our own profes- 

 sion or art, will, in most ca-es, give a ready nega- 

 tive to the inquiry. What but necessity will 

 bring the sea tossed and hard faring sailor to set- 

 tle down contentedly in the peaceful farm house 

 with al4 its security, and all its plenty. On the 

 other hand, what but irrej;ular habits, or disap- 

 pointed hopes, will tempt a man, who has become 

 habituated to the pleasure of cultivating his own 

 farm, to commit himself to the mercy of the 

 waves and storms of the ocean. You may, in- 

 dued, draw the artizan abroad for a day or two 

 ;in the summer, to relieve the pressure of the far- 

 mer. But he goes back again to his shop, grat- 

 ified that an easier task is \\u, than to toil be- 

 neath .-i burning sun. I know that the hard la- 

 boring man not unfrequontly looks with an en- 

 vious eye and discontented feelings upon his rich 

 neighbor, rolling past him in his coach ; and up- 

 on the professional man, who i.s seen fanning him- 

 self in the shade, during the sultry heat of July, 

 while he is compelled to go forth, unprotected, 

 under the rays of a meridian sun. But let him 

 only become acquainted with the corrodingcares, 

 the oppressive lisllessness, the ennui, and the 

 crowd of diseases that follow the chariot and 

 watch around the dwellings of the affluent: — let 

 ' bim be told how much of anxiety and labour and 

 sleeplessness the intellectual efforts and collisions 

 of the professional man require : let him see 

 the wasted form and languid countenance of the 

 scholar, what a sacrifice of health the acquisition 

 of knowledge often demands — 



how iiard it is to climb 



The sleep where Fame's uixiud temple shines afer; 



i ^how many a soul sublime 



! Has felt the inOuenee of malisfiianl star, 



And wng'd with lorlnne, an eternal war; 



let the laboring man but partially realize these 

 things, and he will be thankful that he is neither 

 very rich, nor very learned. 



It cannot be denied, however, that some of the 

 employments of men afford more numerous and 

 certain meons ot happiness tlmu others. IS'or will 

 many dissent from the opinion, that in this re- 

 spect the pre-eminence must be awarded to agri- 

 cultural pursuits. If, as the poet says, 



'• Reason's whole pleasnre. a)l the joys of sense. 



" Lie in three words, health, peace, and competence ;'' 



why hss not the farmer the very essence of earth 



J 



