Proceedijsgs of the Farriers' Club. " 339 



scarf skin is most delicate and tender, Avitli ovipositors in some cases, 

 or by the direct introduction of their progeny to gnaw into vitalized 

 places in others, where their undisturbed increase seems to defy exter- 

 mination. But a vigorous effort would soon modify, and ultimately 

 give a determined orchardist complete ascendency over two acknowl- 

 edged sources of deterioration. Next, from long neglect, especially 

 in old orchards, the trunks near the ground become grass-bound. 

 The snug-fitting turf is like a ligature. Beside affording a nestling 

 gpot for vermin, especially such as feed on the sap at that point, the 

 ligature interferes very much more than may have been expected, 

 with the free ascent of the blood of the tree, the sap. That circum- 

 stance alone is no small affliction. The remedy is as simple as the 

 fact is apparent. Kemove all such intruding embarrassments by 

 keeping the ground free from intruding weeds, and hard wiry grasses. 

 Some incidental discoveries in regard to the kind of materials best 

 suited to the circumstances of trees as fertilizers ; or, in plainer 

 terms, food, show that animal remains are particularly beneficial to 

 their development. Trees of an ornamental character in cemeteries 

 are usually more thrifty than the same sort in other localities where 

 animal products are not accessible to the roots. The coffin which 

 originally held the remains of Eoger "Williams was so completely 

 invaded by the roots of an apple tree that the entire anatomical shape, 

 dimensions, and position of his bones were secured by the tendrils, 

 and the cast of that celebrated man's skeleton, thus taken in an 

 unheard-of manner, is at present a museum curiosity. Whether the 

 phosphate of lime in the bones, or the elements set at liberty by the 

 decomposing tissues, were sought by the tree, is uncertain. The pre- 

 sumption, however, is in favor of the phosphate of lime. Formerly, 

 when there were dead animals about the premises, it was customary to 

 throw them into a stream that would waft them away, or they were 

 buried remotely, to avoid a nuisance. That was a waste which no well 

 informed cultivator of fruit trees now permits, because when covered 

 up in the circle of their roots they are quickly secured as nourish- 

 ment, to the immediate perceptible'' benefit of the trees. This sug- 

 gests the question, would it not be good policy to manure fruit trees 

 of some varieties, especially the apple, with any and all kinds of ani- 

 mal remains that happen to be at hand. Thus offal from slaughter 

 houses, scraps from currier shops, market house waste, and fish, if 

 easily obtained. Certain it is, as far as observations on that point 

 have been made, animal matter is seized upon by the absorbing root- 



