iroL. XAii. NO. r. 



AND HORTICULTURAL REGISTER 



51 



Warty or Black Excresence. 

 I communication from William i'rince &. Co., 

 e few weel<s since, to the Editor of tlie .Veto 

 ^tand Farmer, in wliicli a list of the kind of 

 n is made out, wliicli, tliey say, are not subject 

 :ie fungus or warty excrescences, has induced 

 to state my opinion concerning ihe nature of 

 disease. 



do not remember to havo seen that disease 

 ten of, except in connection with the belief that 

 caused by an insect; and I believed it to be 

 roduced, until observation proved to me that it 

 attributed to the wrong cause. The reason 

 one would offer as proof that the disease was 

 sed by the Curculio, is that its larvre are some- 

 ;s found in this juicy fungus, 

 'here is one analogous reason for attributing 

 fungus to the Curculio, or some insect; that 

 he production of galls upon the oak by the 

 cture of an insect, and the depositing his egg 

 he puncture. But how uniform, in form and 

 , are these galls, compared with these excres- 

 es, which ore very irregular in form and size. 

 !o far as I have been able to observe, by dissect- 

 these fungi, they appear to arise in that part or 

 ure called the alburnum. 



have thought that the proximate cause might 

 an obstruction in the vessels of that texture, 

 reason of the unhealthiness of the sap. The 

 sels burst, and the sap is poured out under the 

 k. Now the sap is as full of the life of the 

 ! as blood is full of the life of an animal, 

 rhis extravasated sap will immediately become 

 anized, or partially so, and, rapidly increasing 

 St through the outer bark and make its appear- 

 e. 



rhis fungus is not confined to the young wood, 

 is produced upon limbs of large size, the outer 

 k of which the Curculio would not be able to 

 icture. 



it makes its appearance from June up to August. 

 ese fungi come in all forms ; sometimes in a 

 gle spot, and then again extend along the limb 

 several inches, always with an irregular gran- 

 ted surface. 'J'his want of uniformity in form, 

 s and location, is evidence that it is not caused 

 an insect. After being cut from the large 

 bs, these fungi will often sprout out again be- 

 !en the wood and the bark where the wound is 

 de, and require a second operation. 

 Mow, this would not be the case if caused by 

 insect. This disease may often be noticed un- 

 ■ the bark before it burst, upon large limbs, 

 ere the bark is strong, which, if slightly opened 

 h a knife, will yield to the pressure, and the 

 igns soon appears. 



While this fungus is young and tender, the Cur- 

 io finds it a convenient receptacle for his eggs, 

 ! juice of which aflTords abundant nutriment for 

 ; larvas. A pretty sure sign by which you may 

 )w that ho has used it for that purpose, is a 

 all drop of gum oozing from its surface ; and 

 ere you do not see this sign, you may not ex- 

 a to find his larva within. 



[ have said that this disease begins in the part 

 led the alburnum. This is the texture through 

 ich the sap ascends ; but it soon involves every 

 ture of the tree — wood and bark — and is malig- 

 il and surely fatal to the limb on which it grows. 

 IS as destructive to the tree as cancer is to the 

 Tian flesh. These fungi always die the suc- 

 !ding winter, never live over winter, and remain 



upon the tree, unless removed, a black, unsightly 

 mass. 



I havo observed two trees, both of a kind, and 

 nearly of a size, but standing apart and diflerently 

 located ; one would be diseased with the excresen- 

 cos and the other would not, while the fruit of both 

 would be nearly alike injured by the Currulio ; and 

 this fact I consider additional evidence that he is 

 not the cause. 



It is desirable both to find a remedy when a tree 

 is diseased, and also a means of prevention. The 

 only remedy I know of, is to cut the tumor out, 

 and this should be done as early as possible. If 

 done early, and with care, the wound soon heals, 

 and the limb is but slightly injured. 



But a means of prevention is more desirable 

 than a remedy. 



A tree of most of the kinds of plums which may 

 be obtained at nurseries, if placed on a somewhat 

 gravelly soil, whose power to retain water is small, 

 and therefore subject to sudden transition from a 

 moist to a dry condition of its roots, every season, 

 I will venture to say will be diseased. 



I do not mean that there may not be an excep- 

 tion, and that all kinds are equally subject to it ; 

 but I know of no exception among a number of va- 

 rieties, which have been cultivated under my ob- 

 servation. 



I am inclined to the opinion, that a prevention 

 may be found in cultivating the plum in a loamy 

 soil, rather moist, and in keeping that soil uniform 

 as to moisture and richness. 



Any kind of tree is not in the condition in which 

 nature would place it and keep it, when the soil 

 over its roots is kept naked and exposed to the 

 burning and drying suns of summer, or uncovered 

 and unprotected from sudden and intense cold of 

 winter. 



Neither can fruit trees prosper so well in grass 

 land ; for, though the covering of grass may serve 

 as protection from extreme heat or cold, yet it will 

 take from the soil the nourishment which should 

 go to the tree. 



In what a uniform condition the roots of forest 

 trees are kept, by the thick bed of leaves which 

 covers the earth, the slow and steady decomposi- 

 tion of which affords the necessary nourishment ; 

 and so matted and plaited are they, as to prevent 

 the escape of the fertilizing grasses, which must 

 otherwise evaporate unappropriated by the trees. 



So far as I have observed, those plum trees have 

 been exempted from these fungi which are located 

 in good soil not subject to drought or deficient in 

 moisture. Trees standing beside a heavy wall 

 prosper better (other things being equal,) than 

 those which stand in the open field, on account of 

 the protection which the wall proves to the roots. 

 Entertaining these views, I would recommend 

 to fruit-growers the following mode of cultivation, 

 as a prevention : 



Let the plum trees be set in a soil rather loamy 

 and moisty, and they may be set within 8 or 10 

 feet of each other. The soil should be in good 

 condition as to richness, and being made smooth 

 and level, should be covered over with a good 

 coating of straw, old hay, or leaves. This cover- 

 ing is to lie year after year, and decompose as the 

 leaves do in the forest, having addition made to it 

 from year to year, as may be necessary. 



Such a course of management will make the 

 soil approximate to uniformity as to temperature, 

 richness and moisture, and, I believe, insure suc- 



cess in cultivating the plum ; and not only is it 

 suitable to the plum, but will enhance success in 

 the cultivation of other fruits. 



Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



JOEL BURNETT. 

 Soulhhoro\Ma7j 19, 1843. 



POINTS OF A GOOD HORSE. 



We republish by request of a recent subecriber, 

 the following article by Col. Jaques, which appear- 

 ed originally in vol. xix. page 277. 

 Col. S. Jaques' Rernarks on Ihe Prominent Points 



to fee observed in the selection of a Useful Horse, 



mure particidarlij for a Roadster. 



I prefer a lightish head, neatly set to the neck ; 

 the neck rising promptly and strong from the 

 shoulders and withers, and somewhat crowning or 

 curving at the top, tapering to the head with a 

 strong crest. Shoulders well laid in, spreading 

 well back, something like a shoulder of mutton. 

 Chest deep, and a little projecting. Withers rising 

 moderately high, and inclining well into the back. 

 If the withers are low and flat on the top, the 

 horse will be inclined to plunge to the ground, and 

 when fatigued will stumble or fall. Neither must 

 the withers rise too high, as he will then appear as 

 though on stilts ; both ejftremes are serious impedi- 

 ments to fine and safe action. Ribs should be 

 well rounded out. Back straight and short, well 

 coppled, that is, the hips well thrown forward, 

 forming a strong loin, and giving a long lever 

 from the point of the hip to the hook-joint of the 

 hind leg. The horse should be a good length 

 from point of shoulder to the extreme point of but- 

 tock. Dock strong, and well covered with hair. 

 Close and snug immediately under the dock. The 

 muscles on the inner part of the thighs should be 

 full and well shut together. If there is a large 

 cavity under the dock, the horse will be inclined 

 to scour, and is probably only a door-yard horse. 



The neck, head and body form a lever, resting 

 on the fore legs as a fulcrum, the head being at 

 the end of the lever. If the neck be very long 

 and the head heavy, or if the neck be quite short, 

 and the head short and light, either of these ex- 

 tremes very much affects the regular clips and ac- 

 tion. The whole machine should be of good pro- 

 portion. 



The fore arm is a very important lever, as re- 

 gards the safety of a roadster. The legs should 

 be clean and free from blemish, and when in mo- 

 tion move true, and free from cutting or wabbling. 

 The feet should be round and steep; heels broad ; 

 coronet and posterns of medium length. Shank 

 or canon, short, broad and flat, showing the tendons 

 or sinews. The knee large and well dropped 

 down ; the arm above the knee long, and the mus- 

 cles large and full. The top of the shoulder where 

 matched to the withers, should not be so heavy- 

 loaded with muscle as to impede their action. No 

 objections to the fore feet moving pretty close, but 

 not so as to cut. 



Much depends on the form of the hind leg and 

 the power of that lever, as regards strength and 

 speed. The shank, hock and thigh should be 

 broad and flat, something like that of an ox ; and 

 if so, when in motion will operate like a plank 

 sprung edgewise and then let fly. If the hind 

 legs when at good speed open and spread a little, 

 no objection, providing there is a good free action 

 in the hock joint. 



