AND HORTICULTURAL REGISTER. 



POnHSHED BY JOSEPH BRECK & CO., NO. 62 NOliTH MARKET STREET, (Agbicultubal Wabehouse.) 



.XAII.l 



BOSTON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 17, 1844. 



CNO. 48. 



N. E. FARMER, 



From tlie Albany Cultivator. 



BLIGHT IN THE PEAR TREE. 

 ''he blight in the pear tree is produced from 

 jf two causes, or from both. 1st. The culti- 

 n of the tree after a set of organs have been 

 iHshed and matured for the production of fruit, 

 in situations where manure cannot be applied, 

 ly be for the want of the necessary pabulum 

 he support of its organism and for fruit. 9d. 

 want of protection to the roots, from sudden 

 ges of temperature. 



prevent this disease, it is necessary to cease 

 vating the ground the trees occupy, after they 

 monce bearing fruit, and cultivate the tree by 

 dressings of manure, to be applied in the fall 

 le year, and by covering the surface of the 

 ind with straw, litter, tan, or any other matter 



will protect the roots, or rather the ground in 

 ;h they run, from sudden rise or fall of tempe- 

 re. If tlie soil is destitute of iron, this mineral 

 lid be added to it. I mention the iron, from 

 Dus observations made where it has been of 



importance in restoring to health diseased 



■ trees, and from observing that pear trees grow 

 irously and live almost entirely exempt from 

 ase, upon soils containing iron, provided the 

 3 are not injured by cultivation after they have 

 fecied a set of vessels for the formation of fruit, 

 in other words, after they commence bearing 



crops of fruit; but the iron alone is no preven- 

 ', but seems to form an important ingredient to 



■ tree. In no case should the ground be dis- 

 )ed by plowing or digging after the tree com- 

 nces to bear fruit. 



vVriters upon orchards tell us that certain kinds 

 pears are not worth cultivating on account of 

 ease ; but at the same time, admit that trees of 

 so kinds are still in existence, and continue to 

 iduce good fruil, and are to be found in cities; 



1 in Fituations, I strongly suspect, where the 

 )und around them is not cultivated ; and where 

 •ir roots are protected by brick pavement, or by 

 nething else, from sudden change of tempera- 

 e. 



A protective covering to the roots is not only of 

 vantage to the pear tree, but to most if not all 

 ler trees we cultivate on our farms ; and tor the 

 int of It may be attributed many of the diseases 

 ey are subject to. Upon a good soil, the peach 

 ■e is rarely if ever infested with worms, if the ' 

 ots to their extremities are placed in a situation 

 icrc the temperature of the earth about them is 

 adually raised and diminished by the many sud- 

 :n changes of weather in our climate. I have 

 re trees thus situated, about which a worm has 

 ;ver appeared, although my orchard has furnished 

 em in thousands, as also a nursery I have kept 

 ■r the purpose of inquiring into their habits; a^ill 

 lese five trees remain untouched by worms. 



Nature's plan is to protect the roots of ihc 

 lantF, either by shade from the green foliage, or 

 y decayed and decaying vegetable matter, and 



by both. A tree standing alone, and not near oth- 

 er trees, and without artificial aid, grows but slow- 

 ly till the ground becomes covered with decayed 

 vegetable matter, and its branches extend suffi- 

 ciently to produce a shading to the ground occu- 

 pied by its main roots. Our forests are affected 

 by the timber being thinned out and the under- 

 growth kept down ; the trees become diseased ; 

 worms make inroads upon their trunks and branches, 

 and a slow decay takes place ; while the woodland 

 next adjoining, left undisturbed by man, continues 

 in fine health and as vigorous as ever in growth. 

 Now if nature produces her work best in this way, 

 (and that she does, every man of attentive observa- 

 tion can see,) we certainly ought to follow her ex- 

 ample. Then let us plow, hoe and dig, but ever 

 bear in mind that our business is to aid nature in 

 her products, and that too much plowing, digging, 

 and hoeing about plants, is injurious, by preventing 

 nature from performing her work, or by undoing 

 what she has already made an effort to do, and is 

 in the continuance of doing. 

 With much respect, 



Lyttleton Physick. 

 .larai Farm, Md., Xov. 13, 1843. 



ON COWS DROPPING AFTER CALVING. 

 As the disorder of the cow, designated puerpe- 

 ral fever, or dropping afier calving, is still an un- 

 settled subject as to its true nature, I trust any 

 facts that may be gathered relative to the matter, 

 although barren in themselves in point of elucida- 

 tion, will not do any mischief by farther unsettling 

 the affair. I do not presume any attempt at expo- 

 sition : I only present to you a few simple obser- 

 vations. 



First, the total absence of the ordinary charac- 

 teristics of fever in most cases, through every stage 

 of the disorder. 



Secondly, the very sudden developement of the 

 disease in almost every case that occurs. 



Third, the equally sudden recovery of the great- 

 er number of those who were diseased. 



The earliest symptoms that I have noticed are a 

 tremor of the extremities, especially the hinder 

 ones, which rapidly increases to staggering, and 

 ends in total paralysis — the secretions, especially 

 that of milk, diminish in proportion as the dis- 

 ease progresses — the patient, when first down, per- 

 haps supporting herself on her brisket, with her 

 head turned to her flank and nviking a piteous 

 moan at almost every expiration of breath. If this 

 latter stage of the complaint is not quickly reme- 

 I died, she soon becomes unable to maintain this iio- 

 sition, and lies prostrate on her side; the eyes be- 

 come dim — she is quite insensible to any and every 

 object— in fact, she is universally palsied. The 

 breathing becomes unnaturally slow, and in this 

 condition death usually winds up the affair. 



Now, sir, with regard to treatment. Viewing it 

 as an inflammatory or febrile disorder, I first had 

 recourse to the ordinary antiphlogistic remedies, 

 [such as are used to check intfiimmation,] but 

 where I have relied on these remedies, I have in- 



variably been disappointed. The depletive plan, 

 with me, has proved a total failure. 



Tills being the case, I have for many years 

 abandoned it, and have adopted the opposite, or 

 stimulant plan. I do, however, occasionally 

 bleed, if I am called in the early stage, but never 

 at an advanced period. 



1 also take care to administer some purgative 

 early in my attendance, but place no reliance on 

 it without a stimulant being added. I think, as a 

 purgative, croton and aloes have the preference in 

 this case with me, and, as a stimulant, large doses 

 of spt. nit. aeth., with about two ounces of tinct. 

 opii. A variety of other stimulants may, however, 

 be used, either separately or combined, with equally 

 beneficial results; I also usually rub a stim!ilating 

 embrocation well into the back and loins, and ap- 

 ply a sheepskin over all. I think a turpentine 

 clyster also of much service. 



Many patients under this plan of treatment, will 

 be on their legs in from twelve to twentyfour 

 hours from the administration of the first dose ; 

 and no fear need be entertained for their safely 

 when once they can stand. 



1 scarcely dare venture any remarks as to the 

 nature of this affection, and (he post-mortem exam- 

 inations have not been attended with uniform re- 

 sults ; but that it is a nervous disorder, I think 

 most practitioners will admit. It also seems pecu- 

 lior to the cow, and likewise to the period of partu- 

 rition. — J. Beeson, Veterinary Surgeon, (Eng.) 



Soiling. — Feeding animals in the summer sea- 

 son with green food cut daily, and given them in 

 stalls or yards, is far preferable to grazing. First, 

 because the food is consumed with less waste; 

 secondly, because rest is, to a certain degree, an 

 equivalent for food. The bodies of animals do not 

 remain stationary, but are constantly wasting in 

 proportion to the amount of exercise they undergo ; 

 hence, while they rove at large, they must receive 

 from time to time new supplies of food to make up 

 for this waste, which are not needed when they 

 are at rest, and consequently, by the system of 

 soiling, less food will be required to fatten them. 

 Thirdly, because by soiling there is a great sav- 

 ino- of valuable manure, which hy the old method 

 of grazing, was nearly altogether lost. — English 

 paper. 



Grease Spots. — "Take the yolk of an egg, (un- 

 cooked,) entirely free from the white, and with a 

 soft brush, apply the substance, and rub it on the 

 spot until the grease appears removed or loose. 

 Wash off the egg with moderately warm water, and 

 finally rinse off the whole with clean cold water. 

 Should not all the grease be removed, (which may 

 be difiicult, if it has been on a long time,) dry and 

 repent the operation." 



The writer of the above says that a fine Merino 

 shawl, which had been badly smeared with tar and 

 grease, (gudgeon grease,) was perfectly cleaned 

 by this process in a few minutes. — Southxceslern 

 Farmer. 



