478 TRAysACTioxs of the American Institute. 



the application repeated from time to time. This is especially true 

 of trees growing "where the grass is high. It is best to cultivate the 

 soil of an orchard with some hoed crop, like potatoes, and the clean* 

 tillage will tend to prevent the attack of insects upon the trees. It 

 has been found by experience, however, that l>nckwheat grown among 

 trees does not increase the danger of disease from tliis source ; but all 

 other cereal grains, rye in particular, should invariably be excluded. 

 Mr. P. T. Quinn.— In the main, I agree with Mr. Carpenter. I 

 have found that the use of potash is most efficient in the spring, say 

 in April, when the sap begins to flow. It should be kept in mind, 

 however, that we must be very cautious vritli the potash solution, for 

 if it is allowed to touch the tender buds, it will kill them. 



Insect-Killing Soaps. 



Mr. F. W. "Woodward, ]^ew York city, writes concerning the soaps 

 highly recommended by different venders for killing insects on plants. 

 He says that a solution of such materials having one-twentieth of the 

 strength prescribed by the directions given for their use, would kiU 

 roses, heliotropes, and similar plants dead as a door-nail. 



Dr. J. E. Snodgrass. — The virtues of these soaps are generally due 

 to the bresylie or carbolic acid which they contain. If made of the 

 proper strcngth in solution they will kill insects. They are not 

 intended for such tender plants as roses, and it is hai-dly fair to judge 

 them by any such standard. 



Green Manuring. 



Mr. J. F. Pond, Olcna, Ohio, asks whether, in the experience of 

 the club, clover or sowed corn is the best crop to jjIow under ? 



Mr. W. S. Carpenter. — I don't think it makes much difference so 

 long as there is the same amount plowed under. 



Mr. James A. Whitney. — The roots of clover go much deeper than 

 corn roots. They draw virtue from the subsoil up into the soil. 

 Corn has very little power of this sort. In some soils the acid that 

 comes of decomposing clover is useful in dissolving the mineral parts 

 of the soil. For these reasons, I advise Mr. Pond to plow under 

 clover. 



Mr. E. II. William's. — Something depends on the season of the 

 year, and the crop that follows. Buckwheat rots quicker than cither 

 corn or clover, and of the two last mentioned, clover is quickest con- 

 verted into plant food. 



