PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 83 



cared for mildew seriously. I mulch mine with salt hay, but it does not 

 cure the disease. I would recommend the adoption of the native American 

 varieties. 



John G. Bergen. — I have never been able to prevent the disease. One 

 man told me that the best thing in the world was brine. I tried that, and 

 it certainly prevented the bushes from midewing, for it killed the whole 

 lot. Salt hay may be the best mulching in the world. I recommend it 

 because it is the cheapest. 



Sohm Robinson. — Do you recommend it in all cases ? Because, if you 

 do, I should wonder whether it would be cheap for the man in Indiana. I 

 do not believe that the grass on the prairies, nor around Lake Michigan, is 

 salt enough to answer the purpose. 



Prof. Mapes. — As to the quantity of salt in the sea-marsh hay, that can 

 have but little effect, as I do not suppose there is more than a pint in a tun 

 of the hay. It would be very easy to add that amount to fresh marsh hay. 



Insects Infesting Fruit Trees in Wisconsin. 



T. R. Darrow, Brandon, Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, writes May 3: 

 "I send to your club specimens of a louse that has covered some of our 

 apple trees. Will some of your members tell us a cure for this pest V 



Miss Almeria L. Bliss, Liberty, Kenosha county, Wisconsin, writes May 

 4, as follows: 



"My father desire me to address you in regard to some new insects, or 

 else a new disease of fruit trees that he discovered this spring, while 

 trimming. Many of the small twigs of the lower limbs of the apple trees 

 appear to the eye, as you will see by inclosed specimens, as if punctured 

 in many places with a penknife. The bark rolls up at the edges, giving 

 to very young twigs the appearance of age. On cutting into the incision 

 with a knife, it is found to extend into the wood, and to be filled with 

 small white nits or eggs of an insect. Not all the apple trees in the 

 orchard are so, but many are. We have discovered the same appearance 

 in pear trees, only on dwarfs in the door-yard. This is something entirely 

 new to us, and j'^ou may be sure we are very curious to know what it is, 

 whether it has appeared in other places, and what injury it will do the 

 trees ? Please lay the matter before the Institute Farmers' Club, and have 

 it discussed, and we shall probably see the report of the discussion in the 

 Tribtine. 



Dr. Trimble. — I am not able to discover anything in these twigs without 

 the aid of a strong magnifying glass. I will take them home, examine 

 and report at the next meeting. As to the dust in the other letter, I find 

 the eggs of a bark louse. The cures for the pest are various, but none of 

 the nostrums recommended are sufficient. Some say that gas tar, or other 

 offensive smells will keep them off. I do not believe it. 



John G-. Bergen. — I would sooner trust to keeping the trees clean with 

 a potash or caustic soda wash. The brine of mackerel, put on with a 

 brush, is said to be a good remedy. It is easily tried. 



Prof. Mapes. — I had a heap of spoiled fish decomposing, and no insects 

 could be found near it. 



