388 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



sovereign remedy against curculio, though he has not tried it fully. He 

 recommends also, a solution of alaes applied to trees. 



USE OF SHELLAC IN PRUNING. 



Take an ordinary glue pot, which is in a water-bath, and put therein 

 one part of spirits of ammonia (hartshorn) and eight parts of water ; bring 

 them to nearly the boiling point ; put in shellac gradually until the whole 

 is about the consistency of varnish, stirring all the while ; when entirely 

 dissolved, take it from the fire, and continue stirring until it is cool ; then 

 bottle, and keep for use. This makes an entirely water-proof coating, and 

 in summer pruning may be applied to the ends of the limbs with decided 

 advantage. 



For all trees that exude gum, like the cherry, peach, plum, and many 

 forest and ornamental trees, it is extremely useful when applied to all 

 wounds and cuts, as it keeps out the water and aWows the wood to heal 

 quickly. 



; Shellac cannot be dissolved in water alone. The ammonia in the mix- 

 ture dissolves it, and afterward evaporates, leaving nothing but shellac and 

 water, which cannot in any way be injurious. 



I. think seed-lac is about as good ; it is certainly cheaper. 



Wm. S. Carpenter. — This mixture forms an elastic covering, which is 

 much better than shellac dissolved in alcohol. 



Joseph Fuller. — This preparation must not be made in an. iron kettle. 

 It will not mix well. Use copper, zinc, or tin. 



GRAFTS. 



Mr. Carpenter presented grafts for distribution, among which were those 

 of the Vermont Golding and Vermont Beauty. He also stated his manner 

 of marking grafts. Cut notches in the grafts, and then register them by 

 the numbers, each notch counting one. 



HOT WATER UPON TREES. 



Solon Robinson read a letter from the Rev. J. S. Weishampel, sen., 

 Baltimore, Md., upon the u.se of hot water to kill insects upon trees. He 

 alludes to a letter read here some weeks since, about scalding wheat, and 

 then says : 



" This scalding process destroys the egg of the fly, and the same process 

 has been known to destroy the eggs of, and the grubs themselves, that in- 

 jure the peach, plum and other trees so greatly. Scald the stem of the 

 tree well, letting the hot water get well into the ground around the tree, 

 where the grubs do most harm, and a destruction of both eggs and grub 

 follows ; and, in addition to this, the scalding appears to add to the vigor 

 of the trees. 



"An old lady in Berks County, Pa., had a plum tree that for many 

 years bloomed and brought forth crops of fruit till half ripe, and then shod 

 them. She often besought her husband to remove the tree, but he still 

 pleaded " let it stand another year." At length one spring, after she had 



