Composition for destroying Insects on Wall Trees. 57 



as the most certain and economical for forcing these and most 

 other fruits. I am now erecting an extensive range of glass 

 of this description, and I entertain sanguine hopes of superior 

 success ; but of this you shall hear more hereafter. In training 

 my trees, I pursue the fan manner recommended by your cor- 

 respondents Kendall and Hiver. The old crooked mode I 

 find to be particularly injurious to peach trees, by forming 

 obstructions to the ascending and descending sap. Thus at 

 the curvatures luxuriant excrescences are generated, which 

 in time destroy the regular balance of the tree, and subse- 

 quently bring on its death. If you find the contents of this 

 communication to merit your notice, I shall feel pleasure in 

 having contributed my mite to the Magazine. I have many 

 particulars to send you relating to the important parts of hor- 

 ticulture, and the difficulties and enemies incident to gardeners, 

 amongst the most insidious of the last may be numbered 

 stewards, house-keepers, ladies' maids, grubs, and spiders. 



I am, Sir, &c. 

 September, 1829. H. John Newington. 



Art. XVI. Recipe for a Composition for destroying and guard- 

 ing against Insects on Wall Trees. By Mr. James Burge, 

 Gardener to the Rev. Richard Lane of Coffleet> Devonshire. 



Sir, 



When insects are on fruit trees in leaf, it costs much ex- 

 pense and labour to subdue them ; oftentimes they will make 

 their reappearance, and frequently the trees will, in the ensuing- 

 spring have great numbers of the same species of insects on 

 them ; and the remedy that is made use of to destroy them 

 often hurts their foliage. If the following composition be laid 

 on the trees in the spring after pruning annually, it will be an 

 incitement to the foliage, and a preservative for the trees 

 from insects ; and I hope that none will attempt to use it 

 without giving it a fair and candid trial. 



Take sulphur vivum, slaked lime sifted fine, and Scotch 

 snuff, of each an equal quantity, of lampblack half the quan- 

 tity, and let them be well blended : add to them soap suds and 

 urine, until it gets the consistence of thick paint. Before you 

 prune your trees, let them be all unnailed from the wall ; and 

 after pruning, let the composition be laid on the trees with a 

 painter's brush carefully ; paint every pore of the branches 

 and buds with it. It has great effect on the bloom, and invi- 



