American Blight on Fruit Trees. 4l> 



Art. XXII. Results of an Experiment to destroy the Aphis 

 Lanigera, or American Blight on Fruit Trees. By Mr. 

 John Adams, Gardener at Apley Castle, Shropshire. 



Sir, 

 Having read in Vol. I. p. 388. of the Gardener's Magazine 

 of an unsuccessful attempt to arrest the ravages of the woolly 

 Aphis, by T. C. Hudctestone, Esq., I send you the following 

 account of an experiment I made on an apple tree which was 

 much infested with the woolly aphis. This tree- 1 had headed 

 down and re-grafted last spring; in June I went to cut off the 

 superfluous shoots, when I found the wounds and most of the 

 young shoots covered with the insect, and instead of healing, 

 the wounds were very cankery round the edges. I had tried 

 tobacco water, and a liquor that will destroy the pine bun, 

 without success. (A painter being at work here) I thought of 

 trying spirits of turpentine, which I immediately applied with 

 a small brush, (well rubbing it on where I could see any sign 

 of the insect,) with complete success. I have frequently ex- 

 amined the tree since, and cannot perceive any insect, and the 

 wounds are fast healing over. If you consider this account 

 worth insertion in the Gardener's Magazine, it is much at 

 your service. I am, Sir, &c. 



John Adams. 

 Apley Castle, near Wellington, Shropshire, 

 Nov. 8th, 1826. 



Art. XXIII. On the Destruction of the Aphis Lanigcra, m 

 American Blight on Apple Trees. By A. W. 



Sir, 



In Vol. I. p. 388. of your truly valuable Magazine, I observe 

 a letter from T. C. Huddlestone, Esq., relative to an unsuc- 

 cessful attempt to destroy the Aphis lanigera, or American 

 blight; and as I have formerly been very much troubled with 

 the same insect, but am now, I flatter myself, quite master of 

 it, I take the liberty to address a few lines to you upon the 

 subject. 



In the year 1824, I planted upwards of fifty choice sorts of 

 apple trees, and in the same autumn they were infested with 

 the above-mentioned insect. I immediately set about cleaning 

 them with what I then thought the most efficacious means ; 

 namely, lime-water and soft soap; but in the summer follow- 



Vol. II. No. 5. e 



