On destroying the Aphis lanigera, fyc. 165 



hood. My last anecdote happened about thirty years ago. 

 A market gardener, not one hundred miles from a northern 

 metropolis, being much annoyed by the roots, and also the 

 branches, of a row of great old ash-trees, which grew on the 

 end of his strawberry beds, &c, he had frequently solicited 

 his landlord to have them cut down, but without effect; he 

 told him they were old and unsightly, had done growing, &c. 

 &c. : all would not do. At length honest Peter had recourse 

 to his friend salt, which he administered to the roots of the 

 trees in quantum suff, taking care to cut as much of the bark 

 under the surface as he conveniently could. Thus both the 

 ascending and descending sap was completely converted into 

 brine, and the landlord was soon convinced that Peter was 

 correct in saying that the trees had done growing, for they 

 never put forth another leaf. The above is worth recording, 

 in order to warn young gardeners not to be too busy trying 

 experiments with salt on the roots of valuable trees ; as for 

 Mr. Johnson's pinks and carnations, they may salt them to 

 their tastes. Yours, &c. Agronome. 



Art. XIII. An effectual Mode of destroying the Aphis lani- 

 gera, or American Blight, on Fruit Trees. By Mr. James 

 Dann, Gardener to the Earl Mann-Cornwallis, at Linton 

 Place, near Maidstone. 



Sir, 



I beg leave to offer you my method of arresting the progress 

 and destroying the Aphis lanigera on apple-trees, which I have 

 found to succeed in nine instances out of ten. The sharp- 

 pointed stick used by Mr, Huddlestone will not do. Every good 

 surgeon knows, that a wound extending to the fine membrane 

 that covers the bone in the human frame, requires more skill 

 and attention to heal it, than one that is superficial ; conse- 

 quently they probe the wound to the bottom, and eradicate all 

 foul and rotten substances before they attempt a cure. Just 

 so must every gardener pi'oceed with his fruit-trees, before he 

 can expect to destroy the aphis, or cure the wounds on their 

 stems and branches of canker and other excrescences. 



The method which I invariably pursue is, first of all, to 

 scrape off with a blunt instrument all lichens, and loose or 

 rotten bark from the stems and branches ; then pare off the 

 edges of the cankered holes and other excrescences where it 

 is possible for the aphis or any other insect to lodge in, and, 



M 3 



