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encouraged me to make further tests with each of these two solutions, 

 being well aware that nothing was proved, since " one swallow does not 

 prove it's summer" — and remembering an anecdote of a too hasty old- 

 time doctor, who, having an Irish patient sick with fever, prescribed 

 whisky and the Irishman got well. The doctor then wrote in his note- 

 book, a Whisky cures an Irishman." Later he had a Dutch patient 

 with similar symptoms, and he made the same prescription. The 

 Dutchman died. The doctor then wrote in his note-book, " Whisky 

 cures an Irishman, but kills a Dutchman." Not knowing yet whether 

 it would be " kill or cure " with my medicine, I deemed it wise to treat 

 ten trees only, with the bluestone solution, and five trees only, with the 

 dilute carbolic acid in the fall of 1891. At the end of another year, I 

 found these trees all living, with the knots dried up and dead. A dif- 

 ference, however, was observed between trees treated. Those treated 

 with carbolic acid seemed to have suffered some in vitality and growth, 

 and I noticed that certain roots were killed by the carbolic acid. In 

 cases of bluestone treatment, the trees all appeared vigorous and 

 healthy. I now felt I could safely treat all my trees affected with root 

 knot, with an application of the bluestone solution. 



Accordingly, on the 13th day of September, 1892, 1 set a man to work 

 digging away the soil from all my prune trees on Myrobalan stock; 

 those on peach stock were examined only enough to prove that they 

 were free from root knot. Of five hundred trees on Myrobalan stock, 

 about two hundred were found with root knots. All such were treated 

 with the bluestone solution. Our work was confined to the main root 

 stem, including the forks of the root. We did not attempt to follow the 

 roots in their ramifications after they leave the base of the tree. The 

 principal damage from root knot appears to occur only when the knots 

 approach the crown of the root; when they encircle the crown of the 

 root, the tree is hardly worth saving. Hence, where root knots exist 

 they should be destroyed early, at least before they encompass the root 

 crown. As to the method of the work, I will say, that as fast as the 

 knots were uncovered by the man with the shovel and trowel, I followed 

 with brace and bit, and a large bottle of concentrated solution of blue- 

 stone. In the cork of the bottle a quill was fixed to guide the fluid 

 easily into the bored holes. After two days' work this method of treat- 

 ment was modified. A curious and interesting thing occurred. I 

 noticed that the leaves on certain branches of trees treated the first day 

 had turned very dark, with a sort of coppery tint which was very 

 noticeable. These leaves dried up shortly and fell off, leaving the 

 branches naked, while other branches on the same trees retained their 

 green leaves. Not one tree only, but a score of them were showing this 

 strange effect of the cupric solution. With those dead, copper-hued 

 leaves before my eyes, there was little room for doubting that the cupric 

 fluid had thus quickly entered into the circulation of the tree. It must 

 have done so to produce the effect observed. And it must have gone 

 up at a season when we speak of the sap as going down. I was a little 

 scared at this phenomenon, and modified my treatment by striking off 

 the knots and puncturing the diseased wood, especially the core of the 

 knot, with a sharp-pointed iron, then applying the cupric solution with 

 a swab — in this way avoiding too excessive a quantity of the fluid pen- 

 etrating the fiber of the tree. However, in the light of future events, 

 there seemed to be no need of this precaution. The trees thus curiously 



