18 



sprayings with Paris green. The foliage was but little damaged when I 

 saw them in August last. In answer to a letter addressed to Mr. Settle on 

 this point, he writes under date of November thirteenth: u I washed my 

 apples four times with Paris green, using ten ounces of the latter to one hundred 

 gallons of water, commencing when the apples were very small and washing 

 about every twenty-jive days, and saved 75 per cent of the apples that were on 

 the trees at picTcing time. I also used hands, removing these every eight or ten 

 days" 



KNOTS ON EOOTS OF FRUIT TREES. 



Last month my attention was called to the condition of a large number 

 of plum trees in a young orchard near Mountain View. Subsequently I 

 visited the place and found that something like one fourth of the trees were 

 affected. These knots were found below, ground on the junction with the 

 stock or on the myrobolan root itself, on which root all of the trees were 

 growing. All of the trees affected in this manner are comparatively smal- 

 ler. That these knots are the result of fungoid growth, allied to the black 

 knot, I am quite confident, and the probability is, that the disease is being 

 propagated on the cuttings from which these trees, which served as stock, 

 were grafted. This is an additional argument against using cuttings of the 

 myrobolan stock, another being that the root system formed by them is often 

 defective. Similar excrescences are found on peach and pear root, and 

 have been sent me from different parts of the State. Young trees affected 

 by them should be avoided, as under certain conditions they will result in 

 the death of trees. Such knots should, however, not be confounded with 

 those sometimes produced by the tying material of a bud or graft being 

 left in by accident. For trees affected with these knots, I have recom- 

 mended the complete removal, if possible, by cutting close into their point 

 of attachment. If this is not possible without serious injury, the roots of 

 the trees had better be destroyed. When the knots have been removed, 

 the cuts should be washed over with a very strong solution of bluestone, or 

 better still, if the following mixture be put on it: Two pounds of rosin; one 

 pound of beeswax ; one pint of spirits of turpentine ; and one fourth ounce 

 of carbolic acid. Melt the rosin and wax by heat; when dissolved add the 

 turpentine and acid, previously dissolved in a little alcohol or hot water. 



DISCUSSION. 



Dr. A. F. White, of Santa Rosa: In order to elicit discussion on this sub- 

 ject I desire to inquire whether any gentleman here knows of a single county 

 or district in this State in which the white scale had a firm settlement in 

 the orchards from which by any means it has been thoroughly eradicated. 



Dr. Kimball, of Alameda: My impression is with the limited knowl- 

 edge I possess, which may be more or less extensive than others, as I have 

 traveled to some extent over the whole State, I believe I shall have to 

 answer the question in the negative. There is not one place that is abso- 

 lutely free from it or where its ravages have been very materially checked. 

 I am sorry to make such an answer, but that is the result of my informa- 

 tion. 



Mr. Block, of Santa Clara: Mr. Lelong, our Secretary, told me yester- 

 day that he had a letter giving very encouraging reports as to the result of 

 work; I would like to have the letter laid before the convention. 



The Secretary read the following letter: 



