191 



1^1 



mhilation. The leaves are devoured and the ber- 

 ries blasted, and the foe, a dirty, ugly-looking 

 worm, whom it makes one crawl all over simply to 

 touch — much more to squash, seems impervious to 

 all appliances for his destruction, with the single 

 exception of whale oil soap. They have been 

 thoroughly coated with white hellebore, so strongly 

 recommended in New York, but without the slight- 

 est effect except a momentary paralysis. Yet their 

 habits are such that it would appear as though by 

 diligence their fell career might be terminated. 

 Usually concentrated upon the lower side of a sin 

 gle leaf, at the base of a bush, they can be found 

 together and summarily destroyed. And they 

 must he not only checked but exterminated. Cher- 

 ries might possibly be y elded to the canker-worm, 

 but the Currant cannot be given up without a 

 struggle. For an immoderate supply of this in 

 valuable fruit, eaten at all hours of the day in its 

 appropriate season, is the most grateful, cheapest 

 and most effectual prophylactic against summer dis- 

 eases of children, if not of adults. 



From the Western States of the Republic come 

 advices of the slow but sure advance of another 

 fearful pest — Dorypliora decemJineata — the ten (10) 

 lined spearman ; a new potato bug. This insect is 

 said to be advancing eastward at the rate of fifty 

 (50) miles a year. Is is to be hoped that, before 

 reaching our borders, the scientific skill and prac- 

 tical sagacity of our friends at the West may devise 

 some easier and more speedy method for its des- i 

 truction than the only one known thus far — that of 

 picking it off by the hand. 



OHIO POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



From its last report we learn that, Mr. J. F. 

 Bennet, of Pittsburg, on invitation, read to the 

 Society an essay, entitled, "Theory of Rot and 

 Mildew in Grapes, Blight in Fruit Trees, &c., " m 

 which it is argued that all these diseases, including 

 also the rotting of peaches, plums and cherries be- 

 fore ripening, and the hhtck knot in plum trees are 

 caused by elcctricify. He believes that in moist, 

 sultry weather, such as is found most conducive to 

 these diseases, there are wounds produced on fruits, 

 vines, trees, &c., by minute strokes of electricity, 

 causing death to the points struck, and thus pro 

 ducing rot, mildew, blight, &c. ; that grapes and 

 other fruit when well covered by leaves are com- 

 paratively exempt, the leaves only receiving the 

 injury : and that the best way to protect grapes 

 and other fruits from injury, is, by the use of wire 

 trellisses or conductors, extending from the vines 

 or trees to moisture in the ground. 



On being asked whether any experiments had 

 been tried in support of his theory, Mr. Bennet said 

 he knew of none as yet, but there would be some 

 next year. Mr. Baieham said, he has not been 

 able to settle any theory in his mind as to the cause 

 of the disease ; only he was convinced it was in some 

 way attributable to the atmosphere, not the work 

 of an insect. He did not believe in charging such 

 phenomena as we can not otherwise account for, to 

 electricity; still he was in favor of "proving all 

 things. " 



Mr. Boalt of Norwalk, and several others said 

 the season had been<juite remarkable for the blight- 

 ing of apple and pear trees. Many growers of pears, 

 especially, having lost so many trees thereby as to 

 feel much discouraged. 



Dr. Warder referred to the discussion on this at 

 the meeting of the Society at Painesville, (see 12th 

 report, p. 48) and the use of copperas-water as sug- 

 gested by Dr. Kirtland as a preventive or remedy 

 for blight, and asked whether any persons present 

 had experimented with that article. 



Mr. Wood said he had used freely the liquid 

 drainage from a coal mine containing copperas, ap- 

 I lied to the roots of his pear trees during summer ; 

 it did not prevent blight ; should not consider his 

 experiment conclusive. Mr. Buttles had used cop- 

 peras-water on grape vines to prevent mildew with- 

 out any satisfactory results — injured some vines by 

 using the liquid too strong ; he should expeiiiuent 

 further. 



Mr. Springer said as the result of forty years' ob- 

 servation an 1 experience, he was convince 1 that 

 blight in pear trees was in some way attributabiC lo 

 over luxuriance otgrowth or a plethora of sap during 

 hot weather in summer. Other gentlemen concur- 

 red witii Mr. Springer so far as to admit that as a 

 general rule. 



Mr. Batehani said. Dr. Kirtland on further ex- 

 perience had found copperas no good. 



ILLINOIS STATE HOETICULTUEAL 

 SOCIETY. 



From the report, the last winters meeting was 

 well attended. In the evening B. D. Walsh, the 

 editor of the Entonwhrp'st^ addressed a very large 

 audience. This was followed by a discussion on 

 cherries, of a very interesting character. What is 

 known as the May cherry of the West, or sometimes 

 called Early Richmond, was decided to be a native 

 or American seedling, originating near Richmond, 

 Va., from whom the elder Prince took scions to 

 Long Island and christened the true Early Rich- 

 mond, and Downing committed the error of makinar 



