142 THE ORCHARD. [Feb. 
Canker, in a great measure, arises from animalcules, or small 
or very minute insects or worms, &c. of various kinds; where this 
is the case, cut out the whole of the cankered part, clean to the 
sound wood, wash the part well with the following solution, and 
also all other parts that seem to be in the least affected; then give 
it a light coat of the medicated tar, prescribed in page 47. 
Dissolve a drachm of corrosive sublimate in a gill of gin or other 
spirit, and when thus dissolved incorporate it with four quarts of 
soft water. This solution will be found to be the most effectual 
remedy ever applied to trees, both for the destruction of worms of 
every species, and of the eggs of insects deposited in the bark. 
No danger to the trees is to be apprehended from its poisonous 
quality, which, in respect to them, is perfectly innocent. 
Peach trees, which are annoyed by worms, shoHld, towards the 
end of this month, particularly near, and a little under the surface 
of the ground, be carefully examined, and where any are found, they 
must be picked out with the point of a knife, and with as little in- 
jury to the bark as possible; for, by lacerating the rind or bark in 
a careless manner, which is too frequently the case on these occa- 
sions, this vehicle, which nature has provided for carrying up the 
nourishment extracted by the roots, being destroyed, the trees must 
of course perish, or be weakened in proportion as it is injured. 
This being done, wash all the trunks or stems of the trees, as well 
as any other parts in which you suspect these vermin or their em- 
bryo eggs to be lodged, with the above solution, and also the wound- 
ed parts; after which, apply with a brush a slight dressing of the 
medicated tar to each and every of the wounds inflicted by picking 
out the worms. This will preserve your trees in health and fruit- 
fulness much longer than if left to the mercy of these destructive 
intruders. 
As to manure, it is well known that where hogs and poultry are 
constantly running over the ground, the trees seldom fail of a crop, 
which is the best proof that manure is necessary. Any manure will 
suit an Orchard; but the sweepings of cow-houses, hog-pens, 
slaughter-houses, poultry and pidgeon-houses, emptying of drains, 
&c. are more disposed to facilitate the growth and promote the 
health of fruit-trees, than stable manure. However, any kind of 
manure is better than none at all. 
On Root-pruning. 
When a tree has stood so long, that the leading roots have en- 
tered into the under strata, they are apt to draw a crude fluid, which 
the organs of the more delicate fruit-trees cannot convert into 
such balsamac juices as to produce fine fruit. To prevent this evil, 
as soon as a valuable tree begins to show a sickly pinkiness upon 
the leaves, or the fruit inclining to ripeness, before it has acquired 
its full growth, at the same time the bark becoming dry, hard, and 
disposed to crack; let the ground, as soon in the spring as the frost 
is out of it, be opened for three or four feet round the tree, and with a 
chissel cut close to the horizontal roots every one that you find in 
