14 
in 182/* in Philadelphia. Yet the 
most useful knowledge is so slow to 
spread, that the fact is hardly 
known vet, or doubted by those who 
know of it. 
We are happy to be able to 
publish two direct experiments in 
support of the fact and discovery. 
First. We bo r e d an ( i p 1 u gge d w i t h 
sulphur in the usual way, a plumb 
tree which commonly dropped every 
year all the plumbs before becoming 
ripe, the curculios lodging eggs in 
their germs. This was done when 
the tree was in blossom. On that 
.year hardly any fruit fell, and the 
tree produced quite well. 
Second. We find in the Genesee 
Farmer of January 28, 1832, that a 
young willow nearly killed by aphis 
or lice, and pissmires feeding on 
their honey, was quite revived in 
three days, and all the lice and ants 
driven off, by boring the tree with 
an augur five feet from the ground 
and three-fourths through the 
diameter, filling with brimstone and 
plugging tight. The tree has thrived 
ever since. 
# The modus operandi of this 
singular process is very easy to 
explain. The vital energy of the 
tree and sap, dissolves the sulphur, 
carries it into circulation, and 
evolves it in sulphuric gas evaporat- 
ing through all the pores of 
branches, leaves and fruits. This 
gas is a deadly poison to insects and 
all animals, it suffocates them or 
drives them away as soon as they 
begin to smell it; but no injury 
whatever results to the tree. 
YVe have never heard yet of any 
direct experiment on peach trees; 
but we are sure it will answer quite 
as well. If the sulphuric emana- 
tion could not reach quick enough 
the roots of the trees which are 
commonly attacked: the plugging 
must be done near the root or at 
the time of the descending sap, 
when it will sooner reach the roots. 
Let it be tried and the results 
nn*de known. C. S. R. 
10. HORTICULTURE. 
Melissa Officinalis, or Balm. 
The above is the figure of one of 
our finest garden plants, both fra- 
grant and useful. The Common 
Balm introduced from Europe; but 
growing also wild in Virginia and 
Kentucky, or a species very near it. 
Every body likes the fine smell of 
the Melissa, A few plants are found 
or ought to be found in every good 
garden. It .grows with the utmost 
facility from seeds and in any soil. 
Being perennial it lasts many years 
without any care, not even requir- 
ing watering. The whole plant is 
scented and has a peculiar grateful 
strong smell between lemon and 
monarda : which is produced by the 
essential oil of the glands. This 
fine volatile oil may be obtained by 
distillation, but only one pound is 
produced by 800 pounds of the 
fresh plant. It swims on water and 
is colourless, but becomes yellow by 
age. The flowers are small, labiate, 
, bluish white, blossoming in summer. 
