SUPERIOR DUTCH CHEESE, 
83 
burst through the outer bark and make its appear¬ 
ance. 
This fungus is not confined to the young wood, 
but is produced upon limbs oflargesize, the outer 
bark of which the curculio would not be able to 
puncture. 
It makes its appearance from June up to August. 
These fungi come in all forms; sometimes in a 
single spot, and then again extend along the limb 
for several inches, always with tin irregular granu¬ 
lated surface. This want of uniformity in form, 
size, and location, is evidence that it is not caused 
by an insect. After being cut from the large limbs, 
these fungi will often sprout out again between 
the wood and the bark where the wound is made, 
and require a second operation. 
Now, this would not be the case if caused by 
an insect. This disease may often be noticed un¬ 
der the bark before it burst, upon large limbs, 
where the bark is strong, which, if slightly opened 
with a knife, will yield to the pressure, and the 
fungus soon appears. 
While this fungus is young and tender, the cur¬ 
culio finds it a convenient receptacle for his eggs, 
the juice of which affords abundant nutriment for 
the larvse. A pretty sure sign, by which you may 
know that he has used it for that purpose, is a 
small drop of gum oozing from its surface; and 
where you do not see this sign, you may not ex¬ 
pect to find his larva within. 
I have said that this disease begins in the part 
called the alburnum. This is the texture through 
which the sap ascends ; but it soon involves every 
texture of the tree, wood and bark, and is malig¬ 
nant and surely fatal to the limb on which it 
grows. It is as destructive to the tree as cancer 
is to the human flesh. These fungi always die 
the succeeding winter, never live over winter, and 
remain upon the tree, unless removed, a black, 
unsightly mass. 
I have observed two trees, both of a kind, and 
nearly of a size, but standing apart and differently 
located; one would be diseased with the excres¬ 
cences, and the other would not, while the fruit 
of both would be nearly alike injured by the cur¬ 
culio ; and this fact I consider additional evidence 
that he is not the cause. 
It is desirable both to find a remedy when a tree 
is diseased, and also a means of prevention. The 
only remedy I know of, is to cut the tumor out, 
and this should be done as early as possible. If 
done early, and with care, the wound soon heals, 
and the limb is but slightly injured. 
But a means of prevention is more desirable 
than a remedy. 
A tree of most of the kinds of plums which may 
be obtained at nurseries, if placed on a somewhat 
gravelly soil, whose power to retain water is small, 
and, therefore, subject to sudden transition from a 
moist to a dry condition of its roots, every season, 
I will venture to say will be diseased. 
I do not mean that there may not be an excep¬ 
tion, and that all kinds are equally subject to it; 
but I know of no exception, among a number of 
varieties, which have been cultivated under my 
observation. 
I am inclined to the opinion, that a prevention 
may be found in cultivating the plum in a loamy 
soil, rather moist, and in keeping that soil uniform 
as to moisture and richness. 
Any kind of tree is notin the conditippin which), 
nature would place it and keep it, when the soil 
over its roots is kept naked and exposed to the 
burning and drying suns of summer, or uncovered 
and unprotected from sudden and intense cold of 
winter. 
Neither can fruit-trees prosper so well in grass 
land ; for, though the covering of grass may serve 
as protection from extreme heat or cold, yet it will 
take from the soil the nourishment which should 
go to the tree. 
In what a uniform condition the roots of forest- 
trees are kept, by the thick bed of leaves which 
covers the earth, the slow and steady decomposi¬ 
tion of which affords the necessary nourishment; 
and so matted and plaited are they, as to prevent 
the escape of the fertilizing gases, which must 
otherwise evaporate unappropriated by the trees. 
So far as I have observed, those plum-trees have 
been exempted from these fungi which are located 
in good soil not subject to drought or deficient in 
moisture. Trees standing beside a heavy wall 
prosper better, (other things being equal,) than 
those which stand in the open field, on account of 
the protection which the wall proves to the roots. 
Entertaining these views, I would recommend 
to fruit-growers the following mode of cultivation, 
as a prevention:— 
Let the plum-trees be set in a soil rather loamy 
and moist, and they may be set within 8 or 10 feet 
of each other. The soil should be in good condi¬ 
tion as to richness, and being made smooth and 
level, should be covered over with a good coating 
of straw, old hay, or leaves. This covering is to 
lie year after year, and decompose as the leaves 
do in the forest, having addition made to it from 
year to year, as may be necessary. 
Such a course of management will make the 
soil approximate to uniformity as to temperature, 
richness, and moisture, and, I believe, insure suc¬ 
cess in cultivating the plum ; and not only is it 
suitable to the plum, but will enhance success in 
the cultivation of other kinds. 
The above article is copied from Hovey’s Maga¬ 
zine of Horticulture, and we are indebted to its 
obliging editor for the use of the cuts which illus¬ 
trate it. 
SUPERIOR DUTCH CHEESE. 
Take sour loppered milk, skim off the cream, 
then set it over the fire in an iron pot —brass is 
poisonous. Let it remain until the curd rises, 
which will be when the whey is scalding hot at 
the bottom of the pot; there is a difference in the 
heat of the whey at top and bottom- Skim the 
curd into a basket, which is best; let it remain six 
or eight hours to drain, then break the purd, (on a 
table,) as fine as possible; after which put the 
curd lightly in a stone jar, salting it to taste. Let 
it remain in the jar, stirring it twice a day with a 
wooden spoon or round stick, keep it loose and 
light, until it becomes palatable to the taste of the 
