1896 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
385 
of using it. Level culture, has always given me the 
best results, next to mulching, which is now my pre¬ 
ferred method. Hilling potatoes is something out of 
date. H. H. must remember that the extreme heat of 
our summer does not equal that further north, and 
that, as level culture suffices in Ohio, Pennsylvania, 
etc., it will suffice in Virginia. J. c. senger. 
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Questions About Apricots and Plums. 
II. S. S., Essex County, Ontario.— 1. Are the Harris and Acme 
apricots the same, or two distinct varieties ? If different, which 
is better ? 2. Which would be best, to graft or bud the apricot on 
the Marianna plum stock, stocks grown from pits of the Russian 
apricots, or peach stocks ? The soil and climate here are equal, 
if not superior, to any in the Province for growing peaches. 3. 
Which would be the better way to propagate the Marianna plum, 
for stocks to graft or bud on, from cuttings or from pits of the 
fruit ? 4. What is the cause of the leaves of my Japan plum trees 
losing their color soon after leafing out ? I have a few trees of 
Abundance, Ogon and Burbank; in the spring of 1894, and also in 
1895, the leaves turned a cream color soon after putting out, and 
continued that way for some time ; but they gradually changed 
to their natural color, and the rest of the season they grew finely. 
This spring, the leaves have not lost their color nearly so much as 
the two previous seasons. The Abundance and Ogon lost the 
coloring of their leaves more than the Burbank. I do not know 
what kind of stocks they are grafted on ; they have not borne 
any fruit yet. They were full of blossoms this year, but have 
failed to set any fruit. I have six trees of the Abundance, that I 
grafted on sprouts of the wild plum. They were grafted from two 
to three feet from the ground, averaged about an inch in diameter 
at the place of grafting, and the leaves do not lose their color as 
do the others. The six trees have quite a number of plums set on 
them. The wild plum seems suitable for grafting on, except that, 
when the trees get large, they sprout badly from the roots. 
Ans. —1. The Acme apricot is also called Shense. It 
is a variety said to have been brought from northern 
China by a returned missionary, and by him given to 
Prof. J. L. Budd of Iowa. Harris is a native seedling 
of central New York, where it is being grown with 
success as a market fruit. 2. The apricot does better 
budded on seedling apricot stocks, in light, porous 
soils ; but in heavy soils, the Myrobolan plum stock 
is preferable. Marianna is a variety of that species, 
and is very suitable. 3. Wherever cuttings of the 
Marianna plum will root easily, they are more cheaply 
made into stocks than seedlings. They root much 
more readily in the Gulf States than farther north. 
The seedlings from the Marianna do not sprout from 
the root, so far as I have seen or heard. 4. Not know¬ 
ing the kind of soil, whether light and porous, or 
heavy and inclined to be wet, and the kind of stock 
upon which H. S. S.’s Japan plum trees are worked, 
it would be impossible to tell the cause of the leaves 
turning yellow in the early part of the growing sea¬ 
son. The climatic conditions may have had much to 
do with the matter. h. e. van deman. 
Root Gall in Peach Trees. 
J. S. O., Darien, Conn .—I send a root or stub of a peach tree 
from my orchard planted two years ago the last of April. About 
two-thirds of the trees are affected the same as the one I send. I 
bought them from a local agent. I wish to learn the cause of the 
bunch on the tree, and the remedy. I would like to know whether 
the tree or the ground is at fault. 
ANSWERED BY M. V. SLINGERLAND. 
The peach root sent by J. S. G. is shown, one-half 
natural size, at Fig. 128. The enormous, somewhat 
corky enlargement at the point where the root sys¬ 
tem begins, is known as a root gall, and that is, in 
fact, about all we know about it at present. It is a 
very mysterious disease which occurs, not only on the 
peach, but on a variety of plants, as raspberries, 
roses, Marianna plums, pears, apricots, almonds and 
grapes. It is said to be a very serious affection on the 
Pacific coast, and one peach orchard in Niagara County, 
N. Y., has recently suffered severely. In the latter 
case, the owner is convinced that his trees became 
diseased by growing them in a nursery where infested 
raspberries were previously grown. 
throughout 
wi? ftes teSrteifc tw m as 
& ss W?. & ana .si^y 
wja Mg rate. teJ 
lows ” by persons, nqt faj^ijiar /yyith that disease-.The 
g^ke of the disease is whqlly ; .unknown, ( Q er 
writers consider th.at tfye Jpeqhgpip^ 
injuries of the roots, but l’rof :i ^ailqy u ^y^..^ 
ance and spread of the tj-qql?le. JS T o. imyestigato.r has 
ouurv .mu i>,u'wd ui Luo Irulioii:. iN O luvestlgulor iia^> 
yet been able to discover any insect, fungus, or germ 
to be associated uniformly with the galls. 
The disease is prevalent in the raspberry planta¬ 
tions at Cornell, and is kept in check only by pulling 
up and burning all suspected plants. If berries are 
affected, it would be advisable to destroy the planta¬ 
tion, and set another upon non-infested ground. 
Prof. Woodworth, who has studied these galls in 
California, gives the following advice: “1. In the 
orchard, the knots should be carefully removed and 
burned as soon as found, and an antiseptic applica¬ 
tion made to the tree where the knot has been re¬ 
moved. We would recommend Bordeaux Mixture for 
this purpose. Trees so treated should be examined 
from time to time for, at least, a year, and should the 
knot re-appear, it would be best to remove and destroy 
the whole tree. When a tree is removed, it would be 
well to delay re-setting for a year or two, or re-set 
with a tree of an unsusceptible kind. 2. When set¬ 
ting an orchard, reject all stock affected by the knot. 
I would prefer to have stock from a nursery known 
to be entirely free from it. 3. In the nursery, the 
greatest care should be taken to destroy, by burning, 
everything showing any evidence of the disease. 
Fields in which these galls have appeared, should be 
devoted to some other crop for a number of years.” 
An extensive experiment with affected trees from 
the nursery, has been begun here at Cornell this year. 
Efforts will be made to discover the cause of the galls, 
and a remedial measure, if possible. This disease 
must not be confounded with the root-knot of the 
PEACH ROOT AFFECTED WITH ROOT GALL. Fig. 128. 
peach and other plants in warm climates, and in 
greenhouses, which is the work of a nematode worm. 
Propagating the Lady-bird Beetle. 
C.E. B., Crossville, Tenn .—Will not some of our State or National 
entomologists tell us how to encourage and propagate the Lady¬ 
birds ? It is, undoubtedly, a fact that they devour the eggs of the 
Colorado beetles. I have watched them several times hunting 
over a potato vine, and as soon as they found a bunch of eggs, 
they at once fell to work to make a square meal. 
Ans.— It is doubtful whether a practicable method 
could be devised whereby any predaceous or parasitic 
insect could be propagated on a large enough scale to 
affect noticeably the numbers of any insect pest. A 
few years ago, prizes were offered to those who would 
devise or suggest practicable methods of propagating 
dragon flies (devil’s darning needles), which devour 
many mosquitoes, in sufficient numbers to mitigate 
the mosquito plague during the summer. Several 
essays were submitted, but none concluded the scheme 
practicable. However, there is one striking instance 
where man has very noticeably checked the ravages 
of an insect pest by introducing and, for a time, con¬ 
trolling the propagation of a predaceous foe. A few 
years ago, California orchards were being ruined by a 
ft tow 
hhOhtc iYSm 
ago^nbd ^Or^ay, fla^ny Qr.obhrds, in the ,State,are eom- 
p^itiy^y^e trow the pest which, at one. time, 
threatened the destruction of the whole fruit industry 
he destruction of the whole fruit industry 
0 f.hQUgh it may not be practicable to propagate, 
on a, jv&tyrt^al© 6#sj4fi,,khe ,enenp«9 o£ our, ius^qt,pests, 
often encourage or,, protect, them ip their 
J ve them. £*8$ tp, Ah this,, quo 
must be able to recogqi>?e and distinguish, between 
friends and foes. Many people know the Lady-hird 
beetles, but few recognize their earlier, stage—the, 
beetles, but. few recognise llicit* earlier stage—Lite 
grub—which is more ravenous than the beetle. About 
all that can be done by those not versed in the char¬ 
acteristics wh'ch often serve to distinguish friend 
from foe, is not to destroy an insect which is seen 
destroying a pest. 
At the present time, there are, doubtless, at least, 
50 different animals which have been seen eating the 
Colorado potato beetle in either its egg, grub or beetle 
stage. In 1876, Dr. Riley recorded the following 
animals as foes of this potato pest: Five birds, skunk, 
toad, black snake, daddy-long-legs, a mite, a wasp, 
six kinds of Lady-bird beetles, nine other kinds of 
beetles, six kinds of true bugs that suck out the 
juices, and two kinds of flies. During the past few 
years, it has been noticed that, in some localities, the 
potato beetles were very noticeably scarcer than 
usual; in some cases, this was, doubtless, due to their 
enemies having been numerically abundant and 
active. Lady-birds have often been seen feeding on 
the eggs, and the sucking bugs are often found with 
their beaks stuck into a juicy grub. The potato 
beetle is so easily handled with the Paris-green spray 
or dust, that a discussion of the advisability of propa¬ 
gating its insect enemies, seems hardly worth while. 
Nature will establish her own equilibrium, m. y. s. 
Kainit and Sorrel. 
Subscriber, Washington, D. C. —In a recent issue, J. W. Kerr 
states that 400 pounds of kainit per acre killed out sorrel. Does 
he mean the pestiferous red sorrel so common about here? 
Ans. —In a former note, where brief allusion was 
made to the successful and satisfactory use of kainit 
as a corrective for that condition of land which in¬ 
vites and promotes the growth of sorrel, the common 
sheep or field sorrel was meant, which, doubtless, is 
the same referred to by your Subscriber as “ Pestifer¬ 
ous red sorrel.” The flowers of the plant are of a red¬ 
dish color. To proclaim kainit as a “ sovereign remedy 
for sorrel,” was not my intention, as different condi¬ 
tions might likely produce results less satisfactory. 
However, I think that it would be well worth a trial 
by Subscriber, and were it my own case, would apply 
400 to 500 pounds per acre, when the land is planted 
with corn. In addition to the instance noted in my 
former letter, I have repeatedly cleaned up spots and 
patches of sorrel by the use of kainit, but never suc¬ 
ceeded in its complete eradication by the application 
of lime ; for as a good many persons know, sorrel will 
grow luxuriantly, immediately around the edge of a 
lime pile. I have never attempted to destroy it by 
using muriate of potash. Asa source of potash, high- 
grade sulphate would be safer and more economical 
than muriate for all agricultural purposes, j. w. kkrr. 
Boring for Maple Sugar. 
A. S., No Address. —What is the best method of tapping the 
Sugar maple ? How deep should the hole be made, and of what 
size should the spout be u> hold the bucket? Will it be better for 
the tree, if the hole be plugged when the spout is removed? 
Ans. —I prefer to tap my maple trees with a half¬ 
inch bit, boring not over one-half to three-quarters 
of an inch beyond the bark, as the sap is found to be 
secreted near the surface of the trunk. I use metallic 
spouts, galvanized, as I find that they give the best 
results, although a wooden spout made to fit a half¬ 
inch hole, is amply strong to hold the weight of a 12 
to 14-quart bucket of sap. While some good sugar- 
makers advocate plugging- up the holes after sugaring, 
I believe that the better way is to let Nature do her 
own wox-k. A small, clean cut hole will heal over 
naturally, and leave less scar than if plugged with 
dead wood. c. w. scarff. 
Cow Peas or Canada Peas. 
G. W. S., Allen'8 Falls, N. Y .— How many cow peas should be 
sown to the acre, and how should they be sown, broadcast or 
drilled? How deep should they be covered? How would the 
Canada field pea compare with them as a nitrogen trap, and a 
crop to supply organic matter to the soil—the crops to be plowed 
under ? 
Ans. —A very satisfactory growth of cow pea vines 
may be secured by sowing the seed with a grain drill 
at the rate of one bushel per acre. I consider it a 
much more satisfactory method than to sow the seed 
broadcast, as it is planted at a more uniform depth, 
and a much more even growth of plants is secured at 
the start, so as to cover the ground and prevent the 
growth of weeds. The seed should be planted about 
1)4 inch deep. Some farmers shut off every other 
drill tube when sowing cow peas, which enables the 
land to be cultivated with a narrow cultivator as 
soon as the plants appear. A A heavier growth of 
yipes yjpqLd, probably, be ; secured by .planting, inrow,s 
$ia#<4uhR^ r k.cither, daTJingrthOj.te©di three to Jour 
inches. tin ethfc.. fOSH pro dropping jtb*e©,sends, in 
tbe.bdheww ^2 ^ l^vWQlj«Sj9.ps-pto^<IJfe©pingi .the 
soil thoroughly cultivated, until, the-vines take, posses¬ 
sion L Qf the land,. The Canada, field pea would not 
cpmPUretJavorahly with the cow pea as a nitrogen 
trap to supply, organic matter for plowing under* 
h’.he .latter jyjll produce a greater,quantity, of vegetable 
mattery, which .wilVi be, fully, as, rich in nitrogenous 
material. Try so.wing part of the field with the grain 
d,rill, land the rest.pl an tin rows, giving good culture 
throughout ,the season, and in that manner determine, 
which method proves the most satisfactory,, 
Pelaw.are. Experiment.Station., jvl h, beckwith. 
Delaware Experiiueiil fetation, M n. hki aw, • it. 
