1896 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
533 
KAINIT TO KILL BORERS. 
WILL IT INJURE PEACH TREES? 
A subscriber in Virginia wishes to know whether two handfuls 
of kainit put around each peach tree close to the collar or base of 
the tree, will have any effect in destroying borers and root lice. 
He also wishes to know whether it will injure the trees to put 
this salt so close to the lower bark. In your opinion, is this a 
safe plan to follow ? May he expect any results from kainit as 
an insecticide ? 
Washes for Borers. 
The subscriber need not fear injury from the ap¬ 
plication of two handfuls of kainit put around the 
collar of the tree. Whether it will do good or not, I 
am not prepared to say from experience. I know that 
two gallons of strong fish brine poured about the 
collars of ten-year-old peach trees will not injure 
them ; neither will gas-house lime, if allowed to cool 
thoroughly before applying. The latter remedy seems 
to prevent, in a measure, their ravages. So also, does 
fresh wood ashes, half a peck to the tree. But, no 
doubt, the wash used by Hale Bros., composed of the 
following mixture is the best remedy known at the 
present day : In 100 gallons of water, dissolve 25 
pounds of common potash, add one gallon of crude 
carbolic acid, and lime enough to mix to the con¬ 
sistency of thick whitewash. Apply in the months of 
April and May, after careful hand worming, with a 
stiff painters’ brush, into the cracks and crevices of 
the exposed collar of the tree, and also in the crotches 
of the branches, for the rains to soak down the trunk. 
The moth which deposits the eggs producing the 
borers, will not choose such a spot to stop at. 
Maryland. R. 8. COLE. 
Various Practices in North Carolina. 
I have never tried any such application, but do not 
think that it would have much effect upon the borers. 
There would be no injury, I suppose, to the tree, but 
for any good that would come to the tree, I would 
greatly prefer to scatter the kainit broadcast where 
the feeding roots of the trees are to be found, that is, 
out about the drip of the branches. A strong lye made 
from hard-wood ashes, has a good effect in destroying 
the borer if poured quite hot around the collar of the 
tree. If the borers are there, I would certainly cut 
them out first, and then try to prevent any more eggs 
being laid. The kainit might have some retarding 
effect upon the moth that lays the eggs. My practice 
is to pull the earth away from the collar in the fall, 
and expose the junction of the main roots in winter, 
so as to make the bark there harder, and thus dis¬ 
courage the moth. The soil is, of course, pulled back 
in spring. Washing the stem with a wash made 
of lime and ashes has been found to have a good effect. 
A thick coat of tobacco dust spread on the surface all 
around and up to the stem, is the best preventive and 
destructive remedy for the aphides or plant lice. 
Soaking the ground with kerosene emulsion made 
with tobacco tea in place of pure water, is also good. 
North Carolina. w. f. massey. 
Will Do No Harm. 
I hardly think that kainit would do any harm if the 
tree were not too young, and I don’t see that it will 
do much good. The potash it contains would be so 
close to the body of the tree that the feeding roots 
could not get it, and what salt there was would act 
only as an insecticide for a short time—nothing per¬ 
manent. For root lice, I would use a good handful of 
tobacco dust; clean away around the tree with a hoe, 
and apply the dust, then cover up again. No in¬ 
secticide I have ever tried will make a final finish of 
borers. To apply it, one must clean the soil and gum 
away, and while he is doing this, it is but a small 
matter to clean out the worms with a knife at the 
same time, and then he is sure that they are killed. 
The habit of the moth which lays the eggs for these 
borers, will readily show any one the utter folly of 
trying to use an insecticide to make a complete de¬ 
struction of it. We often worm our trees three times 
a year, and always once. The yellow appearance of 
the leaves and gum oozing from the bark, will show 
that borers are there, and must be removed or a dead 
tree will be the result. Charles weight. 
Delaware. 
Don’t Use too Much Kainit. 
No, the application of kainit as contemplated by 
your Virginia correspondent, for the destruction of 
peach borers and aphidas, or “ root-lice,” will accom¬ 
plish neither. The probability of injury to the tree 
from its use, would be largely governed by the age of 
the trees. A few years ago, a customer who had pur¬ 
chased 1,300 peach trees from me inquired, after the 
trees had been planted in November, whether I re¬ 
garded kainit as a good fertilizer fora young peach or¬ 
chard. W hen told that an application of 400 pounds per 
acre would be beneficial, he inquired the cost of kainit 
per ton. The price being so low in comparison with 
other commercial fertilizers, and the customer being 
liberal and able, bought and hauled kainit for his 
orchard, spreading broadcast with a shovel—having 
given special directions to apply it liberally around 
the trees. Not a tree survived this misdirected 
liberality. Trees six or more years old, doubtless, 
would sustain no perceptible injury from an applica¬ 
tion of “ two handfuls of kainit ” immediately around 
the collars; neither would the borers or the root-lice, 
by which is meant the black aphis, I presume. If I 
wish to combat the aphis, tobacco dust, such as this 
subscriber can buy at the factories in the capital of 
his State at about $20 per ton, would be liberally 
applied close around each tree, and as far from the 
bodies thereof as the branches extend, well worked 
into the soil, by plow or hoe. No danger of injury 
to the trees from its use, however heavy the applica¬ 
tion. A safe insecticide, to kill borers, is nowhere 
in use yet. .J. w. kerr. 
Maryland. _ 
APPLES FOR THE ENGLISH MARKET. 
HOW TO SHIP ; CROP PROSPECTS. 
Judging from The R. N.-Y.’s reports from the lead¬ 
ing apple-growing districts of the United States, the 
crop, this year, will be a large one. The aim should 
be to get the most possible out of it. In general, the 
fruit seems to be of unusually good quality. This 
means that a larger proportion than usual will be fit 
to barrel for the best markets. Prospects are good 
for low prices in this country, hence the need of care¬ 
ful assorting and packing, and the use of the best 
packages. 
The R. N.-Y. interviewed Mr. Josiah Rich, of the 
firm of Otto U. Mayer & Co., extensive apple export¬ 
ers, as to the prospects for a market for our apples in 
England. Their shipments are largely to the firm of 
J. C. Houghton & Co., Liverpool and London. This 
firm reports that, fiom information gathered by them, 
the approaching apple crop, both in England and in 
the European countries usually supplying the English 
market, they look for very short supplies indeed, as 
the crops seem to be considerably below the average. 
They say that this should make certain an extra fav¬ 
orable demand for the apples of the United States 
and Canada. They add their invariable recommenda¬ 
tion for shippers to their markets about “ the import¬ 
ance of large size and high color, as these are the best 
paid for in the English markets.” 
Already apples have begun to go forward, several 
small shipments of early varieties having been made. 
Mr. Rich says that the best of these varieties for the 
English market is the Oldenburgh. The Alexander, 
on account of its large size and fine appearance, would 
be a good one if it would stand the voyage, but seems 
to be a poor keeper. He also says that the 20-Ounce 
never seems to take well in the English market. 
Baldwins and Northern Spys are great favorites, the 
former, probably, leading all other varieties in the 
number of barrels shipped. Tompkins County Kings 
are much liked, but the quantity of these shipped is 
not large. Spitzenbergs are also desired. In general, 
the red varieties take the preference except for the 
Newtown Pippins. The last were formerly considered 
the acme of excellence, but the trade in them has 
been sadly injured by dishonest packers who have 
labeled barrels of Peck’s Pleasant and other inferior 
varieties with the name of the favorite, and thus 
injured its reputation. Large lots of a single variety 
sell to the best advantage, and bring the best prices. 
Mr. Rich says that there has been no change in the 
methods of packing and handling required, which 
have been so many times described in The R. N.-Y. 
The method is about as follows : No fruit should be 
overripe, and early varieties should be picked quite 
green. Remember, it’s a long journey, and on board 
ship, often under unfavorable conditions. Only the 
most desirable varieties should be sent, especially 
this year. They should be carefully sorted, and only 
choice fruit packed. The man who will persist in 
putting fine fruit in the head of the barrel, and then 
filling the middle of the barrel with trash, has no 
business to pack apples for the foreign markets. The 
method of selling there will show up such dishonesty 
in short order. On arrival, sample barrels are taken 
at random from each lot, taken to the market place, 
and dumped on a platform in view of all buyers. 
Then the different lots are sold at auction from these 
samples. Not much chance for deception there ! 
The standard barrels should be used. The apples 
should be handled carefully, the barrels well filled, 
and the heads be pressed in as firmly as possible with¬ 
out bruising the fruit, so that the contents can’t shake 
around. The barrels should be well nailed, plainly 
stenciled with the name of the variety and the name 
of the shipper, or any mark that he may use to desig¬ 
nate his goods. They are then ready to be sent to 
any apple exporter, who will look after them, and 
make returns after they are sold. The exporter will 
attend to ail the details, see to putting the apples on 
board the vessel, attend to insurance, freight, etc. 
He should be notified by mail when a shipment is 
made to him. The expense of sending apples to the 
English markets is about $1 per barrel, and it costs 
just as much to send a barrel of poor ones, as one of 
the choicest fruit. The bulk of the shipments 
from this country are made from Boston and New 
York. Canada sends many apples and is our chief 
competitor. _ 
COAL ASHES OH CLAY SOIL. 
A Success Around Trees. 
In answer to Q.’s question, page 478, about coal 
ashes, I have had actual experience with them on 
heavy clay land, also on low muck land, around my 
currant and gooseberry bushes, cherry and peach 
trees, grape vines, and I use all I can get hold of. 
Almost the first coal ashes I ever used, were around 
my peach and cherry trees, and were piled about six 
inches deep around them. The next evening I was 
working in the garden close by, but not in sight of 
the trees, when along came some women who were 
out for an evening walk. When they came in sight 
of the trees, one of them said, “Oh, my ! that man 
has killed all of his trees ! That’s the way I killed 
that big apple tree of mine 1 ” I said not a word, and 
lost no sleep about the matter. This all happened 
about six years ago, and I have had peaches and 
cherries when others have, and my trees are all right 
to-day. I have used the ashes on the same trees 
since, and shall continue to use them as long as I can 
get them for the drawing. I don’t bother to sift 
them ; it won’t pay. G. 
Grass Lake, Mich. 
Potatoes From An Old Walk, 
1 sift the ashes (hard coal), saving the cinders for 
making walks, and using the fine ashes for poultry- 
house and garden—clay soil—which is gradually 
getting as meLow as an ash heap. I dug up an old 
garden walk, made of ashes and cinders, put in a 
little stable manure, and planted potatoes. The best 
potatoes came from the two rows in the old ash path. 
I expected none at all from that portion of the patch. 
Pennsylvania. A. A. k. 
Fred. Grundy Says, Don’t. 
In a portion of my garden, 1 applied about a bushel 
of coal ashes to tne square yard ; on another p irtion, 
one-half bushel. But I never repeated the experi¬ 
ment, because one dose was enough. For about four 
years thereafter, I carried a file in my hip pocket 
whenever I hoed that portion of my garden, and at 
the end of each row, put another cutting edge on my 
hoe. The ashes were run through a grinder before 
being applied, and not a particle larger tnan a pea 
went on the ground ; but they did no good whatever. 
The soil was no more friable than before, but it was 
so injured by the sulphur contained in the ashes, that 
1 did not grow a full crop on it for three years. The 
best way in the world to make a heavy soil friable, is 
to fill it with humus. Q. should apply about six 
inches of well rotted manure to his soil, and by re¬ 
peated plowiDgs and harrowings, or diggings and 
rakings, thoroughly mix the two. He should mingle 
the two to a depth of, at least, 14 inches, and if he 
get down 24 inches, so much the better. If he get in 
enough manure to make his soil about one-third 
humus, it will be friable enough for him, and rich 
enough to grow anything. 
It is reported from England that a great demand 
for purebred live stock has sprung up in South 
America. Breeders in the Argentine Republic are 
buying largely of Short-horn, Hereford and Angus 
cattle, and also of Lincoln sheep. The Short-horns 
seem to be most popular, and great numoers of first- 
class bulls are being sent to use on the vast herds of 
native cattle that roam over the South American 
pampas. While there has always been more or less 
of a demand from this quarter, this year it is greater 
than ever, and the chances are that, within a few 
years, the exports of good beef from Argentine will 
be greatly increased. 
BUSINESS BITS. 
Guay mineral ash is a new bug exterminator to take the place 
of Paris-green, Loudon-purple, and similar insecticides. Tue R. 
N.-Y. has not yet tried it, but hopes to have a report on it later. 
It is prepared by National Mining and Milling Co., 5 East Lexing¬ 
ton Street, Baltimore, Md., which otters to send a five-pound can 
without charge to at least two farmers in each county. 
It seems to Tue R. N.-Y., that one of those Granite State boilers 
and cookers would find many uses on the farm. They are very 
simple in construction, and may be readily moved from one place 
to another. The boiler is galvanized iron, and is removable, so 
that, witn an extra boiler, the furnace may be used, not only to 
cook food and heat water for stock of all kinds, and even for 
washing, but it may also be utilized for preserving fruit and 
vegetables. The manufacturers send free a very interesting 
pamphlet on the value of cooking food for stock. The address is 
Granite Slate Evaporator Co , 200 Main Street, Marlow, N. H. 
Tue well-known agricultural implement manufacturers, P. P. 
Mast & Co., 9 Canal Street, Springfield, O., have invented and just 
put on the market a seif-dump wagon. It is claimed for this 
wagon that it will save, at least, one-third of the team work re¬ 
quired by other wagons. The saving of time would naturally be 
great, as the new wagon is dumped automatically, consuming, 
practically, no time at all. We have not seen it in operation, but 
from the description and illustration, and the knowieoge that 
this house puts out nothing but tue most satisfactory farm tools 
and machinery, we incline to tnc belief that this new addition to 
their list, will do all that is claimed for it. If interested, direct as 
above for description. 
