20 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[April 10. 
We are not aware that there is auytliing in use 
superior to tahacco-water: this we know to he perfectly 
effectual, without the slightest damage to the tree. It 
has been said—“ There is a time for everything,” and so 
indeed it is with this application. It so happens that 
the appearance of the Aphides is about coeval with the 
development of the blossoms ; and it becomes a nice 
point so to apply the tobacco-liquid, as by no means to 
paralyse those delicate organs, the stamens and pistils, 
on which we depend for the ensuing crop. We never 
did apply it whilst they were performing their office, and 
we dare not recommend such application. Immediately, 
however, such period has passed, we say, apply it with¬ 
out delay, for in another ten days or so, the embryo 
fruits will be bursting their decaying vegetable cere¬ 
ments ; and the tender skin of the young peach or 
nectarine appears ill-adapted to endure so foul an appli¬ 
cation as the tobacco-liquid. 
The lapse of time, then, between the casting of the 
corolla or decaying blossoms, and the bursting of the 
decaying calyx, for the unfolding of the fructiferous 
germ, is, as we think, of all others the most eligible for 
this application ; and it has the advantage of coming in 
a preventive, rather than a remedial form. Such, at 
least, has been our practice for many years, and the 
amount of success which has accompanied it, warrants us 
in recommending it with the utmost confidence. This 
thing, however, must not he done by halves; one 
hurried dash with the syringe will not effect the utter 
extermination of the aphides: which is the point to be 
aimed at; and let no man shoot one inch lower who 
would boast of a noble peach wall. 
It has been repeatedly stated in these columns, that 
two doses have always been found necessary to the sure 
extirpation of these pests; but as The Cottage Gar¬ 
dener possesses such an amount of elasticity, that it is 
constantly stretching itself, and that, too, much amongst 
the rising generation, we feel hound to give the details 
of such important processes over again occasionally. 
Our practice is to brew from ordinary tobacco-paper, at 
the rate of two pounds to a gallon. This mixture ought 
to be of double strength, for a pound to a gallon used 
to be the ordinary quantum; but this “paper” has 
become so adulterated that it is doubtful whether using 
Shag tobacco is not the most economical—two pounds 
to a gallon—than of the tobacco-paper ; and to one 
gallon of this we add nearly three of ordinary soap¬ 
suds, and generally also a quart of water in which 
four ounces of strong Shag tobacco has been soaked. If 
the soap-suds are very strong , it will he well to use only 
half the quantity, adding water instead of the residue. 
If Shag tobacco is used alone, six ounces, with the 
addition of soap-suds, should make an efficient mixture. 
The tobacco, or the paper, must have its strength extracted 
by pouring boiling water on it, and allowing it to stand 
in a vessel until cold ; and it must be kept closely 
covered to prevent evaporation. The liquor is then 
strained through a cloth, or line sieve, and the material 
must be squeezed and wrung, in order to extract the 
whole of its qualities. We always brew the mixture a 
day or two previous to use, and try a little a night 
beforehand, in order to be sure that it will kill the 
Aphides without injuring the trees. 
It is important that a fine afternoon be chosen for the 
operation; for rain would wash away many of the quali¬ 
ties. If, therefore, the second afternoon should turn 
out foul, we delay it another day. The wall is syringed 
regularly through, from one end, and we return from the 
contrary end back again slightly, in order to search any 
portions that may have been missed; and we do the 
same on the second application. The application is 
made at about five p.m., and as we have canvass, we 
immediately let down the covering for the night. By 
these means we receive no farther molestation from the 
Aphides; and this has been our practice for some fifteen 
years at least. The peach and nectarine wall here is 
240 feet in length, and it requires about eight to ten 
pounds of tobacco paper to complete the whole. 
It is not, however, the Peach and Nectarines only 
which are liable thus early to be infected; the Plums, 
too, sometimes early evince signs of a severe approach¬ 
ing attack from these insects, and when such is the case 
we advise the same preventive measures. We generally 
commence with the Plums as soon as they are out of 
bloom, by using soap-suds, repeating the dose at inter¬ 
vals; and this generally kills or drives the Aphides away. 
Such applications should, however, be tested beforehand; 
for our laundresses sometimes use strong mixtures in 
their washing; and although we have never ourselves 
suffered this way, we always feel anxious; for damage 
thus occurring is a very disheartening affair. 
The Red Spider. —About the extirpation of this 
insect we have already, this spring, given explicit direc¬ 
tions as to the Peaches and Nectarines; and we may 
add, that we apply the same mixture to valuable Pear 
trees ; and as our leading shoots are twelve inches apart, 
and the young shoots tied down thereon, the application 
is made with much ease. 
Apple trees are sometimes much injured by the red 
spider; and choice kinds, in a young state, are well worth 
a little trouble in this respect; for we have known nice 
young espaliers thrown into a state of complete stagna¬ 
tion for want of a little assistance. Nothing is necessary 
but to apply the peach mixture with a brush over their 
branches. 
The American Blight. —This pest, too, generally 
shows signs of resuscitation in the middle of March, 
and unless means are taken without delay, trees in which 
it had been well-nigh extirpated will be as had as ever j 
in a few months. We had two men employed this very 
day, one on each side the tree, applying spirits of tur¬ 
pentine with small brushes. At this period they are 
mere specks, and one touch with the turpentine brush, 1 
dexterously applied, is enough in most cases. A friend 
of ours has recently informed us that he has used stale 
urine with much success ; hut that we have not proved, 
although it is a well-known cleanser of impurities con¬ 
nected with the bark of fruit-trees. 
Whilst on the subject of insects, as connected with 
fruit trees, it may he well to direct attention to the 
scaly coccus, termed, we believe, by our entomologists, 
Aspidiotus astreoeformis, or, in plain English, the pear- 
tree-oyster scale. We are not aware whether the coccus 
which attacks the apple tree is precisely the same, we 
fancy it is; of this, however, we are assured, that soft 
soap alone, with a good scrubbing, will extirpate it. We 
have kept it fairly at hay, if not extirpated it, with the 
soap, after the rate of four or five ounces of soap to the 
gallon. Some of our gardeners use very powerful mix¬ 
tures for these pests, in which spirits of turpentine plays 
a conspicuous part; but we fear to direct our amateur 
performers to the use of such caustic remedies, for it is 
very easy to burn one’s fingers. One thing may be 
observed, all appliances in this way should he made, if 
possible, during the “ rest season,” for then the bark of 
the tree is less sensitive; then there is no danger to be 
apprehended as to the unfolding bud, and then may a 
little extra strength he imparted to the mixture without 
danger. Nevertheless, if any one has fruit trees infested 
with the bark scale, and hitherto neglected, the soft soap 
(as before recommended) may be even now applied, with 
every prospect of success. Above all, let those who have 
fancy espaliers of choice kinds, whether wall fruits, or 
such things as apples, pears, or plums, take immediate 
care that their early spring growth is made unfettered 
by insects. No lasting success can ever be effected by 
leaving these things to chance. R. Errington. 
