THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
56 
Why do birch trees die when in full leaf and appar¬ 
ently in good health? 
E„ T. B. 
The death of Birch trees such as you describe is most 
likely caused by tbe bronze birch borer. Owing to the 
peculiar paper like construction of the birch bark it is 
very difficult to see the borer at work before the damage 
is done. Close examination will reveal small holes, and 
it the outer bark is pealed off it can be readily seen 
where the borer has been at work and completely girdled 
the tree causing its death. The eggs are laid by a beetle, 
bronze green in color, and about one half inch long in 
the crevices of the rougher portions of the bark. When 
the eggs hatch out into grubs, these immediately bore 
into the bark and are out of sight while doing the dam- 
age. 
There is really no effective remedy because the dam¬ 
age is done before it is discovered. If branches are 
seen to be dying they should be immediately cut off be¬ 
low where the borer is at work and burnt. General 
cleanliness to prevent the eggs from being left undis¬ 
turbed is a preventative. In many parts of the country 
there are very few birch trees of any size on account of 
this pest. 
Are there any kinds of Australian Gum trees that 
would be hardy out of doors in the latitude of Washing¬ 
ton, D. C. 
E. S. 
The Eucalyptus or Australian Gum is not hardy as far 
north as Washington. It is very freely planted in Calif¬ 
ornia and Florida. It is possible some of the hardiest 
sorts such as Eucalyptus Globulus would be hardy as far 
north as the eastern portion of north Carolina but we 
doubt very much if it would stand the winters much far¬ 
ther north. 
What is the best commercial fertilizer to use for grow¬ 
ing a miscellaneous assortment of trees? 
Stable manure is getting so scarce we cannot procure 
it iii sufficient quantity. Our soil is a clay loam. 
A. T. B. 
Your question is rather a difficult one to answer off 
hand as the first requisite to intelligent fertilizer is to 
know what the soil lacks and then supply the missing 
plant foods. The fertilizer companies put up all kind of 
brands largely based on the supposed need of the farm¬ 
ers and truckers having the needs of plants in mind 
rather than what is missing in the soil they might be 
used upon with the result that very often he applies 
something the soil already has in sufficient quantity for 
that particular crop he is growing. Yoorhees in bis work 
on fertilizers gives the following formula based upon re¬ 
sults of experimental work conducted by the N. J. Ex¬ 
periment station. 
For young apple trees—two or three years old, before 
coming into bearing:— 
150 lb. muriate of potash, 
300 lb acid phosphate, 
100 lb. nitrate ol soda, to the acre. 
For the first and second year of bearing:— 
150 lb. nitrate of soda, 
400 lb. acid phosphate, 
100-200 lb. muriate of potash. to the acre. 
During mature bearing:— 
200 lb. nitrate of soda, 
400 lb. acid phosphate, 
200 lb. muriate of potash, to the acre. 
The plant foods necessary to grow good apple trees 
should in a general way apply to other kinds of decid¬ 
uous trees. 
INTERESTING LETTER FROM P. OUWERKERK 
Rotterdam, Dec. 22, 1921 
The National Nurseryman 
Flourtown, Penna,., U. S. A. 
Gentlemen: 
Conditions have not changed much since I left the 
United States and with a few exceptions the importa¬ 
tions of trees and plants remain closed, and when the 
trade was open again I do not think we could send much 
to supply llie trade as the nurserymen here in Holland 
do not grow much more on the chance that they can ship 
to the United States. The more tender sorts of Rhodo¬ 
dendron which have better colors are now more grown 
and the hardy kinds which were formerly used for the 
American trade are mostly left out and so it is with can- 
ifers and other stock. We grow now what we can sell 
but conditions for the nurserymen are rather hard yet 
on account of the valuation of the money in other coun¬ 
tries. The Dutch Gulden and American Dollar are the 
only coins that keep their value and others are far below 
par. 
I for myself have nothing to complain. I am still in¬ 
terested in oui' nursery in Boskoop, but do not go there 
often and have just returned from the sanatorium where 
I have been operated on the stomach and seem to have 
regained my health entirely. Wishing you prosperity 
and pleasant holidays. 
Yours Respectfully 
P. OUWERKERK. 
25000 Cuthbert Raspberry bushes No. 1. 
2000 St. Regis Transplants 
3000 Cuthbert Transplants 
2000 Cherry Currant, 2 yr., No. 1 and No. 2. 
Wanted. Lining out stock of all kinds. 
LOUIS M. EMPIE, Highland Nurseries, Johnst.own, N. Y. 
Ampelopsis Veitchi (Boston Ivy) 
The largest stock in existence, 1, 2 and 3 year. Trans- j 
planted, well graded plants that will please. Special rates | 
on large quantities. Satisfaction guaranteed. Order soon. 
CHAS. BLACK, Hightstown, N. J. 
YOUR CATALOGUE 
“Ready Made” Nursery, Seed and Pall Bulb Catalogues, with 
your name and address on the front cover. Beautifully illus¬ 
trated with natural colors on cover pages. We keep them in 
stock for prompt shipment. Ask for sample. They will 
greatly increase your sales—and they don’t cost much. 
CAMPBELL PRINTING COMPANY 
917 Walnut Street, Des Moines, Iowa. 
