To destroy insects which infest fruit trees.—Take a small quantity of unslackened lime, mix it with soft water, to the consistency of very thin whitewash—apply this mixture with a brush, to the trees, as soon as the sap begins to rise, and wash the stems and large boughs with it, taking care to have it done in dry weather, that it may adhere and withstand rain. In the course of the ensuing summer, this will be found to have removed all the moss and insects, and give to the bark a fresh and green appearance. The trial is simple, and not attended with much trouble, expense, or danger.
AGRICULTURAL MEMORANDA.
Oranges, &c.—If the cuttings of Lemons or Oranges are placed in a pot, or box, so as to touch the bottom of it, it will considerably facilitate their growth.
To preserve Peaches from frost.—After a cold night when there is any appearance of frost on the bloom, or young fruit of peach trees—wet it thoroughly with cold water. Even if the blossoms are discoloured, this operation recovers them, provided it is done in the morning before the sun shines upon them.[10]
Method of forcing Fruit Trees to bear fruit.—With a sharp knife make a cut in the bark of the branch, which you mean to force to bear, and not far from the place where it is connected with the stem; or if it be a small branch, or shoot, near where it is joined to the larger bough. The cut is to go round the branch, or to encircle it, and to penetrate to the wood. A quarter of an inch from this cut, you make a second cut, like the first, round the branch, so that by both encircling the branch, you have marked a ring upon the branch a quarter of an inch broad, between the two cuts. The bark between these two cuts you take clean away, with the knife, down to the wood, removing even the fine inner bark which lies upon the wood; so that no connection whatever remains between the two parts of the bark, but the bare and naked wood appears white and smooth. But this bark ring, which is to compel the tree to bear, must be made at the right time, that is, when in all nature the buds are strongly swelling, or are breaking out into blossom. In the same year a callus is formed at the edge of the ring, on both sides, and the connexion of the bark that had been interrupted, is restored again without any detriment to the tree, or the branch operated upon, in which the artificial wound soon again grows over.
New mode of preparing Indian Corn.—Take the corn in its green state, when it is fit to eat; boil it; then cut it off the cob—spread it on a cloth in the sun to dry—put it in bags, and when boiled again, it is as sweet and good as when first pulled.
THE GREAT LAKES.
A Table, shewing the quantity of water contained in the St. Lawrence, and all its tributary Lakes and Rivers. (From Darby's Tour.)