Martinsburg Gazette And Public Advertiser

From the Danbury (Connecticut) Recorder

PEACH TREES

Wherever you go you hear complaints that these valuable trees are dying, and numerous receipts to preserve them have all proved useless. I feel it therefore, a duty I owe to our country, to give publicity to a simple remedy which I have proved efficacious for many years.

Let the ground be removed from the bottom of the tree, as deep as any worms can be traced in the bark (and these often lie secreted much deeper than the bark would indicate;) they must however be all picked out: when a composition of one measure of tar, and three measures of soap fat, or grease of any kind, warmed together, must be freely applied to the wounded parts and about six inches round the stock or body of the tree; after a few days return the earth, and if there be any injury to the body or limbs, clean off the gum, and apply the same composition warm.

Trimming Fruit Trees.—If you wish to preserve your orchards, & not have your trees rotting before full grown, by which the fruit is so materially injured; take a little pains in cutting off large limbs. Let it be done close to the body, & then with a sharp broad chisel, pare it smooth, a little rising in the middle, then apply a compound of boiling tar and plaster paris, or brick dust, with about one fourth part finely powdered charcoal—the last however is not essential. This must be so thick, when hot, as to spread like a plaster over the part. and the young bark will continue to grow under it, until finally it throws all off, and leaves no trace of amputation.

AGRICOLE