LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIII, Issue 694, 20 December 1854, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

AMERICAN BLIGHT.

Sib— l was sorry to hear such an unfavourable account of the rapid progress of the American blight ia the colony, but think it will bt a most difficult matter to destroy it altogether, and that some of the clauses of the proposed law are of a most arbitrary character, and, even if adopted, I am sure would not remedy an evil which has so many reasons assigned for its propagation. We have to contend with these and such like evils, and I expect the only thing we can do is to endeavour to lessen them. No doubt some few thoughtless people might injure their neighbours, but this cannot be a sufficient reason for such an extremely severe enactment.

Should you think the following remedy for blighted trees is likely to be of service, and many persons to whom I have mentioned it think favourably of it, you will be kind enough to insert it at your earliest convenience. The original writer of it, a Somersetshire farmer, states—" Since I adopted this plan my trees have produced me half a crop of apples, while my neighbours had not so many at would make a pie. It not only destroys the in the trees, but the eggs also." Form small heaps of straw or dry weeds, in different parts of your orchard, so arranged that the smoke will fumigate the trees as effectually as possible, and into each heap sprinkle some sulphur, and set the heaps on fire when a brisk wind prevails. No doubt a little experience will teach the best method to be adopted to do the thing effectually. Sincerely hoping it may prove useful even iv checking American Blight, I remain, &c.

Wm. Hildrith. Mount Heslington, Dec. 18, 1854.