I noticed some time ago, in your book on Fruits and Fruit-Trees of America, an article on the subject of planting fruit trees, in which you advise that the trees should be so set in the ground as to bring the upper roots on a line with the surface of the earth. I liked the suggestion much, and in setting out a number of young plums and peach trees, I adopted it. I have, however, suffered greatly from the destructive little grub which attacks the collar or root of peach and plum trees, and had tried various means which had occurred to me as remedies, such as unslacked or powdered lime, ashes, tobacco, hot lye, and pot-ash - all I found to be inefficient. Last may I gave my trees a thorough over hauling, or examination, and found an incalculable number of these grubs at their work of destruction and death about the collar and roots. I then tried another experiment, which I found to answer the purpose admirably, so far. It is as folI commenced by removing the earth from around the roots, as is exhibited by the annexed figure, so as to form a circle round the tree, and make a basin of a foot in width, and four inches deep. I then procured a quantity of rock lime, and slacked it, reducing it to the consistency of very thick white-wash, and after letinterstices about the roots.

In a short time this lime was formed into a hard crust, which Served not only as an effectual bar to the entrance of the grub during the whole season, but what is almost equally important, I found last fall upon removing this lime from its bed, that the wounds, (and some of them were quite serious ones,) which I had inflicted on the base of the tree in removing the grubs, were healed up, and in as good and healthy condition as any part of the tree; and now my trees are in a more healthful and promising condition than they ever have been. This process of liming, however, should be renewed every spring.

I do not know whether this experiment of mine is original, but can confidently say that I never saw or heard of its having been tried before. But be this as it may, the information is before you, and if you think it will in any degree promote the interest of horticulture, it is at your service. Very respectfully your ob't serv't. J. C. Wright.

Scottsville, Albemarle Co., Va., 16th Dec., 1850.

A very good hint, and one which may be amplified and improved on. Ed.