estruction of that insect. It is a very simple thing; it will
not hurt the tree if you put it on its full strength. You can take
whale oil soap and dilute until it is about as thick as paint, and put
a coating of it on the tree where the holes are, and I will bet you
will never see a borer on that tree until the new crop comes. I feel
certain of it, because I have done it."

For borers, tarred paper 1 or 2 feet wide has been recommended to be
wrapped about the base of the trunk of the tree, the lower edge being
1 or 2 inches below the surface of the soil. This prevents the
two-striped borer from laying its eggs in the tree, but would not be
entirely effectual against the flat-headed borer, which attacks any
part of the trunk and the branches. By the general use of these means
for the prevention of the ravages of the borers, the damages done by
these insects could be brought within very narrow limits, and hundreds
of valuable apple trees saved.

H. REYNOLDS, M.D.

Livermore Falls, Me.

* * * * *

KEFFEL'S GERMINATING APPARATUS.

The apparatus represented in the annexed cut is designed to show the
quality of various commercial seeds, and make known any fraudulent
adulterations that they may have undergone. It is based upon a direct
observation, of the germination of the seeds to be studied.

[Illustration: KEFFEL'S GERMINATING APPARATUS.]

The apparatus consists of a cylindrical vessel containing water to the
height of 0.07 m. Above the water is a germinating disk containing 100
apertures for the insertion of the seeds to be studied, the
germinating end of the latter being directed toward the water. After
the seeds are in place the disk is filled with damp sand up to the top
of its rim, and the apparatus is closed with a cover which carries in
its center a thermometer whose bulb nearly reaches the surface of the
water.

The apparatus is then set in a place where the temperature is about
18 deg., and where there are no currents of air. An accurate result is
reached at the end of about twenty or twenty-four hours. As the
germinating disk contains 100 apertures for as many seeds, it is only
necessary to count the number of seeds that have germinated in order
to get the percentage of fresh and stale ones.

The aqueous vapor that continuously moistens all the seeds, under
absolutely identical conditions for each, brings about their
germination under good conditions for accura