222 



Bulletin 176. 



In 1806, Peters reported no success with washes of sulphuric 

 acid^ turpentine^ hrine, urinotts applications and nitrous nvixtures 

 and they liave been scarcely mentioned since. 



Asafetida and aloes wash. — This was used against the apple-tree 

 borer by Wielandy in 1870 (American Entomologist, II, 11:7), and 

 it seemed to us to afford a good test of the effect of odors and bit- 

 terness on the peach-tree borer. We used J pound of each of the 

 substances in 2 quarts of w^ater, heating it to dissolve them. The 

 wash was visible on the trees for a month and a half but retained 

 its odor for a much shorter time. Tlie following table gives our 

 results from the use of this wash : 



1894-1895, 



I 



When applied. 



June 5, 1894. 



Number 

 of trees 

 treated. 



June 12, 

 July 16, 



1895. 

 1895. 



21 



When examined. 



Number 

 of trees 

 infested. 



14 



April 30, 1895.. ) 

 May 24, 1895... S 



1895-1896. 



June 6, 1896 . . , 

 June 14, 1896 . . \ 



9 (43 </.) 



8(57^) 



Number 



of borers 



found. 



21 



Largest 



number 



of borers 



in one 



tree. 



8 



2 



Effect of 

 applica- 

 tion on 

 tree. , 



None. 



None. 



The first year the application was too early and it liad no effect on 

 the numbers of the borers. . The second year the wash was applied 

 twice, and the results were considerably better, although a larger 

 percentage of trees were infested. The results offer no encourage- 

 ment to use such a wash. 



Tallow. — Finding that axle grease had been recommended for 

 tlie apple-tree borer, it occurred to us that tallow, melted and applied 

 as a wash, miglit prove effective against the peach-tree borer. As 

 the tallow formed a complete and very greasy coating, and remained 

 so for several months, we expected good results from it. The fol- 

 lowing table shows the results we got : 



