218 Bulletin 176. 



around the base of the tree from the roots to about a foot above the 

 soil from June 15th to July 1st in New York, and it should remain 

 intact until November. Do not use too large or strong a cord for 

 tying on the paper as it is liable to interfere with the growth of 

 the tree ; never use wire for this purpose on young, growing trees. 



{d) By the Use of Wire-cages or Similar Mechanical Devices. 



In 18Q6, Peters recorded that frames filled with sand were not 

 effective against the borers, but in 1808 (Matlack) and 1825 (Haines) 

 sand in mounds or cylinders or boxes around the trees was reported 

 a success. In 1898, Smith boxed some trees " with half-inch stuff 

 three inches wide and covering the trunk to the branches ; " half of 

 the boxes were closed at the top and the rest left open. Apparently 

 the boxes were not filled with sand or anything else. He states that 

 " the results on the boxed trees are only what we had a right to 

 expect. So far from a shelter being an objection to the moth, it is 

 rather an invitation, and a tile or box-protected tree, with an open- 

 ing at the top, would rather tempt than repel. If the top be closed 

 by a band tied tightly to the tree, the effect would probably be good, 

 but this is by all odds the most expensive possible means of keeping 

 out the borers and should be excluded from practical consideration 

 altogether." Stedman (1898) says that '■'■thin wooden wrappers are 

 satisfactory and, as they can be purchased for about three dollars per 

 thousand from box and basket makers, they are economical. They 

 should be pushed down into the ground so the adults cannot crawl 

 under to deposit their eggs, and the tops should be stopped up with 

 cotton wool in order to prevent them from entering there." Some 

 one has conceived the scheme to protect the trees by tiles. Smith 

 expected to test these tile protectors in 1897, but they were so heavy 

 and clumsy that his experimenter refused to use them, but he tested 

 the principle on which they were supposed to act with the wooden 

 ijoxes, as mentioned above. 



The evidence would hardly encourage a peach-grower to go to the 

 expense of making any of the above applications, when there are 

 others which are much cheaper and much more effectual. 



Wire cage. — In 1891, Lintner announced that a model for a " new 

 tree-protector" had been shown him, " which promises to give com- 



