1S84.] PEACH EXPERIENCES. 21 



ted, so that I have not gone into peach culture very exten- 

 sively. I think the time is coming when, if we can get hold 

 of the right thing, we sliall raise peaches in this State as well 

 as they are raised in other sections of the country. I think 

 if some gentleman will examine this matter, and discover 

 something that will destroy these insects, and keep them from 

 girdling the trees, it will be of great service. 



Mr. Augur. The gentleman has described the work of the 

 peach-borer, which is very common, to which, perhaps, I did 

 not sufficiently allude ; I was thinking of another matter. 

 The borer works just at the surface of the ground, and when 

 we find the gum exuding from the tree, we always know that 

 the borers are there. It is the custom in Delaware, I think, 

 universally, for people who have peach orchards to go through 

 their orchards once or twice a year — better twice — and exam- 

 ine every tree, and, if they find a tree affected by the borers, 

 they make sure that they are exterminated. It will not do to 

 trust to any wash to exterminate them. When the borer is 

 actually entrenched under the bark we must make very thor- 

 ough work of it ; but if there are no borers in the tree in 

 May, we may take a wash made of lime and soap, say, for 

 instance, a pail of whitewash may have a little soap mixed 

 with it, and apply it to the trunk of the tree, a foot or more 

 from the ground, or from just below the ground, removing the 

 earth a little, if you choose, and, during the season, that will 

 protect the tree from the moth which lays the eggs of the 

 borer. We can always keep clear of them if we only do our 

 duty and are sufficiently vigilant ; but I have no doubt that 

 one-third of the peach trees throughout the State fail from 

 that cause. 



Mr. A. C. Blot of Watertown. What is your experience 

 in regard to heading back peach trees ? Which is the best 

 season ? Last year I cut back fifteen, in an orchard which I 

 have, that I have given three different styles of culture to, 

 and I believe that I might as well have pulled them all up. I 

 headed them in between the 20th and last of September. 



Mr, Augur. That is too early. There is a gentleman in 



