148 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF HORTICULTURE. 



eggs hatch in about a week, and the worm at once begins to 

 gnaw the bark and bore its way down into the roots. It lives 

 in the root for one year, and comes forth a winged insect the 

 succeeding spring and summer, and lays the eggs for the 

 next brood, as stated. The presence of the worm is always 

 betrayed by the copious exudation of gum, which issues from 

 the roots at the base of the trunk. 



Remedies — There are a large number of remedies for this 

 pest which are more or less successful, but where trees are 

 cultivated on a large scale many of the remedies become 

 entirely too expensive. A very popular and successful plan 

 in the peach region of the east is "mounding." Early in 

 the spring, before the moth appears, the earth is drawn about 

 the base of the tree to the height of twelve inches,, and 

 removed later in the season, about September 1, in this 

 climate. The use of washes intended to poison the worm 

 have been much used, the following formula being the most 

 successful : 



Ingredients — Corrosive sublimate (poison), two ounces. 



Hard soap; five pounds to ten gallons of water. 

 Alcohol, one pint. 

 Water, sufficient. 



Directions — Dissolve the sublimate in the spirits ; stir it 

 into the soap solution ; add water sufficient to make a good 

 paint ; apply with stiff brush from three inches below to six 

 inches above ground. This must be done as soon as the first 

 moth appears in the spring. The worm will be poisoned by 

 the corrosive sublimate almost at the first mouthful. Great 

 care should be observed in using this wash, as it is very 

 poisonous and dangerous to have about the house. 



Of all the remedies we have known none has proven so sure 

 and practical as cutting the grubs out with a knife and pre- 

 venting their return by wrapping. In the fall of the year re- 

 move the earth carefully from the base of the tree ; locate the 

 worms and cut them out with a knife. Repeat this in the 

 spring about April, and at the same time wrap the trunk of 

 the tree with stiff paper or other close material, allowing it 

 to extend six inches above and three inches below the ground. 

 This will prevent the moth from laying her eggs in the bark, 

 and is the surest w^ay we know of to defeat the ravages of this 

 insect. Raubenleim and Dendrolene are used in Europe. 



The best wash for borers, all considered, that we have seen 

 or tested, is made by the union of all the above ingredients in 

 the following way : Dissolve as much common washing soda 



