350 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF HORTICULTURE. 



eg-gs. The paper wrapping must be removed each season, but the wire 

 netting will last for several years. It is safe to remove either, ordinarily, 

 after the first of September. 



Hydraulic cement mixed with skim milk, recently advised by Dr. .7. B. 

 Smith as a remedy for the peach-tree borer, should prove equally effective 

 against this apple-tree borer. It could be applied with less trouble than 

 paper bands. 



Protective ^oashes — Any one of several washes in general use against bor- 

 ing insects may be used as deterrents. A good alkaline wash is prepared of 

 soft soap reduced to the consistency of thick i3aint by the addition of caustic 

 potash or washing soda in solution. A good fish-oil, or whale-oil, soap or 

 common soft soap are often used, and in some cases any one of these is suffi- 

 cient to deter the insects from depositing their eggs. The alkaline wash 

 may be carbolated, if desired, by the addition of crude carbolic acid, at the 

 rate of one pint to every ten gallons of the wash. Such a wash, it should be 

 borne in mind, not only affords protection against this and other borers, but 

 against scale and fungous diseases at these points, and is, moreover, of positive 

 benefit to the tree. Caustic potash fish-oil soaps are among the best for 

 insecticides. 



Whatever wash is used should be applied thoroughly, and in localities 

 where apple-tree borers are unusually troublesome the larger branches 

 should also be covered as far as possible. The wash may be best applied with 

 a whitewash brush, and should be renewed at intervals of two to four weeks, 

 as found necessary, the first application being made before the appearance 

 of the insects in May or June and again during July. 



It is well to scrape old trees to remove the dead bark scales, care being 

 taken not to cause any abrasion which would injure them. Scraping is best 

 done some time before the application of the wash, that the wounds that 

 might be made shall have opportunity to heal before the appearance of the 

 beetles. 



Destroying the adult Insects — The mature beetles are shy, and so seldom 

 seen on this account that it is doubtful if any method of destroying them is 

 feasible. They are attracted to lights at night to some extent, and some 

 meet their end in this way. Very early in the morning, immediately after 

 daybreak, the beetles may be found upon the trees, if sought for in their 

 season, and may then be beaten off' into an inverted umbrella by striking 

 the branches with a stout stick. 



Kerosene as a remedy — A great variety of substances have been recom- 

 mended to kill the borers in the trees, but up to the jH-esent time only a few 

 have given satisfaction. For the benefit of those who have not had experi- 

 ence with this borer, it may be necessary to state that it is of no avail what- 

 ever to inject kerosene, or any other insecticide, into the round holes made 

 by the beetles in their escape from the trees. A correspondent of this divis- 

 ion, Mr. T. B. Ashton, who has had many years' experience with this borer, 

 states that there is no better way of effectually putting a stop to the depre- 

 dations of this and similar borers than in the use of kerosene applied freely 

 wherever the castings of the larVcS are to be seen protruding through the 

 bark. The kerosene is absorbed by the castings, and, carried by capillary 



