112 Missouri State Horticultural Society. . 



HOW TO FIGHT THE APPLE TREE BOEER. 



{Saperda Bivitata.) 

 I suppose that most every orchardist knows this beetle and I 

 can only recapitulate what is generally known. The apple tree borer 

 is the grub of a beetle. The female beetle lay the eggs early in 

 spring in the crevasses^ defections or wounds of the bark of the 

 trunk or even of branches of larger trees. I would therefore ad- 

 vise the application of pine-tar to the larger wounds caused by 

 pruning. As soon as the little grubs come out of the eggs they 

 commence to cut through the soft bark, very often going down to- 

 wards the roots of the tree and in them. G-etting larger and 

 stronger l^he grub goes in the hard wood, and often advances to the 

 very heart of the tree. When full grown the grub will build its 

 nest, inside of the trunk or the branches, out of tine splinters and 

 change in it his form to that of a beetle. Go therefore over your 

 orchard and carefully examine roots, trunks and branches of your 

 trees, if possible twice a year, early in spring and in August or 

 September. If the trees are young, especially on locations where 

 the growth of the tree is not very rapid, this ought to be done 

 twice, as it is clear that the borer can quicker destroy a tree of 

 slow than fast growth. To destroy the eggs and young grubs, 

 scraping off the loose bark and keeping the trunk clean and smooth 

 is highly to be recommended. To apply a wash of soap-suds is a 

 very good plan. 



Birds, especially the different kinds of woodpeckers, are a great 

 profit in the orchard. They can find quicker and better the eggs 

 and worms than the most experienced orchardist. Only look at 

 the thousands of little holes in the bark of the trees in some 

 orchards. That is the useful work of our friends the woodpeckers. 

 Keep them and save them as much as you can. For this reason 

 also the different kinds of fowls ought to be kept in the orchards 

 as much as possible. To remove the worm when deeper in the, 

 wood, practice will teach us the most. By a wire introduced in the 

 hole, you may kill the worm or using a sharp knife and fine chisel 

 many of them may be dug out. Swine and sheep will also not 

 only eat a great many of the beetles, but the latter by rubbing 

 against the trunks keep the same smooth. I noticed that the 

 more perpendicular and straight the trunks of the trees are kept the 

 less they were attacked by the borers. A trunk of a tree leaning- 

 over is generally more exposed to the attack of this insect and I 

 have found that the beetle likes more to lay his Qgg on the side to 

 which the tree leans. The cause is the rougher bark and the 



