30 



Remedies. 



In connection with remedies, two questions will naturally 

 be asked. First, what is to be done with larvae now in the tree 

 and second, what must be done to prevent further attack. The 

 method of dealing with larvae, now most widely practiced^ 

 seems a rather heroic one, but is, on the whole, the most satis- 

 factory. This consists in cutting the worms out with a sharp 

 knife. To be properly done the work requires the personal 

 supervision of the orchardist, for, when left in careless hands 

 it will likely not only be half done, but probably result in 

 more harm than good. 



First remove the earth from about the base of the tree ; 

 then, by means of the exuded gum and refuse, locate the bur- 

 row, and by 2, few careful cuts follow it up until the worm is 

 reached. Some orchardists prefer other measures than the 

 employment of the knife. Removing the earth and painting 

 the tree about the collar with kerosene has been recom- 

 mended. Pouring hot water or kerosene emulsion about the 

 base of the tree has also been mentioned. Some have removed 

 the earth, put in a generous dressing of wood ashes, and re- 

 placed the earth over them. The ashes, by the action of water, 

 produce a caustic lye, which, if it reaches them, will kill the 

 borers, and at the same time will act as a fertilizer. Cutting 

 the worms out, however, is by far the most satisfactory, cer- 

 tainly the most effective, method. It should be done during 

 late fall or winter ; surely before the middle of April in this 

 latitude. 



Just at this point comes the consideration of applications 

 to prevent further injury, either by preventing the moths from 

 laying their eggs on the bark, or by covering the bark with some 

 mixture which will poison the newly hatched larva as soon 

 as it attempts to bore in. We have some very simple applica- 

 tions, which combine both these qualities. This preventive 

 measure should, as a rule, be applied before the earth is turned 

 back against the tree. Many follow the practice of simply 

 turning the earth back and mounding it up about the tree, 

 doing nothing more than this. In this case the moth will de- 



