462 THE GARDENER. [Oct. 



winter. Of its efficacy I have not the smallest doubt whatever, but 

 I should very much fear the result of such an application upon the 

 general health and wellbeing of the tree. I should rather prefer to 

 have the whole of the loose bark removed during winter, and thereafter 

 wash the whole tree with a good hard brush and soap and water. 

 Thereafter remove all the soil to the depth of 1 inch all round the 

 tree where there is a possibility of any of them having fallen during 

 the operation. This done, I have great faith in its beneficial results. 



The Rhynchites Bacchus or purple Apple weevil proves often very 

 injurious to fruit-trees about midsummer, when the fruit is half swollen. 

 Having bored a hole into the interior of the Apple, it therein deposits 

 its eggs, which in the course of a few days produce a whitish sort of 

 grub. It feeds upon the flesh of the Apple for a few weeks ; and 

 about the beginning of September it leaves and buries itself in the 

 soil, where it remains for the winter. A good plan to destroy it is to 

 shake a quantity of quicklime underneath the tree about the month 

 of June and July, thereafter shaking the tree to make them fall, when 

 the effects of lime upon them while in the grub state will destroy 

 every one of them. All fruit which has fallen through their instru- 

 mentality should at once be gathered and destroyed, as by so doing a 

 number of them are sure to perish. 



The Tenthredo testudinea, or Apple saw-fly, is another enemy which 

 not only destroys the blossoms but also the fruit. About the end of 

 May it deposits its eggs on the blossom, which by the end of June or 

 beginning of July have assumed their larva form. The larva thereupon 

 makes a regular attack upon the flesh of the fruit, more particularly upon 

 that portion of it next the core. In the course of a short time, through 

 the injury sustained b}'' the Apple, it falls to the ground, whereupon 

 the larva sets to work to eat himself out of his prison. This accom- 

 plished, it commences to make a cocoon for itself in the earth, where 

 it remains till the following spring. Gathering the fallen Apples and 

 consigning them to the fire is the simplest and best mode of destroying 

 them, as at that season of the year the fruit is the only place where 

 they are to be found. Removing the soil for a few inches deep round 

 the trees in winter may prove a very great help to destroy them. 



The Carpocapsa pomonella, or codling moth, is another enemy 

 to be contended against, and in its habits and depredations it much 

 resembles the purple Apple weevil. It begins its work much ear- 

 lier in the season, however, depositing its eggs about the middle of 

 May either on the stalk or in the eye of the young fruit. Shortly 

 thereafter the grub makes its appearance, and eats its way into the 

 Apple, where it remains and obtains its food for several weeks. The 

 fruit so attacked usually falls to the ground, where a cocoon is gener- 



