1869.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 463 



ally formed, and a change thereafter into the chrysalis form. Shortly 

 after it appears in its perfect state as a moth, and is succeeded by 

 another generation of grubs. The same means must be adopted to 

 destroy it as already recommended in the former cases — viz., destroy- 

 ing the affected ilpples and cleaning the stems of the trees, as well as 

 removing the soil around the roots in winter. 



The Rhynchites alliaria, or stem-boring weevil, at times proves very 

 injurious to nurserymen and other propagators of the Apple by depos- 

 iting its eggs in newly-grafted scions, and thereafter cutting them 

 over in early spring. It is of a steel-blue colour, and not more than 

 one and a half lines in length. This is perhaps the most curious and 

 scientific enemy with which we have to contend, and it may prove 

 interesting to many to give a detailed account of its operations as 

 noticed and recorded by KoUar. He says : " As soon as she has reached 

 the most suitable part of the shoot, she marks the place by a prick or 

 by a small cut where she intends to cut off the bud or shoot. She 

 then recedes about a line upwards and begins (with her head turned 

 downwards) on the side that is not next the tree to bore it with her 

 proboscis till she reaches the middle of the shoot. With it she also 

 widens the chamber and prepares it for her offspring. She then places 

 herself over the entrance and lays an egg, which is pushed in by the 

 proboscis and conveyed to the proper place. This operation lasts an 

 hour. Immediately after, the female returns to the former place to cut 

 off the shoot, moving it from the one side to the other with her proboscis 

 until she has cut it to a certain depth ; she then gives some decided 

 thrusts, which she continues without fatigue till the shoot only hangs 

 by the under part. When she observes this she gets up on tlie point 

 of the twig to make it fall over by her own weight. It not unfre- 

 quently happens that it falls immediately, the shoot having previously 

 been so cut as to remain attached to the stem only by the bark. If the 

 beetle, however, finds that the pierced shoot does not fall, she turns back 

 to labour again at the same place, and cuts still deeper into the branch, 

 and if she is not able to divide it, she gets up once more to the extrem- 

 ity, by which means she generally succeeds in bringing the separated 

 branch to the ground. When this labour is over she feeds upon a leaf, 

 scraping off the epidermis, which serves her as food. After the beetle 

 has rested for an hour she goes again to work, and if there be still a 

 place for the reception of a second egg on the shoot she has divided 

 from the stem, she bores a second hole with her proboscis near the first, 

 and laying another egg, pushes it into its proper place. When the 

 twilight comes on she reposes under a leaf for the night. Next morn- 

 ing, as soon as the sun is up, the female beetle again begins her work, 

 and often continues this employment until after the end of June, so as 



