332 THE GARDENER. [Aug. 



which die in this manner often show a weakness for a year or two 

 previous to their death ; while if sunstroke were the cause, death 

 would follow in a very much shorter time. On the other hand, I have 

 noticed that branches die in this fashion as often after a very mild 

 winter as after a very severe one ; therefore I hardly think frost 

 can be the cause of it. If I may be allowed to speculate regard- 

 ing the matter, my theory is that it is the result of the branch 

 becoming bark -bound. This will account for the branch showing 

 signs of failing health for a year or so previous to its death. By 

 slow degrees the bark gets tighter, and the wood, in attempting to 

 swell, failing to find space to grow externally, presses upon the fluid- 

 tubes in such a manner as in the course of time to almost close 

 them up. Having arrived at this stage, the branch pushes its buds 

 into leaf, and all goes well for a time ; but whenever a day of strong 

 sun or of parching wind comes, the fluid -tubes become unable to 

 supply the necessary amount of food for the growing appetite of 

 the quickly- developing leaves, and the result is that all at once the 

 branch flags and dies off. I may be wrong in this speculation re- 

 garding the matter, but it may be cleared up in the course of time. 

 Let a few gardeners in various parts of the kingdom, whenever they 

 see the least appearance of the disease, run their knives longitudi- 

 nally up the branch so affected from the main stem for some con- 

 siderable distance, and in three or four places round the branch, 

 and if the cause is to be attributed to baric-binding, the above will 

 prove to some extent a cure. I have not adopted this theory long 

 enough to be able to prove the matter, but hope in time to do so. 

 If those who may try the experiment would have the goodness to 

 report their results of it in the pages of the ' Gardener,' I have no 

 doubt the Editors would give it a place for the benefit of their many 

 readers. 



There are various insect enemies to the Apricot cultivator ; the first 

 of these is the Curculio tenebricosus, which is a small and very de- 

 structive beetle. It secretes itself under the loose bark, and in crevices 

 and old nail-holes in the wall. The best cure is to have the walls 

 freshly painted with lime, and the loose bark removed from the trunk 

 and branches of the trees. In winter let the trees so affected be 

 thoroughly syringed with a strong decoction of tobacco, and in most 

 cases it will prove effectual. 



The Tortrix Woeberiana, although not a very common enemy, is, how- 

 ever, a very injurious one, as its depredations upon the branches in 

 many cases result in the exudation of gum. The larva is of a greenish 

 colour, with a red head. Its presence is indicated by accumulations of 

 reddish-brown heaps upon the branches. Under these heaps will be 



