256 



THE PEACH. 



and resemble the asearides of the human body. They soon 

 grow three-fourths of an inch in length, with a dark brown 

 head, girdling and devouring the bark and tender sap-wood 

 all the time of their growth. In tlie worm or grub state, it 

 has six scaly and ten fleshy legs. It goes through its trans- 

 formations within a year, though worms of two or three sizes 

 may be found at almost any season. When fall grown, the 

 worm spins for itself a follicle of silk mixed with gum and 

 excrement or castings, and in due time issues a moth. As it 

 is so well known in this last state, the annexed figure repre- 

 sents the male and female moths: 



Male, 



Pkach Worm. 



Female. 



They commence issuing as moths in central A^irginia about 

 the last of June to the middle of July, and sometimes earlier 

 or later. They do not always confine themselves to the 

 peach, but attack the plum tree, and the result is equally 

 fatal. The signs of its presence, however, are different, as it 

 causes no exudation of gum in this as it does in the peach 

 tree. 



Remedies. — The great modern remedy for the peach borer 

 in the West, is communicated to the " Western RuraV by 

 Mr. B. PuUen, of Centralia, Illinois. It is as follows: "As 

 Spring will soon be upon us, i wish to add my testimony in 

 favor of the 'Banking System' as a preventive against the 

 attacks of the peach borer. As to its efficacy there can be 

 no doubt. I have practiced it for four years with complete 

 success. I Avould not advise its adoption until after the trees 

 are four years old.* During the most of this period the bark 



* After scalding or cutting out the borers, trees two or three years old should receive the 

 benefit of mounding. The mounds neei be only five or six inches high. For such trees 

 clay or fine dirt should be used. Be sure to leave no borer in the tree, as the signs of 

 his presence are not visible at the root after the mounding. 



