258 THE PEACH. 



The magnitude of these mounds will be an objection with 

 most farmers, although Mr. Thompson says "one man can 

 mound fifty trees in one day." But there are three mound- 

 ing periods, and of course three days required to complete 

 the work. Nothing is said about the result, in the way of 

 fruit, of this repeated cutting back of the several bodies, 

 brought into existence by the first cutting of "six inches 

 above the bud." We think there are other remedies equally 

 sure, and rather more eligible, that will not require one hour 

 to practice on fifty trees ; and, besides, in the course of a few 

 years the bark of the tree from the apex of the mound to the 

 roots ("which keep climbing up and spreading every year") 

 would become pulpy and tender, and the *borer would re- 

 appear and find a lodging as comfortable as before any 

 mounding. 



Whilst on the subject of Avounds, we have found by experiment 

 that half a peck of pulverized clay, or even common soil, 

 closely packed around the butt of the trees, from one to five 

 years old, in the spring, and kept close to the hark during 

 tilage f and well rounded up in the fall, will generally ex- 

 clude all borers from the crown of the roots. It is best and 

 safest, however, to examine and cut out all borers that may 

 be already at work, or, which would be better, scald them 

 with hot water or soap suds, which will destroy the eggs of 

 the moth, should there be any. This is a very simple, cheap, 

 and effectual remedy and we canVecommend it with confidence 

 as all that is necessary to prevent the female moth from the 

 desired access to the roots ; or, if eggs are already deposited, 

 they are by this means completely destroyed. 



TJie Virginia Remedy, (Allan and Johnson.) — "Examine 

 the roots of the trees every autumn, and destroy all worms 



*For a complete and lengthened history of thia insect, so familiar with the peach 

 grower, we refer the reader to Dr. Fitch's most excellent reports ; also to some of the 

 numbers of the Practical Entomologist, Philadelphia, 



t After the trees have been worked and mounded, it frequently happens that small 

 trees, in swaying to and fro by the winds, make a space between the apex of the wound 

 and the stem of the tree, and a few cracks in the soil or clay about the roots near the 

 stem. Th(.se should be filled up as often-as they occur with sand or fine soil or clay, or 

 pressed close with the foot,as they are very convenient crevices for the fly that pro- 

 duces the borer to deposit her eggs. 



