THE PEACH. 259 



that may harbor there. Lay bare the top of the roots around 

 the neck of the tree, and leave them exposed during the win- 

 ter to the frost, which w^ill destroy the eggs of the moth ; 

 then in the spring, threw around each tree one or two shovels 

 full of red or blue clay." Experience has also proved most 

 conclusively that if about half a peck of air-slacked lime be heaped 

 around the trunk of each tree, or the same amount of leached 

 ashes, by the middle of May, and suffered to remain until the 

 middle of October, the peach borer will not attack it. 

 By this means the most vulnerable portion of the tree is covered 

 and protected from the attack of the insect, and large orch- 

 ards have remained safe and secure, while unprotected trees 

 have been speedily destroyed. Air-slacked lime and wood_ 

 ashes have been recommended, because these fully answer the 

 purpose as protectives, and w^hen spread over the surface, as 

 they should be every autumn, they form the best fertilizers 

 for the peach tree. Charcoal, clay, mortar, &c., have been 

 used with nearly equal success as preventives, and applied in 

 the same w^ay. Some orchardists prefer the knife. They 

 give the trees a regular examination spring and autumn. 

 The earth is removed for a few inches just around the large 

 part or crown of the roots. The presence of the borer is 

 known by the gum or castings surrounding his lodging — follow 

 him up with the point of the knife and he can be eradicated in 

 a few^ moments without material injury to the tree. This is a 

 very effectual mode, but not so safe as some others, because, 

 the tree is always left exposed to attack and injury until the 

 insect is again dislodged. 



Those who raise tobacco can protect their trees, if the borer 

 is not already in, by laying tobacco stems or refuse tobacco 

 about the trunk of the trees in the Spring and Fall. 



Black walnut hulls, or rinds, will completely protect the 

 trees if used in the same way, as no insect can exist where 

 they are kept mounded around the stems of the trees. From 

 a peck to two pecks according to the size of the tree is suffi- 

 cient. 



The Scalding Remedy. — Of all the applications yet pre- 

 scribed for the extermination of the borer in all its stages and 



