260 THE PEACH. 



conditions, the most convenient, elegant and effective, is hot 

 fluid — soap suds, or hot water. By this means the eggs are 

 destroyed at once and in a moment, and without the least 

 detriment to the trees, whether they be young or old. 



For gardens or small orchards, use a large tea-kettle and 

 pot — keep the latter constantly in a boiling state, and use 

 the kettle to apply the fluid. For a few trees onh- the kettle 

 is sufficient — for extensive orchards more vessels and larger 

 may be established. Prepare a wooden paddle or spadula 

 with a sharp angular point, or basil of any hard wood. With 

 this, scrape from two to three inches of the dirt from around 

 the crown of the roots, clearing away all the gum and cast- 

 ings at the same time. The cavity thus formed will contain 

 from a pint to four pints of fluid, a cording to the size of the 

 tree. With your kettle, pour around each tree the scalding 

 fluid as hot as you please — if boiling hot, it does not injure the 

 trees. As it subsides, return the soil to the roots with the 

 spadula. Pour a little of the fluid on the gum and castings 

 which must be kept in a heap for this purpose, as these 

 may contain small worms and eggs. The operation may be 

 performed at any time, but the Spring, and again in the 

 Fall, if the insect should be found, is the proper time. April 

 and September are suitable for this purpose. It would be well 

 to examine the trees occasionally during the Summer, and if 

 any borers are found, give such trees the benefit of the hot 

 fluid. This operation is so simple and cheap, of course no 

 careful farmer or gardener will neglect it. 



Leaf-hoppers {Thrips) and Plant Lice (Aphides). — The 

 same remedies are used for both. Syringe them from the 

 underside as well as on the top of the leaves and branches 

 with strong soap suds infused with rubbish tobacco — or dust 

 the leaves once or twice with strong wood or soot ashes. 



Mr. Leor, of Mo., says, that plant or bark lice, may be 

 easily destroyed by scrubbing the trees and applying soap suds 

 and the lye of wood ashes. 



