34 INSECT BLIGHTS. 



by a sudden check to growth from a late frost in spring ; all 

 which causes lacerate the vessels of the young wood, and Canker 

 appears in the following summer. 



Canker commences with enlargement of the vessels of the bark 

 more apparent by the way in the Apple, than the Pear tree. It con- 

 tinues to increase until in the course of a year or two the Alburnum 

 dies, the bark cracks, rises in large scales, and falls off, leaving the 

 stem dead and ready to break off with the first wind, if it be not 

 before removed. 



The best treatment of Canker is to remove the parts injured 

 and give a good supply of nourishment to the affected trees. 

 " Want of food " said a good orchardist, " I have always found to 

 be the cause of Canker, and the same may also be said of the woolly 

 Aphis. My young trees in the hedge rows became badly effected 

 with Canker, and it occurred to me, that the thorns took the nutri- 

 ment from their roots. I fed them with a dressing of lime, cowdung, 

 and fresh mould, on the surface of the ground. This soon produced 

 a good effect, and the trees recovered their luxuriance. I have 

 never let my trees want food since and am always rewarded by their 

 healthy condition and abundant crops." 



Insect Blights. — Thegreat German Entomologist, Kaltenbach, 

 gives the number of different Insects that attack Apple trees as 183. 

 Of these 20 are Aphides, 32 are Beetles, 115 are Moths and Butter- 

 flies, and the remaining 16 belong to other classes. It is only neces- 

 sary to mention a few of the more destructive ones. The apple 

 Weevil ( Atithonomus pomorum) is very destructive to the blossom 

 and is often very abundant. The Aphis mali attacks the young 

 foliage and setting blossoms, and its ravages are often too widely 

 spread to admit of any direct effective remedy. The apple grub, 

 carpocapsa pomonana attacks the fruit in all its stages. 



The most destructive perhaps of all Insect Blights to the trees 

 themselves, is the American Blight (Aphis lanigera). It attacks 

 the woody part of the tree and is very fatal. The insect attaches 

 itself to any part of the tree where the cuticle is broken. It is 



