22 APPLE-TRUNK BORER REMEDIES — SOAP. 



insects which infest the trunk or which are obliged to crawl up 

 the trunk to gain access to the tree, we have little doubt it will 

 prove an effectual safeguard. Washed downwards as it will be 

 by the rains so as to impregnate the bark over the chief part of 

 the trunk and to the very root, there is little probability that the 

 beetle of the Apple-tree borer will venture to deposit its eggs in 

 a situation where those eggs, or the young worms which proceed 

 from them, will be exposed to destruction from encountering this 

 alkaline matter. The late Mr. Downing (Horticulturist, vol. ii. 

 p. 531) recommended a mixture of soap, sulphur, and tobacco- 

 water, with which to paint the bark of the tree immediately above 

 the surface of the ground, and in the axils of the lower limbs ; 

 subsequently (vol. iv,p. 536) he recommends soap merely thinned 

 with tobacco water, to the consistence of thick cream, to be ap- 

 plied to the same places. According to his observations, the 

 borer entirely forsook the trees which were thus washed, even 

 though the mixture had been applied some weeks previous to the 

 appearance of the winged beetle. There can be little doubt that 

 the efficacy of these prescriptions of Mr. Downing depends chiefly, 

 if not entirely, upon the soap they contain. It will be as well 

 therefore, to apply this alone, in the manner in which it is used 

 by Senator Dickinson, or by rubbing it in the axils of the lower 

 limbs and around the base of the tree, these being the parts 

 which are liable to be attacked by this insect. In all orchards 

 where the borer is present or where a visit from it is apprehen- 

 ded, this measure should invariably be resorted to the latter part 

 of May, or in more northern localities, where the beetle will be 

 somewhat later in appearing, early in June. Young thrifty trees,, 

 especially, should be attended to, as this insect appears to be 

 particularly inclined to infest them. 



With regard, in the next place, to destroying the worm, where 

 the trees have been neglected and the beetle has been permitted 

 to invade them and deposit its eggs. If time permits, the orchard 

 should be examined the last of August, and the outer surface of 

 the bark at the root scraped, to detect any black spots therein; 

 for at tin's time, the minute worms in the bark can be more readily 

 destroyed, than at any subsequent period, and before they have 



