PEACH-TREE AND APPLE-TREE ATTACKS. 7 



lines on its body; its length at m.aturity is about one-third of an inch. 

 The peach-tree borer is the larva of a moth, and is a caterpillar (not a 

 grub) with sixteen legs. When full-grown it exceeds a half- inch in 

 length. The moth deposits its eggs in the crevices of the bark, just 

 above the surface of the ground. The curculio beetle cuts with its 

 beak a crescent-shaped incision in the plum into which it inserts its 

 egg. It will thus be seen that the appearance and habits of the two in- 

 sects are widely different. 



The fungus on the peach hvigs. — The fungoid growth upon the peach 

 twigs is the common fungus, Stereuin complicatuin^ as determined by the 

 State Botanist, Prof. C. H. Peck. This fungus is by no means peculiar 

 to the peach, but is common everywhere on dead and decaying wood, 

 and does no injury to living plants. 



Apple-tree Attack by the Canker-worm. 



Inquiries similar to the following are frequently received from various 

 parts of the United States, particularly from the New England States, 

 and with increasing frequency from localities in the State of New York: 



I send you by to-day's mail a sample of worms I find in my apple 

 orchard, suspended by a single thread from the branches. Are they 

 army-worms, and what is the best way to destroy them ? There are 

 more this year than last, and the orchard of 2,000 trees presents a 

 brown appearance after they have fed on the leaves for a while. (W. E., 

 Carrolton, Ky., April 28.) 



The caterpillar sent is the spring canker-worm, Anisopteryx vernata, 

 of which, notwithstanding so much has been written, many persons are 

 yet entirely ignorant, from the fact that although the species has a 

 very extensive distribution, yet it is quite local in its appearance, 

 prevailing, perhaps, in one or two counties of a State, or it may be in 

 one or two orchards in a locality. This is owing to the fact that the fe- 

 male is wingless, and, therefore, its distribution must usually depend 

 upon assistance afforded it in passing from one orchard, or an isolated 

 tree, to another. 



Extensive range of the canker-worm. — It is capable of becoming a 

 great pest — one of the greatest with which the orchardist has to con- 

 tend. Its distribution is from Maine to Texas, and it has been very 

 destructive in Massachusetts, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Ohio, and in 

 some other States. 



Birds that prey upon it. — Where birds have been protected, they are 

 often the means of preventing its great increase, for several species prey 

 eagerly upon it, and during the time of its prevalence find in it by far 

 the larger portion of their food. The cedar bird {Ampelis cedroruni), de- 



