THE WHITE-PINE WEEVIL. 



739 



Fig. 5, Plate xxvii, is from a photograph of a white piue tree in East 

 Providence, R. I., which is of the same general shape, but a smaller 

 and shorter tree, still growing in a thick wood, its fellows, however, 

 much SQialler. The tree is about 70 feet in height and 32 inches thick 

 before it branches, the trunk sending out nine branches, the lowermost 

 being about 3 feet from the ground. 



In these two examples we should judge that the terminal shoot only 

 was destroyed by the weevil, while the lateral shoots survived, but 

 grew more vertically than they would have done if the terminal shoot 

 had not been injured, while their size became unnaturally large. 



It is comparatively easy to prevent this deformation of small young 

 trees in lawns and about houses or even on large plantations if the dis- 

 ease is combated in time ; the wilting terminal twig should be exam- 

 ined and the grubs cut out. If a wash of Paris green were applied or 

 a block of carbolic acid soap securely placed in the crotch the grubs 

 would be destroyed or driven off". The time to apply the remedies is at 

 the middle or end of July. 



We add Fitch's account of this weevil : 



This is a common insect in New York, and specimens of it may be found around 

 and upon pine trees at all times of the year, 

 but it is in the month of May that they are 

 abroad in the greatest numbers, and it is 

 chiefly at that time that their eggs are depos- 

 ited. Young thriftj'-growing pines are its fa- 

 vorite resort, and among these it selects those 

 that are most vigorous, and whose topmost 

 shoot has made the greatest advance the pre- 

 ceding year. But I have seen it so numerous 

 that not only the topmost slioots of every 

 tree in the grove, but many of the lateral ones 

 also, were invaded and destroyed by it. 



It is in consequence of its smooth straight growth to such a lofty height that the 

 pine has been prized beyoud auy other timber for large buildings and bridges, and 

 is especially valua de for the masts of ships. So very highly were the American 

 pines esteemed for this last purpose, at an early day, that they were ranked with the 

 precious metals, and a large portion of the lands of the State of New York were 

 originally granted by the British crowu, with an explicit reservation of "All mines 

 of Gold and Silver, and also all White and other sorts of Pine trees fit for Masts, of 

 the growth of twenty-four inches diameter and upwards at twelve inches from the 

 earth, for Masts for the Royal Navy of us, our heirs and successors," under the strin- 

 gent condition that " If they, our said grantees or any of them, their or any of their 

 heirs or assigns, or auy other person or persons by their or any of their privity, con- 

 sent or procurement shall fell, cut down or otherwise destroy any of the Pine trees 

 by these presents reserved to us, our heirs and successors, or hereby intended so to 

 be, without the Royal Licence of us, our heirs or successors for so doing first had and 

 obtained, that then, and in auy of these cases, this our present grant, and every thing 

 therein contained, shall cease and be absolutely void, and the lands and premises 

 hereby granted shall revert to and vest in us, our heirs and successors, as if this our 

 present grant had not been made, any thing herein before contained to the contrary 

 in auy wise notwithstanding." Now the perfect straightness of the pine, which has 

 adapted it so eminently for this important use, and has caused it to be thus valued. 



Fig. 358.— White-pine weevil; a, larva; b, 

 pupa, enlarged nearly three times. — From 

 Packard. 



