AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGY. 41 



the part intended to be secured, by two or three ties of twine or 

 woollen yarn, so that one-half shall be below, and the other half 

 above the surface ; draw earth, divested of grass or rubbish, to 

 the tree, pressing it with the foot, close to the matting. The 

 insects, governed by instinct, will not lay their eggs in the mat- 

 ting, but will seek elsewhere for a situation congenial with their 

 habits. If, however, there is a clammy moisture, or portions of 

 gum adhering to the main stem or roots, these should be regarded 

 as almost certain indications of worms ; every opening, however 

 minute, should be carefully probed, and the direction taken by 

 each worm, ascertained ; cut away that portion of the bark only, 

 of which the interior part has been destroyed, until you arrive 

 at the object of pursuit, which must be removed and killed. 

 Having in this manner extirpated all that are to be found, trim 

 the edges of the wounds neatly, and fill up the cavities with a 

 composition consisting of two parts of fresh cow-dung, one part 

 of leached ashes, to each gallon of which, add a handful of 

 ground plaster-of-paris, and as much water as will reduce the 

 the whole mass to the consistence of a thick paste ; spread a thin 

 coat of this composition over the part to be covered, and then 

 apply the bandage as before directed. As the ants, and several 

 other insects among the wounded trees, exceedingly and materi- 

 ally retard their recovery, I would recommend the part to be 

 washed with common white-wash, and a little flower of sulphur, 

 or snuff sprinkled over it, before the composition is applied. The 

 latter end of April, and the beginning of September, are the most 

 suitable periods, for those accustomed to it, to begin the search." 



Several other gentlemen have particularly observed the peach 

 insect, and of these we may mention Dr. James Smith, who has 

 given the result of his inquiries, in the sixth volume of the 

 American Farmer, p. 334, and Mr. Reuben Haines, who has 

 published his observations in p. 401, of the same volume. But 

 we think it highly probable, that the practice first proposed by 

 Mr. Shotwell, if carefully and properly carried into effect, will 

 effectually secure the peach tree from the depredations of the 

 jEgeria exitiosa. 



Upper figure — Female. 



Middle figure — Male. 



Right figure — Exuvia of the Pupa. 



Left figure — Follicle. 



