STATE HORTJCULTUBA-L SOCIETY. 435 



year. The larvae is a footless grub, and when full grown about one 

 inch or a little less in length and something over a quarter of an inch 

 across in the broadest part. They are of a cylindrical form of the sec- 

 ond segment, of which there are thirteen, being bulged and somewhat 

 broader than the others. The head is small, of a chestnut brown color 

 polished and horny. The upper jaws are deep black, sloped at their 

 tips which are obtusely rounded. The color of the body is a pale yel- 

 lowish white and the consistence is soft and fleshy. The final change 

 to the perfect insect occurs in May or June, after which the beetle 

 comes forth from its burrow in the night during which time only it 

 uses its wings in going from tree to tree hunting for companions. 



Remedies: A number of remedies have been suggested but none of 

 them have been so thoroughly practised as to make much impression 

 towards their extermination. One writer says: " The great major- 

 ity of the young larvae reach the inner bark about the first of Septem- 

 ber and all have reached it by October 1st." The first half of Octo- 

 ber is the best time to search for and destroy the.n. Until that time 

 they have done but little if any damage, and their presence is readily 

 detected by a discoloration of the bark and their excretions on the 

 trunk of the tree. They are readily found and dispatched by shaving 

 off the outer bark with a sharp knife. If the trees have been neglected 

 the first year the worms will be found in their burrows and must be 

 attacked singly. Their presence can now be readily detected by the 

 little holes through the bark out of which fine sawdust like castings 

 will be found adhering. They can now only be destroyed by probing 

 the burrows with a wire or cutting them out with a pointed knife. 

 After the grub is destroyed the wounded place should be covered with 

 grafting wax or a cement of clay and fresh cow dung. 



Probably preventives are more effective than remedies. It is said 

 that trees that are trained low so that the branches shade the trunk, 

 and that are healthy, thrifty growers, are less liable to their attacks 

 than those with exposed trunks and feeble growth. Doubtless in 

 thrifty growing trees many of the grubs are drowned out by the sap 

 before they get fairly established in the trees. 



A means of preventing the beetle from depositing the eggs would 

 be to clear all rubbish away from the base of the trees in the spring, 

 and in the early Bummer months, June or July, rub soft soap on the 

 trunks and in the forks of the lower branches, or wrap building paper 

 around the trunks, to remain there during the period for depositing 

 the eggs. It is not known that they are subject to any parasites, and 

 the only aid in the animal kingdom for destroying the larvae is the 



