THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 49 



As further testimony, and with a view to giving the method by 

 which the trees may be mounded, I also insert the following commu- 

 nication from E. A. Thompson, of Hillside (near Cincinnati), Ohio, 

 which appeared in the Journal of Agriculture, of Nov. 14, 1868: 



"The mounding system was first practiced, so far as I know, by 

 Isaac Bolmar, of Warren county, Ohio. I visited his orchards some 

 years ago — acquainted myself with his system — and concluded to try 

 it upon my orchard of 4,000 trees — then one year planted. I plantmy 

 trees in the fall, and in the spring following cut them back to six 

 inches above the bud. The tree then instead of having one body has 

 several — from three to six. The second summer I plow both ways 

 turning the furrows toward the trees. The men follow with shovels, 

 throwing the loose soil around the tree to the heigh th of about 

 one foot. In the fall I cut the trees back, taking off about one-third of 

 the year's growth. The next spring or summer I pursue the same 

 method, raising the mound about one foot higher ; cut back in the 

 fall, and the third summer repeat the process, raising the mound 

 another foot, which finishes the job. The mound will then be about 

 three feet high at its apex and six feet in diameter at its base. The 

 mounding need not be done in the summer, or at any particular sea- 

 son ; it is just as well done in the fall when the hurry is over. The 

 dirt is never taken away from the trees — in fact it cannot be removed 

 without injury to the tree — for the young rootlets each year keep 

 climbing up through this mound. I had occasion to remove one of 

 these mounds a few days since and found it a mass of healthy roots. 



Now for the benefits. First you have no trouble with grub or 

 borer; he must have light and air, and the mound is too much for 

 him ; he comes out and that is the last of him. I have never wormed 

 my trees, or hunted for the borer, and an orchard of healthier or thrif- 

 tier trees cannot be found. It has been asserted that the borer will 

 re-appear again near the top of the mound — but I am satisfied this is 

 not the case ; I have never thus far been able to find one. Second, 

 the system imparts longevity to the tree. I saw a tree in Warren 

 county treated in this manner thirty (30) years old, still healthy and 

 bearing annual crops. Third, trees thus treated are not subject to 

 disease. I have never had a case of yellows in my orchard. Fourth, 

 the expense is trifling — one man can mound fifty trees per day. Th© 

 system can be applied to old as well as young orchards; but if old 

 trees are thus treated they should be first severely cut back, when 

 they will make a growth of young wood." 



The application of soap does not appear to prevent the moth from 

 depositing her eggs, as in the case of apple tree borers. Hot water is 

 very efficient in killing the young borers, after the earth has been re- 

 moved, and it should be applied copiously, and hot nigh unto the 

 boiling point for there is no danger of its injuring the tree. Those 



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