56 



Tin: AVUITE PINE. 



A singular feature in connection with tin- imiption of tiiis species is that it was practicalJy 

 unknown save in the collections of specialists until its sudden appearance in 18SS, but still more 

 remarkable is its unaceountable. but almost entire, disappearance in 1893, not, however, before it 

 had done a great anioiint of damage, which has been estimated at upward of a million dollars. 

 The apparent extermination of this bark-beetle in the district where it was most destructive is 

 believed to have been due to a fungoid disease. 



REMEDIES. 



After boring insects of this class once gain access to a tree it is practically impossible to eject 

 them, and to save the tree recourse must be had to preventive measures. For this purjjose 

 various jirotective washes are in use. One of tliese consists of lime, to which has been added a 

 sufficient quautity of Paris green to give it a slight green color and enough glue to cause it to be 

 adhesive. Another wash consists of soft soaj) reduced to the consistency of a thick \KUut by the 

 addition of washing soda in water. A thick wash of soap, plaster of I'aris, and Paris green is 

 also of value. A carbolated wash, which is in successful use against the peach tree borer, is pre- 

 pared by mixing a pint of crude carbolic acid with a aaUon of soft soap in eight gallons of soft 



water. Fish or train oil is valuable as a deterrent, but sliould 

 not be used except with the greatest caution upon young 

 trees. ^Yhatever wash is employed should be ajiplied to tlie 

 trees on the first appearance of the l^eetles in IMay, and should 

 be renewed if found necessary. 



Better than any other measure, however, is the observ- 

 ance of clean cultural methods. Owners of jjine forests or 

 groves will do well to cut down all dead aud trim all injured 

 trees. For tlie protection of pines, dead spruces and other 

 coniferous trees, and sucli as are infested and too much weak- 

 ened to recuperate, should be cut down and destroyed by 

 burning. A great deal of good can be accomplished merely 

 by removing tlie bark of dead timber. Tlie i)rogeny of the 

 insects that have deposited their eggs in one season .so 

 loosen the bark that it is an easy matter to remove and huru 

 it before tlie following spring. IJy pursuing this metluxl mil- 



Fio.6. — TuinUiis cacijiraphitu : beetlf.sliowinjid'ir- « , - " .,, , i ^^ i , /- , , 



eai vuw at lift, in profile ai right-. iiiarRtd lious of the lusccts Will be dcstioycd before they have an 



about t.n liim-s; .inteuua abov,-, highly ma;;- opportunity to issuc and lay their cggs for the destruction of 



(origiua). other valuable trees. A practice known as "rossing" is in 



use on borer- infested lumber in Canada. It consists in cutting a strip of bark along the full 



length of the upper side of a log, which causes the bark to dry up and eventually drop away. 



OTHER INJURIOUS BARK-BEETLES. 



Of the other species of Dendroctonus, one has recently been reported as ravaging the spruce 

 forests of New Hampshire, It is the species at present known as T). rufipnutin Kby., and 

 although not known to afl'ect White Pine, it is not imi)0ssiblc that it might attack this tree in case 

 it extends its i)resent depredations. The species of Dendroctonus are peculiarly periodical in 

 their attacks. Tliere is, however, one exception, />. ttrchrann Ol.. which is usually common at all 

 times over a very wide area of the United States and Caiuula, infesting all the jiines. According 

 to information received in May, 1898, this or a related species is now ravaging the pine forests of 

 a portion of southern New Jersey. 



The genus Tomicus contains jterhaps quite as dangerous forms as those which have just been 

 mentioned. The ajipearance of the beetles is somewhat similar, as is also their method of life. A 

 species that has been associated with the mortality of pines in the region about and south of the 

 District of Columbia is T. (■««)//)■«/)/(»« Lee, or southern i)ine bark-beetle, which is illustrated much 

 enlarged at tig. <>. It is reddish in color and may be readily separated from any of the preceding 



