<J74 ENEMIES OF THE FKUIT G-ROWER. 



The Canker Worm This insect destroys leaves and fruit. 

 The female has hardly any wings, and therefore she is compelled to 

 climb the tree to deposit her eggs, which she attempts when the 

 winters are mild, and in the early spring; sometimes in the autumn 

 also. This ascent of the tree is prevented in various ways, one of 

 which is to encircle the tree with tin rings, bending down the outer 

 edges. Oil placed in shallow pans or vessels, so that the moth can- 

 not pass beyond it, is also used. 



The Apple Worm This attacks the apple blossoms and the 

 young fruit. Its method of destruction is to eat the fruit at the 

 core, and thus it falls to the ground before it is ripe. The best 

 remedy is to remove the fallen fruit and literally destroy it, by 

 having it eaten by the hogs or some other way, to insure destruction 

 of the insects contained in it. 



The Borer This insect is very destructive to quince and 

 apple trees. It bores into the tree near the ground, laying its eggs 

 under the outer scales of the bark. When the insect is hatched, it 

 enters through the bark, remaining there and feeding upon the tree. 

 When they have increased sufficiently in size they enter the tree. 



The borer may be removed with a pointed instrument, if its 

 destruction be undertaken early enough before it has entered the 

 wood. After that time something sharp and flexible should be 

 inserted in the hole made by it, to destroy the insect. It is well to 

 look after the trees at short intervals during the summer, while the 

 fruit is ripening, and attend at once to the destruction of the borers. 



The peach tree is subject to the attacks of an insect which bores 

 the bark, but does not enter the wood as far as the borer which we 

 have just described enters the apple or quince trees. Its presence 

 can be determined by the dust and slime which will come from the 

 hole it bores. These should be removed and the grub or worm can 

 be killed. Ashes placed in a heap about the trunk of the tree, while 

 the season is still young, or encircling the trunk of the tree with 

 some stiff paper, will do much toward keeping these insects away. 



The Apple Bark Louse This is the especial enemy of 

 apple trees; they make holes in the bark, and suck the sap out of it. 

 Linseed oil and tar mixed in equnl proportion may be usefully em- 

 ployed to destroy the louse, the preparation being applied warm 

 (not hot) in the early spring. Soapsuds, applied to the trees with 

 a stiff brush, scraping and scrubbing the trunk, will also be a success- 

 ful preventive. 



Other Pests There are other kinds of plant lice, which live 

 upon fruit tree leaves, and are greatly injurious. These lice accumu- 

 late beneath the leaves, and suck out trie juice. Soap made from 

 sperm oil can be applied to the tree, and will be a successful remedy, 

 [t should be applied with reasonable care, because if it is too strong, 

 it will affect the leaves as well as destroy vermin. It should be 

 sprayed over the tree. 



