44 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



nous wood, passing round the tree, and destroying it by its perforations. So far as we have 

 observed, the attacks of this beetle are confined to trees in wet soils. The best preventive 

 is to smear the stems of the trees at the collar in June with Davidson's Composition, 

 Wilson's Sticky Oil, or the mixture advised for borers generally, Vol. I., page 262. The 

 grub may be destroyed by pushing a wire into the burrow, and a solution of soft soap 

 and petroleum ejected into its tunnels destroys the pest. 



Wceberian Moth (Tortrix Wceberiana). This moth appears in May and September ; 

 it is brown, with golden and silvery markings. Eggs are deposited on the stem and 

 branches, and the tiny caterpillars, greenish-yellow with red heads, by degrees work 

 their way to the inner bark, where they feed till mature, causing swellings which may 

 kill the tree. These swellings are sometimes so considerable as to resemble canker, and 

 have been an alleged cause of that disease in old trees. Associated with the wounds is a 

 species of mite, Acarus pyri, attracted by ^^ retreat and soft tissues. The mites readily 

 succumb to washing out the wounds with a solution of soft soap, 2 ounces to a gallon of 

 water. Spraying the trees in May and September with soapsuds and petroleum pre- 

 vents the "Wreberian moth laying its eggs. 



Some of the short-beaked weevils occasionally prove destructive to the young growths 

 of apple trees, especially grafts, cutting a number off in a single night. The most hurt- 

 ful are the Eed-legged Garden Weevil (Otiorhynchus tenebricosus) and Clay-coloured 

 weevil (0. picipes), both general feeders, and they will be treated under other fruits. The 

 Ked-bud Caterpillar attacks the blossom and leaf buds. The Eed-belted Clearwing Moth 

 (Sesia myopceforme) larvso live in the pith or wood, mining in the shoots of the current 

 year. Bark beetles (Scolytus species) attack apple trees, yet rarely when quite healthy, 

 and affected trees may be managed as advised for Bostrichus dispar, Vol. I., page 262. 



It will be seen the apple grower has many enemies to combat, but by close observa- 

 tion and prompt action he may to a large extent either prevent or subdue them. Abso- 

 lute prevention may not be possible, but it is possible and practicable to prevent the 

 enemy gathering in countless thousands, and so become a devastating plague. In contests 

 with insects it is necessary to be on the alert and strike quickly, and those who do so 

 will be the victors. 



