458 THE APPLE-ROOT BLIGHT. 



in its hole, and tear down some of the woody fibre 

 upon the sides, which it crowds also to the bottom. 

 While this is going on, its excrements are placed at 

 the top of the passage, leaving a chamber, in which 

 the insect turns around, enters the pupa state, and, 

 at its close, bursts the bark covering at the top of 

 its hole, and comes forth a beetle " (Fitch). 



Several methods of destroying these worms, or of 

 preventing the deposition of their eggs, have been 

 proposed ; of these we mention washing the trunk 

 and lower limbs with strong soft soap at the time 

 of the deposition of the eggs ; scraping the bark 

 during the latter part of August, and discovering 

 the young maggot before it has commenced to 

 burrow, by the discoloration of the bark ; digging 

 them out with a knife when the excrement is dis- 

 covered, or any indication given of their presence ; 

 running a tolerably flexible wire into the hole, and 

 stabbing the grub. When this latter method has 

 been efficient, it will be shown by the stained color 

 of the wire when withdrawn. This borer is one of 

 the greatest pests of the apple orchard, and needs 

 constant attention. The woodpecker is one of its 

 greatest enemies, and should, therefore, receive our 

 protection. 



(f3) The Apple-root Blight — Femphigus Fyvi : 

 Fitch. Femphigus Americanus : Walker. Trees 

 affected by this disease lose their vigor, and their 

 foliage becoms pale yellow. If this is not attributa- 



