284 THE PEACH. 



is equal to that of the water, no more air will escape. The 

 water is then to be wiped off, and a drop of solder immedi- 

 ately put in its place. The boiling water should be raised 

 as near to the tops of the canisters as possible, so as not to 

 cover them. If the operation has been properly conducted, 

 the ends of the canisters will, after the cooling has taken 

 place, be depressed, in consequence of the external pressure 

 of the atmosphere. The degree of heat to which the fruit 

 is subjected does not cook it in the least. It is proper that 

 the canisters should be set in a cool place. The vessel in 

 which the water is to be kept boiling, must of course have 

 a level bottom ; and every one who is disposed to try the 

 experiment can devise one for himself. Doubtless a wooden 

 reservoir, heated by steam through a pipe from a .boiler, 

 would be convenient where the experiment is performed on 

 a large scale. 



INSECTS AND DISEASES. 



Peach trees are liable to injury and destruction from two 

 causes, the worm or borer, and the yellows. 



The Peach-ivorm or borer, (^Egeria exitiosa,} cuts into the 

 bark (never into the wood,) just below the surface of the 

 ground, and if badly or wholly girdled, the tree languishes 

 or dies. Its presence is indicated by the exudation of gum 

 at the root, mixed with excrementitious matter resembling 

 saw dust. It is very easily destroyed by scraping away the 

 earth at the foot of the trunk, and following the worm to 

 the end of its hole with a knife, beneath the thin shell of 

 bark under cover of which it extends its depredations. If 

 an orchard is thus examined once in spring and once in 

 early summer, few will escape. But to exclude the insect, 

 as a means of prevention, heap round each tree half a peck 

 of air-slaked lime or ashes, in spring, allowing it to remain 

 till autumn, when, spread beneath the tree, it forms a good 

 manure. This remedy, in many cases, has proved quite 

 effectual. It will in all cases lessen the labor of examina- 

 tion with the knife. 



"" The perfect insect of the peach worm, fig. 234, &, is a 

 four-winged moth, much resembling in form a wasp, but 

 totally distinct, and in its character and habits closely allied 

 to the butterfly and miller. It deposits from early in sum- 



