AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 277 



Fig. 137. 



c. Trochilium exitiosum (Male). 



d. " " (Female). 



bark of the peach-tree, just at the surface of the earth, where it 

 is kept tender by contact with the soil. The worm hatches in 

 a few days ; then eating its way to the inner bark, and doing 

 more or less injury in the fall, according as it may have been 

 hatched earlier or later in the season, it winters there. 



The warmth of spring renews its activity, and if several eggs 

 have been deposited in one tree, the worms will pretty well 

 girdle it by the end of May, about which time they begin to 

 form their cocoons, the outside of which is usually covered with 

 the sawdust-like castings of the worm. 



There are various easy remedies : merely banking up the 

 earth, or piling wood or coal ashes or slaked shell lime a few 

 inches high around the trees early in the spring, first examin- 

 ing them and removing any worms that may be found, and 

 again taking away the ashes or earth in the fall. Or if the 

 earth be removed to the depth of three or four inches, and a 

 coat of pitch or grafting composition No. 3, page 239, put on 

 with a brush from this depth below to an equal distance above 

 the surface level, replacing the earth that may be removed so 

 as to leave the pitch collar about equally under and above 

 ground, no fly will be able to deposit the egg, and of course no 

 worm will be found in the root. One such application will 

 last for several years, even in trees growing vigorously. They 

 should, however, be examined every spring, in case the fly may 

 have found an opening made by the swelling of the tree. For 

 this a single glance is sufficient, as the presence of the worm is 

 always, at this season, indicated by the exuding gum. The 

 forks of the principal branches also require attention, the worm 

 being often found in them when excluded from the root. 



