OP FRUIT TREES. 103 



tirpated the insect in at least a thousand apple trees 

 on one farm in Roxbury; that he has probably sav- 

 ed many thousands in other parts of that town, and 

 its neighbourhood, either by his personal attendance 

 and labour, or by the information which he has giv- 

 en to others on the subject ; that he has restored 

 to vigour and soundness many valuable peach trees 

 that were gummy, and rapidly declining, from the 

 effects produced by this, or a similar worm ; that 

 he has traced them to the mountain ash, and saved 

 many of those beautiful trees from perishing : and 

 your committee have no doubt, if, from his example, 

 the farmers of this commonwealth will examine 

 their orchards, and cut out those insects from their 

 trees, wherever found, they will, in a short time, 

 feel the benefit of their attention to the increased 

 and improved quality of their fruit. 



Your committee feel it their duty also to add, 

 that from their own experience, they feel assured, 

 that all those who can command the services of 

 Mr. Hersey, will find it more economical to employ 

 him to perform this work, than to undertake it 

 themselves ; as his experience and original profes- 

 sion of housewright, acquainted with the use of 

 tools, enables him to do it hot only more thorough- 

 ly, but very much quicker than any one can who 

 has not been in the practice of the art. 



The seasons when, this operation is performed 

 with most effect, arc the spring and fall ; and 

 if in the spring, before the month of June, as the 

 perfect insects escape before that time. In apple 

 and mountain ash trees, the existence of the animal 

 in the tree may generally be known, by the mossy 

 appearance on the bark ; and it may be traced by 

 removing a little earth from the body of the tree, 

 next above the insertion of the great roots. Al- 

 though the hole at which the insect enters, is, in 

 many instances, very small, yet it is easily discover- 

 ed by an appearance of powdered wood, or fine 



