104 CtLTtmE AND MANAGEMENT 



the tree at the distance mentioned above, and ascend 

 from six to fifteen inches ; in their progress they never 

 interfere with each other, and therefore every borer 

 inflicts a different wound upon the tree. They do 

 not injure the outward bark, and excepting occasional- 

 ly by the worm casts or saw dust thrown out of their 

 holes on the surface of the ground, there are no ex- 

 ternal marks of their being within the tree, until its 

 unfruitfulness and decay prove that its deadliest ene- 

 my has attacked it. The method of discovering if the 

 borers have commenced their ravages, is to dig round 

 the tree to the depth of three inches, and if after cut- 

 ting the outer bark, the inward bark be decayed, it is 

 certain that the insect is within, and that unless it be 

 taken out, the tree will certainly die. Mr. Hersey 

 was in one season employed to examine upwards of 

 four thousand trees, and in most of them he found 

 from two to thirty borers. He saved many valuable 

 fruit and mountain ash trees from being ruined by this 

 worm. 



Report of a Committe to whom was referred the application of 

 Mr. E. Hersey. 



The committee appointed by the trustees of the 

 Massachusetts agricultural society, to inquire into the 

 facts relative to the destruction of the worm called 

 the borer, which has of late years been so injurious 

 to the apple trees in this neighbourhood ; and to as- 

 certain whether any thing be due to the exertions 

 and adroitness of Mr. Ebenezer Hersey, of Roxbury, 

 housew right, and generally known as a successful 

 grafter, in destroying this troublesome and voracious 

 insect, beg leave to report : That they find, although 

 it be uncertain whether Mr. Hersey was the first per- 

 son who discovered the easy mode now practised by 

 him, in taking the insect from the body of the tree, 

 yet they are satisfied that the great advantage which 



