106 CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT 



sects escape before that time. In apple and 'moun- 

 tain 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. Although the hole at 

 which the insect enters, is, in many instances, very 

 small, yet it is easily discovered by an appearance of 

 powdered wood, or fine saw dust, which is thrown 

 out by the worm; here you may introduce your 

 chisel, and follow his track. Cut the bark smooth, 

 and when you have cleansed the tree of all the in- 

 sects, (of which there are sometimes as many as 

 twenty to be found,) plaster the wounds over with 

 a little clajr, and when it is dry, restore the earth to 

 its place. The operation should be renewed the suc- 

 ceeding season, to make the work complete. In peach 

 trees the' insect is traced by the gum ; but as this is 

 also produced by bruises, it is not infallible. 



SAMUEL G. PEBK.NS, ) Commiltee . 



JOHN PRINCE, $ 



Note. If the frost be out of the ground, we recom- 

 mend to farmers to perform the spring cleansing as 

 early as March and April. 



Boston, April 16. 



Having so happily discovered a method of destroy- 

 ing this pernicious reptile, it still remains extremely 

 desirable to devise some means by which its success- 

 ful attack upon the tree may be prevented. We are 

 unacquainted with the natural history of this worm, 

 but it is highly probable that it is the progeny of the 

 fly which deposits its eggs in the bark of the peach 

 tree. Whether this be the fact, or whether it derive 

 its existence from some source in the earth, it is rea- 

 sonable, from its habit, to suppose that the soil or 

 mould is congenial to its nature, and that native in- 



