102 Shade Trees not injured by Gas. [August, 



If, for instance, the bark is removed, it will be found that sev- 

 eral of them at least, are infested with the larvae of insects. These 

 larvae burrow between the bark and wood, and thereby destroy 

 perfectly the communication between the branches and root, or in 

 other words, the circulation of sap is entirely interrupted in the 

 worst cases, and hence, the tree perishes. The insects which in- 

 fest these trees, belong to several species. One of them belongs 

 to the genus scolytus, and though very small, is yet capable of 

 effecting the entire destruction of an individual tree in the course 

 of two or three years. 



Thes3 facts it seemed proper to state, for it is not right that the 

 cause of the ruin of our beautiful shade trees should be laid to 

 the charge of persons who are entirely free from blame. As it is 

 now ascertained that the trees in question have been injured, and 

 in some instances totally destroyed by insects, many no doubt will 

 be anxious to learn if there is any remedy against these depreda- 

 tions. And here w^e are extremely sorry to say, that we fear we 

 are left without adequate guards to their ravages. Especially is 

 this the case within the limits of the city and its neighborhood. 

 The reason is this; the birds, which are naturally our defenders 

 against insects, are not suffered to live. Every grown up boy is 

 permitted to destroy them with his gun, out of mere sport and 

 pastime. A sparrow or robin which strays fiom its shelter, the 

 woods, is sure to be shot; and a wood-pecker, whose special busi- 

 ness it is to look after grubs beneath the bark of trees and in its 

 hollows, is considered as lawful game, and a meritorious act to 

 pop him over. So many other species who happen to be fond of 

 cherries in their season, but who subsist mainly on worms, are 

 sacrificed by persons who mean to be humane and to act generally 

 upon Christian principles. If the robin or cedar bird, however, 

 for the sake of a little change of diet, and after a long season of 

 feeding upon meat, ventures to take a few cherries, he will most 

 certainly have to pay a heavy penalty for his temerity, a forfeit 

 of his life. That shade and ornamental trees are mainly destroyed 

 by insects which have increased in consequence of driving away 

 the birds from the open fields and hedges, seems to be true from 

 the fact, that in forests and their vicinity where birds are nume- 

 rous, they are not killed. The wood-pecker and creepers and 

 other birds feed upon this larvae continually, and thus so far di- 

 minish the number of destructive insects, that the trees mainly 

 escape. But near villages and towns the trees are left without 

 their natural protectors, and hence fall a victim to the ravages. 



Something may be done, by great diligence, in ridding our- 

 selves of the enemies of our fruit and shade trees. But in order 

 to effect much, it is necessary that th(> liabits of insects should be 

 well understood; the time for depositing their eggs found out, to- 



