ESSAY ON THE APPLE. 123 



es 5.t their base, and thinning others, so that the sun and air may pen- 

 etrate to Qiot throagJi) every part of the tree. Few people have 

 confidence enough to do this effectually ; but they may be assured 

 that they would have more and better fruit, were they to retain only 

 one half the number of branches which in general at present exist in 

 most orchards. 



Injurious Insects, Aphides. The insects which injure our fruit 

 trees are various, as well as the methods devised for their extirpation. 

 The genus of Aphis or green fly which is often found upon the succu- 

 lent shoots of young apple trees, and which injures their growth; we 

 think that the best preventative operation is that of good culture. 

 Autumn ploughing also, exposing the larvae to the frosts of winter, 

 and the moderate use of salt is destructive to this insect. OurcuUo. 

 The most pernicious enemy however to the apple is the curculio, 

 which in a chrysalis state passes the winter in the earth ; from thence 

 emerging at about the time the blossoms appear, and depositing its 

 egg in the apple, these eggs produce small maggots which exist in the 

 fruit, causing it to drop prematurely. The best method we arc ac- 

 quainted with to destroy or lessen its ravages, is to give the ground a 

 top-dressing of coarse salt early in April around each tree to the 

 spread or extent of its branches, and also to gather up the fruit that 

 drops dally ; by this course, a check is put to there ravages. 



Canker Worm. The canker worm is another troublesome insect 

 to our apple trees, they are not however so common here of late years 

 as formerly, they appear some seasons in abundance, and then years 

 will elapse before we are again troubled with them ; various methods 

 have been adopted for their destruction, some apply strips of cloth 

 bound around the body of the tree, smeared over with tar to prevent 

 the ascent of the female or grub, but as they move up in the fall, and 

 even in warm days in the winter, as well as in the spring, this is an 

 uncertain as well as a tedious process ; this insect enters the ground 

 near the trunk or body of the tree, rurely if ever beyond the spread 

 of the branches ; by applying lime, ashes and salt, dug in around the 

 trees in September and October tends greatly to lessen their ravages. 



Caterpillar. The caterpillar is another enemy to our apple or- 

 chards, weaving their nests in the forks of the branches ; if suffered 

 to remain, they grow and multiply greatly, injuring the trees by de- 

 stroying the leaves which are so essential to their health and growth ; 

 various modes have been adopted for their destruction, Mr. PcH's 



