130 ORDER coij:optera. 



species, like many other insects, seems to be much more abundant some years or periods 

 than utliers, and also more common in some districts tlian othei-s. In illustration of this 

 &ot, I may refer to the existence of this species in the neighljorhood of Troy in 1825. 

 This was first made known to the public by the late Judge Blel, in one of the numbers 

 of the Albany Cultivator. He says that ' he was sent for by Mr. Heartt of Troy, to 

 witness the devastation made in a fine young orchard by a grub hitherto unknown to the 

 farmers of the vicinity, and which to know and guard against was a great public interest.' 

 It appears from the letter that the orchard was injured to the extent of two thousand 

 dollars, according to the estimate of Mr. Heartt. 



The larva of this species penetrates the young tree just above, or it may be just below, 

 the surface. In its progress, it cuts its way in a winding direction upward ; and as it is 

 three years in coming to maturity, it continues to mine onward, cuts off the circulation of 

 the sap, and deprives the tree of its necessary nutriment. One borer is sufiicient to stop 

 the growth of a young appletree ; and if several are mining at the same time, the trte is 

 inevitably destroyed. All the workings being near the root, the tree is after a while so 

 perfectly riddled with holes that it has no strength to stand. The circumstances that favor 

 these results, are, first, a poor soil, containing but little nutriment ; the second is the growth 

 of sprouts or suckers from the root, and of grass, which protects the base of the tree from 

 sunshine, and conceals from the view of the owner the work which is going on. Hence all 

 young trees should be kept free from these incumbrances at the root : this is one of the 

 preventives of a fatal result, and should not be neglected. 



It is needless to dwell upon the injurious eifects of the appletree bcrer. I would take the 

 liberty to caution the owners of orchards of fruit trees not to trust to uncertain measures, 

 as the surrounding of the roots and base of the tree with tanbark or any other material 

 of the kind. A judicious use of the knife and a good stiff wire are the only certain means 

 of getting rid of these customers, when they have once got possession of the premises. 



The perfect insect, according to Dr. Harris, comes forth in June : this, at any rate, is 

 the month during which I have found them. They come out at night : in the daytime they 

 are engaged in feeding upon the leaves of the tree, or remain quietly at rest, very rarely 

 flying during the day. 



That carelessness and inattention to young and old orchards is the great cause of the 

 prevalence of this insect among us, is true ; and so long as so many neglect the means for 

 ridding their trees of this pest, so long it will continue to harass those who are on the 

 watch, and who intend and wish to raise good fruit. A remedy, consisting of a solution of 

 camphor in chloroform, may be tried, by inserting in the borings a plug of cotton wool 

 soaked in it : it is worthy of trial, and may save cutting away the sound wood of the tree. 

 Or perhaps camphor alone, or ammonia formed by rubbing together sal ammoniac and an 

 alkali, either lime or potash, reduced to powder, and introduced into a burrow where it is 

 dangerous to follow the larva, may be worth the experiment. 



