InseEls and Diseases. 151 



It deposits from early in summer till autumn, at the foot of the tree, 

 its exceedingly minute, whitish eggs, which soon hatch, and the 

 larvae or worms enter the bark. The next season they encase them- 

 selves in a sawdust-like cocoon, in their holes under the bark ; and 

 emerging as perfect insects, lay their eggs and perish. The perfect 

 insect is very rarely seen, but is easily obtained by inclosing the 



Fig. 183. Peach-tree Borer. 

 (Male.) 



Fig. 184. Peach-tree Borer. 

 (Female.) 



pupa, Fig. 185, , c, which is readily obtained in summer at the roots 

 of neglected trees, beneath a glass, or in a gauze case. As this 

 insect confines itself to the bark, its destruction is very easy. It 

 rarely happens that trees are completely destroyed by it, unless they 

 are small ; death can only take place when the tree is girdled. 

 Timely care will prevent this ; the evil, in fact, is only to be dreaded 

 by negligent cultivators. 



The " Cherry Slug" (Selandria cerasi) (Fig. 186), when in large 

 numbers, does serious injury by eating the leaves. It is sometimes 

 very destructive to both pear and cherry-trees. This animal, which 



Fig. 185. Pupa of Peach-borer. 



Fig. 186. 



is the larva of an insect, is about half an inch long, and of a dark 

 greenish brown when filled with food. Its smooth, shining, and 

 jelly-like skin, and snail-like appearance, have given it the name 

 " Slug." It may be repelled by dusting the cherry leaves regularly, 

 while wet with dew, with dry fresh ashes. Sand or pulverized earth, 

 thrown briskly among the leaves, also repels it. TJoubtless a fine 



