12 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



[We intimated in our last our intention to publish a let- 

 ter from Mr. Eran Tliomas, Jiin. on the subject of 

 insects, which prey upon the Peach Tree. We now 

 proceed to fulfil our promise, with a hope that the 

 article will excite that attention, which its impor- 

 tance demands.] 



TO THE EDITOR OF THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



ON THE PRESERVATION OF PEACH TREES. 



Baltimore, 4thMonth, 13th, 1824. 

 Respccted Friend, 



Agreeably to thy request, I now cninmuni- 

 oate a tew brief remarks upon Peach Trees, 

 .ind the simple method which 1 have so success- 

 fully adopted, of defending them from the de- 

 predations of such insects as prey upon their 

 roots. 



As the peach is g'enerally admitted to be the 

 most wholesome and delicious of all our fruits, 

 and as its cultivation has been recently very 

 precarious in our own state, and almost wliolly 

 abandoned in various sections of our country 

 where it had heretofore flourished, I had re- 

 solved several years ago, to devote such time 

 as I could occasionally spare, to investigate the 

 cause of the premature deca}' of the trees, and 

 above all, to devise the means of securing 

 them against the evil. 



Being particularly desirous of preserving 

 some young trees of rare kinds, which had sur- 

 vived many others that had been very thrifty, 

 1 concluded to commence with them. On a 

 careful examination of Ihe ieavc, branches, 

 and trunk, nothing was discovered that could 

 have caused the trees to assume an aspect sn 

 sickly; on removing the earth, however, from 

 about the roots, I perceived a plentiful exuda- 

 tion of gum, from several minute apertures, 

 which being opened by the pruning knife, dis- 

 played the lurking destroyers to full view. 

 These larvae were about an inch in length, 

 cream-colored, with a chesnut-brown, and some- 

 what depressed head. They had perforated 

 the bark, generally about one inch beneath the 

 surface of the earth, and were devouring vora- 

 ciously both the alburnum and liber; leaving 

 !he cortex and epidermis, as a covering and 

 defence. Having carefully removed these 

 worms, and every thing that might retard the 

 healing process, I applied some of Forsythe's 

 composition, and left them — consoling myself 

 with the reflection, that they were sal^ during 

 the season at least. On returning home after 

 an absence of about six weeks, I hastened to 

 examine into the condition of my trees, when 

 lo ! 1 perceived with chagrin and dismay, a 

 young and voracious colony of the same kinds 

 of worms, laying waste what had been left by 

 their predecessors. This fact demonstrated 

 the ineificacy of the method heretofore recom- 

 mended, of removing the earth from about the 

 roots during winter. In the present instance, 

 the ova? must have been deposited about the 

 commencement of the eighth month (.\ugust) ; 

 tor the larva; were live eighths of an inch in 

 length. It was evident from this discoverv, 

 that 1 must either continue the tedious, fa- 

 tiguing, and diflicult practice of removino- the 

 worms throughout the spring, summer, and au- 

 tumn, or endeavor to find out some method of 

 preventing the access of the insect. In order 

 to accomplish this last intention, it was neces- 

 sary to observe it in every state of its pro- 



gress — in other words, to make myself aCi|uaint- 

 ed with its natural history. To the mere en- 

 tomologist, this would not have been a hard 

 task; but the vigilant attention it required, 

 made it incompatible with other duties, and 1 

 could only expect to arrive at the object in 

 view by slow degrees. 



I had succeeded more than two years ago in 

 procuring several aurelias, but these having ac- 

 complished their final transformation, had all 

 escaped through an aperture in the vessel in 

 which they were confined. Last summer I en- 

 closed about twenty more, but these perished, 

 except two — one of which escaped, the other 

 I secured. The species does not appear to be 

 described in Linneus, but according to his sys- 

 tem, it belongs to the order of Hymenoptera. 

 genus Apis. It may with propriety be named 

 *A. Pcrsica to which I shall annex the follow- 

 ing description. 



Shining Black-blue. 



Thorax ferruginous. 



Wings violet blue. 



Abdomen blue, with one interrupted yellow 

 band. 



Legs and antenn» black. 



About the close of the 7th month, (July) ma- 

 ny of these insects having assumed the wmged 

 state, soon after deposilo their eggs in peach 

 trees, just beneath the surface ; first wounding 

 the bark in diiTerent places, which on exami- 

 ■icition, appears to have been effected by a 

 lunt pointed instrument. They leave from 

 line to fifty, and in some instances, nearly three 

 liundred eggs in each tree, according to its size, 

 and capacity to support the future progeny : — 

 These soon appear, but it is difficult to delect 

 them until they have acquired a growth of two 

 or three weeks, when they are four or five lines 

 in length. — From this period their growth is ac- 

 celerated or retarded in proportion to Ihe quan- 

 tity of nourishment afforded. I.i general, how- 

 ever, the pupa: are formed early in the 10th 

 month, (October) in the midst of a conglomera- 

 tion of gum, fibrous and excrementitious mat- 

 ter, and about the close of the month the insect 

 issues from its chrysalis deposites its eggs as be- 

 fore mentioned, and prepares to hybernate, like 

 others of the same tribe, in the roofs of houses, 

 beneath the bark of old trees, &,c. the larvae ap- 

 peariu the 4th month, (April) assume the Nymph 

 state, and accomplish their final transformation 

 in the course of the 7th month, (July). Thus 

 there are two periods in each year assigned for 

 their production and re-production ; neverthe- 

 less, individuals may be seen during Ihe whole 

 season, in almost every stage of existence. 



From these facts the inference is irresistible, 

 that ?nojt of the methods hitherlo recommended 

 for the preservation of i oach trees are entirely 

 inefficient, and the best of them uncertain and 

 inadequate. 



The mode I shall here recommend, and which 



* When and in wliat manner these insects were in- 

 troduced amongst us, has never, that I know of, been 

 understood. — I think, however, there can be no doubt 

 of their having: been brought from the Northern aud 

 pastern nurseries, for I never had a young tree from 

 thence, that was not infested by them. »4// young 

 trees, therefore, should be carefully examined about 

 the close of the 4th, or early part of the 5th month, 

 (May) after which it will only be necessary to renew 

 occasionally. This will be a great saving of both time 

 and labour, as it is easier to secure twenty trees, than 

 to remove the worms from one. 



1 have ajiplied with complete success to nearly 

 four hundred trees, was first tried about three 

 years ago, embraces both prevention and cure, 

 and is as fellows : 



Remove the earth from about the trunk of 

 the tree quite down to the lateral roots press 

 with the butt end of the pruning knife against 

 the bark in different places; if it appears to 

 adhere firmly, and no gum nor moisture issues, 

 a thin coat of the composition described below, 

 may be a^'plied both above and beneath the sur- 

 face, by a brush or wooden spatula, about two 

 inches broad. — Then take Canton Malting, (or 

 any oilier similar substance) cut into pieces of 

 from six to twelve inches in width, according 

 to the size of the tree and of sufficient length to 

 encircle it; bind one of these around the part 

 intended to be secured by two or three tia.s of 

 twine or woolen yarn, so that one half shall be 

 below, and the other half above the surface ; 

 draw earth divested of grass or rubbish, to the 

 tree, pressing it with the foot close to the mat- 

 ling. The insects governed by instinct, will 

 not lay their eggs in the matting, but will seek 

 elsewhere for a situation congenial with its 

 habits. If, however, there is a clammy moist- 

 ure or portions of gum adhering to the main 

 stem or roots, these should be regarded as al- 

 most certain indications of worms — -every 0|)en- 

 ing or aperture, however mmute, shoulil be 

 carefully probed, and Ihe direction taken by 

 each worm ascertained : — cut away with a sharp 

 pruning knile, that portion of the bark uiuij of 

 which the interior part has been destroy- 

 ed, until you arrive at the object of pursuit, 

 which must be removed and killed. Having in 

 this manner extirpated all that are to be found, 

 trim the edges of the wounds neatly, and fill up 

 the cavities with a composition consisting of 

 two parts ef fresh cow dung, one part of leach- 

 ed ashes, to each gallon of which add a handful 

 of ground plaster of paris, and as much water 

 as will reduce the whole mass to the consistence 

 of thick paste — spread a Ihin coat of this com- 

 position over the part te be covered, and then 

 apply the bandage as before directed.* 



As the ants and several other inserts among 

 ihe wounded trees, exceedingly and materially 

 retard their recovery, I would recommend the 

 part to be washed with common white ivash, and 

 a iittle flour of sulphur, or snuff sprinkled over 

 it, before the composilion is applied. The lat- 

 ter end of the 4th month, (April) and the be- 

 ginning of the 9lh month, (September) are the 

 most suitable periods, lor those accustomed to 

 it, to begin the search. 



1 intended to have included in this communi- 

 cation, an account of a discovery which I made 

 iast summer, respecting the premature decay of 

 Pear trees, the cause of which had been involv- 

 ed in an impenetrable mystery — but as this let- 

 ter has already extended to a length not at first 

 anticipated, I shall reserve that, and several 

 olher topics, deeply interesting to the lovers and 

 cultivators of fine fruit, for a future communica- 

 tion. I am respectfully, thy friend, 



EVAN THOMAS, Jr. 



* We have often heard it asserted, and have several 

 times published communications to that effect, that 

 wood ashes, placed about the roots of peach trees, after 

 digging away the turf, and taking out the worms, if 

 there are any, will effectually preserve against the de- 

 predations of the insect above described. See N. E. Far. 

 Tol.l.page 317, 31ti, vol. 11. page 241.— jErf. JV. £. Far. 



