324 



THE FARMKRS CABINET. 



VOL. I, 



trees, &c. The larvos appear in April, as- 

 sume the nymph state, and accomplish their 

 final Iranstbniiation in July. Thus, there 

 are two periods in each year, assigned for 

 their production and reproduction; neverthe- 

 less;, individuals may be seen, dunnff the 

 whole season, in almost every stage of exist- 

 ence." This history will hardly be sustained 

 by future observations. It does not seem 

 probable, that the fly would deposit her e^g^ 

 in October, and then endure the winter in a 

 state of hibernation — nor do I suppose, that 

 eggs hatched in April, would reach the per- 

 fect state in July. 



Agreeably to the history of the habits and 

 changes of the peach insect which I have 

 given, it appears that the eggs are deposited 

 from the middle of the seventh, to that of the 

 eighth month, and perhaps later — that they 

 soon hatch, and the young worms penetrate 

 through the bark in the fall, where they con- 

 tinue till the next midsummer. We may 

 see innumerable punctures in the bark, where 

 the worms have entered — yet we find com- 

 paratively few of them inside — hence, it is 

 probable, that many of the young progeny 

 perish before they find a secure nidus. The 

 destruction is in proportion to the age and 

 growth of the worm — hence the later spring 

 and summer months are the periods of greatest 

 injury. The trees should, therefore, always be 

 carefully examined, and the worms destroyed, 

 once or oftener in the spring. This would 

 of course, prevent their summer ravages. 



Numerous other means have been pro- 

 posed for the preservation of the peach tree. 

 These may be conveniently classed accord- 

 ing to their contemplated object, viz. — such 

 as are intended 



1st, To destroy the eggs or larvfE — and 

 2d, To prevent the access of the fly to the 

 root of the tree, for the purpose of depositing 

 its eggs. 



Remedies of the first class, can only be 

 successfully applied, very soon after the eggs 

 have been deposited, while they, or the young 

 larviP, are yet on the oufsideof the bark; for 

 it cannot be supposed that they will be de- 

 stroyed through the bark. To this class be- 

 longs boiling water, brine, decoction of tobac- 

 co, soft soap, lime wash, o^c. applied to the 

 trunk and root of the tree. They might, per- 

 haps, be advantageously applied at intervals 

 during the latter part of the seventh, and two 

 or three of the f()l!owing months. 



Remedies of the second class s'lould, how- 

 ever, be preferred, inasmuch as it is better to 

 prevent than to cure the evil. Among these 

 may be mentioned 



1. Such as render the vicinity of the tree 

 disagreeable to the fly. This has been at- 

 tempted by planting a bunch of worm-wood 

 at tlic root of the tree, and, in several experi- 



ments, with apparent advantage. Two trees 

 so guarded in my yard, c.=caped the worm 

 for several years, but were finally destroyed. 

 Perhaps if the stalks had been titd up around 

 the trunks, instead of being allowed to fall, 

 it might have succeeded better. It has also 

 been recoinmended, to tie die leaves and 

 stems of tobacco, &-c. around the trunk, for 

 the same purpose. I do not know with what 

 advantage. 



2. iSuch as allow the bark to dry, and be- 

 come hard at the surface, so as to resist the 

 attack of the young worms. This can be con- 

 veniently effected, to a certain extent, by pil- 

 ing loose sand, ashes, lime, tanners bark, saw- 

 dust, flax shivcs, &c. around the ti-ce. As 

 these substances do not retain much moist- 

 ure, the young worm must either pierce the 

 dry, hard bark, or pass far down, in quest of 

 that which is softer — and it may often perish 

 in the attempt to do either. The same ob- 

 ject has been obtained by removmg the sur- 

 face earth, spreading a coating of lime mor- 

 tar round the trunk, and then returning the 

 earth. This last meihod, in particular, has 

 been thought highly beneficial. 



3. Such as keep the flies at a still greater 

 distance from the root of the tree. With this 

 view, it has been advised to remove a little 

 earth from about the tree, then to take a 

 bunch of straw, or a piece of coarse cloth, or 

 i^iatting of any kind, and place ii round the 

 tree, retaining the lower end by replacing 

 the earth upon it, and the upper by means of 

 a string round the stem. To be efl^ectual, 

 this application should be made just before 

 the season when the eggs are deposited, eay 

 the first of seventh month (July) and it ought 

 to be removed so soon as that season is passed. 

 Perhaps not earlier than the tenth month 

 (October.) When the wrapping is taken off, 

 the trunk should be well washed with hot 

 water, brine, decoction of tobacco, &^c., as al- 

 ready mentioned, in order to destroy any 

 eggs or larva?, which may have been lodged 

 on the bark beneath it. The design in 

 prompdy removing the guard from the tree, 

 IS to afford an opportunity of applying the 

 wash to the bark, so as to destroy any larven, 

 which may have entered at the top, before 

 they reach the root. 



From all that is known on the subject, I 

 would then a.dvise, frsf — to apply the straw 

 or matting, during the period of Inying the 

 ct^g ; second — so soon as this can with safety, 

 be removed, to apply some of the washes 

 which have been mentioned; and third — to 

 examine the trees, two or three limes in the 

 spring, and remove any larv;r". which may 

 have got into them. Constant vigilance and 

 persevering industry are indispensable re- 

 quisites for a successful horticulturist. 



jYew Garden, 5th mo. \st, 1837. 



