56 



THE PEACH BORER. 



stages of development during 

 the summer. Their pres- 

 ence may be known by the 

 exudation of gum which al- 

 ways takes place from a fresh 

 injury, containing the chips 

 or droppings of the larvae. 

 The eggs hatch, and the lar- 

 vae penetrate the bark, and 

 feed upon the inner bark and 

 sap-wood, often eating a space 

 the size of a silver dollar, as 



Fig. 46. 



is shown in Fig. 48, which repre- 

 sents the trunk of a tree with the bark cut away, showing two 

 borers, their burrows and the piles of gum and chips that have 



exuded from the injured part. A single borer will often girdle a, 

 small tree, while in large trees are often found from five to ten 

 borers. They generally confine their work to the trunk near the 

 ground, but are sometimes found in the forks of the branches, 

 where their injury often results in the tree splitting down when 

 loaded with fruit. 



The presence of the Peach borer is easily known by the chips 

 in the exuding gum, and it is easily destroyed with a strong, 

 pointed knife. The trees should be examined in June and 

 August. No application to the surface is known to be wholly 

 effectual, although, perhaps, the soap and tar or kerosene mixture 

 may be of some value. In addition to any mixture applied to the 

 trunk, careful examination should be made with the knife, as 

 recommended above. 



DISEASES. The only disease that seriously affects the Peach is 

 known as " The Yellows." It is known in almost all sections 

 of the country. In its worst form, the trees have a yellowish, 

 sickly appearance, with small, wiry shoots coming out upon the 

 large branches, as is shown at , a, Fig. 44. The fruit ripens 

 prematurely, is small, high colored, and often very bitter. 



The exact nature of the disease is not fully understood. It is 



