THE PEACH TREE BORER. 



its ravages, and even nursery trees do not always escape 

 its attacks. Its presence is indicated by a trashy looking 

 gum that exudes from the tree about the surface of the 

 ground. Figures 83 and 84 represent the insect of the 



Fig. 83 — Male insect of peach Fig. 84. —Female insect of peach 



tree borer. tree borer. 



peachtree borer. In summer these insects deposit eggs 

 in the bark of the tree near the top of the ground. The 

 eggs are hatched in a short time, and in the form of a 

 white grub bore their way under the bark, often girdling 

 and entirely destroying the tree. The destruction of the 

 borers is not very difficult, as they confine themselves to 

 the bark. All trees must be carefully examined before they 

 are set out, as borers often get into them before they are 

 taken from the nursery. In early spring apply the coal 

 tar wash, and rake up a small mound of earth around the 

 tree. As the eggs are always deposited near the surface 

 of the ground, in trees that are hilled up they will be a 

 considerable distance from the root, where they can be 

 easily found and destroyed. Besides, the bark several 

 inches above the ground is harder than that near the sur- 

 face, and resists their attacks more efifectively. 



Let the mound of earth remain till winter, then rake 

 it away down to the roots, examine the tree for borers and 

 make another application of the wash. Do not replace 



