282 



THE PEACH. 



as before the commencement of the present century, and has been 

 repeatedly described. There are two sexes, and so remarkably dif- 

 fei-ent th;it some natural- 

 ists have almost hesitated 

 iii arran^iiiS them. " The 

 insect, in its perfect state, 

 is a slender, dark blue, 

 four-winged moth, some- 

 what like a \Yasp. It 

 commences depositing its 

 eggs in the soft and ten- 

 der bark at the base of the trunk, usually about the last of June, but 

 at different times from June to October. The egg hatches, and be- 

 comes a small white borer, 

 or grub (fig. a),'which even- 

 tually grows to three-fourths 

 of an inch long, penetrates 

 and devours the bark and 

 sap-wood, and, after passing 

 the Winter in the tree, it en- 

 folds itself in a cocoon (fig, ^), under, or upon the bark, and emerges 

 again in a perfect or winged form, in June, and commences deposit- 

 ing its eggs for another generation." 



Multiform have been the prescribed remedies for protection against 

 this insect, but none have been found infallible ; and the careful cul- 

 tivator will find the use of a sharp knife, once in June, and again in 

 September, applied to cutting out the worm, whose location is easily 

 discovered by exudation, near the crown of the roots, of gummy mat- 

 ter — a far better preventive, and also really cheaper than heaping 

 up of ashes, cinders, etc., etc. 



Gathering. If for immediate use the Peach should not be gathered 

 until fully ripe, but if intended for market, it is necessary often to gather 

 while yet firm. 



Characters and Classification. The general outward characters 

 of many kinds are so nearly similar that it is necessary to resort to 

 other means than exhibited in the fruit, in order to identify varieties. 

 This, even with all the means at command, is often very difficult, 

 owing to the numerous seedlings constantly being produced. Tlie 

 distinction of free-stones and cling-stones (melters and pavies of the 

 Knglish) is the most natural and well understood ; next, the distinc- 

 tion by means of what are termed glands on the leaves, as also the 

 indentations, or irregular edge of the leaf termed creneate, serrated, 

 and coarsely serrated ; and, lastly, the distinction by means of the 

 flowers, as large or small. This last is open only to examination a 

 short period, and, therefore, is not used, except by tlie careful ama- 

 teur pomologist, or correct nurseryman. 



