206 PEACH TREE. 



1. The fly that deposits eggs near the root, and there 

 forms a worm. 



2. The bursting of the bark bj'^ severe frosts in wet 

 winters. 



3. The spliting off the limbs at the fork of the tree. 

 The worms are said to be produced by a blue fly, 



which attacks the trees from about the middle of July 

 to the middle of September, and generally deposits its 

 eggs in the bark at or near the surface of the ground. 

 To take out this worm the roots must be uncovered as 

 soon as the tree begins to bud in the spring, and the 

 spot looked for where the gum oozes out. Follow the 

 cavity round with the point of a knife or a chisel, until 

 you come to the solid wood, lay the whole open, and 

 you will find the worm, with a white body and black 

 head, which must be destroyed and the hole filled with 

 cow dung, rendered adhesive by lime, sand and ashes. 

 Soap suds, heated, and poured on the roots of trees, 

 about the middle of August, have been used with suc- 

 Cf!S5 ill uesiroyiug the egg'e, &.c. Or as soon as the buds 

 begin to put forth, remove from the bottom of the tree 

 entirely all the dirt or turf till you come to the base roots, 

 from which scrape all the loose old bark : then take three 

 quarts of fresh slacked lime for a full grown tree, and so in 

 proportion for a smaller and younger one, and lay it care- 

 fully on and about the roots, covering it from the weath- 

 er, and it is said to destroy the destructive maggots, entire- 

 ly. Ashes used in the same way has been recommended. 



It is stated in the American Farmer^ that boxes made 

 round trees, about one foot in height, and in capacity, 

 exclusive of the tree, to hold a peck, filled with bark 

 from tan vats, and pressed a little together, will secure, 

 the trees from worms a long time. It is also useful for 

 plum trees, and in restoring all kinds of decayed fruit 

 trees. It is considered best to renew the tan once in 

 about two years. To wash the trunks as recommend- 

 ed for apple trees will be useful. 



To guard against frost, plant the trees where the wa- 

 ter will run off, and procure the sweetest and richest 

 fruit as the inferior qualities are more injured by cold. 



The spliting of the trees at the forks is guarded 

 against by preserving as many upright branches as pos- 



