EiVitorlnl Miscellany. 115 



The above we received from a frii'nd, an old horticulturist, and, withal, 

 a gentleman of most excellent taste, a fine scholar and " well up" in 

 the classic school. Our readers will give him a hearty welcome, no doubt 

 We have oue thing to object to, however, and that is, we do cot wish our 

 devoted shoulders burdened with mantles which, in our opinion, have not 

 yet found an object worthy of the inheritance. And then, " Evelyn," you 

 must give us credit for some little common sense, just sufficient to know 

 that we are an incipient vegetation, that requires years of careful nurtur- 

 ing to unfold a blossom or perfect a fruit worthy of perpetuity. Pray don't 

 be too severe, good Mr. Critic, or some of our timid correspondents will, 

 desert us; and we'll whisper a truth in your ear — wo can't spare them, 

 not one, so be lenient. You perceive we are much improved in appearance, 

 and large efforts are in contemplation. Improvement is our motto, which 

 the present number exemplifies. 



Mr. Editor: Perhaps it is not generally known that there is in our 

 midst a deadly foe to the apple tree, called the horcr. Whether that is 

 their proper name I cannot say, but it is certainly a very appropriate one; 

 and if not molested, they will infallibly destroy every tree they attack. 

 It is a feeble-looking worm (but powerful for mischief), of a brownish 

 tinge, with a head considerably larger in circumference than the bodv) 

 and of very singular construction. Those that I have seen were about 

 an inch in length, but doubtless they vary in size. 



So far as my observation extends, their ravages are confined to young 

 trees or trees with smooth bark. They attack the tree at or near the 

 surface of the ground, and penetrate to a greater or less depth, say from 

 a quarter of an inch to an inch, and then their course is invariably 

 upward, sometimes abruptly varying from a straight line. 



1 first heard of the borer about a year ago, when I was in a neighbor- 

 ing State. A gentleman residing there took me to his orchard, containing 

 about two hundred young bearing trees; notwithstanding it was Septem- 

 ber, the trees were leafless, and the shriveled fruit, still hanging on the 

 branches, presented a singular sight. It was a scene of desolation in the 

 midst of verdure : now, it seems, they have come to give us a benefit. 



Their presence in a tree is easily ascertained ; you have only to look 

 carefully around the tree, and when you see small heaps of what looks 

 like fine sawdust lying on the ground, you will have no difficulty in 

 finding a smooth, round hole, as if made with a good-sized gimlet. He 

 is there ; and you must destroy him and look for others, or lose your 



