116 Editorial Miscellany. 



tree. I know of no other way to do this than to cut away until you find 

 him. I use a small chisel (a gouge is better for this purpose), and, with 

 the aid of a wire, there is no difficulty in tracing their course. A few 

 days since I caught one, that had recently entered, with a penknife. I 

 wish you would favor us with more information on this subject. Is there 

 any preventive against their attacks, where do they come from, how did 

 they get here, how long will they stay with us, ttc. ? I wish they were 

 all in Symme's hole! B. 



You are correct as to the name of the destructive worm. The borer 

 {saperda hivittata) is not a new pest, although but little information has 

 been as yet elicited regarding its peculiar habits. Its depredations are 

 not confined to the apple, but it attacks with equal destructiveness the 

 quince and mountain ash. In the insect shape, it is perfectly harmless, 

 except that it stings the tree in order to leave its eggs ; and, as it 

 flies at night, may be destroyed by bonfires. In shape, it resembles 

 a small beetle. The ovaries are thought to be deposited beneath 

 the back, which (the eggs) soon become vitalized, and assume the 

 shape of a whitish grub. This grub subsists by perforating the tree 

 on which its fortunes have been cast. As its course is divergent, it is 

 quite difficult to destroy the pest. The only means yet discovered is the 

 wire which you have attempted. The preferable method of procedure 

 is to prepare the trees to resist their attacks, as soon as it becomes known 

 they are iu the neighborhood. This, Mr. Downing says, may be eftected 

 by washing the bodies of tlie trees with a mixture composed of one pint 

 of sulphur, one gallon soft soap, and a sufficiency of tobacco water to 

 reduce the whole to the consistency of paste. When the borer once 

 takes possession of a district, it appears quite impossible to dislodge 

 them. We shall be glad to receive any information in relation to this 

 subject, from cultivators who have observed their habits and peculiarities. 



M. "W. Stevens thinks the Massachusetts folk deficient in the know- 

 ledge essential to the production of fine pears on quinco_bottoms. A great 

 mistake. In the first place, but few pears on the quince stock are worth 

 the trouble they imperatively demand at the hands of the cultivator, 

 except in some singularly propitious localities, which Massachusetts is 

 not. Mr. Stevens sagely advises deep planting, in order that the pear 

 may be induced to throw out roots. It must be obvious, even to the 

 most superficial observer, that this would be simply a pear tree on its 

 own roots, and deriving its natural food through a natural channel, as, iu 



