OF INSECTS, &c. 343 



Peach, Nectarine, and Pear-trees, are very much 

 infested with these insects : they frequently cut 

 through the bark, and the trees tlien appear as if 

 they had been scratched by cats. I liave 

 seen some trees with this appearance all over 

 them. 



When these insects first appear on the bark, 

 they should be scraped off with a wooden knife, 

 and the stem and branches of the tree well-washed 

 with soap-suds and urine, applied with a stiff 

 painter's brush. This should be done in February, 

 before the buds begin to come out. But if the 

 outer bark is perforated, it must be cut or pared 

 off with a long knife ; and if you find any brown 

 spots in the inner bark, they must be carefully cut 

 out. This disease is one great cause of the canker, 

 and of the death of the tree. \^See Plate IX. 

 Fig. 3.2 



When this disease has made its way through 

 both barks, as is often the case, the branches on 

 each side of the tree may be cut close to the 

 stem, if it has an upright one ; but if the tree be 

 trained fan-fashion, the best way is to head it near 

 to the place wdiere it was grafted. I have headed 

 old Pear-trees which were so dead except a small 

 strip of live bark on one side, that you might rub 

 the bark off them as easily as off a bundle of 

 faggot-sticks that had been cut upwards of a-year; 

 yet these trees have shot out fresh branches to the 

 length of seventeen feet in two years, and produced 

 fine fruit the second year. Apply the Composition 



z 4 



