PLANTS AND ANIMAL PARASITES 



169 



311. Borers that infest the trunks and main branches 

 of trees may often be kept out by applying strong al- 

 kaline washes to these parts. Soft soap reduced to the 

 consistency of thick paste by a strong solution of washing 

 soda, applied to the trunk or branches, forms a rather 



r 



FIG. 75. FIG. 76. FIG. 77. 



FIG. 75. Card of tarred paper, for placing about the stems of young 



cabbage and cauliflower plants. Reduced one-half. 

 FIG. 76. Tool for cutting the cards. 



FIG. 77. Manner of using the tool. The dotted lines show the position 

 of the edge of the tool on the paper. 



tenacious coating which repels the female insect. Paint- 

 ing the trunks of small apple trees a short distance above 

 and below the surface of the ground with common paint 

 or pine tar, is said to prevent the entrance of the round- 

 headed borer (306). Protecting the trunk with straw or 

 lath, as recommended to prevent sun-scald (185), may tend 



