BORERS. 79 



is over it is dead. Before its final departure, however, 

 it has made an ample record. The female has laid her 

 eggs in the crevices of the bark, usually about the base of 

 the apple tree or pear tree or the quince bush. If culti- 

 vated fruit trees are not abundant, she has probably 

 sought out their nearest relatives, the Mountain Ash, the 

 June berry and the wild thorns. By early fall, perhaps 

 as early as July, the eggs have hatched, and the young 

 legless grubs have entered upon their work of destruc- 

 tion. It sometimes happens that the tree does not show 

 strong signs of debility for a couple of years or more. In 

 the meantime, it may have been extensively channelled, 

 and limbs an inch and less in diameter may have been 

 tunnelled. Finally, the tree begins to die, or a strong 

 wind breaks it down. When a tree is thus past recovery, 

 it should be burned. Short pieces of limbs may be put 

 into a box, covered with a wire screen, and if the larv* 

 are well matured, the striped beetles may be secured. In 

 the Eastern States this borer is abundant. It has been 

 my observation that in Michigan and westward it is less 

 common. 



PREVENTIVES. 



Attacks of borers can be prevented by a liberal use of 

 the carbolic soap wash. The wash should be applied early 

 in June and again near the last of the month, or early in 

 July. All shreds of rough bark should be removed before 

 the wash is applied. Especial care should be exercised to 

 make a thorough application about the crown of the tree. 



A small mound of ashes or lime, placed aboit the base 

 of the tree in spring, is an old preventive ; but as the 



