MONOGRAPH OF THE GENUS SAPERDA 29 



insect may be prevented from infesting the tree in some manner, 

 or (2) destroyed after it has obtained entrance. 



Dr Fitch had his attention called to the beneficial effect of 

 soap applications, and he states that, if the bark of the trees 

 be rubbed with soap the latter part of May, no borers will 

 attack them. This was tested by him with the result that 

 treated trees were free from the pest, while almost all of the 

 untreated ones were infested with borers. One of the latter, 

 only 3^ inches in diameter, contained 15 of the grubs. Mr 

 Fowler has proposed the use of 2 quarts of whale oil soap and 

 i pound of sulfur and enough clay to give the mixture the 

 consistency of paint, and advises applying the compound early 

 enough to prevent the deposition of eggs. Professor Cook in 

 1881 thought washing the trunks and larger branches of the 

 trees in May and the last week in June with soap would protect 

 them from the borers, and Prof. C. M. Weed has advised the 

 use of what we know as the carbolic soap wash and observes 

 that it is very effective when thoroughly applied. Some ob- 

 servers, however, state that soap applications, and similar pre- 

 ventive measures, are of comparatively little value, and a few 

 consider the alkaline washes more effective than soap. A band 

 of tarred paper, or bands of newspaper, wrapped tightly around 

 the base of young trees during the period the beetles are abroad, 

 affords considerable protection and is used rather extensively in 

 some fruit-growing sections. The bands should extend from the 

 soil about 2 feet high, should be tied at the top so that the 

 beetles can not get behind the band and should make a fairly 

 tight connection with the ground. Professor Slingerland has 

 recently advised trying a coating of coal tar, first testing to see 

 if the trees were injured by this substance. Whitewashing the 

 trunk has also been advised by certain writers and appears to 

 have a somewhat deterrent effect. The application is comparatively 

 inexpensive and, in absence of anything else, may well be em- 

 ployed. Dr J. B. Smith has advised the use of a poisoned white- 

 wash. The use of ashes about the roots is also good, since, if 

 they are heaped somewhat, they will protect the lower portions 



