314 Forty-fourth Report on the State Museum 



in midsummer or later, and bring the earth back and tramp it at the 

 foot of the tree. This simple plan I have followed for some six 

 seasons, and no borer has ever entered a tree thus guarded. 



The wrap should be put on early in May, and need never be touched 

 thereafter, until the same time the ensuing spring, when the pro- 

 tection is renewed. On its removal, the healthy expansion and 

 appearance of the trunk thus covered show the value of the bandage, 

 also, as a shield against summer's sun and drying winds, * * * 

 and as a protection in winter against the alternations between the 

 low temperature of the night and the bright sunshine that often follows 

 the next day. * * * 



Every season I read in horticultural papers directions to wash the 

 stems of trees with mixtures of soap, soda, and other substances, 

 and to rub the trunks with offal or with bloody and greasy 

 things to render the point of attack of borers, mice and rabbits too 

 vile for even their mean work. Throw these all aside, and rely 

 entirely on the paper wraps of any number of thicknesses you may 

 choose, above two, and you will wonder why any other protection was 

 ever thought of. But there must be no omission, and the work must 

 be carefully done early in every May, against borers, or in November 

 against mice and rabbits. 



Mr. Strong also narrates in the same article with the above, the 

 success that he has attained in immunity from the same borer in his 

 quince trees, by setting out only such trees as have been worked upon 

 stocks not attractive to it. After experimenting with the various 

 varieties of the English hawthorn or Gratcegus oxyacantha and finding 

 that they were also subject to the attack of the borer, but that its rav- 

 ages therein were less extensive, and better sustained, and more quickly 

 repaired, he finally obtained better results with our native thorns, 

 and particularly with Gratcegus crus-galli and G. coccinea. From the many 

 varieties of these two species — to use his own words — " after many 

 years of trial, I have selected two so practically borer-proof, that 

 while they have been left wholly exposed to their attacks, / have 

 never known one among many hundreds to he at all injured." 



Professor J. B. Smith's recent observations of this insect, have 

 clearly shown, what had before been reported, that its oviposition 

 and borings, are not confined to the base of the tree, but that they 

 also occur at various heights upon the trunk and extending upward 

 even into the base of the main branches. It will therefore be seen 

 that the application of washes or wraps to the base of the trunk, 

 generally recommended, does not give complete protection from the 

 injuries of this pernicious borer. 



For an account of the oviposition of the beetle, reference may be 

 made to my Fifth Eeport, 1889, pp. 127-129 (269-271 of the State 

 Museum Report). 



