2G6 



AMERICAN HOME GARDEN." 



Like most other foul insects, they are found only upon trees 

 that have first become unhealthy. Young apple or pear trees 

 set in cold, wet soils, or injudiciously maniu'ed, or injured in 

 their roots, or cracked by the borer ; oleanders housed in a too 

 cold or fluctuating temperatm^e, and dusty, are especially liable 

 to suffer from them. A variety known as Aspidiodotus Rosce 

 infests roses, &c. As any cause which stunts and diseases the 

 yomig tree will invite these quiet but destructive pests, so any 

 means that will restore health to the tree will banish them, 

 among which close v\-inter pruning, digging about it, and ap- 

 plying compost or liquid manm-e from time to time, will be 

 found most efficient ; and, as preliminary to these, let the scales 

 be crushed with a hard brush or ruliber of any kind, and the 

 tree or plant thoroughly washed with the ley-wash, or whale- 

 oil soap wash, or a strong infusion of tobacco. See page 284. 

 Let this ha done in early spring, and repeated in summer if 

 necessary. If, however, the subsoil be wet, and especially if 

 it be at the same time level, and have the character of hard- 

 pan, the insect will return, and only draining, or deep plow- 

 ing, or subsoiling, with moderate manm-ing and annual plant- 

 ing with hoed crops, as potatoes, corn, &c., at the same time 

 leaving the trees abundant clear sjjace, and using the above 

 remedies as they may seem to be required, will be likel}' to car- 

 Yj them successfully past the peiiod of danger. The small- 

 er birds destroy many of these insects, but are not numerous 

 enough to keep them in check. 



WORJIS OR LARV^. 



APPLE-TREE BORERS. 

 Fig. 126. 

 b 



a. Larva. 



&. Saperda bivittata, or tivo-striped 

 beetle. 



llorer aQil parent bug. 



