142 THE MINIATUEE FEUIT GAEDEN 



these should be drained. Light sandy loams, with a 

 subsoil of sand, chalk, and gravel, are not adapted for 

 standard orchard trees unless the staple of loam is from; 

 two to three feet thick. 



INSECTS PECULIAR TO THE PEAR 



The young fruits as soon as formed are pierced by a 

 small weevil (Bhynchites), and an egg deposited which 

 causes the fruit to swell to a size altogether dispro- 

 portionate, and after the lapse of a month to fall to the 

 ground ; there is no remedy for this other than the im- 

 mediate destruction of the fruit, which can be at once 

 detected by its abnormal size. 



Another pest common to the pear and apple adheres 

 to the bark of the tree, forming a thick layer ; this is the 

 pear-tree kermes. As weakly trees only are attacked, 

 the best remedy is probably to root out the tree to 

 prevent the extension of the insect ; when noticed, if the 

 tree is not sacrificed, the bark should be scrubbed with 

 a hard brush and then washed with soft soap and quassia. 



The slugworm — a small, black, shiny caterpillar — 

 makes its appearance in August, September, and the 

 early part of October ; the tree should be dusted with 

 quick-lime as soon as noticed, and the dose repeated 

 when necessary. 



The pear-tree oyster scale, a small insect formed on 



