PLANTS AND ANIMAL PARASITES 



169 



311. Borers that Infest the trunks and main branches 

 of trees may often be kept out by applying strong al- 

 kahne washes to these parts. Soft soap reduced to the 

 consistency of thick paste by a strong solution of washing 

 soda, applied to the trunk or branches, forms a rather 



Fig. 75. Fig. 76. Fig. 77. 



Fig. 75. — Card of tarred paper, for placing about the stems of young 



cabbage and caulifiower plants. Reduced one-half. 

 Fig. 76. — Tool for cutting the cards. 



Fig. 77. — Manner of using the tool. The dotted lines show the position 

 of the edge of the tool on the paper. 



tenacious coating which repels the female insect. Paint- 

 ing the trunks of small apple trees a short distance above 

 and below the surface of the ground with common paint 

 or pine tar, is said to prevent the entrance of the round- 

 headed borer (306). Protecting the trunk with straw or 

 lath, as recommended to prevent sun-scald (185), may tend 



