418 



orange trees in Tripoli. And because the energy which you and your country show 

 concerning this subject is reckoned one of service, which is worthy of praise, by His 

 (God's) help the prepared treatment shall be of hasty effect ; and your works towards 

 home shall be useful and righteous. Now, my dear sirs, we, to show our gratitude 

 to your delightful energies, begin writing this letter of sincerity. May you all live 

 long.— [Ibrahim Hekky, Governor of Tripoli, October 24, 1306. 



Orange-tree Borers. 



I send you this day, i)er post, section of orange tree trunk, in which you will find 

 living specimens of a new (to me) borer. The trees affected are three 10-year old hear- 

 ing trees, thrifty and thoroughly cultivated, good crop, and covered with new growth. 

 Have used for fertilizer nothing but hardwood ashes and cow manure, the latter 

 well composted with pine straw and oak leaves and all thoroughly decomposed, but 

 no fertilizer at all since January. A few days ago when passing I was struck almost 

 dumb to find the leaves of one tree curled where the ground was full of moisture. 

 Upon looking for the cause I could detect none even at the root, so I thought a sala- 

 mander had cut the tap root ; on a second visit yesterday, I supposed I had a gen- 

 uine case of Mal-de-Croma. The bark at the ground was all loose and gave off an of- 

 fensive odor (sour sap), but no exuding sap at any point ; the bark was frayed in sev- 

 eral places, but with no excrescence of gum or sap. As I glanced up the trunk I saw 

 innumerable tufts of sawdust, as they projected from p'm-holes. To-day I visited 

 other trees in the neighborhood, and found two more in same condition, although 

 not so far gone. One clew I followed with a chisel and hammer 2^ inches into the 

 heart of the tree, and there discovered the 6-legged rascal which I also inclose in tin 

 box. This chap had pierced the healthy bark and worked all the way in solid wood. 

 I expect the bark is stung and the eggs deposited therein, from which this formida- 

 ble foe is hatched. 



The land is A 1 pine and oak, and the affected trees are 50 and 80 feet respectively 

 from the timber, which is on the west. The entire grove was scrubbed with potash 

 and whale-oil soap emulsion last winter, and I know of no other that has equaled it 

 in growth and healthfulness this season. Now, can you tell me who he is, and what 

 I must do to be saved?— [Frank W. Savage, Eustis, Lake County, Florida, August 

 27, 1890. 



Reply. — The matter of which you write is one of considerable interest, and the 

 beetle which you send is a common Southern bark-borer known as Platypus compositus 

 Say. It has been the universal experience of entomologists that this insect bores only 

 into such trees as are diseased from some other cause, and it is therefore quite un- 

 likely that it is the primary cause of the damage to your orange trees. From your 

 description I should say that the trees infested by this beetle have been first attacked 

 by the "mal de goma,'' and that the beetles have been attracted by the diseased con- 

 dition. Only a thorough examination upon the spot can determine this point, and I 

 hope that you will make a report of your observations. — [September 1, 1890.] 



Notes from New Mexico. 



Inclosed I send you a few specimens of insects collected by me. They were all 

 taken on the grounds of Mr. Valentine Herbert, a fruit grower and gardener in Santa 

 F^. I also put in the box two plums, that have obviously been stung by an insect 

 which is not the curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar). The latter beetle is entirely un- 

 known in New Mexico, and in consequence the plum, apricot, nectarine, etc., suc- 

 ceed to perfection, and bear perfect fruit of the finest quality every year. 



In the little vial you will find the tomato root-louse I have found recently on the 

 roots of this vegetable, and about which I wrote you in my last. I had never heard 

 of it before, but I find that it exists in all New Mexico, and must have existed for 

 many years, although no one here seems to have known the reason why the vines 



