INSECTS. 



97 



The Apple Math deposits its eggs in the eye of the 

 young fruit into which the gru, when hatched eats its 

 way, causing the fruit to drop prematurely. A similar 

 insect attacks the peach. The only remedy is to allow 

 swine to pick up the fallen fruit, or do it by hand as 

 soon as they fall, and destroy them. Their thin paper-like 

 cocoons may be found in the crevices of the trees in 

 February and March, and should be destroyed. 



The Apple-tree Borer is a grub produced by a beetle 

 which deposits its eggs in the bark of the apple and quince 

 near the ground. The egg becomes a whitish grub which 

 eats into the tree in all directions, often completely girdling 

 it. Insert a wire into the holes and kill them. A mound 

 of ashes or lime rubbish raised about the base of the trunk 

 in the spring will prevent the beetles from depositing their 

 eggs in the soft bark. This should be removed late in 

 summer when the danger is over and spread for manure. 

 Hot water might be as effectual as in the case of the 

 Peach borer, but it may be injurious to the tree. 



The Peach-tree Borer deposits its eggs at the base of the 

 trunk on the soft bark ; when hatched they bore their way 

 under the bark, sometimes proceeding upwards along the 

 trunk, at other times downward into the root. Its 

 presence is made known by the effusion of gum ; as it does 

 not penetrate the wood, it is easily traced by its holes 

 under the bark. Haul away the earth from the roots ; clean 

 away the gum ; cut out and destroy the grub with a knife, 

 or pour scalding water into his haunts from the spout of a 

 tea-kettle, which will kill the grub without injury to the 

 tree. Put a small mound of ashes or slacked lime around 

 the base of the trunk, to be scattered over the ground in 

 the fall, as they are an excellent dressing for the trees. 

 Peach trees should be carefully examined every autumn 

 and spring. The hot water application is desirable as it 



